New KIALOA Race SUP: The Hulu

New KIALOA Race Paddle: The Hulu

Our friends at KIALOA have just come out with yet another revolutionary new stand up paddle: the Hulu. We’re very proud to be among the first SUP shops to have it in stock (a perk of being located in the same town).

The KIALOA Hulu is a collaboration between Dave Chun and his friend, fellow Bend resident, Gerry Lopez. It’s a super light, super strong, top performance stand up paddle, designed to meet the specific demands of racing with excellence.

The Hulu features a plethora of super-smart, high tech elements that combine to provide maximum speed and efficiency, including a new shaft construction, trademarked by KIALOA, called CST (Compression Shaft Technology). 

The Hulu's UltraLight and Strong Shaft

The pre-impregnated carbon fiber shaft has an oval mid-section and 3K carbon weave.  The ultra thin blade has a KIALOA PowerHook, PowerFace Dihedral, internal carbon edge banding, precision ground edges, and a ten-degree angle.  In case you’re not familiar with the technical jargon, just know that it’s very, very strong, stiff and light. And because it’s a KIALOA paddle, you also know that it feels good in your hand, looks beautiful, and has soul.

In addition to Gerry Lopez’s input, prominent Pacific Northwest paddlers and KIALOA team riders, Karen Wrenn, Cyril Burguiere and Beau Whitehead were invited to test-drive the Hulu, as was Chuck Patterson of California.

Cyril stopped by Stand Up Paddle Bend the other day and had this to stay about the Hulu:

"The first and most obvious observation anybody will make about the Hulu is how light it is. It is so light; I was worried I would break it while paddling when I first picked it up. I raced and trained with the Hulu almost every day last season, in all sorts of situations (sprint, distance, downwind) without a shaft break. I have broken other paddles before and am amazed at the Hulu's strength-to-weight and stiffness. Dave Chun has explained the manufacturing process for creating the shaft and how he has been able to create an ultra light shaft, free of stress or weak points. Anybody that has the chance to learn about the design and manufacturing should take the opportunity - it makes you appreciate the time and effort that goes into making this high performance product."

The KIALOA Hulu is available
in black or a choice of several
all-new blade graphics...
or featuring the iconic Gerry Lopez logo!

"The Hulu is very different from KIALOA's older paddles, an exception being the Toro, the older sibling to the Hulu with a slightly larger blade. Some of the older paddles (besides the Toro) did not have the slight dihedral on blade to help with tracking in water. Also, the thin blade's shape is a longer teardrop with slight curve at tip. Without getting too technical, the Hulu just feels smooth and effortless in how it enters, tracks through and releases from the water. The oval shaft for lower hand grip and the top T-handle feel great in my hands - making for a comfortable 13 mile 'Round the Rock race in Seattle or the rare 18 mile training run down the Willamette River. This is truly a high performance paddle - It is for those that want to get as close as possible to feeling like they have nothing in their hands while getting a smooth, comfortable pull on the water."

The New KIALOA Hulu Race Paddle Shaft

The Hulu is available in three versions: the Hulu Light, the Hulu UltraLight and the Hulu UltraLight GL. The UltraLight weighs in at just 17 ounces! The UltraLight GL comes with the iconic Gerry Lopez signature logo and the Light and UltraLIght are available in black or a choice of several brand new KIALOA blade graphics.

Oh, Hulu means feather in Hawaiian in case you’re wondering!

6/10/13 Update: The KIALOA Hulu now comes in even more varieties.  Check out the new round shaft Hulu RST which comes with either a fixed length or adjustable shaft and in three price points.

KIALOA's New IKAIKA LineHigh-Quality, Sustainable Stand Up Paddles at a Welcoming Price Point

After getting to know Meg and Dave Chun a little better lately, I’m even more excited about KIALOA’s new IKAIKA line.

The Chuns are passionate about sustainability. I really don’t think Dave could sleep at night if KIALOA were to release a paddle that would one day wind up in landfill. Yet they also understand that the cost of a premium paddle might be daunting to beginners in this economy. They want to make the sport accessible to as many people as possible.

So Dave made it a mission to come up with a way to produce paddles at a price point low enough to be welcoming to beginners while also staying true to KIALOA’s core values of Po’okela (excellence) and Malama (stewardship).

The result is the IKAIKA line – Pupu, Hapa, and Lau Lau. Each paddle is very affordably priced yet also delivers a level of performance, durability, and visual appeal that will make you proud to keep it in your family’s paddle quiver for generations to come. They’re simply great paddles. And for the price, they’re unbeatable.

To achieve lightness (for performance) and strength (for longevity) that would meet the tough KIALOA standards, Dave used CRFT (Continuous Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic) technology to construct the blades of all three paddles. 

Ikaika means “strong” in Hawiian, and each paddle in the IKAIKA line is virtually indestructible. Dave had a lot of fun demonstrating this to us the other day by bashing one of them with a hammer and then holding it up to reveal that zero damage was done. 

Another cool thing about the IKAIKA collection is that, while all three paddles have that distinctive KIALOA look and feel, Dave managed to pack an impressive amount of variety within the lineup.

Now, not only can paddle shoppers find excellent quality and durability at a low price point, there’s also an array of choices within that price range -- different blade sizes, construction, and colors, different shaft construction, different palm grips, and different prices.

The lowest-priced paddle in the IKAIKA lineup is called the Pupu (which means "appetizer") in Hawaiian. The Pupu shaft is 100% fiberglass. The pretty green 8 inch wide blade is 100% solid CRFT. 

