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Our Roots


Pu Pu 'O Hawaii Outrigger was founded in 1979 by Noah Kalama, Keala Stibbard, Nappy Naipo, Naomi Kalama, Kaua Wong and Jim Hickox. Our lineage has deep roots in Hawaii and with our sister club Anuenue, in Honolulu.

Keala Stibbard, with the help of many long time members like Linda Dresbach and Jerry Ching, continues to guide us through the years to ensure that our traditions live on. As founding member, director and Kupuna, she holds a special place in our hearts.



Our Mission

The mission and primary purpose of Pu Pu 'O Hawaii is to preserve and promote a unique quality of life, referred to by the Hawaiian/Polynesian Community as "The Spirit of Aloha" and Hawaiiana. This is a willingness to accept others regardless of physical appearance, beliefs, sex, race, or religion and to share our Aloha (love, affection, lineage, and traditional life-style) with them. We look for and provide opportunities to enhance the culture, history, art, music, dance, and traditional life-style of the Hawaiian and other Polynesian people. Pu Pu 'O Hawaii fosters and encourages Hawaiian outrigger canoe racing with other Hawaiian outrigger canoe clubs and associations.



Our Fleet

Pu Pu 'O Hawaii Outrigger practices at both, Vasona Lake in Los Gatos and Santa Cruz Harbor. We have a number outrigger canoes- singles, doubles and six-person. Some stay at the lake while others are raced throughout Northern California.

Each canoe is a living soul, and is therefore honored and treated with respect and care. Each canoe has a special name.

The following is a list of the canoes, their names, meaning of the Hawaiian names, and the kind of build. They are listed in the order they became part of our Ohana (family):

Bella - Malia model, built by Noah Kalama in 1959 and named for his wife, Bella

Noah - Malia model, built by the club in 1978 and named for Noah Kalama

Kalania Kai - Bradley model, means Smooth Seas

Kai Wahine - Bradley Model, means Lady of the Sea

Ka'ahele Moana - Force 5 model, means Ocean Traveler

Linaka Kahiau - Bradley model, means From the Heart

Mana Pewili II - Unlimited, means Spirit of Beverly. (We honor her spirit as she lost her battle with breast cancer.)



The Malias have a distinctive style from other canoe styles: They are heavier, differ in turning radius and one sits higher in the canoe. We use these models primarily for Sprints.

The Bradleys, Force 5 and unlimited are used out of the Santa Cruz Harbor for both our Sprint season and for long Distance racing.