The Kaʻiwi Channel is the stretch of open ocean between Oʻahu and Molokaʻi that humbles even the strongest of paddlers. For Maui-raised Lauren Spalding, that channel has been a proving ground. With countless triumphs in its waters, she has carved her name into the legacy of Hawaiian ocean sports.
Born in Honolulu and raised in Maui, Lauren Spalding's journey into competitive paddling began at 14, steering her first race across the challenging Moloka'i Channel by 16. Her natural talent and fierce work ethic quickly propelled her beyond Hawaiian waters. By age 24, she was representing the United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, competing in both the K-2 and K-4 500-meter sprint events. While she didn't reach the podium, she reached the global stage as one of the few athletes to transition from outrigger canoeing to elite-level kayaking. That same year, she captured gold and silver medals at the Pan American Games, proving she belonged among the world's best in flatwater sprint kayaking—a discipline that demands perfect technique, strength, and laser focus.
But it's in Hawaiian waters where Lauren's legacy truly shines. As a longtime member of the world-renowned Team Bradley, she has claimed ten victories in the six-woman outrigger canoe race, Na Wahine O Ke Kai. Even more impressive is her dominance of the Molokaʻi Solo, the grueling 32-mile race across the Kaʻiwi Channel. She's won it an astounding three times as the surfski champion and twelve times as the OC-1 champion. This range, spanning outrigger paddling to flatwater kayaking to ocean kayaking, proves her complete mastery of paddle sports.
Beyond competition, Lauren has become a beloved mentor and ambassador of aloha spirit in the tight-knit paddling community. While raising her own keiki, she's made time to support young athletes—especially girls—who look to her as proof that strength and femininity can exist in the same stroke. Whether she's leading a crew, coaching from shore, or simply offering a quiet word of encouragement, Lauren makes it clear: greatness is about how you carry others with you. She's even leant her experience to the broadcast booth, serving as a color commentator for Molokaʻi Channel races and translating the nuances of the sport with passion for audiences watching from afar. In addition to her love for ocean sports, she has also been a dedicated volunteer for the Maui youth rodeo program (2018-2024). Lauren Spalding embodies what it means to be a true Hawaiian waterwoman—humble in victory, generous in spirit, and forever tied to the waters that have helped to shape her.
