The Koa Nui Race, a one-man canoe and surf ski race, will be held Saturday and Sunday.

Paddlers in five divisions will compete in preliminary races on Saturday; qualifying paddlers will race the 19-mile course from Waimanalo Beach Park to the Duke Kahanamoku Beach Sunday.

"We are so excited to support the new Koa Nui Race — a race for everyone, non-professionals and professionals alike are welcome to enter," said Ross Anderson, general manager of Duke's Waikiki, the sponsor of the event.

"We know Duke Kahanamoku would have been proud of today's watermen and women, so we will also celebrate by engraving the top Men and Women winner names on a Koa paddle that will be displayed at Duke's Waikiki."

The Koa Nui Races will include:

Race One — Time-trial, two-mile course in the Hawaii Kai Marina, starting and finishing at The Shack. Race Race begins 9 a.m Saturday. Paddlers will be assigned to heats with 4 paddlers per heat.

Race Two — Time-trial, eight-mile course from Makai Pier to The Shack in Hawaii Kai, beginning 1 p.m.

Race Three — 19-mile course from Waimanalo Beach Park to Kaimana Beach Park Sunday. The final race starts at 7:45 a.m. and will feature the top 40 overall combined times for Race One and Two and also the 20 fastest times by age group.

Divisions include Junior (ages 15-17), Open (ages 18-39), Master (ages 40-49), Senior Master (ages 50-59), and Golden (ages 60-plus).

Preliminary race entry fees are $37 for adults and $20 for juniors, and an additional $25 for those who will advance to the final race.

Awards will follow the race and the top winners' names will be engraved on a paddle that will displayed at the famous Duke's Waikiki restaurant.