“Komo mai kau mapuna hoe”
- Hawaiian proverb meaning "dip your paddle in!"

Hui Wa’a O Wakinikona is an outrigger canoe club based in Seattle and a cultural activity of the Wakinikona Hawaiian Club.
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The primary mission of the Hui Wa’a O Wakinikona:

• Preserve  and promote Hawaiian heritage by providing members an opportunity to perpetuate the water sport and competitive spirit of Hawaiian outrigger canoe racing.
• Provide the resources to teach and learn Hawaiian customs and culture.
• Encourage fitness and health through the sport, and provide an opportunity for fellowship.

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Hui Wa'a O Wakinikona Benefits:

Wa'a Team Paddling
The Hui Wa’a O Wakinikona  has both recreational and competitive canoe paddlers (na hoe wa’a) with varying degrees of skill and experience.  Club paddles are available for the beginning paddlers. 

Fitness & Training
The sport requires physical strength, conditioning, timing and teamwork.  This is built up over time and practice, as well as exposure to varying weather and water conditions.  The Hui Wa’a usually starts its weekly practice schedule in early April.  Practices are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 to 7:30 PM and on Saturdays from 9:00 to 11:00 AM.  The practices are held at our “beach” on Lake Union, just NE of Gas Works Park on Northlake Way, adjacent to Dunato’s boat yard.  Regular attendance at practice is strongly encouraged to build up stamina and hone teamwork.  Conditioning is important for those who want to become competitive paddlers as both the sprints and long distance races require discipline and a high level of fitness.

Safety
The Hui Wa’a emphasizes safety by ensuring paddlers can pass a float test, carries personal flotation devices in each canoe and annually practices procedures for righting a canoe that may huli (turns over).  Further, practice courses follow closely along the shoreline.

Racing & Activities
The Hui Wa’a is one of 20 canoe clubs in Western Washington and Northern Oregon participating in the racing season organized by the Pacific NorthWest Outrigger Racing Canoe Association (PNW-ORCA).  The association operates under the guidance of the International Va'a Federation, the governing body for canoe and kayak racing in the United States.
The Hui Wa’a participates in social events held by our proud and generous sponsors- The Wakinikona Hawaiian Club.