TCOCC is an outrigger canoe club that was founded in 1998.  We are based in Tri-Cities, Washington and train three days per week on the Columbia River.  Our season starts in early April and ends in October.  We belong to PNW-ORCA and participate in the summer race series.  TCOCC typically attends 6-7 short and long distance races each season.  The club currently owns 3 OC-6 canoes and many of our members own OC-1 canoes.

Pahu Hopu (Goal): To perpetuate the art of outrigger canoe racing through the spirit of "'Ohana."

Makia (Motto): "ONE"

In Hawaiian ONE means sand and sand is the foundation of the beach upon which we usually find our Wa`a (Canoe).  Our motto "ONE" stands for the following:

In the Hawaiian way of thinking:  

O     `Ohana            The family unit

N     Ne`epapa        Working together

E      `Ekahi             Together as one person, one heart, one goal

In the English way of thinking:

ONE MIND              Set your mind on the task that you wish to accomplish.

ONE HEART           Put you heart into it.

ONE GOAL             Achieve your goal.

If we all work together as a family (`Ohana) with one mind and one heart, towards one goal--- then we must succeed in our endeavors.

Our Canoes - Nā  Wa`a

The Hawaiian People gave names to everything.  They believe that there is a great spiritual power in a name.  The (Inoa) name for (Nā  Wa`a) the canoes to which they entrusted their lives were especially important.  The Wa`a Inoa was given much thought.  Just as when you name your children you give care and love to the name you select.  That person or thing must live up to the expectations that you have instilled into the giving of its name.  Not using the given name is a sign of disrespect and lessens its power or Mana.

In the spring of 1998 2 Calmar canoes were purchased.  They were blessed   June 28^th of 1998.

"Ke Koa O Nā Wai `Ekolu"

Ke             Ke means "the"

Koa           Koa means brave, bold, and fearless.  It also means warrior.  Koa is also the name of the tree that the Hawaiian people use to build their canoes.  This tree grows 

                 from one central tree and as it reproduces the younger trees grow around the Kumu (parent tree) until we have a forest of Koa.  The Hawaiian People believe that

                 when you take the Koa from its forest home and form it into a canoe then when the canoe's gather again in the ocean the Koa Forest is reborn.

O               O means of

Nā             Nä means more than one of whatever you are talking about.

Wai           Wai means liquid of any kind other than seawater.  Because the water that we use to paddle the Wa`a here in the Tri-Cities area is fresh water the word Wai was

                  used instead of Kai which means salt water.

`Ekolu        `Ekolu means three.  In this case the word `Ekolu stands for the three rivers that surround our Tri-City area - the Columbia, the Yakima, and the Snake Rivers.

"Ikaika O Nā Wai `Ekolu"

 Ikaika        Ikaika means strength, both physical and spiritual.  In order to paddle you the paddler must be strong and dedicated in spirit (Mana) as well as being physically fit.

The club purchased a Bradley OC-6 in the spring of 2002.  It was brought up from California for us and we had a blessing ceremony on May 4, 2002.

" `Uhane O Nā Wai `Ekoulu"

`Uhane      'Uhane means soul or spirit. 

The club purchased a Mirage OC-6 in 2005. 

 "Lōkāhi O Nā Wai `Ekoulu"

 Lōkāhi      Lōkāhi means unity.  There is a natural and harmonious order to the entire universe.  The three major forces are the God(s), nature, and man.  The Hawaiian of old

                 realized that it was necessary that these forces be kept in "harmony" and that they were all in some way inter-related.