MAUI, HAWAII – The OluKai Ho’olaule’a elite Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and one-man Outrigger Canoe (OC1) races will be featured on Ocean Paddler TV, airing nationally to over 50 million households on Universal Sports Network, an NBC Sports Partnership.
The OluKai Ho’olaule’a is a celebration of the ocean and cultures that surround it. During the 2-day ocean festival, elite watermen, waterwomen and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to paddle race the legendary Maliko “downwinder” on Maui’s North shore, an eight-mile stretch from Maliko Gulch to the Lae ’Ula O Kai Canoe Club at Kanaha Beach Park.
A $15,000 prize purse will be shared equally between the elite men’s and women’s divisions. The SUP race begins at 12:00PM on Saturday, May 14th. The OC1 race will launch at 12:00PM on Sunday.
The OluKai Ho’olaule’a race coverage will reach 52 markets nationwide, including the nation’s top 10 media markets, 20 of the top 25 markets, totaling over 50 million households. OluKai and Ocean Paddler TV are excited to showcase the incredible skill, raw power, endurance and dedication of the world’s elite paddlers while offering unique insight into the authentic culture that surrounds the Hawaiian ocean paddling community.
“Telling the OluKai Ho’olaule’a story, the races, music and cultural activities, to a national television audience offers an exciting opportunity to showcase Hawaii’s ocean culture to over 50 million households,” say Kerry Konrady, OluKai’s Director of Marketing. “This is a huge success in our efforts to support the growth of SUP, OC1, and the extraordinary people connected to the sports.”
Paddlers can register online at https://www.olukai.com/hoolaulea by May 4 to receive a Premium Race Package including luau dinner, technical race jersey, and a pair of OluKai sandals. Online registration closes May 10. Space is limited.