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.
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.
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 / Steerswoman
Growing up in Sweden, May moved to Maui as a young adult and immediately fell in love with outrigger canoe paddling. She's steered crews all over the world, crossing all of the channels in the island chain. She's been a part of the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe races for the last five years.
May Jonita
Steerswoman
Mealoha is a long-time avid paddler, competing in races all over the Hawaiian Islands and the world.
Mealoha Hooton
Paddler
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
Growing up on a sailboat in Palau, Heather grew a deep fondness for the ocean and sailing. She set sail across the Pacific with her family from Palau to Hawai'i, where she's been living much of her adult life. She recently started paddling outrigger canoes, and has raced around Hawai'i and Tahiti.
Heather Becker-Brungard
Sheeter
Growing up in Kalapana, Mahea spent much of her youth on the water. A true waterwoman, she's an avid paddler, surfer, canoe surfer, and competed in the Hawaiian Sailing Canoe Association races with a women's crew over a decade ago.
Mahealani Gambill
Steerswoman / Paddler
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
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
Coaches & Advisors
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.
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.
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
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)
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 501(c)(3) registered non-profit
