Mission
Wahine Makani exists to restore and expand the presence of women in the world of Hawaiian sailing canoe racing. All-women crews have been absent for over a decade, and we're here to change that - for ourselves, and for the generations who will follow.
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Our mission is to train with integrity, compete with courage, and create lasting space in a sport that has long been shaped and led by men. We believe that women have always belonged in the canoe - as sailors, as steerswomen, as leaders.
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We sail not just to race, but to honor the ocean, the 'aina, and the people who came before us. We are committed to perpetrating this deeply cultural practice with humility, respect, and a willingness to listen and learn.
The Crew
Jamie is a passionate water woman with a special love for Hawaiian outrigger canoe paddling. She's been paddling 6-man canoes competitively for 3 years, and competing in her Tahitian-style rudderless canoe for 2 years. She's traveled to Tahiti and California for clinics and races. She will be sailing across the Alenuihaha this January as part of a heavy weather sailing mastermind. She is passionate about Hawaiian sailing canoes, and noticed very few women at the HSCA races, so went on a mission to change that.
Jamie Nease
Captain / Paddler
Growing up on the eastern shore of Oahu, Lei spent her childhood paddling, surfing, and diving. She's done all the big 6-man race channel crossings, including Na Wahine and Pailolo, as well as all the Oahu races for years starting in childhood. She loves being on the water more than anything, and is excited to broaden her expertise to sailing around the islands.
Lei Tafuna
Paddler
Originally from the Netherlands, Jennifer has called Hawai'i home since 1995. She grew up sailing and windsurfing on the Dutch waters, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of the ocean. She's paddled outrigger canoes for 30 years in Hawai'i, completing 14 Na Wahine O Ke Kai crossings - including a 2nd place finish in 2017 - and twice crossed the Kaiwi Channel solo in a one-man canoe. She's raced in the HSCA races as well as Holopuni Sailing Canoe World Championships.
Jennifer Raams
Sheeter / Steersman
Jenn is a surfer, sailor, and paddler. From childhood sailing lessons to captaining her 39-Cal racer-cruiser, Jenn's been a water woman her whole life. She's paddled countless regatta and distance seasons with Kailua Canoe Club and several seasons of Kanaka Ikaika OC1 racing. She's tackled multiple channel crossings in OC6 and OC1, and most recently with Hawaii Sailing Canoe Association's men's crews. Now she's fired up to help launch the association's first active women's crew in years.
Jenn Perell
Sheeter
Jenn is a surfer, sailor, and paddler. From childhood sailing lessons to captaining her 39-Cal racer-cruiser, Jenn's been a water woman her whole life. She's paddled countless regatta and distance seasons with Kailua Canoe Club and several seasons of Kanaka Ikaika OC1 racing. She's tackled multiple channel crossings in OC6 and OC1, and most recently with Hawaii Sailing Canoe Association's men's crews. Now she's fired up to help launch the association's first active women's crew in years.
Marleny Parmenter
Sheeter
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Aryn raced on her grandfather’s sailboat every weekend; which fueled her love for the ocean and sailing. Now in Hawaii, Aryn has a sailboat with her partner that she has sailed throughout the Hawaiian islands; giving her the skills to tackle it. She has a passion for paddling as well and has been paddling with Kai Opua for two years. She brings her knowledge of reading the water, and weather, to the team as well a sailor’s mindset to prepare us for the journey.
Aryn Schunzel
Sheeter
Shivani is a Caribbean-Canadian freedive instructor, outrigger and surfski paddler with a relentless drive to expand her skills in the ocean. She trains internationally in a wide range of conditions. Shivani leads clinics that empower others to build water confidence, blending technical expertise with cultural connection and care for the sea. She's participated in several HSCA races, and got 2nd place in the Molokai Solo on a surfski in 2025.
Shivani Goberdhan
Paddler
Emma Jane is originally from Tennessee, and moved to the big island at the age of 12. She started paddling at age 14 and quickly became a steersman. She has competed in the Na Wahine, Napali Challenge, Pailolo, E Lae Hoe, Dad's Center, The Gorge, Catalina Crossing, and the Dam Race, with 6th overall in Na Wahine in 2017, 1st place overall at the Gorge in 2022, and 1st place Koa at the Liliuokalani in 2024. She is First Mate on the Fairwind II, and pursuing her captain's license.
Emma Jane Chandler
Steersman
Laurie has paddled and coached outrigger canoe paddling for more than 20 years. She has done several crossings of the Kaiwi and Catalina channels in OC6 and OC1 relay races, and has raced in Rarotonga, New Zealand, Austrailia, and most recently Bora Bora in her V1. Her happy places are the Pacific Ocean, learning to dance hula, and watching wahine do things that others say cannot be done. Laurie will be sailing across the Alenuihaha in January as part of a heavy weather sailing mastermind.
Laurie Rubie
Steersman
Drawn to the water from an early age, Sydney grew up a swimmer and never left the pool behind, eventually coaching a championship team and shaping future athletes. Competitive spirit carried Sydney into Division 1 rowing at the University of Tampa. When life shifted to Hawai'i in 2017, Sydney took up outrigger canoe paddling, quickly embracing the challenge of open-water endurance and channel crossings.
Sydney Kramer
Paddler
Team Values
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Creating pathways for women to train, race, and take leadership in Hawaiian sailing
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Uplifting culture through mentorship, honoring protocol, and working with Hawaiian advisors
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Representing Big Island—where no crew currently exists
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Create space for women in the sailing and paddling world at the highest level.
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Build something lasting, not just for this season, but for the next generation.
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Embody the Aloha spirit in everything we do
Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association
The Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association is a non-profit organization whose mission is "to learn, revive, educate and practice those ancient Hawaiian skills and values as they relate to sailing canoes and the Hawaiian culture." This is done by educational and sailing events for the public as well as a yearly racing series which connects the Hawaiian Islands.
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The races start on the Big Island in May and end on Kauai in September. The fleet stops on Maui, Molokai, and Oahu along the way.
Support Wahine Makani
Every contribution helps us restore women’s presence in Hawaiian sailing canoe racing for the first time in over a decade.
Your gift directly supports canoe restoration, safety gear, interisland training, and the resources needed to sail across Hawai‘i — island to island — with strength and purpose.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We’re seeking aligned sponsors to support our inter-island voyages and training efforts in this pivotal first season of Wahine Makani.
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Your sponsorship helps cover essential costs such as:
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Inter-island travel and race entry
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Canoe access, shipping, and upgrades
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Safety equipment and team training support
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As a sponsor, you’ll be part of a groundbreaking return of women-led sailing crews in Hawai‘i—and your brand will be spotlighted through:
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Press and media coverage
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Social media recognition
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Logo placement opportunities (gear, canoe, website)
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Let’s talk about how we can partner to uplift women in ocean voyaging and create meaningful visibility for your brand.
Wahine Makani Foundation is a registered non-profit. We are in the process of getting approved as a 501(c)(3), and all donations will be retroactively tax-deductible once this is approved.
