Hui Wa’a O Puget Sound (HWOPS) Outrigger Canoe Club
The organization was established with the mission of promoting Hawaiian culture in the Pacific Northwest. We preserve and perpetuate Hawaiian traditions through the practice of outrigger canoe paddling.
Our club is dedicated to educating and training individuals of all ages—men, women, and children—in the history, craft, and techniques of Hawaiian outrigger canoeing. Additionally, we foster opportunities for cultural exchange and collaboration among the people of the United States, Native American communities, and Pacific Islanders.
For more information, go to our website.
Practice Schedule
We We offer adult practices for all ages and skill levels as well as Keiki (youth) practices.
Paddles, PFD’s and basics lessons will all be provided.
Seasonal Calendar
January – March: OC1 Race Series / Pre-Season OC6 Practices
March: Pre-Season Meeting / Pre-Season OC6 Practices
March – April: Pre-Season OC6 Distance Races / Pool Huli Training / Pre-Season OC6 Practices
May – June: OC6 Sprint Regattas / Season OC6 Practices
July – September: OC6 Distance Races / Season OC6 Practices
October – December: Off-Season Practices OC1 / OC6 Only when available.
General/Recreational/Beginner Adult Practices:
Saturday Morning 9:00am (Year-around)
Saturday morning practice is open to all adult paddlers, including beginners. Coaches will organize paddlers into groups based on experience and skill level so each group can work at an appropriate pace. New paddlers can expect support with basic technique, safety, and canoe handling, while more experienced paddlers may focus on conditioning, timing, and teamwork.
Saturday at 11:00 am (Seasonal) – Competitive Race Crew Practice (Invite Only by Coach)
These practices will have long-distance training in mind and reserved for paddlers preparing for a race. Expect 1.5-2.5 hours of water time. Paddlers should be ready for a variety of higher intensity drills and medium effort long sets.
Tuesday and Thursday Evenings 6:00pm (from March through October-ish):
These practices are intended for recreational and competitive paddlers. Coaches will divide paddlers as needed based on skill level, goals, and have long distance training needs. Recreational paddlers can expect steady technique work, fitness, and group paddling. Expect 1.5-2 hours of water time. Competitive paddlers should be prepared for more structured training, a variety of higher- intensity drills, and race-focused medium effort long sets. Beginner paddlers will be encouraged to attend Saturday practices first and move into weekday practices once they have grasped the basics and are ready for the training program.
Keiki Practice:
Mondays at 5:00 pm (March-June, 5:30 July-September) at 5:00 pm
Saturdays at 2:00 pm
This will be a lighter practice, usually about 1 hour. It is open to Keiki (kids) must be between ages 5-14, able to sit in the seat by themselves safely, and follow instruction. We encourage parents to join their keiki at practice. Opios (teenagers, 15-18) should attend general adult practices.
Visit www.hwops.org or email HWOPS.contact@gmail.com for more information or to sign up for a practice.