Linda Martin’s paddle comes out of the water during a practice at Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 28, 2023. Martin is a member of Team Arizona Outrigger Canoe Club and is preparing for Another Dam Race, an outrigger canoe competition in Parker. (Photo by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
TEMPE – A piece of Hawaiian culture has transplanted itself into Arizona, a state not known for its aquatic sports and activities. Na Leo ’O Ke Kai (Na Leo) and Team Arizona (TAZ) outrigger canoe clubs are two Arizona organizations that provide an outlet for Hawaiian culture and sport to thrive.
Hawaiian outrigger canoeing is a sport where six people paddle a narrow, 40-foot canoe and compete in distance and sprint races. They assume different roles: Some are in charge of setting the pace, others are the powerhouses, while the person in the stern steers and gives commands.
“I kind of think of it like cogs in a clock,” Ryan Udarbe, president of Na Leo, said. “Everybody has to move at the same time, in exactly the same speed, or else you’re going to throw everything off.”
From front, Hedy Downing, Laura Tallman, Alison Lee, Alicia Lin Kee and Margaret Coulombe, practice paddling at Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 21, 2023. The group, including Na Leo ’O Ke Kai and Team Arizona members, prepares for an upcoming race in Parker.
Lucie Wailani, a member of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai, cleans an outrigger canoe after practice on Oct. 7, 2023. Everyone takes part in maintaining the canoes, from washing them with water, cleaning the hull with sponges and returning the canoes to their parking spots. (Photos by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
Left: From front, Hedy Downing, Laura Tallman, Alison Lee, Alicia Lin Kee and Margaret Coulombe, practice paddling at Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 21, 2023. The group, including Na Leo ’O Ke Kai and Team Arizona members, prepares for an upcoming race in Parker. Right: Lucie Wailani, a member of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai, cleans an outrigger canoe after practice on Oct. 7, 2023. Everyone takes part in maintaining the canoes, from washing them with water, cleaning the hull with sponges and returning the canoes to their parking spots. (Photos by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
For Udarbe, outrigger canoeing was an integral part of his childhood.
“It’s just one of the things you do growing up,” Udarbe, who is from Maui, said. After moving to the mainland, Udarbe stopped participating in the sport because he wasn’t aware of any outrigger canoe clubs. He estimates he had been away from the sport for about 30 years before joining Na Leo.
“When you move here, you kind of, I guess, assimilate to the culture here,” he said. “I was missing being around my people and my culture.”
(Video by Tabitha Bland/Cronkite News)
He then encountered the Na Leo outrigger canoe club during the Arizona Aloha Festival in Tempe, and it restarted his involvement with the sport.
While he enjoys the competitive aspect of outrigger canoeing, Udarbe said that it’s more about the people.
“All the different clubs, even though we race against each other, we’re all still one big family,” he said.
Members of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai and Team Arizona outrigger canoe clubs say a “pule” (prayer) before starting practice at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 26, 2023. The two teams compete against each other but also practice together to foster a sense of camaraderie and the ’Ohana Wa’a (family of the canoe) spirit.
Betty Flores, a member of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai, takes a selfie with Na Leo and TAZ members at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 30, 2023. “All the different clubs, even though we race against each other, we’re all still one big family,” said Ryan Udarbe, president of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai outrigger canoe club. (Photos by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
Left: Members of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai and Team Arizona outrigger canoe clubs say a “pule” (prayer) before starting practice at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 26, 2023. The two teams compete against each other but also practice together to foster a sense of camaraderie and the ’Ohana Wa’a (family of the canoe) spirit. Right: Betty Flores, a member of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai, takes a selfie with Na Leo and TAZ members at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 30, 2023. “All the different clubs, even though we race against each other, we’re all still one big family,” said Ryan Udarbe, president of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai outrigger canoe club. (Photos by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
As Na Leo president, he wanted to bring the club and TAZ together and perpetuate the ’Ohana Wa’a, or family of the canoe, spirit he saw back in Hawaii. The two teams practice together, enjoy each other’s company and support each other whenever they can.
Hawaii is a chain of islands surrounded by the Pacific Ocean. Arizona is a landlocked desert state with little water. Hawaii has tropical weather that is consistently described as “paradise.” Arizona had 30 straight days of temperatures greater than 110 degrees this summer.
Members of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai practice paddling in a double-hull outrigger canoe at Tempe Town Lake on Oct. 10, 2023. Each person has a specific role. “I kind of think of it like cogs in a clock,” said Ryan Udarbe, president of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai outrigger canoe club. “Everybody has to move at the same time, in exactly the same speed, or else you’re going to throw everything off.” (Photo by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
The Arizona desert could not be more starkly different from Hawaii, but outrigger canoeing found its way here.
Joey Kau, who is from Oahu and paddles for Na Leo, said he wanted his kids to have the cultural experience the sport provides. His reason for being in an outrigger canoe club in Arizona is “staying rooted and being in touch with my culture.”
Donna Kalahele, a member of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai, practices paddling at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 26, 2023. Na Leo and TAZ practice improving their endurance, coordination and overall technique. (Photo by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
A Valley Metro light rail train goes over Tempe Town Lake as a double-hull outrigger canoe silhouette travels west on Oct. 10, 2023. (Photo by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
Edward “Uncle” Martin, a member of Team Arizona Outrigger Canoe Club, paddles in a double-hull outrigger canoe at Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 23, 2023. Members of Arizona’s outrigger canoe clubs participated in a paddle -out to honor the families of Maui affected by this summer’s wildfires and to collect donations. (Photo by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
Brandon Kawamoto, a member of Na Leo ’O Ke Kai outrigger canoe club, sprinkles flowers into Tempe Town Lake on Sept. 23, 2023. Members of Arizona’s Hawaiian outrigger canoe clubs gathered to remember and honor the families of Maui affected by wildfire. (Photo by Kevinjonah Paguio/Cronkite News)
Edward “Uncle” Martin, who is also from Oahu and paddles for TAZ, encourages anyone willing to learn the sport and its cultural significance to participate: “Come paddle.”
The members of Na Leo and TAZ outrigger canoe clubs showcase the resilience of Hawaiian sport and culture.
“Ultimately, it’s more about the people, just connecting and keep perpetuating the Hawaiian culture of ‘ohana,’ and just spread the aloha,” Udarbe said.
Kevinjonah Paguio expects to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in global studies. He has interned at the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism, is now an intern with AZ Big Media and has freelanced.
Tabitha Bland plans to graduate in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in criminal justice. Bland plans to focus on in-depth news packages. She has interned as a multimedia journalist for AZEdNews, worked as short-form video editor for the State Press, and anchored for the State Press and The Cut Network.
Kiersten Edgett expects to graduate in December 2023 with a master’s degree in journalism. Edgett works as a research aide for ASU’s Media Enterprise and is a DJ for Blaze Radio.