Na Pali Challenge

The Kaua’i Outrigger Association is proud to host the annual Na Pali Challenge.

2022 RACE RESULTS

The Na Pali Challenge is a world-class outrigger canoe race that brings top paddling athletes to Kauai from far-flung locations.  It is an opportunity for wahine and kane to come together and race 37 miles down the stunning Na Pali Coast. Each team consists of 6 wahine and 6 kane. The two teams take alternating turns in the canoe, making water changes every 30 minutes.

Full information updates for the 2023 race are coming soon!

Section 1 – Registration

Registration for the 2022 Na Pali Challenge opens on July 1st. Please read through all registration requirements before starting your registration as the process has changed from previous years.

  • Paddler Information – Names, DOBs, and HCRA ID numbers for all 12 crew members
    • All paddlers must be valid in HCRAPaddler. Check with your home association Race Secretary on validation procedures.
    • You should indicate if shuttle services are needed.
  • Canoe information – name and color or indicate you need to borrow a canoe
    • KOA will make every effort to have canoes available to rent to off island crews, but may not be able to meet the demand. Please plan accordingly. If you need to ship a canoe – see shipping information below.
  • Escort Boat information – Escort boat name, HA#, Captain name, and HCRA Escort Form
    • All escort boats must complete the HCRA Escort Registration online.
    • The Escort boat owner and captain (if different) will need to complete and sign an HCRA Waiver and upload that and a copy of the vessel registration to the online form. 
    • There is a $100 fee – this will provide insurance for any KOA/HCRA sanctioned race (not just Na Pali) for one calendar year.
    • Once completed; you will receive PDF confirmation of your submission. You will need to upload this PDF to your Na Pali registration. 
    • OR provide proof of insurance with CGL limits of $1,000,000. 
    • Any changes to escort boats/escort information must be made no later than 24 hours prior to the start of the race. 
  • Na Pali Challenge Waiver – Once you submit your online registration, you will receive a pre-filled event waiver. You must print this, have all 12 crew members sign it, and turn it in to registration via email or in person on Friday (8/12). You must submit the waiver prior to receiving your canoe decals. 
    • Na Opio crews must have a parent/legal guardian sign.

Online Registration closes Saturday 8/6 at 5PM
All fees due by Friday 8/12 at 5PM

Registration will be at the Hanalei Pavilion from 2pm to 5pm on Friday the 12th.  You will find a registration tent set up on the grass.

Section 2 – General Information

Cost:
Entry Fees: (per crew) – payable with registration
  • Na Opio crews – $0 (Other fees may still apply; escort boat, canoe rental, shuttle, etc). 
  • All other crews – $600
Towing: (per canoe)
  • Nawiliwili Harbor to Hanalei Bay – $100
  • Kekaha to Nawiliwili Harbor – $100
Shuttle: (per person)
  • $30 One-way or Round-trip (Pick-up to race start & race finish to drop-off) [subject to change].

*Towing & Shuttle fees (if applicable) will be invoiced once registration is submitted. These items will remain pending until payment is received. If payment is not received within 5 days, these items will be cancelled. 

Course:
Hanalei Bay to Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor. The race begins in front of the pavilion where registration was completed.  Teams will head north out of the bay and turn west to make the 37 mile journey down some of the most beautiful coastline in the world. 
Divisions: 
Na Opio 
Unlimited 
Open 18-39 
Masters 40-49 
Senior Masters 50-54 
Golden Masters 55-59 
Grand Masters 60+

*Division is determined by the age of the youngest crew member on the date of the race. 

Awards/Lunch

Lunch will be provided to race participants at the finish – awards ceremony to take place approximately ½ hr after the last crew finishes

Shipping & Trailering Information:

If you are shipping a canoe, it must arrive to Kaua’i no later than Tuesday, August 9th, 2022. Canoes arriving after this date will not make it to the race start in time. Shipping fees must be prepaid by the shipper. We will not pick up canoes that have not been paid for. BILL OF LADING MUST INCLUDE NAME OF CANOE BEING SHIPPED. *See diagram*

Ship canoes to: (SHIPPER TO PAY SHIPPING FEES)

Peter Chow
℅: Kaua’i Outrigger Association
P.O. Box 662014
Lihue, HI 96766
(808)651-7298
napalichallenge@gmail.com

If you need trailering to the start or back to the Harbor, you must indicate so on your registration. Trailering is $100 each way. *Unless indicated otherwise; canoes will be shipped back COD to the same person who sent it.

Shuttle:
If your crew needs shuttle services, you must indicate so on your registration form. We will need to know where you are staying, size of your party, and if you need a round-trip or one-way ride. Shuttle stops, routes, and times are determined based on number of people and locations. This information will be updated periodically as we move forward – you can check for updates on koapaddler.org

Section 3 – Race Logistics

Canoe & Escort Numbers: 

All canoes must have a race number placed on the front right and left of the canoe. Escort boats must display the same race number in a visible area above the water line. Decals will be assigned at registration on Friday. Do not attempt to place numbers on the vessel when it is wet. 

*Escort boats must check in over the radio on the event operations channel 74 between 6:45a-7:15a the morning of the race.

Canoe Rental: 

If you need assistance in renting a canoe, you must indicate so on your registration. All rental fees are payable directly to the club you are renting from. While clubs will do their best to accommodate you, specific canoe types are not guaranteed. If you are renting a canoe – Trailering fees are included in your rental price. Available canoes will be first-come so plan ahead!

Course Information:

View Course information/map here: Na Pali Challenge

Starts:  (WOMEN CREWS TO START)
Race Start will be marked by official boats.
7:30 NaOpio and 60+ start (Kane)
8:00AM Open, Masters 40-49, Senior Masters 50-54, Golden Masters 55-59
8:30am Unlimited Start (Kane)
Changes:

Officials will make an announcement over the radio every 30 minutes indicating that the water change window has opened. This window will close after 5 minutes by way of radio announcement. Any crews making water changes outside of this time will be assessed a 10 minute time penalty. 

Approximately one (1) mile before the finish, a buoy will mark the last change area. Any crews making water changes after this marker (regardless of the change window being open) will be assessed a 10 minutes time penalty. 

Finish:

The Race Finish is outside of Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor. All canoes must pass between the official timing boat and the course finish marker. Canoes that do not pass between the finish marker and the timing boat will not receive a time and will be listed as “DNF” (Did Not Finish).

Section 4 – Time Penalties/Escort Rules

  1. Any water changes outside of the change window (as announced by officials every 30 minutes) will result in a 10-minute time penalty. 
  2. Any water changes after the “Last Change” marker at the finish will result in a 10-minute time penalty.
  3. All canoes will pass between the buoy and official timing boat at the finish.  Canoes that finish outside of these markers will not receive a time and will be marked as DNF.
  4. Escort boats will stay with their paddlers at all times unless otherwise instructed by Officials. 
  5. Every crew must have an escort boat to participate. 
  6. Your escort boat must have mounted VHF radios. (HANDHELDS are okay as backup)
  7. Escort boats are required to check in with race officials between 6:45a-7:15a on event operations channel 74
  8. Escort boats will at no time block or cause wake to a canoe.

*Any of this information is subject to change without notice. The latest information will be available on koapaddler.org. Contact napalichallenge@gmail.com with any questions. Our registration team will get back to you as soon as possible.