We build canoes.

Farewell Ka'apahu

April 02, 2011

Our third open class canoe, the Ka'apahu, is leaving Hawai'i next week. She has been sprayed red and will find her new home at Off-Shore Canoe Club in California. She will arrive in California with an undefeated record in Hawai'i, as she was first in both the 2011 'Eono and 2012 Ola Mau. A hui hou aku no.

Hiring

January 13, 2011

Kamanu Composites is hiring. We're looking to fill one full time position. Interested applicants can email a cover-letter and resume to Keizo@kamanucomposites.com

Hiring

October 28, 2010

We’re looking to add one person to our production team at our Kailua shop. Job may involve all aspects of canoe building. Please email info@kamanucomposites.com with resume. Open interviews 1 pm to 3:30 tomorrow, Friday Oct 29th. Bring resume.

An Update

July 28, 2010

Once again Kamanu Composites has fallen into the unfortunate state of having a website that never gets updated. In a feeble attempt to justify our inactive website, here are some of the things we’ve been up to recently:

Facebook We’re now on Facebook and have been actively updating our page with everything that should have gone on the website. There are pictures, videos, and a steady stream of updates from Kailua and our reps around the world.

White Building We finally followed through on a claim that we made over a year ago about painting our building white. Initial estimates put it way out of our price range, but, with the help of Wally Hamasaki’s painting services, we were finally able to do it. The temperature difference in the shop is amazing and we encourage anyone with a building that feels like an oven to make the investment.

Team Kamanu We have always been fortunate enough to be surrounded by a great team of paddlers. This year we were able to take that team to the next level in the form of Team Kamanu. Xcel, NS Airconditioning, Oakley, and Steinlager have come on board, and with their help we are supporting many of the top paddlers in Hawai’i. As the 2010 OC-1 season wrapped up, the team was able to sweep all of the major races. Notable finishes by paddlers on a Kamanu Composites canoes include:

Steinglager Kaiwi Channel Solo 1st- Danny Ching 2nd- Jimmy Austin 3rd- Manny Kulukulu’alani 5th- Simeon Ke-Paloma

Sarento’s/ Kai Wa’a Maui to Moloka’I Challenge 1st- Jimmy Austin 2nd- Mael Carey 3rd- Manny Kulukulualani 4th- Danny Ching 6th- Ka’eo’okalani Abbey 7th- Tapa Worthington 1st V1- Luke Evslin 2nd V1- Makana Denton

Kaiwi Channel Relay 1st- Jimmy Austin/ Manny Kulukul’alani 2nd- Travis Grant/ Mike Murray 3rd- Luke Evslin/ Simeon Ke-Paloma 4th- Mael Carey/ Tapa Worthington

Aqua Resorts Hawai’i/ Steinlager Kaua’I World Challenge 1st- Jimmy Austin/ Manny Kulukulu’alani 2nd- Mike Murray/ Travis Grant 3rd- Tapa Worthington/ Simeon Ke-Paloma 4th- Luke Evslin/ Kelly Foster 5th- Carlton Helm/ Makana Denton 6th- Bill Pratt/ Raven Aipa 7th- Ka’eo’okalani Abbey/ Sean Ka’awa 8th- CJ Day/ Justin Watts 1st W- Jane Mckee/ Kristin Foster

Olukai Ho’olaule’a 1st- Danny Ching 2nd- Jimmy Austin 3rd- Travis Grant 4th- Manny Kulukulu’alani 5th- Ka’eo’okalani Abbey 6th- Kekoa Cramer

Pa’a ‘Eono Hoe 1st- Kawainui paddled by Team Kamanu 4th- Kapa’a paddled by OCP Mafia

Kapa’a and Kawainui When we heard that Pa’a was hosting an iron channel crossing that allowed for open class canoes, we decided (with very little thought or discussion) that we would build two V-6s to compete. Unfortunately we only had eight weeks to design and build two revolutionary new canoes. Our progress is documented on our facebook page and details of the canoes are described below. The abbreviated version of it all is that the whole shop and a small army of volunteers were mobilized to build both canoes. After weeks of 18 hour shifts the boats were finally completed at 7:00 the morning of the Pa’a ‘Eono Hoe. The Kawainui finished first and the Kapa’a finished fourth.

Margo Pelegrino We are fortunate enough to be able to sponsor Margo Pelegrino in her “attempt to protect and conserve our oceans and coasts for future generations by calling out to communities all along America’s coastlines.” She is currently paddling from Seattle to San Diego in a Pueo to raise support for a Healthy Oceans Act. Seattle2sandiego.com.

Kapa'a

June 15, 2010

The Kapa'a is for sale. It is the second of two unlimited design six-person canoes built by Kamanu Composites specifically for the inaugural Pa'a Eono Hoe race in May 2010. Being the second of two canoes built in succession, we are more confident in its construction quality, which is the reason for selling it over the Kawainui. We are looking for a team, sponsor, or local canoe club willing to become early adopters and lead our sport into the future.

DESIGN The Kapa'a is a radical experiment in canoe design.

To explain the Kapa'a, it's necessary to understand our first canoe the Kawainui. The Kawainui started as a hull optimized for flatwater speed with certain boundary limits. These limits were loosely based off modern Hawaiian outrigger canoes. The hull was then modified for performance in rough conditions.

Waterline length was kept short at 36’6”. Seating and 'iako placement were kept similar to current canoe designs. The weight distribution determined by the seating kept the center of buoyancy similarly positioned, as well as a rocker profile that’s not radically different. However, no weight or design restrictions opened up the field for new possibilities. A design weight of 200 lbs lifted the Kawainui an inch higher out of the water. Entry and exits along the full length of the canoe were streamlined unlike any Spec canoe could possibly do. Waterline width was increased to 20.5". Reserve buoyancy was added with a wider maximum width of 21.5". A streamlined deck was created to add overall stiffness and to remove the need for a gunnel. Overall design length came to 44'4".

The Kapa'a evolved as an adaptation of the Kawainui. The first changes were made to improve its flat water speed: increasing the waterline to 38'4" and reducing the waterline width to 19.5". The second and most radical change is the movement of weight and volume distribution nearly 18" forward of the Kawainui's. This places the center of buoyancy and weight forward of center, with the goal of making this the easiest canoe in the world to drop into waves. These changes force the rocker profile forward with a longer release aft; most similar to recent developments seen in the oc1 and surfski markets. The max width was increased to 22" for even more reserve buoyancy. Finally, overall length was reduced to 41'9" in an effort to increase maneuverability in the surf.

The result is a canoe that works exceptionally well downwind. It made crossing the Kaiwi Channel an indescribably fun experience. See photos from the race.

CONSTRUCTION The Kapa'a is strip planked out of half inch foam core for incredible stiffness and lightness. Stations were CNC cut every 12" that accurately represent the original CAD model. The laminate is primarily s-glass with very limited selected areas reinforced with carbon for overall stiffness. The resin used is vinylester. The paint is gelcoat. The weight is about 188 lbs, while the Kawainui is 205 lbs. Two people can load it on a trailer.

PRICE Asking $15,000. Comes with canvas. No ama or 'iako, but rigs well with any Hawaiian style ama and 'iako. Demo practice available out of Kailua.

Our sport is undergoing a revolutionary change. There will inevitably become more and more races that do not adhere to the artificial design restrictions of the past 30 years. For a little while, there will only be a few canoes that have such a competitive advantage. Get in one of those canoes; you will undoubtedly have more fun.