The Shell Va'a paddling team from Tahiti has provided the fuel for the rest of the field in Sunday's Moloka'i Hoe.

Whether that's enough to catch the two-time defending champion remains to be seen.

Shell Va'a, which is sponsored by the Shell oil company, has dominated the Moloka'i Hoe the last two years. Last year, it smashed the course record, completing the 41-mile race in 4 hours, 40 minutes, 22 seconds — six minutes faster than the mark it set in 2006.

"Tahiti has raised the bar, and raised it pretty damn high," said Lanikai Canoe Club veteran paddler John Foti. "It'll take nothing short of a perfect race (to catch them). There can be no mistakes from start to finish."

The Moloka'i Hoe is considered the world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe racing for men's teams. More than 100 crews from around the world are expected to compete in the race from Hale O Lono Harbor, Moloka'i, to Duke Kahanamoku Beach,Waikiki.

Lanikai, which won the Moloka'i Hoe in 2004 and '05, has emerged as the great Hawai'i hope this year.

"I think what Tahiti has done the last two years has rejuvenated a lot of clubs, including us," said Kai Bartlett, who returned to Lanikai this year after three years on Maui. "It's been a lot of hard work, but it's been fun to see this kind of effort as well."

Lanikai has implemented a strict training program that included several Moloka'i-to-O'ahu practice runs within the last two months.

"I would describe it as smart workouts," Lanikai paddler Patrick Dolan said. "We've been out there when it's flat and we've been out there when it's downhill."

Lanikai men's coach Pat Erwin said the practices have created "a real unity" within the club.

"The camaraderie is very high," he said. "Whether you're from Hawai'i or Tahiti or New Zealand or Australia, you have to be a club if you want to match the effort of the guys who won it the last two years. That's what we're trying to do here."

The Lanikai effort has not come without snags.

Karel Tresnak Jr. also returned to Lanikai this year after several years with other clubs. He is the defending world champion of solo canoe paddling and was expected to be a key member of the Lanikai crew.

However, he will steer Lanikai's second crew on Sunday so that he can be in an Outrigger Connection "Mirage" canoe. The first team will paddle a Bradley "Lightning" canoe.

Outrigger Connection is owned by the Tresnak family.

"It's about knowing which boat I like to steer and feel comfortable in," Tresnak said. "There's more than enough depth in this club to make up for it."

Erwin said: "Junior is a great steersman. Everybody knows it. He's real comfortable steering the Mirage and that's fine. It's made a big difference for our second team."

With the addition of Tresnak, Lanikai's second crew is considered a top-10 contender.

In any case, Shell Va'a is not returning intact. Seven of the nine paddlers from last year's record-breaking crew have returned.

"We added two young guys," Shell Va'a president Richel Moux said. "I'm not sure if we are stronger this year, but I think we are more together."

Moux said Shell Va'a and OPT have been trading victories in Tahiti this year. OPT placed second to Shell Va'a at last year's Moloka'i Hoe.

"Let's say OPT is No. 1," Moux said with a smile. "I want them to be the favorite, not us."

At least three other clubs from Tahiti — E Rai, Mahina and Venus Va'a — are considered potential top-10 finishers.

The Hawaiki Nui Va'a, which is Tahiti's premier canoe race, is scheduled to run in two weeks.

"To me, Hawaiki Nui is the biggest race," Moux said. "But all the best teams come to Moloka'i, so this is where we have to be to see how we stand."

Other potential contending teams from Hawai'i include Outrigger, Kailua, Hawaiian and Team Pa'a.

Top international entries include New Zealand and Team Zebra — a mix of Olympic-caliber paddlers from Europe and Canada.

The masters 40-older division will also feature an intriguing race. Defending champion Mooloolaba of Australia, Team Livestrong from the Big Island, and Outrigger from O'ahu all have elite crews. All three could also contend for a top-10 overall finish.

NOTES

Veteran paddlers from Hui Nalu and Outrigger have combined to form a crew in the masters 55-older division. Both clubs are celebrating 100-year anniversaries this year.

Purelight Racing will enter a crew in the Moloka'i Hoe for the first time. All the paddlers in the crew are physically-challenged athletes.