HONOLULU — Lanikai Canoe Club picked up right where it left off on the state scene.

The elite club from the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association won its third straight state title by outpointing rival Hawaiian Canoe Club in the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association championship regatta on Saturday at Keehi Lagoon.

The 2020 and 2021 regatta seasons were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Lanikai didn’t lose a stroke from its last title in 2019, amassing 450 points across 39 events, while Hawaiian, from Maui, posted 400 points in 42 events. Hui Nalu Canoe Club took third with 357 points.

Lanikai medaled in 25 events with nine golds, nine silvers and seven bronze. It swept the prestigious men’s and women’s senior events.

The victorious men’s senior team of Matt Crowley, Nick Foti, Manny Kulukulualani, Ryan Murphy, Igor Sobreira and Karel Tresnak Jr. completed the mile-and-a-half circuit in 11 minutes, 8.44 seconds, four-plus seconds ahead of runner-up Keauhou Canoe Club.

But it was the women who did the damage. The Windward Oahu club trailed Hawaiian on the scoreboard early in the day but rallied in the adult races as it swept the women’s freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior events.

The Lanikai women’s senior team of Mahealani Botelho, Monica Esquivel, Aulani Hall, Chelsea Kahalepauole-Bizik, Anna Mathisen and Carolyn Seto-Mook covered the course in 12:59.30, nearly 20 seconds clear of runner-up Outrigger Canoe Club.

Prior to the recent run of dominance by Lanikai, Hawaiian had been the club to beat. They won five straight states between 2013 and 2017.

Keahiakahoe Canoe Club won the AAA (13-20 crews entered) category with 184 points; Keaukaha Canoe Club won the AA (7-12 entered) category with 133 points and Wailea won among the smallest clubs (1-6 entered) with 64 points.

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.