Queen Lili'uokalani Canoe Race

The Queen Liliʻuokalani Canoe Race is the largest long-distance outrigger canoe race in the world, held annually in Kona to honor Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani. The race began in 1972 as a training event for the more challenging Moloka‘i Hoe and Na Wahine O Ke Kai channel crossings, but quickly evolved into its own major international competition. Traditionally scheduled on Labor Day weekend and originally coinciding with the Queen’s birthday on September 2, the event has grown from a single race to four days of activities, now attracting over 2,500 paddlers from Hawai‘i and countries around the globe. The main race covers 18 miles along the scenic Kona coastline, demanding intense endurance as most participants complete the course “iron,” meaning without relief crews.