HONOLULU (KHON2) -- They are two of the most recognized and respected outrigger canoe events, attracting more than 2,000 of the worldʻs most elite paddlers from around the world. Get Hawaii's latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You "Nā Wāhine and Molokai Hoe are those capstone premiere elite races because of the challenging environment youʻre in when youʻre crossing the channel. Itʻs unlike any other race with the exception of, perhaps, any international race that gets you into the middle of the ocean," Hui Naluʻs Tia Brown said of the two races. So, what does it take to get to these prestigious events? Competitors come together days before Na Wahine O Ke Kai The sport takes an enormous amount of time and dedication. You donʻt just show up for practice and races. There is off-season, pre-season, regatta, state championships and the long distance season. You show up early and stay late to support your club. There are also club events, race setup and breakdown. And that doesnʻt even include the time dedicated to helping rig and clean the canoes. The pursuit can begin in the youth programs or later on in life. "I started paddling when I was roughly 10, I think. My family is a bunch of paddlers and so it was just kind of the natural thing to do, over the summer, so I started with regattas in the 12 under division," Brown said of her paddling life that began in the youth programs. Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe Set to Make Triumphant Return  "I think most people know my dad, Nappy Napoleon. My mom was the queen of Makaha, I guess when you win the Makaha surf meet back when my mom was 18 years old, back in the late 50s," Nāwaʻa Napoleon said of his parents, who are legendary waterpeople. "I think the first time I did the Molokai Hoe, I was either 13 or 14 and back then there was no age limit. It was myself, my three older brothers, my dad and four of my uncles, like Blue Makua, Ants Guerrero, and Wallace Wong." Getting to the races takes years of personal discipline, preparing your body, spending time on the water and a very determined dedication. Waikīkī Surf Club Celebrates 75 Years "Itʻs different if you want to do the distance season and complete and then itʻs still different if you want to do the channel. Thereʻs a lot of preparation, thereʻs a lot of training both mental training and physical training that you, as a paddler, really are responsible for doing on your own." The amount of hours spent with your crew accumulating the knowledge, practicing and racing leads to a camaraderie that is watertight. "It takes a lot of team training because thereʻs 10 in a crew. So it takes a lot of team training and blend and working together to figure out how you can kind of reach that perfect blend of everyone doing the same thing at the same time and just helping the canoe move without disrupting its flow." Legendary voyaging canoe takes to the sea today But itʻs not just the training, itʻs the camaraderie, the trust that you have in your crew and that they have in you. "That is so important in a six-man canoe. Itʻs you knowing that everyone has your back and you having their back and just paddling hard for each other." But why dedicate so much of yourself to this aspiration? "As you make your way across the Kaiwi Channel you get into all kinds of different waters. Itʻs a very technical race. You gotta know the tide, wind direction, speed and all of those pieces to see whatʻs going to be the best for your crew. Because of those technical aspects it makes it that much more exciting. People admire that part of it. If you can get over that challenge, itʻs pretty admirable." Polynesian Cultural Center relaunches popular canoe celebration show So, ultimately, what does it take to make it to the the wa'a races of all wa'a races? Well itʻs not just keeping their body ready for battle, staying mentally fit and their overall knowledge of paddling that make these athletes the best of the best. Those are definitely major factors-- but the reality is that it is dedication to their crew and our culture that make these athletes who they are and what builds the people who pursue these races. "I think the sport of canoe paddling is an important part of the Hawaiian culture." What we now see as a sport was a mode of transportation and recreation, but it was also used for battle. And these athletes are warriors--the canoe is their vessel, their bodies, knowledge of the ocean and those who have battled before them those are their weapons. Find more Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and Kauai news here "My mom always used to say ʻyou guys need to make sure that you welcome all of your ancestors into the canoe because they all want to paddle with you and they will come with you and be with you through the whole race. Remember that our ancestors have paddled the same route at some point and every time you put your paddle in you are connecting with their paddle that probably went in the ocean at the same spot.ʻ" KHON2 will stream both the Nā Wahine o Ke Kai and the Molokai Hoe on KHON2.com and broadcast on KHII.