WAIKIKI, Hawaii (KHON2) -- As the sun rose on Sunday, hundreds of women from across the globe left Hale O Lono Harbor on Molokai and started their 42-mile race over the Kaiwi Channel to Waikiki. Check out what's going on around the nation on our National News page "The 48 crews are from around the world," explained Siania Hunt, Vice President of Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association and event organizer. "We have crews from New Zealand, Arizona, Japan and more, there are 10-12 wahine in a crew so about 600 people out there in the race so far." People started showing up near Hilton Hawaiian lagoon to set up tents as early as 3 a.m. Who are the crews of Na Wahine O Ke Kai "We got here around 4:30 a.m. and it was okay we had parking, and I'm here because my daughter Melena is out there, she's with Outrigger Canoe Club and my son is escorting them here," said Marlene Wilson. Fans and spectators could watch everything unfold out in the water with a huge jumbo television screen that was placed near the finish line and by the spectator tents. "This year is awesome because they have the big TV, it's amazing that's a game changer," Wilson added. Oahu-based Team Bradley won the race on Sunday for the fifth time in a row with a time around five hours and 45 minutes. "We left it all out there, we've been training hard, our coach put us through the test and today felt good," said Team Bradley paddler Lauren Spalding. "I feel relieved, honored to be with the girls, something we haven't done in a long time, it felt good, we bonded," added teammate Kristen Foster. Ka Lahui Kai on Hikaalii came in second and it was a special moment for one Molokai paddler who watched her mom do the same thing years ago. How Sonny Bradley turned a koa log into a championship-winning canoe "Now, as a mom myself, you can see the next generation and hopefully we lay the next foundation for them to see how special of an event this is," Hoku Keala said. Maui's Hawaiian Canoe Club came in third on Sunday. "We're the only canoe out there today from Maui, so it meant a lot for us to do well," said Tiara Lawerence. This is the first race since 2019, it was almost a go in 2023, but was put on hold following the devastating Lahaina fire. No Lahaina teams were in this year's race, but the historic and beloved town was represented by three wahine. "The whole race I thought about Lahaina, and I thought about my ohana and the community and that was a driving force behind all the mana that went into the wa'a today," Lawrence added. Check out more news from around Hawaii And for some first-timers it was one of the best experiences to date. "I'm still taking it in," said Taylor Doherty, Outrigger Canoe Club on the koa canoe Leilani. "I think that was one of the most special experiences I've ever gotten to live through and to do it with some of my best friends means everything to me and I can't believe what we represent by doing that, it's an honor."