What is the Molokai2Oahu?
The Molokai2Oahu Paddleboard World Championships has run since 1997, when a handful of lifeguards decided to test themselves against the stretch of water between the two islands. It has grown into the sport's premier crossing, drawing the best paddlers and foilers on the planet.
The course runs straight across the Kaiwi Channel, the deep, exposed water that separates Molokai from Oahu. Locals call it the Channel of Bones for good reason. Unpredictable currents, big open-ocean swell, and relentless wind make it one of the most demanding races anywhere. There is no coastline to hide behind and no shortcut. You read the water, pick your line, and commit for hours.
Riders finish at Kaimana Beach in Waikiki. The event has crowned prone and SUP champions for decades, and since foil divisions were added it has become the benchmark race for downwind foiling too. For a foiler, the payoff is the glide. Link the bumps well and you fly. Miss them and the channel makes you pay. That mix of raw endurance and split-second reading is what pulls the best riders in the world back here every year.
In Andrew's Words
We caught up with Andrew before the start.
When is the race?
"Molokai2Oahu takes place on Monday, July 20th 2026 at 11:05am HST."
What setup are you racing?
"I'll race on an 8'4 Odyssey NVision and a prototype downwind foil setup."
What's the race format?
"It's a straight-line sprint across the Kaiwi Channel between Molokai and Oahu."
Have you done this race before?
"I've done it three times since 2023, most notably placing 3rd in 2024."
What are your expectations?
"I'll be hoping to achieve a podium finish."
The Board Under His Feet
The Odyssey DW NVision is our downwind board built for exactly this. Hollow shell composite construction strips away every unnecessary gram while adding stiffness, making paddle-ups come easier. Refined rocker lines and a long, narrow outline let it fit into short, stacked bumps and keep accelerating into the swell.
Andrew helped finalize the Odyssey's shape through testing in a huge range of conditions, from weekend cruises to top-level racing. The 8'4 gives him length to catch bumps early and glide efficiently over a long crossing, while the light build keeps fatigue down when it matters most, deep into the channel. Pair that with a prototype downwind foil and you have a rider testing his own ideas at the sharpest end of the sport. Now he takes it back to the water it was made for.
Follow Along
A third-place finish in 2024 puts Andrew right in the mix, and a podium is well within reach. Racing his own design across the Channel of Bones is the ultimate proving ground, both for the rider and for the gear. We'll be cheering him across every mile of the Kaiwi.
Good luck out there, Andrew.
Go get that podium.
The prototype that Andrew is riding is not yet available so in the meantime, explore our newly released Excalibur and Siren foils for the ultimate in downwind and surf performance.
