9 Sonoma County Woman – 1 Canoe – 26 Miles

Nine Sonoma County women (some from Petaluma) will be traveling to Maui tomorrow to compete in the Pailolo Challenge 26 mile Outrigger Canoe Race from Maui to Molokai on Saturday September 19th. They will be representing Lokahi Outrigger Canoe Club in Petaluma during our time in Maui.

These woman are joining forces to compete in one of the premiere outrigger canoe races in the world – The Pailolo Challenge.  These woman practice out of the Petaluma River to the San Francisco bay working out in the big waves to prepare for this grueling challenge.  This group is also going to take the opportunity to learn and experience the Hawaiian culture and stories of the islands.Conoe Challenge

Click here to see their brochure.  Not mentioned in the brochure are some new members:

Lauren Armstrong

Lauren is a Community Planner with Marin County. Born and raised on Maui, she moved to the Bay Area two years ago. She has paddled with Anuenue in Honolulu and He’e Nalu Marin-Sonoma. Lauren also enjoys surfing, cooking and traveling. She is getting married in June 2016.

Janet Suliana Wainiqolo

The ocean has always been a big part of Janet’s life and culture growing up in the Fiji Islands.  To get from one island to another, they traveled in canoes as their ancestors did, navigating the currents and islands using the stars and elements. Moving from the Islands with her 6-year-old son, Zayar, to the US in Nov 2011, she eventually found an outrigger club that strengthened her love for the sport and introduced her to an awesome paddling ohana ~people who shared a love for the va’a (canoe) and cultural aspect behind it.  Janet currently resides in Sonoma.

Jessica Smith

Jessica is a wildlife biologist originally from Los Angeles, California. Jessica started paddling in Southern California, before relocating to the Bay Area for work. While living in Fremont, Jessica paddled with Kilohana for two seasons. She moved to Sonoma County in 2012, where she joined Lokahi Outrigger Canoe Club.  Jessica currently resides in Sebastopol with her husband.