(Honolulu, HI)—Kanesa Duncan Seraphin, host and producer of the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program’s Voice of the Sea television series and director of its Center of Excellence for Marine Science Education, raced to a first place victory in the grueling 2026 Moloka‘i 2 Oʻahu (M2O) Paddleboard World Championships on July 27, winning her 9th prone paddleboard race across the Ka‘iwi Channel — a full decade after her last race, which was in 2016! 

In the fastest race of her career, with a personal best time of 5 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds, this year’s effort put her back in the women’s top 10 overall fastest times, 12th overall, and fourth among all competitors in the unlimited division.

“This year I felt the draw of the open ocean and a need to cross the channel,” said Seraphin. “Enough years had gone by that just being able to paddle in the event was satisfying. So, getting a best time is really icing on the cake, especially as our overall speeds are largely determined by the conditions on the given race day! I am extremely grateful to have been out there this year and to have had real, challenging channel conditions with wind and swell! Mahalo to my family, friends, coworkers, and supporters who got me there. It’s a solo sport, but it really takes a whole community to make it happen!”

Thanks to strong NE tradewinds, the remnants of Hurricane Fausta, and a high-surf advisory south swell, conditions across the Ka‘iwi Channel were extremely challenging. Afternoon incoming tide, however, contributed to good downwind conditions for experienced paddlers, and the competitors finished with some of the fastest performances ever recorded at M2O. 

Over the years, M2O has grown from a grassroots challenge for the O‘ahu lifeguards to the premiere event in the sport of paddleboarding that it is today. This year, men and women from more than 25 countries raced across the Ka‘iwi Channel, the “Channel of Bones,” that connects the islands of Moloka‘i and O‘ahu and is considered one of the most challenging and powerful bodies of water in the world. 

Seraphin held the women’s stock board record for 15 years (from 2004-2019), was inducted into the 2024 Hawai‘i Waterman Hall of Fame, and has inspired countless athletes through her determination and excellence. She has dedicated her career to furthering the understanding of ocean and coastal ecosystems and the importance of marine conservation, and by successfully merging world-class ocean athleticism with her passion for ocean education and stewardship, she has become a beacon of education and environmental stewardship in Hawaiʻi and beyond. 

For more information, see Hawaiʻi Sea Grant’s website.