Na Wahine, Na Kane, Hanai and Ohana,
Happy indigenous Peoples' Day 2022, October 10
LINK: Deb Haaland Honors Indigenous Peoples
LINK: Gavin Newsom included California
LINK: Bidens Proclamation
It has been 40 years since the fateful day I saw Peter Balin paddling to the Golden Gate bridge on his maiden journey after completing his handmade 26’ outrigger canoe. As I dove off the Fort Mason Pier into the bay to swim to Peter’s canoe all I could think was he was one person in such a long canoe of course he would enjoy someone to help paddle. With his broad shoulders, a bone through his top knotted hair, and a shark tooth around his neck, I thought he was from Hawaii but he could be from any of the pacific islands.
When I reached his canoe he simply nodded while paddling, I jumped into the front seat where there was a paddle and started paddling. We headed to the Golden gate till sunset with no words just paddling. I turned around and finally spoke. Where are you planning to beach the canoe? He replied, "my only plan was to launch my canoe and get to the GG bridge". I suggested heading back into the bay and going to the opening of SF Aquatic Park and finding a place to beach his canoe. As we headed in the sky grew dark and the lights of Hyde Street pier shinned on the little pocked beach. we now call this beach Ohana Beach. Peter being from Maui had never been in these waters, I suggested we beach next to Hyde Street for safety. We surfed up and pushed his heavy canoe up on the beach and tied it to the pier. I walked back to my bike locked up at fort Mason and rode over to my VW bus parked at marina Green where I was living at the time.
The following day I submitted a permit application to Hyde Street for Peter’s Canoe and it was excepted.
40 years later in this month of Oct, we can celebrate an Outrigger Canoe has been on Ohana Beach!
Peter and I paddled his canoe for 6 years. We went all over the bay, surfing under the golden gate going up the delta, He always steering, me always in seat one. So many adventures with Peter, he was my teacher of navigation, endurance, boat building, and paddle building. Then very abruptly he returned to Maui leaving me and the canoe on Ohana beach.
Soon I had the good fortune of meeting all around Waterwoman Daphne Hougard and then her canoe Sister Susie GrantTogether They introduced me to a larger world of Outrigger canoe racing. Together they later started the Tamalpais Outrigger Canoe Club in Sausalito.
Then Hokulea came and the world of outrigger canoes grew throughout Northern CA.
About a year after Peter went to Maui he donated his 26’ canoe to a Hawaiian starting a kids team in the south bay. Daphne quickly manifested a Malia outrigger canoe built by the Church Of Samoa San Francisco for us to borrow for 2 years. By then a group of nine Na Wahine came together and bought a used Kirk Clarke outrigger canoe from a so ca club. In total There have been 3 different canoes after Peters these 40 years.
The San Francisco Muwekma Ohlone Tribe has been paddling off this beach, many tribal members from many Indigenous Peoples have paddled canoes out from this beach and many many people from all around the world have paddled canoes from Ohana Beach. Peter Balin seeded all these experiences from his love of canoeing and the water. Many na wahine have donated their time to continue seeding this spirited canoeing over these 40 years.
In 2018 Hikianalia’s Voyage from Hawaii To California was captained by Captain Lehua Kamalu, which drew thousands of peaceful people to the beach at SF Accquadic Park and waters.
In 2019 the Voyage of Indigenous people day and the 50th anniversary of Alcatraz. With “Kosen Rufu Aloha” Kurt Clarke OC6 Canoe, being Captained by Lauri Morales from the Federated Indians of Graton with Paddlers from the San Francisco Muwekma Ohlone and the Miwok Tribes.
Wahine.org Na Wahine stays going Strong out on the bay from the same Ohana beach. I personnel paddle the Kirk Clarks OC6 canoe from Sausalito and also the Pouge Lightning OC6 Canoe with Na Wahine from San Francisco, Ohana Beach.
Na Wahine on Ohana beach has been blessed with so many amazing women over the years who keep on giving to new na wahine. Last weekend we went out with a first-timer Aleki, her mother is from Western Samoa. We paddled around Alcatraz on Aleki’s maiden journey. Aleki just sent me at po cc video attached below with a gratitude text about how much she loves paddling. I am grateful to Peters's ancestors who taught him these skills and appreciation. I am grateful to the Ohlone and Mywak Peoples that we are on the shores of their beautiful land and water. I am so sorry for the pain and suffering of all Indigenous peoples. every day I am thankful that so many have shared their traditions with me so I can enjoy the wonderful nature here on earth. Someday I hope to give more credit to all the na wahine and Hanai that have given their time to grow this community and how grateful I am to have you all as friends and paddlers.
Knowing me is to know I am not a big writer I just wanted to share my gratitude to Peter and share ways to support this movement.
For Na Wahine
LINK to give to Na Wahine: https://account.venmo.com/u/Wahine-OutriggerCanoeClub
LINK: Never forget Crazy Horse
Also please remember to Buy from Native people’s businesses
Here is one link I use for shoes
Here is a locale link I use for clothing
a hui hou :) Mahalo Maggie Hallahan, maggie@mhpv.net C-415-305-7553
If you have photos, video or stories you would like to send me, I am collecting them on a dropbox folder. Mahalo, Maggie