HONOLULU (KHON2) -- It's been 14 years but Hawaii teams have returned to Tahiti to compete in the Hawaiki Nui Va'a Championship race.
The three-day race is considered one of the most difficult races in the world with a 100-mile course connecting four Tahitian islands.
Both teams, men's and women's, are composed of the best individual canoe paddlers in Hawaii as they go up against the best in the world, including 13-time Molokai Hoe champs, Shell Va'a.
The women's team, considered the best in the world after winning Na Wahine O Ke Kai in September, were proud to be a part of Tahiti's biggest cultural and sports event of the year.
"It's an honor," said Lori Nakamura, Team Bradley's captain.
Six paddlers from Team Bradley made the trip, some of them have paddled for over 15 years together.
The men's team is a selection of some of the best individual paddlers in Hawaii from Lanikai Canoe Club and Outrigger Canoe Club from Oahu, and Wailea Canoe Club from Maui.
The athletes were selected according to merit and their performances during the Kanaka Ikaika season of individual canoe racing.
The team is a mix of master 40s and the young and upcoming stars of paddling in Hawaii, two of whom are competing in their fist Hawaiki Nui Va'a--Aaron Norris of Lanikai and Miles Orr of Outrigger Canoe Club.
And from the runner up of the Moloka’i Hoe, Wailea Canoe Club of Maui are Daniel Chun, brothers Alan and Tristan Kahookele-Santos, Chase Van Nordheim. Daniel Chun is the only paddler of the group to have won this grueling race three times. All of those victories with the same Tahitian team, EDT, the electric company of Tahiti. His last victory dates back to 2017. Steering the crew is Avan Makoa Becerra who paddled last year’s race with Team Huahine and finished overall in fourth place, Team Huahine’s best finish. Another paddler who's brought some experience is Jimmy Austen who is the only returning paddler from Team Hawaii’s last participation fourteen years ago when Team Hawaii finished sixth overall.
Team Hawaii’s best result was fourth place overall back in 2001. Steering that team was none other than Jim Foti, this year’s coach.