About Us

Ohana Wa'a Outrigger Canoe Center was founded in 2005. The founders wanted to race in long distance races out of the area. They traveled to various sites in order to practice. Sites included: Petaluma Marina, Buck's Landing, Benicia Marina, and Black Point. In 2011 with the generosity of Napa Valley Yacht Club, Ohana was able to call Napa their permanent home.

Our
Story

Outrigger canoes gather in the Napa River turning basing in Downtown Napa for Paddle for a Cure

Our
Canoes

Eleu

Our first canoe purchased by founders as a way to compete in long distance races and exotic races out of the area. This is a Mirage brand canoe.

Name means: lively, spiritual, adventurous

Anuenue

A Malia Canoe came from Kilohana OCC in 2010. It’s an original boat from Ke Anuenue and one of the association original club canoes.

Name means: rainbow

Kaiola

Our 2nd Mirage Outrigger Connection canoe came from Mendocino OCC. Purchased in 2010.

Name means: Live the life of the sea

John O'Brien (JOB)

Our only Bradley canoe. Was on loan from He'e Nalu OCC (San Rafael) then we purchased it in 2016. Restored by Ohana members in 2017 to 2018.

John O'Brien was named in memory of an individual that was inspirational and personified the true spirit of He’e Nalu. John designed and built a delta power boat, raced sailboats, surfed, windsurfed and at the age of 63 discovered paddling.

Our canoe is dedicated in honor of him for his passion for paddling and for the love and ohana he felt for He’e Nalu and the outrigger community.

Kainehi

A Malia canoe purchased from Kaimanu (San Leandro) in 2020.

Haunani Kamakani

A Mirage canoe purchased in 2020 from Kaimanu.

Named after the sister of a Kaimanu paddler.

Name meanings:

Haunani - beautiful dew

Kamakani - the wind

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