The following was written by waterwoman Jennifer Holcomb, who submitted a very inspirational story about a group of determined paddlers:
Outrigger crews generally rely on what they see to keep their team paddling in unison - but how do you know where to go if you can’t see the big blue ocean?
“We listen to the water dripping off the paddles,” according to team member Gayle Clausen.
We’ve all lost our senses at some point; saltwater will do that to you. But for the Makapo Outrigger Canoe Club, being on the ocean is bringing something back. 
Racing in the open ocean is one of the most riotous of sensory experiences - all elements come together in a fluid base where predictability is foreign, and adaptability is the key to success. It’s no wonder why a blind person might actually feel right at home.
On July 12, the OC Makapo Aquatics Project will be helping to get blind and visually-impaired children and adults out on the water by holding a benefit luau at the Newport Aquatic Center. The non-profit hopes to raise money for its programs, and purchase new canoes. Now, the club relies on the use of canoes and equipment from the Newport Aquatic Center.
“Makapo” is the Hawaiian word for blind, or literally, “night eye.”
