“It’s tough. It really is. But I mean, passion, get out of passion and drive, you’ll be motivated for sure. For the dream, you know, for the dream.”
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Mental toughness, physical strength and endurance are crucial in Sunday’s Na Wahine O Ke Kai Canoe Race. The Waakapaemua paddlers shared what it’s like to prepare for the race while juggling life and motherhood.
Pualei Lima paddles for Waakakaemua. It’s the first time a Molokai team has put together a crew for Na Wahine O Ke Kai in a while.
“Just being in the water feels so good,” said Lima. “I did my first channel in 2017. That’s the only one I did and then I had kids. Three babies later, finally back.”
Balancing work, paddling practice, being a wife, a homemaker and taking care of her kids hasn’t been easy.
“Lots of logistics and planning. Sometimes we make it, sometimes we don’t. It’s a lot to juggle.”
Her husband also paddles for Waakapaemua’s men’s crew and has been training for Molokai Hoe. She’s not alone. In fact, every woman who paddles for Waakapaemua is in the same boat.
“It’s tough. It really is. But I mean, passion, get out of passion and drive, you’ll be motivated for sure. For the dream, you know, for the dream,” said paddler Liliuolalani Kapuni.
Camie Kimball has crossed the Ka Iwi Channel more times than she can recall in the Na Wahine O Ke Kai.
At 71, the veteran paddler has opted not to race this year but remembers what it was like.
The whole time I worked, I would get up at 4:30 in the morning, go jogging. That would just help me. That was my time because as a mother, we want to have time with our kids. So by doing that I got home, they were still sleeping, woke them up, got their lunch together and we could go and do stuff. I think a lot of women find ways to get it done.
Camie Kimball, Molokai Paddler
For the women who paddle on Molokai, carrying on the tradition is an honor, no matter the sacrifice.
“It’s a part of our culture. Our island culture. Everybody wants to win but just crossing the channel is a win.”