Pupu Stand Up Paddle by KIALOA - the first paddle in the IKAIKA collection. 

Next comes the Hapa (Hawaiian for half and half), so called because the shaft is 50% carbon and 50% fiberglass. The pretty blue blade comes in both Small (7.5 inches) and Large (8.75 inches). The blade is cored CRFT.

Hapa Stand Up Paddle by KIALOA - the second paddle in the IKIAKA collection.

And for the finale, there's the Lau Lau (the name of a Hawaiian dish). The Lau Lau has a 100% carbon fiber shaft and a cored CRFT blade. The blade is black and comes in both Small (7.5 inches) and Large (8.75 inches).

Lau Lau Stand Up Paddle by KIALOA - the third paddle in the IKAIKA collection.

Read this part if you're like Chip and enjoy knowing how stuff is made:

Basically, CRFT technology combines the performance of glass and carbon fibers with the strength of thermoplastic polymers. Over the last 25 years, CRFTs have been used in aerospace and defense applications. More recently, the technology has been adopted by other industries (car manufacturers like Ford and Toyota use it to reduce vehicle weight without compromising strength). KIALOA is pioneering the use of CRFT technology in paddle manufacturing. 

Known as "super-charged plastic," CRFT is extremely stiff, impact and corrosion resistant, and impervious to water and most chemicals. Yet it's 40-60% lighter and significantly less expensive to work with than competing materials. What's more, it doesn't produce any volatile organic compounds like the ones given off in the production of fiberglass products.

Read this part if you're like Lainey and enjoy knowing the meaning behind a name:

IKAIKA means "strong."  Kai Ikaika (“strong water”) is also the name of Portland’s KIALOA-sponsored dragon boat team.

Pupu is the Hawaiian word for appetizer. Items such as sushi and poke are “light pupus.” More substantial pupus like huli huli chicken and teriyaki beef are know as “heavy pupus.”

Hapa means half or part. The term is used when referring to fractions (as in hapalua which means 1/2). Hapa is also used to refer to people of mixed ethnicity (as in hapa haolie). Hapa is also used in such terms as hapa nui (majority), hapa ʻuʻuku (minority), and hapa makahiki (semi annual).

Lau Lau is a savory, quintessentially Hawaiian plate lunch dish that consists of salted butterfish, and either pork, beef, or chicken, wrapped in taro and ti leaves and usually steamed on the stove. Hawaii Magazine calls it "Hawaiian food Nirvana," and according to their recent poll, it's one of the five most popular Hawaiian plate lunch dishes. Lau Lais is usually served with a side of rice and macaroni salad. Dave knows a song about the Lau Lau. Hopefully, it'll be included in the upcoming IKAIKA video. 

"It’s not all that difficult to figure out why laulau has endured as a favorite Hawaii dish since ancient times. Besides its savory, uniquely Hawaiian taste, it’s also, arguably, Hawaii’s first real mixed plate. Laulau is a complete meal—pork, chicken or beef, salted butterfish and taro leaves wrapped in ti leaves and steamed. (In ancient times, it was cooked in an imu, a Hawaiian underground oven). Served piping hot when every ingredient within the ti leaves is cooked to tender, salt-kissed perfection, laulau done right is Hawaiian food nirvana". - HAWAII Magazine, March 2010.

Dave’s passion for sustainability has inspired me to be a more conscious consumer (and I was pretty good before). Click here for a moving reminder of the fragility and wonder of our precious planet.


Stay tuned for video of Dave Chun himself talking about the new IKAIKA line.

All three IKAIKA paddles are now available both in store and online at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater.

Questions about the IKAIKA line? You're welcome to ask them in the comment box. If you're one of the few who already have a brand new Pupu, Hapa, or Lau Lau, we'd love to hear what you think.

King & Queen of the Lake Stand Up Paddle Race Recap & Results

SUP newcomers, veterans, and enthusiasts alike came together on Sunday for the finale of the King & Queen of the Lake race series sponsored by Stand Up Paddle Flatwater and Kialoa.

Held at beautiful Elk Lake, the race series featured a sport class for recreational paddlers as well as a race class for those who wanted more challenge. Courses for both classes were “buoy courses” and included plenty of navigational challenge. “I like races that also involve the brain a bit,” says race director Randall Barna. “It makes it more fun for the racers and spectators,” he adds.

The shorter, easier course and slightly less competitive atmosphere of the sport class opened up the event to less experienced paddlers and attracted many first-time racers. Several reported aspirations to step up to the race class next year.

The race class was further divided into sub-classes according to board type and length. The difference in speed between these sub-classes highlighted the importance of equipment choice for paddlers who are serious about racing. “Events like this help people in their choices when they plan their gear for next year,” says Randall.

In addition to stand up paddle boards, the race series also celebrated other paddle sports vessels including outriggers, surfskis and prone paddleboards. After the race, Kialoa offered demos of their beautiful, innovative, handmade paddles.

Contestants’ best two scores of the three races in the series were combined to determine overall winners in each class. Congratulations to Your Royal Highnesses Lisa Jacobowski, Frank Ring, Jaye Arney, Jen Kjellesvik, and Randall Barna, and thank you to all participants!

Click here for complete race results. Click here for a message from race director Randall Barna.

See more SUP race photos at the Stand Up Paddle Flatwater Gallery and be sure to check out the race video if you haven't already.

Get your SUP race boards and Kialoa paddles at Stand Up Paddle Flatwater!