The Hawaiian Canoe Club is out to prove that the strongest can still get stronger.

Hawaiian — a large club based at Kahului Harbor, Maui — is the odds-on favorite to win the overall title in tomorrow's Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association State Championship Regatta at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Hawaiian is the five-time defending champion of the state regatta, thanks primarily to the strongest youth program in the state.

This year, Hawaiian's kids are still strong, and its open men's program has made significant improvements.

"I would say our men are probably the strength of our club now," Hawaiian head coach Diane Ho said. "Our kids did really well as a whole, but we weren't quite as consistent as we have been in years past. But what we lost in our kids, we more than made up for with the men."

The Hawaiian men's program was boosted by the addition of several paddlers from Wailea Canoe Club prior to this season.

Wailea won the men's senior race at last year's state regatta, and five of those paddlers are now with Hawaiian. The men's senior race is considered the top race in canoe regattas.

"It's been tremendous because those guys brought a whole new dynamic to the program," Hawaiian men's coach Rick Nu'u said. "And what that also did is it made the other guys who were already with Hawaiian step it up because they knew their seats (in the canoe) were up for grabs."

Among the transfers from Wailea is Kai Bartlett, a former individual world champion. He said the paddlers are still learning to blend as a team.

"There's the Hawaiian stroke that was already there, and now you have the Wailea stroke, so we've had our share of problems," Bartlett said. "I think we're still trying to find a smooth crew."

Bartlett said the Wailea men's program disbanded last year, so they joined Hawaiian because it was the biggest program on Maui.

The ultimate goal for the new Hawaiian men is to form a strong team for the Moloka'i Hoe in October.

"It's not like O'ahu, where you have a lot of strong men's programs to choose from," Bartlett said. "It's kind of limited on Maui, so we wanted to make sure we joined a program that would give us a chance to compete with the big boys."

Nu'u said around 50 men have been showing up for practices this season, and that allowed him to mix and match paddlers throughout the season.

"We were trying to qualify as many crews as possible to help the club," Nu'u said. "But the regatta season is a means to an end. It's speed and power training for the distance season."

Hawaiian will bring 33 total crews to Ke'ehi Lagoon.

O'ahu champion Lanikai will bring 30 crews, and appears to be the team with the best shot at staying close to Hawaiian.

Interestingly, Lanikai has been known for its strong open men's program for the past 15 years.

Bartlett was a longtime member of Lanikai before moving to Maui two years ago.

"Lanikai is always going to be family to me," he said. "It's going to be a bummer looking over at them and knowing I'm racing against my brothers."

The newfound strength of the Hawaiian men should make for an exciting men's senior race tomorrow.

O'ahu clubs Hui Lanakila, Lanikai and Outrigger are all considered equally strong contenders, along with Tui Tonga from the Big Island.

"You have to put Hawaiian up there as one of the favorites now," Hui Lanakila men's coach and paddler Manny Kulukulualani said. "But you can't really count any of the other clubs out. It's going to be a good race."

AAA DIVISION (18 CREWS OR MORE)

Hawaiian (33 crews), Lanikai (30), Hui Nalu (28), Kailua (27), Outrigger (25)

AA DIVISION (9 TO 17 CREWS)

Kai 'Opua (17), Kane'ohe (17), Lokahi (17), Na Keiki O Ka Mo'i (17), Puna (17), Kahana (16), Kihei (13), Koa Kai (13), Lae'ula O Kai (13), Hanalei (12), Hui Lanakila (12), Kukui O Moloka'i (11), Waikiki Beach Boys (11), Kaiola (10).

A DIVISION (8 CREWS OR FEWER)

'Alapa Hoe (8), Healani (8), Keahiakahoe (8), Keaukaha (8), Keauhou (8), Manu O Ke Kai (8), Napili (8), Waikiki Surf (8), Kawaihae (7), New Hope (7), Kona Athletic (6), Ka Mamalahoe (6), Wa'akapaemua (6), Waikiki Yacht (6), Leeward Kai (5), Na Wa'a Hanakahi (5), Niumalu (5), Waimanalo (5), Kalihi Kai (4), Keoua (4), Tui Tonga (4), 'Anuenue (3), Hana (3), Hawaiian Outrigger (3), Honolulu Pearl (3), Kilohana (3), North Shore (3), Pu'uwai (3), Kai E Hitu (2), Keola O Ke Kai (2), Mana'e (2), Moloka'i (2), Na Kai Ewalu (2), Na Molokama (2), Wailea (2), Hui Wa'a O Waiakea (1), Kailana (1), Kai Oni (1), Kamehameha-Hilo (1), Kamehameha-O'ahu (1), Koloa (1), Kumuulokahi-Elks (1), Pu'uloa (1).

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.