For thousands of years, Polynesian people navigated in handmade canoes across thousands of miles of ocean, traveling between islands. Hi’ilani ‘O Ke Kai is a local club celebrating these ancestors, and their influence on Hawaiian culture and history, with a focus on hula and outrigger canoeing. This event includes a paddling competition, hula performance, tributes to military service members and more. The Hoe Wa’a canoe race begins at 8am with hundreds of paddlers ages 12 to 70 competing in two-mile, four-mile and eight-mile routes. [SR]

8am-2pm Saturday, May 24. Del Monte Beach, across Del Monte Boulevard from Lake El Estero, Monterey. Free. info@kekai.org, paddle.kekai.org.