The Hawaiki Nui Va’a is the penultimate outrigger event in French Polynesia. There’s also a race for women, the Va’ahine. But this year, some women were paddling for something much bigger—Breast Cancer Awareness.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, symbolized by pink ribbons. For the 2 million-plus women around the world diagnosed with this disease each year, it’s a reminder of how breast cancer can change a woman’s life forever. It’s also an opportunity to promote screenings to promote early detection and reduce the risk of this fateful disease.
GOING THE EXTRA MILE
Typically women in the Va’ahine only paddle the 16-mile stage 2. But this year, to further underscore their solidarity with the heroic battle women face, one team went one step further—one stage further, to be precise. Not as part of the official race, but on their own!
Tahiti’s Iloha Eychenne, a world champion V1 paddler, assembled an international team from Tahiti, New Zealand, and France. For the first time, this international group of women paddled the third and most grueling leg of the Hawaiki Nui—the 36-mile leg from Taha’a to Bora Bora. They paddled in a pink outrigger, seizing the moment to call attention to Breast Cancer Awareness and to women everywhere in need of cancer screenings and treatment.
“Our team feels honored to be a part of this important mission,” said Iloha, whose team had the initiative to go the extra mile for Breast Cancer Awareness. “This is the second time this year we’ve been fortunate to paddle in support of this worthy cause.” Another team led by Iloha paddled in the Paddle Palooza, on Flathead Lake, Montana, in July for A Silver Lining Foundation, which also raises money to fund cost-free breast health testing.
In both cases, the women weren’t paddling for themselves, but for women everywhere. For many women who deal with breast cancer, like the women’s outrigger teams, their struggle can also be a race against the clock.
Learn more about the the Silver Lining Foundation here and the 2026 ARE Sprint Challenge on July 9-11 at their Paddle Palooza event here.
