Big Island Wahine 70

Aloha, we are a crew of Big Island women paddlers making our way to the World Sprint Outrigger Canoe Championships after qualifying at the Hawaii State Trials. The 2022 international competition will be in Great Britain at Lake Dorney, a man-made lake built for Olympic-level competitions. We are 70-plus years young.

Every outrigger canoe kupuna paddler has a story that brings them to the ocean and the sport. Nānā I Ke Kumu can mean “look to the source” for the strength and guidance to succeed. That source can be found in Hawaii’s history and traditions and also seen from within each paddler’s story. Sherri Carney will be steering the crew in Great Britain less than a year after suffering a catastrophic stroke that initially left her without speech and partially paralyzed. Sherri was a professional surfer and windsurfer on Oahu, later introduced by friends to the team sport of outrigger paddling. Gail Quitevis, who steered the crew at Trials, was the last Pan Am Airlines employee left in Honolulu when the airline ceased operations. She started outrigger paddling when her children began paddling. Like other crew members, she has competed at many venues and made multiple Molokai to Oahu crossings but is quick to point out not as many as Sherri. Robina Browne, a former Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand and Guyana, will also compete on a 75-plus women's crew. Browne observes that “women in their 70s and beyond remain strong and athletically competitive. The very fact that in the last 15 years the paddling age for competitive women has increased from 45 years of age to 80 plus age group athletes is very telling. Outrigger paddling is a lifetime sport with health and quality of life benefits.” Marcie Davis is a retired teacher who, besides competing here and internationally as a paddler, is an age group winner in Olympic Distance Triathlon. Lillian Lim is the daughter of immigrants from the Philippines and started her paddling on dragon boats. Victoria Serrao began paddling outrigger as a 20-year-old with coach Noah Kalama and the Newport Outrigger Club. After racing for two years, she pursued her career as an artist both here and abroad, returning to paddling when she was 65 years old. Pat Allbee, a one-time dogcatcher in Vail among different career pursuits, has paddled recreationally and competitively on island. Great Britain World Outrigger Sprints will be her first international competition.

 

Browne says, “Courage is going to the very edge of your comfort zone and taking one more step.” Help us take that step forward. The Wahine 70 Crew is fundraising and looking for sponsors. The cost of housing accommodations, air and other travel, racing fees and gear is significant.

All funds donated to this GoFundMe Account will be managed by Lillian Lim
and distributed in equal shares to the seven Big Island Wahine age group 70 paddlers (Sherri, Gail, Marcie, Robina, Vicki, Pat and Lillian).