There were three events, two "first-time" champions and one controversy yesterday at the First Hawaiian Bank Canoe Paddling State Championship at Ke'ehi Lagoon.

Kalaheo became the first O'ahu Interscholastic Association school to win a boys state paddling crown.

Punahou, of the Interscholastic League of Honolulu, won the girls race, but there was some question as to who came in second.

Konawaena claimed the mixed division to become the first Big Island Interscholastic Federation school to win a state paddling title.

The Kalaheo boys completed the 1/2-mile course, which included one turn around a buoy, in 3 minutes, 43.21 seconds. Kapa'a, of the Kaua'i Interscholastic Federation, was second in 3:47.82 and Maryknoll, of the ILH, third in 3:48.37.

Members of Kalaheo's winning crew were Nicholas Seeger, Alexander Guillaume, Kao Malama-Custer, Shawn Reed, Lawrence Soto and James Oliva-Ancog.

"It's a big thing for our school," said Malama-Custer, a four-year varsity paddler. "First (boys) championship in paddling for the OIA, first championship in paddling for Kalaheo High School. It's a big thing for us. I've been waiting four years for this."

Four ILH schools had combined to win the first six boys state crowns.

"It feels good," said Kalaheo coach Julian Wicker, who paddled for the Mustangs from 2003-05. "We've been battling with them (the ILH schools) since I was in high school paddling for Kalaheo. We mean business and we're going to bring it from now on."

Maryknoll, which was among the fastest qualifiers, had an unfortunate mishap at the beginning of the race when Ryan Dolan's paddle broke.

"It was getting stress cracks all day and I just didn't think it was going to break," said Dolan, a senior. "I guess I just had a lot of adrenaline."

His steersman passed him another paddle, but it put the Spartans in an early hole.

Dolan said his older brother also broke a paddle for Maryknoll in the state championship two years ago.

The Punahou girls and Ko-nawaena mixed crews won in photo finishes.

The Punahou girls finished in 4:26.53. Kapa'a was second in 4:26.73 and Baldwin, of the MIL, was third in 4:27.07.

"You just know from your heart that every stroke you took was the best one you could and you came together as a team," said Punahou senior Marlie Long. "To click and totally capture that win is just an amazing feeling."

The Buffanblu's winning crew was Long, Chelsea Jones, Hannah Ishida, Tawni Goodman, Jasmine Daniel and Brooke Hunter.

"We all basically love each other," said Jones, a senior. "That's truly important because blending is the most important part of paddling."

The ILH's Kamehameha (five) and Punahou (two) have won all seven girls state paddling titles.

Controversy surrounded who came in second.

Baldwin coach Alika Atay said his team should have been awarded second rather than Kapa'a after he and others viewed the still frames of the photo finish. He added he would file a protest before leaving yesterday.

At first, Atay said he and his team were told it finished second, and he went to the video tent to verify the results since the top 3 finishers all came across at virtually the same time.

Atay acknowledged there "was no doubt" the Punahou girls won and his Bears finished second ahead of Kapa'a.

"It was quite evident our canoe had already blanketed the finish line and there's still a little bit of water space on the outside canoe (of Kapa'a)," he said.

At the awards ceremony, Atay said he was surprised when Kapa'a was announced as the second-place finisher.

Officials viewed the photo finish again after the meet.

"It was quite evident to some of the witnesses that looked at the video screen that we were second," Atay said.

Medals were awarded to champion and runner-up crews.

The Konawaena mixed crew won in 4:00.73. Kamehameha was second in 4:00.89 and Maryknoll third in 4:01.04.

"It was really intense because every stroke counts," said Konawaena senior Kelli Yamauchi. "If you mess up once, you think about it afterward."

Konawaena's winning crew was Amanda Loewe-Llanes, Yamauchi, Noel Tavares, Ryan Daugherty, Joshua Yong and Michael Suber.

It was Yamauchi's one and only year paddling for the Wildcats.

"I'm stoked we won. I'm kind of bummed I can't come back and do it again with them," she said.

Three MIL teams, two OIA and one from the ILH had won the previous mixed crew state championships.

"It means a lot to us," Yong said. "Any Big Island team can win at states. You just have to practice hard and never give up."

There were 24 total races yesterday with some crews paddling as many as four times.

FINALS

BOYS

1, Kalaheo (Nicholas Seeger, Alexander Guillaume, Kao Malama-Custer, Shawn Reed, Lawrence Soto, James Oliva-Ancog) 3:43.21. 2, Kapa'a 3:47.82. 3, Maryknoll 3:48.37. 4, Punahou 3:48.80. 5, 'Anuenue 3:49.01. 6, McKinley 3:49.73. 7, Kamehameha 4:00.47. 8, Kamehameha-Maui 4:20.58.

GIRLS

1, Punahou (Marline Long, Chelsea Jones, Hannah Ishida, Tawni Goodman, Jasmine Daniel, Brooke Hunter) 4:26.53. 2, Kapa'a 4:26.73. 3, Baldwin 4:27.07. 4, Kamehameha 4:29.16. 5, 'Anuenue 4:39.61. 6, 'Iolani 4:39.77. 7, Konawaena 4:40.39. 8, Mililani 4:42.04.

MIXED

1, Konawaena (Amanda Loewe-Llanes, Kelli Yamauchi, Noel Tavares, Ryan Daugherty, Joshua Yong, Michael Suber) 4:00.73. 2, Kamehameha 4:00.89. 3, Maryknoll 4:01.04. 4, Punahou 4:03.22. 5, Kamehameha-Maui 4:12.48. 6, 'Anuenue 4:13.31. 7, Lahainaluna 4:19.93. 8, Moanalua 4:20.33.

Reach Kyle Sakamoto at ksakamoto@honoluluadvertiser.com.