The World's Largest Long Distance Canoe Race
The Queen Lili'uokalani Canoe Race began in 1972. It filled a simple need for local paddlers. They used the event to train for Hawaii’s most grueling competitions. These include the Na Wahine O Ke Kai (Women) and the Molokai Hoe (Men). Both races cross the difficult channels from Molokai to Oahu.
Honoring Hawaii’s Royal History
Organizers named the event for Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii’s last reigning monarch. The first race fell exactly on the Queen’s birthday, September 2. Since then, the race has grown tremendously.
Today, we host over 2,500 paddlers from across the globe. Teams travel from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Hong Kong. We also welcome participants from Florida, California, and Canada.
Four Days of Racing and Festivities
The event now spans four full days of action.
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Thursday: The fun begins with the OC4 warmup races.
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Saturday: This is the main event. Teams race 18 miles in single-hull canoes between Kailua and Honaunau.
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Sunday: We feature double hull, OC1, OC2, and SUP races.
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Monday: The "Kupuna Classic" closes the weekend. This special paddle honors participants aged 50 and older.
Labor Day Weekend Celebration We hold the race every year during Labor Day Weekend. Saturday night features a beautiful torchlight parade. On Sunday, everyone enjoys a traditional awards luau.
For 2026 updates, visit https://www.qlcanoerace.com/
Photo credit: Carla Photography
