The Outrigger Canoe Club was leading the 1966 Molokai to Oahu canoe race from Hale O Lono Harbor on Molokai to the Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki in its famed koa canoe the Leilani. Swells were running 15 feet with 20-footers coming through with regularity and winds gusting up to 30 mph. The crew miraculously paddled toward Oahu while being pushed in all directions by the surf. Three hours out, with Diamond Head in view, the Leilani was hit by a rapid series of swells with such velocity that she could not shake them off. Before the crew could bail or jump out, Leilani was swamped. The crew spent two hours trying to refloat the canoe in the heavy seas, and was finally able to get the severely damaged canoe aboard the escort vessel. Thanks to the heroic efforts of the crew and support team the canoe was salvaged and later repaired. The Leilani is still being used by Outrigger paddlers. The paddlers in the canoe that day were Tom Bean, Mark Buck, Jody D’Enbeau, Bill Eggers, Fred Hemmings Jr., Mike Holmes, Robert Holmes, Tommy Holmes and Glenn Perry. They were coached by Al Lemes. Only six of the 12 canoes starting the race finished. One broke up and sunk. The rough seas are highly evident at approximately :30:00 with the swamp occurring at approximately 35:45.