Ka Lahui Kai – The Ocean People

Ka Lahui Kai Outrigger Canoe Opener - Slider 1

The Rigors of Racing

Teamwork, Commitment, and Perseverance

Integrity & Dedication

We trust the process, remain patient and seek self-improvement daily.

Tradition

Fueled by Innovation and Honed with Discipline

The Value of Teammates

We are the most comprehensive waterwomen/waterman’s program dedicated to youth and young adults in Hawaii, if not the world.

Facing Challenges

Individual Skill blended with a Unified Team

Who We Are

“Ka Lahui Kai – The Water People” champions water stewardship while empowering youth for a brighter future.

Our Mission

To develop high-character individuals through ocean sports, rigorous training, and racing.

How we Succeed

We embrace struggle, view failure as an opportunity for growth and demand excellence. We set high standards, continuously test ourselves and strive to perform with confidence under pressure.
We value integrity, dedication and elevation of self and others. We trust the process, remain patient and seek self-improvement daily.
Grounded in tradition yet fueled by innovation, our mission is driven by the unwavering vision of our leadership and team commitment to excellence.

HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT, HONESTY, RESPECT

Ka Lahui Kai is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization dedicated to developing youth and young adults into exemplary humans through hard core training, racing and ocean sports. As the premier canoe racing team in Hawaii, Ka Lahui Kai provides team members an opportunity to learn and train alongside skilled volunteer coaches: Hawaii’s top watermen and waterwomen, ocean safety experts, lifeguards, firefighters, professional paddlers, and surfers.

We welcome individuals from all backgrounds who share our passion, determination, and commitment to excellence, and we provide scholarship opportunities for qualifying families. We have provided our athletes with racing opportunities on Oahu, neighbor islands, the mainland, Australia, Samoa, and French Polynesia. We look forward to exploring more racing venues throughout the world.

We are the most comprehensive waterwomen/waterman’s program dedicated to youth and young adults in Hawaii, if not the world.

Alan Pflueger - KLK Principle

Leadership that inspires, guides, and empowers teams toward common goals, fostering innovation, resilience, and growth in organizations and communities.

Alan Pflueger is a fifth generation resident with native Hawaiian ancestry. He and his wife of 30 years have two sons Hunter and Max. A local businessman with the desire to give back to Hawaii's youth and provide exceptional opportunities. Alan founded Ka Lahui Kai using the ocean as a platform to share life values to better prepare today’s teenagers to be positive leaders of their future. Alan an accomplished waterman was inspired to coach after being coached in outrigger canoe racing by his father Jimmy who was a paddler on Duke Kahanamoku’s team.

Mati Durkin

Team Ka Lahui Kai Athlete, US Naval Academy Midshipman

I'm a freshman at the US Naval Academy. To me, KLK means brotherhood above everything else. That's my biggest take away. All of my best friends I have met or I got close with in KLK. Different from other sports teams…when you go through long days or hard workouts or whatever it is that you're going through, you have your boys right there and that just brings you so much closer together.

Jack Kilpatrick

Team Ka Lahui Kai Athlete, World-Class Kayaker, Collegiate Rower @ UCSD

Ka Lahui Kai is a team of individuals who strive to be the best they can and to work as hard as they possibly can to achieve their goal...Be the best version of yourself that you can be...

Daphne Hemmings

Parent of Ka Lahui Kai Athlete, Chief of Surgery Queen Medical Center

Both of my children have been fortunate enough to be part of the Ka Lahui Kai paddling program. My son, Merrick, paddled with the program for four years and is now in college. During his time with the program, he had the opportunity to steer races in California, Hawaii, and Tahiti. Under the guidance of the coaches, he and his teammates flourished, consistently achieving first-place wins throughout the years as they trained and raced at an intense level. When Ka Lahui Kai initiated a girls' program, my daughter Hanna eagerly joined as the youngest member in eighth grade. Her confidence soared with each practice and race, leading her to become a varsity level steers woman on her competitive high school team as a freshman. The friendships forged among the girls have been invaluable, and their journey to Tahiti was an unforgettable experience marked by personal growth. The dedication of the founder, volunteers, and coaches to the KLK program has been exceptional. Witnessing their commitment has been instrumental in shaping my children into hardworking, goal-oriented individuals and driven athletes.

Angie Dolan

Educator at Luke Center for Public Service at Punahou School, Ka Lahui Kai Athlete, and Jr. Girls Head Coach

"I'm honored to coach the KLK junior girls’ team and hope to inspire the next generation of water women to use their ocean experience to navigate life as confident, compassionate members of the community. I feel that KLK offers the perfect environment for athletes to experience "constructive adversity", preparing athletes to be comfortable with the uncomfortable while building character and encouraging them to thrive in challenging situations both on the water and in life. “

Who We Are

Our Mission

How we Succeed

HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, COMMITMENT, HONESTY, RESPECT

Alan Pflueger - KLK Principle

Testimonials