San Diego Shaka Fest

From April 23, 2016 8:00 am until April 23, 2016 4:00 pm

Categories: Festivals /Ho`olaule`a

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Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club is proud to present the 3rd annual San Diego Shaka Fest. This festival includes a Stand Up Paddle race for all ages, a youth only Hawaiian outrigger canoe regatta, CrossFit Sun Rowing Warrior Challenge, health wellness fair and Polynesian entertainment, on two stages, and a Kahiko Keiki Hula Competition to round out this super family oriented event.

Parking and admission is free and open to the public. The festival will start with a traditional Hawaiian blessing. After the opening ceremony is the first 3-mile long stand up paddle race for all ages known as the Stand Up For The Kids SUP fundraiser. Then the third annual Keiki Heihe Waʻa (youth canoe regatta) begins with a 3-mile long Hawaiian outrigger canoe race. Youth’s then race their canoes on a straight 500 yard course with six lanes marked by buoy flags with race turns in front of Crown Point Shores. This is a very spectator friendly event and great fun for the entire family. Teams from as far away as Hawaii come to compete at this event.

Youth outrigger canoe racers from the Hawaiian Nā ʻŌpio Racing Association, The Southern California Outrigger Racing Association, and the Kaliponi Keiki Outrigger Association (KKOA) will be competing in the traditional Hawaiian way in their six-person Hawaiian outrigger canoes, hula dancers, drummers, and ukulele players will be performing in the park entertaining guests. Health Wellness information booths, Stand Up Paddle Vendors with demo equipment, and Outrigger paddling vendors will also have booths at this festival.

This festival is a fundraiser to benefit Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club so they can continue to operate their all adult volunteer run Hawaiian cultural immersion program on San Diego Mission Bay.

Part of the mission of Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club’s Hawaiian cultural immersion program is to educate the youth about eating a healthier diet while at the same time participating in physical activity such as outrigger canoe paddling and stand up paddling. Gus Cervantes president and cofounder of Nā Koa Kai Canoe Club believes that teaching children at a young age the habits of a healthy diet and regular exercise will continue through their adulthood and begin to turn the tide on the obesity epidemic that has inflicted modern society.

For updated information on this event call Gus Cervantes at (858) 449-2078 or visit