Outrigger Canoeing for Everyone
Donation protected
Hana Hou Outrigger Canoe Club is a labor of love for those of us who volunteer our time and efforts to share the Aloha of outrigger canoeing with hundreds of individuals who otherwise would not have the chance to paddle an authentic Hawaiian outrigger canoe.
Before we founded Hana Hou, outrigger canoe paddling was available only to the super-fit who were able to join a racing club, spend $400 for dues, attend grueling training sessions several times each week, and travel to other cities in order to compete in formal, sanctioned races.
Our mission was and is to make outrigger canoe paddling available to all who wish to participate - children, seniors, busy adults, veterans, people with physical challenges, and those who don’t have money to spend on dues, paddles, and other equipment.
Anyone can join us at Hana hou - it’s easy and membership is free. We don’t race - it's recreational, relaxing, no-pressure paddling that never fails to induce big smiles from all who participate. And we don’t require a hefty time and money commitment. Instead, we show people how to paddle and then allow them to get out on the water under the supervision of an experienced steerer for a unique experience - paddling at their own pace, within their own physical limits, and in an atmosphere of acceptance and warm encouragement.
For 5 five years we leased outrigger canoes from a high-powered, racing-style canoe club. We did not own a single canoe of our own. However, this past Summer, the racing club informed us it could no longer spare any canoes for our use. This created the critical need to purchase our own outrigger canoes.
Using our own resources - donations from a few of us who organize and attend Hana Hou - we scraped together enough to purchase an older, well-used outrigger canoe. However, in order to accommodate everyone who wishes to paddle each week, we now need to purchase a second, used outrigger canoe.
We don’t charge our participants actual club dues. We try hard to keep things affordable for young people, families, and seniors. Anyone can come to our Sunday get-togethers at the beach to sing, play the ukulele, picnic, and share camaraderie at no cost. For those who do wish to get out on the water and paddle we ask only for a $10 donation, which covers an entire month of paddling - just $2.50 for each paddling day. However, that’s barely enough to cover insurance, safety equipment, paddles and maintenance. Nothing is left to fund the purchase of a second (used) canoe.
If you wish to contribute to this worthy program, your generous gift in any amount, large or small, will bring joy to hundreds of people for many years to come. And if you live in this area - or if you ever come to visit - we sincerely hope you will join us at Hana Hou so we can more fully express our gratitude to you. We paddle every Sunday, all year long, weather permitting, and everyone is welcome. You can find us online at www.meetup.com.
Thank you, most sincerely, for taking the time to read our story and consider our appeal.
Before we founded Hana Hou, outrigger canoe paddling was available only to the super-fit who were able to join a racing club, spend $400 for dues, attend grueling training sessions several times each week, and travel to other cities in order to compete in formal, sanctioned races.
Our mission was and is to make outrigger canoe paddling available to all who wish to participate - children, seniors, busy adults, veterans, people with physical challenges, and those who don’t have money to spend on dues, paddles, and other equipment.
Anyone can join us at Hana hou - it’s easy and membership is free. We don’t race - it's recreational, relaxing, no-pressure paddling that never fails to induce big smiles from all who participate. And we don’t require a hefty time and money commitment. Instead, we show people how to paddle and then allow them to get out on the water under the supervision of an experienced steerer for a unique experience - paddling at their own pace, within their own physical limits, and in an atmosphere of acceptance and warm encouragement.
For 5 five years we leased outrigger canoes from a high-powered, racing-style canoe club. We did not own a single canoe of our own. However, this past Summer, the racing club informed us it could no longer spare any canoes for our use. This created the critical need to purchase our own outrigger canoes.
Using our own resources - donations from a few of us who organize and attend Hana Hou - we scraped together enough to purchase an older, well-used outrigger canoe. However, in order to accommodate everyone who wishes to paddle each week, we now need to purchase a second, used outrigger canoe.
We don’t charge our participants actual club dues. We try hard to keep things affordable for young people, families, and seniors. Anyone can come to our Sunday get-togethers at the beach to sing, play the ukulele, picnic, and share camaraderie at no cost. For those who do wish to get out on the water and paddle we ask only for a $10 donation, which covers an entire month of paddling - just $2.50 for each paddling day. However, that’s barely enough to cover insurance, safety equipment, paddles and maintenance. Nothing is left to fund the purchase of a second (used) canoe.
If you wish to contribute to this worthy program, your generous gift in any amount, large or small, will bring joy to hundreds of people for many years to come. And if you live in this area - or if you ever come to visit - we sincerely hope you will join us at Hana Hou so we can more fully express our gratitude to you. We paddle every Sunday, all year long, weather permitting, and everyone is welcome. You can find us online at www.meetup.com.
Thank you, most sincerely, for taking the time to read our story and consider our appeal.
Organizer and beneficiary
David Weisenthal
Organizer
Dana Point, CA
John Gyorkos
Beneficiary
