The Outrigger Canoe Club is a member of the Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (OHCRA). The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association is an off-shoot of the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association. OHCRA was formed in 1979 to include Oahu canoe clubs that preserve the tradition of outrigger canoe racing in koa canoes. OHCRA is the largest canoe racing association in Hawaii and currently has 18 active clubs competing in its regatta and long-distance canoe racing seasons, and three inactive clubs. OHCRA is a 501(c)(3) volunteer-driven organization with elected officials and its Board of Directors has representation from all member clubs.
The regatta season includes six regattas, the OHCRA championships and the HCRA championships. Regattas usually begin on the first Sunday in June and conclude with the HCRA championships on the first Saturday of August. Currently the regatta season includes the Paiaina Regatta, sponsored by Healani Canoe Club; the Kamehameha Day Regatta, sponsored by Kailua Canoe Club; the Father’s Day Regatta, sponsored by Leeward Kai Canoe Club; the Waimanalo Regatta, sponsored by Waimanalo Canoe Club; the Walter J. Macfarlane 4th of July Regatta sponsored by Outrigger Canoe Club, and the John D. Kaupiko Regatta, sponsored by the Hui Nalu Canoe Club. OHCRA puts on its championship regatta and island associations alternate hosting the HCRA state championship regatta.
Each regatta has 45 events that include races for men and women from ages 12 & Under to 70 & older.
Races are conducted in accordance with OHCRA race rules, with OHCRA certifying the race officials who are all volunteers.
After regatta season is over, OHCRA clubs also sponsor a series of long distance races that culminate with the Na Wahine O Ke Kai and the Molokai Hoe. Outrigger Canoe Club sponsors one of these distance races, the Dad Center Memorial Long Distance Race for women on the last Sunday of August. The other distance races are the Leeward Kai Challenge, sponsored by Leeward Kai Canoe Club; the Duke Kahanamoku Races, sponsored by Lanikai Canoe Club; the Kailua Bay Challenge, sponsored by Kailua Canoe Club; the E Lau Hoe, sponsored by OHCRA, and the Henry Ayau Memorial Race, sponsored by Hui Lanakila Canoe Club.
Seven pre-season races are also held under the auspices of OHCRA.