Master Blaster Canoe "Race"

[Hee_Haw]

Today, amongst the whole high wind and heavy rain thing, paddlers all over Molokai and from points afar gathered for the annual Molokai Master Blaster.

It's a 10 mile race from Kamalo Harbor westward to Kaunakakai Wharf... with a twist.

Firstly, all paddlers must be of the "Masters" class or older. That is, 40 and up for men, 35 and up for ladies.

Nextly, and most significant, the paddlers must start off paddling, then every 1.5 miles or so, they must pull back in to the beach at "checkpoints", and guzz a beer completely, every paddler, then they must paddle back into the race. They do this six times.

By the time they're on the home "stretch", which incidentally passes right by our retreat center a 1/4 mile out, they're all out of sync, all making funny kine comments, some are stripping down to some bare essentials, just some pretty wild stuff. When they get to the wharf, they are (usually) shot at by the Fire Department with hoses as they finish, then they have one "nutz" party down at the canoe halau at the end of the wharf.

They weren't hot (with the existing weather) so it was somewhat subdued as opposed to past races. But still weird as ever even after 30 plus years of tradition, I suppose.


EDIT: Sorry, no topless women pix, as I didn't have the camera out, and I wouldn't want this sent to AD anyway. Plus it was cold, which could be considered a plus or a minus for women, depending on how deprived we men are.

[MLE]

Man! What are you all eating/drinking over there on Moloka'i? You must have some great parties--young and not so young! ROFL!

Really, though, sounds like it's a great time for everyone and a great show for those who watch rather than paddle.

[idiosyncratic]

that sounds like a lot of fun!

i thought cold was always good for women
at least on a guys point of view... makes the nip... hard and... nvm.

[turbolence75]

My coworkers on Molokai were just telling me about this today. She went to it and she said she had a blast. I want to go next year.

Topless women + beer = good fun