The koa canoe Stephanie was originally owned by Henry DeGorog who served as general manager of the OCC during the war years of 1942 to 1945. Its early history and builder are unknown. DeGorog purchased the canoe on the Big Island for $200 for his family’s personal use. The canoe has four seats. He stored it on Club grounds. He named the canoe for his water-loving toddler daughter Stephanie.
When he accepted a job in San Francisco in September 1945, he offered the canoe to the Club for the price he purchased it for. The Board accepted his offer.
The canoe was used occasionally by members and the Beach Boys, but mostly sat in the canoe shed.
In 1964 when we moved to our current location, the canoe was refinished and hung over the bar. It remained there for nearly 35 years. By the late 1990s, the canoe needed considerable refurbishing so it was removed, and plans were made by the Historical Committee to replace it in the Bar with the Ka Mo`i when it was returned from Kauai.
The Outrigger Hotel chain offered to make the $8,000 in repairs needed for the Stephanie in exchange for the OCC leasing it to them for a period of 10 years. They restored it and it was displayed in the lobby of the Outrigger Wailea Resort on Maui and in the lobby of the Outrigger Reef Hotel in Waikiki. The canoe was returned to the Outrigger in 2015 and is soon to undergo renovation by Tay Perry.
Its future is uncertain but the Club will retain ownership of the canoe.