18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 21-27, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Paddle forward Local groups bring Pacific Islander culture and heritage to the ocean and to the dance studio. By Sara Rubin Photos By Daniel Dreifuss (Except where noted) There are many rules to outrigger canoeing. There is no swearing in the boats; no stepping over the boats as people maneuver them on sand to the water’s edge. To enter and exit the canoes, one must swing both legs together over the edge—no straddling the hull, which would be interpreted as a sign of disrespect to the canoe, which is treated as a member of the paddle team. Before shoving off, members of the Hi’ilani ’O Ke Kai Outrigger and Cultural Center in Monterey first gather on the shore of Del Monte Beach for a pule, or prayer, asking permission to enter the ocean and to return safely. “We are centering the crew, getting everyone in the same mindset of why we are here,” says paddler Manuel Delgado, the group’s past paddle representative. When Delgado is called upon to lead a pule, he likes to focus on “how much the ocean gives us and how little in return it expects from us,” he says. Clockwise from top left: Hi’ilani ’O Ke Kai members gather for a pule, or prayer, before entering the water. Trained paddlers including Anh Nguyen regularly travel five to 10 miles per practice. Paddlers make their way into Monterey Harbor to “talk story,” when they circle up and share insights from their lives.
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