Paddling Policies & Rules

Ke Kai’s Board of Directors annually reviews our approved rules and regulations to use club canoes and equipment.  Last revised in June 2023, our current rules state: 

“A coach or board member must be present for any practice. If the crew is going out alone, must notify someone on dry land with their course and time duration at least one day in advance. Once back, must notify that person of their return.”

Agreed-upon terms:

• Coach or board member:  Board-DESIGNATED coach or Board-DESIGNATED board member: [Jim, Dale, Lisa, Alan, Aaron, Keanu] or [Grace, Nicole, Jason, Malcolm]

• Present:  At minimum, on the beach/at our practice site; able to respond if an emergency arises; radio on hand (“in sight” not required)

• Practice:  Any day of the week (extra practices are not to be scheduled during existing Ke Kai paddling practices for those crew members); water times posted publicly on Ke Kai website

• Notify:  Make a float plan and post to Facebook group “Eh Wea U Stay!” to share departure time, anticipated destination and distance, canoe(s) used, and return to land

• Crew:  Crews must consist of at least 3 paid paddling members present in each canoe while on the water to ensure that there is a minimum number of paddlers who are trained and current on water safety, canoe recovery, and proper paddling technique

Coaches and Board members communicate in advance of regularly scheduled practice times to ensure that enough responsible parties are present to hold a practice or recreational paddle.  On the occasions when we do not have coaches or board members available to supervise, practice times are canceled.  

It is expected that paddlers who plan to participate in long distance training and races successfully take part in at least one huli (canoe flip) recovery drill prior to race day.  Ke Kai has several resources available to train and instruct our paddlers in proper huli recovery.  Start with this training video.

Our club also submits an annual Water Safety Plan to the City of Monterey for continued beach use and event permits.  

Ke Kai is able to offer limited storage space for personal OC1 vessels through our partnership with Monterey Bay Kayaks. Storage space can currently accommodate 12 OC1s and is managed through a waitlist. To rent a space for a personal canoe, you must be a member in good standing (membership is paid in full or paying via a payment plan) and pay storage fees monthly, in half-year increments, or pay the year in full.  

All members are expected to:

• Treat other members and guests with respect, honesty, fairness, and aloha.

• Volunteer for, participate in, and support club activities, events, and races.

• Support the health and safety of all club members.

• Work hard for your team and/or fellow dancers, as well as yourself.

• Accept feedback, constructive criticism, and instruction with an open mind and a desire to improve your skills.  

• Keep the best interest of the club and club members before personal aspirations.

• Participate in club activities while not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

• Solve issues or disputes through direct, constructive communication with the party or parties involved; this communication should not occur on the water, the dance floor, or social media.  Remember that the board, coaches, alaka’is, and representatives are volunteers and direct the activities of paddlers and dancers. 

Coaches, Alaka’is, and Representatives agree to:

• Treat each participant with respect and dignity.

• Provide participants with advance notice of program expectations and practice schedules, and give as much notice as possible when changes must occur.

• Be available to answer questions and promote an environment of open communication with all participants.

• Mediate conflicts between participants that affect the success of the paddling or hula program.

Everyone has the fundamental right to a safe and secure environment. Accordingly, the Board, coaches, and alaka'i will not tolerate any incidents of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, or intimidation. Club members who engage in such behavior, or who violate other terms of this code of conduct, will be disciplined in a manner consistent with the nature of the infraction. Those who repeatedly engage in such behavior will receive increasingly severe consequences, including loss of club activity privileges or revocation of club membership without refund. Once a membership has been revoked, that individual or family (if applicable) will be required to wait until the next year to petition for membership, and acceptance or denial will be determined at the discretion of the Board, with input from coaches and/or alaka'is.

Approved by the Board, October 9 2019