The International Vaʻa Federation (IVF) World Sprint Championship is returning to Hilo this year.
The event, which is set to kick off on August 15, 2024, will be hosted at Hilo Bay through the support and partnership of the International Vaʻa Federation (IVF), the Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association (HCRA), and the County of Hawaiʻi.
The County last hosted the IVF World Sprint Championship in 2004.
In a press release Mayor Roth said, “We are honored to be able to welcome back this culturally significant event that braids our Polynesian heritage together while welcoming all throughout the world to our shores. Our administration has been working closely with HCRA and on-island hālau to ensure that this event is something that truly showcases the beauty of our island, the aloha of our people, and the incredible talent of our local paddlers.”
The 2024 World Sprint Championship is expected to draw approximately 20 competing countries, featuring 8,000 participants and attendees from around the globe.
The event dates listed below are preliminary and subject to change as the planning progresses.
- August 6th: HCRA Setup Begins
- August 13-15: Course Familiarization
- August 15: Opening Ceremony
- August 16-17th: Elite World Championship and Para Racing
- August 18-23: Club World Championship
- August 23-26: Event Breakdown
Updates will continue to be made through the planning and implementation phases. Interested parties should refer to worldsprints2024hilo.org for more information.