Outrigger Canoe Club history

The Club’s first 4th of July canoe regatta was held in 1910 when several Navy ships were anchored in Honolulu.

After a fire in 1914 destroyed the roof of the pavilion, the Club was rebuilt and the Hau Terrace enlarged.

The sport of sand volleyball was introduced at the OCC in 1915 by Club Captain George “Dad” Center.

In 1917, a dispute among the Club’s Board of Directors resulted in two slates of officers running for the Board.

Back in the 1920’s, while in high school, Whitey was already among the few surfing San Onofre.

In the 1930’s Whitey hopped a freighter to Honolulu.

In 1933, the first regatta devoted strictly to canoe racing was held on the Big Island.

Eventually the money was raised, the old buildings demolished, and the third Outrigger Canoe Club, designed by Vladimir Ossipoff, was erected in 1941.

After the untimely death of Walter Macfarlane in 1943 at the age of 36, the Outrigger renamed its annual Fourth of July regatta in his honor.

But, persistence paid off and, in 1952, the first Molokai to Oahu race was held.

So, in 1959, Toots hand-picked Noah Kalama to generate interest in an exhibition race from Catalina Island to Newport Beach.

In the 1960’s, Whitey continued to participate in outrigger racing events with his team using the unofficial name of Doheny Canoe Club.

Also designed by Ossipoff, it opened in time for the 1963 Christmas Open House.

In 1964 when its lease was up on the Waikiki site, Outrigger moved about a mile down the beach to its current location at 2909 Kalakaua Avenue, at the foot of Diamond Head where members continue to enjoy ocean and land sports and perpetuate the sports of Old Hawaii 365 days a year.

Marina Outrigger Canoe Club was formed in 1967 when two clubs, Santa Monica Outrigger Canoe Club and Kai Nalu Outrigger Canoe Club, merged.

Whitey steering the Kamuela – 1971

Following this race, Whitey decided it was time to form an official club and, in 1972, the Dana Outrigger Canoe Club was borne.

Whitey remained the head coach of Dana Outrigger up until 1983, but he continued to race with the club until he steered his last race at 79.

Yamo and Rich became co-coaches in 1988 and quickly began racking up an impressive list of accomplishments.

In the early 1990’s kayak builder John Martin of Hawaiian Designs looked at the rudderless Tahitian flat water canoes (va'a) that had been imported to Hawaii and decided to build a rough water OC-1, or one man outrigger canoe.

1992 Molokai Crossing – 1st Place Koa Division.

In November 1997, Buddy Adams, Dan Avina, Bob Bones, John Corning, Ed Duval, and Dave Hanson began paddling a borrowed Malia canoe and soon after purchased the first MKK canoe, the Manowale’a.

Oceanside Outrigger Canoe Club was founded in 2007 by the merging of two local outrigger clubs: Makana Ke Kai Outrigger Canoe Club and Paopao Outrigger Association.