They are part of the Orange County Makapo Aquatics Project. Makapo is Hawaiian for blind. But on the water, in their canoe, they are known as people of faith. They are known to be in unison, as well, stroke after stroke, moving toward the finish line together.
“We are paddlers first, then we are blind,” Gayle Clauson said. “Look at us as paddlers.”
Clauson, 53, a Costa Mesa resident, never expected new canoes, blessings and a trip to compete in Hawaii as part of the deal when she signed up with OC Makapo. She was surprised, yet emotional when two new canoes were presented to their group Friday at Newport Aquatic Center.
As Kalama asked for everyone to gather, holding hands to form a circle around the two canoes, a few could be seen wiping tears. When Kalama blessed the canoes, more crying came.
For the Makapo paddlers, this was a dream come true. For two in particular, this was only the beginning.
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STARTING IT UP
Two years ago, John Chavez and RJ De Rama were part of a quintet of blind men who became the first blind team to compete in the Queen Liluokalani Outrigger Canoe Race in Kona, Hawaii. Shortly after completing the 18-mile race, Chavez and De Rama formed the OC Makapo Aquatics Project.
Chavez, 48, of Fountain Valley, believed it could help blind people yearning for an activity outlet and the need to compete in a team sport. He believed that because he experienced it.
He played water polo and competed in swimming at Fountain Valley and moved on for water polo at Golden West College. Later at age 24, and after surviving a cardiac arrest, Chavez became blind. He remained active and caught on to paddling in 1999, when he was 39.
