The Waa Kiakahi Canoe Festival, now in its 20th year, takes place each June in Kaanapali and gives visitors a chance to witness and participate in traditional Hawaiian sailing canoe racing. The event is sponsored by the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association as a way to offer guests authentic cultural programming.
- The Waa Kiakahi Canoe Festival is held annually each June at Kaanapali Beach, offering a recurring tourism draw for the resort area.
- Eight teams race 45-foot sailing canoes 27 miles from Kahului to Kaanapali using only a compass and knowledge of wind and swell.
- The festival is now in its 20th year and is backed by the Kaanapali Beach Resort Association as a cultural tourism initiative.
- Visitors can ride in traditional sailing canoes and learn about their central role in Hawaiian history and identity.
- After the Kaanapali race, teams continue with an additional race from Maui to Molokai and back.
Source: USA Today
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