Canoe Racing Committee Chairs

Outrigger formed its first Canoe Racing Committee in 1951, just after the Hawaiian Canoe Racing and Surfing Association was established to oversee canoe racing in the islands.  The Canoe Racing Committee is a subcommittee of the OCC Athletic Committee which is chaired by the Club Captain.  The Club Captain reports to the Coordinating Director who is a member of the Club’s Board of Directors.

The chair of the CRC has the responsibility for over-seeing the Club’s canoe racing program, including naming coaches, overseeing the equipment, managing the budget, registering the 400-plus paddlers, selecting Club representatives for the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association, and putting on the Walter J. Macfarlane 4th of July Regatta and the Dad Center Memorial Long Distance Race.

For nearly the first 50 years of the Club’s existence, the job of Club Captain and overseeing all athletics went to George “Dad” Center.  Since there weren’t very many canoe races in those years, “Dad” and his team of Bob Fischer, Bill Capp, Duke Kahanamoku and others put on all the races, coaching, officiating, timing and keeping the canoes in good shape.  After the HCRSA was founded, canoe racing evolved to a different level, and more organization was needed at the Club level. At first the existing Canoe Committee oversaw the equipment and worked with the Head Coach to run the program. After the Club moved to its Diamond Head site in 1964 a Canoe Racing Committee was created with responsibility for equipment, coaches and all other aspects of the canoe racing program.

Members who have served as chairs of the Canoe Racing Committee over the years are: