Entry Fees
- Na Opio crews: $0, though other fees may still apply.
- All other crews: $720 per crew.
- Late registration, August 1–4: $980 per crew.
- No registrations accepted after 5:00 PM on August 3.
Race Information
Everything You Need To Know
Course details, start times, fees, shuttle information, canoe logistics, escort rules, and race results.
Na Pali Challenge
General Information
Towing
Nawiliwili Harbor to Hanalei Bay, then from Kikiaola Harbor back to Nawiliwili Harbor.
$150 per canoe
Shuttle
One-way or round-trip shuttle service from pickup locations to the race start and from the finish back to drop-off locations.
$35 per person
The Course
Hanalei Bay to Kikiaola
The race begins in front of the pavilion at Hanalei Bay. Teams head north out of the bay, turn west, and make the 37-mile journey down one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world.
37
Miles of ocean racing
Race Day
Starts & Changes
Na Opio and 60/70 Start
Kāne starts.
Traditional Open, 40, 50
Wahine starts.
Unlimited Divisions
Na Opio Unlimited, Unlimited Open, 40, and 50. Kāne starts.
Water Changes
Officials will announce every 30 minutes when the water change window opens. The window closes after 5 minutes. Crews making water changes outside the window may receive a 10-minute penalty.
Approximately one mile before the finish, a buoy will mark the last change area. Any water changes after this marker may also receive a 10-minute penalty.
Transportation
Shuttle Schedule
5:00 AM
Kalaheo Neighborhood Center
5:15 AM
Kiahuna Plantation, Poipu
5:30 AM
Anchor Cove, Lihue
5:45 AM
Wailua Bus Stop, adjacent to Kintaro’s
6:00 AM
Whalers, Anahola
6:15 AM
Princeville Shopping Center
Shuttle times are tentative and may run later at each stop. Return shuttles leave Kikiaola Harbor at 4:30 PM and include the same locations, plus Lihue Airport.
Shuttle and towing fees should be paid during registration. To add services later, contact the Race Secretary through the contact form.
Divisions & Finish
Race Format
Divisions
Age divisions are determined by each participant’s age on race day.
- Na Opio: Traditional, Unlimited
- Unlimited: Open, 40, 50, 60, 70
- Traditional: Open, 40, 50, 60, 70
Finish
The finish is outside Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor. Canoes must pass between the official timing boat and the course finish marker.
Canoes that miss the finish markers will not receive a time and will be listed as DNF.
Awards & Lunch
Lunch will be provided to race participants at the finish. Awards are expected to begin approximately 30 minutes after the last crew finishes.
Canoes & Escort Boats
Logistics
Canoe & Escort Numbers
All canoes must display race numbers on the front right and left sides. Escort boats must display the same number in a visible area above the water line.
Decals will be assigned at Friday registration.
Escort Check-In
Escort boats must check in over radio on event operations channel 74 between 6:45 AM and 7:15 AM on race morning.
Canoe Rental
If you need help renting a canoe, indicate it during registration. Rental fees are paid directly to the club you rent from.
International and mainland teams are given canoe rental priority.
Shipping
Shipping & Trailering
If you are shipping a canoe, it must arrive to Kauaʻi no later than Tuesday, August 4, 2026. Canoes arriving after this date may not make it to the race start in time.
Ship Canoes To
Peter Chow
c/o Kauaʻi Outrigger Association
P.O. Box 662014
Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 651-7298
napalichallenge@gmail.com
Shipping fees must be prepaid by the shipper. Canoes that have not been paid for will not be picked up. The bill of lading must include the name of the canoe being shipped.
If you need trailering to the start or back to the harbor, indicate this during registration. Trailering is $150 from the harbor to the race start and then from the finish back to the harbor.
Rules
Penalties & Escort Rules
- Water changes outside the announced change window may result in a 10-minute penalty.
- Water changes after the last change marker may result in a 10-minute penalty.
- Canoes must finish between the buoy and official timing boat or they will be marked DNF.
- Escort boats must stay with their paddlers unless instructed otherwise by officials.
- Every crew must have an escort boat to participate.
- Escort boats must have mounted VHF radios. Handheld radios are acceptable as backup.
- Escort boats must check in between 6:45 AM and 7:15 AM on channel 74.
- Escort boats must not block or cause wake to a canoe.
Past Results
Race Results
Any race information is subject to change without notice. Please check this site for the latest updates. For questions, use the contact form.