Outrigger Canoe Club Hosts Race for Southern California Paddlers

The Ventura Outrigger Challenge event is a great way for friends and families to celebrate World Oceans Day and see a race featuring traditional Polynesian outrigger canoes. There will be displays, vendors, food, and Hawaiian dancers will perform at 3:00 pm. Outrigger canoe clubs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo will compete in open ocean races that range from between five to 15 miles in length.

Across the street from the beach the celebration continues at Channel Islands National Park with three special live broadcasts where audiences can interact with rangers diving in the kelp forest fourteen miles offshore at Anacapa Island. The programs which occur at 10:00 am and 12:30 and 2:00 pm provide an opportunity to learn about current threats to our oceans and how each of us can help conserve our coastal and ocean resources.

Nearby, in Ventura Harbor Village there will be a celebration of National Marina Day with displays on water safety, tours of harbor boats and nearby wildlife ponds, food tasting, and live music. These festivities will be held from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm near Andria’s Seafood and Milano’s Italian restaurants in Ventura Harbor Village.

Hokuloa Outrigger Canoe Club, a competitive sport canoe club in Ventura since the early 1970s, has a diverse membership of all ages and abilities from adults to keikis (kids). The club’s Hawaiian name means Guiding Star and is emblematic of their mission to promote the sport of amateur outrigger canoe paddling through structured athletic programs, races, fitness training, and community outreach to encourage appreciation of the ocean.

For more information about the race and Hokuloa visit: www.hokuloaoutrigger.com.