Defeating Can’t: The Spirit of Paddling with Sonny Cruz

This month on the Defeating Can’t Podcast, I had the chance to catch up with paddler, coach, and community leader Sonny Cruz — a true embodiment of the CAN. mindset.
Sonny joined the conversation right from Kalapakī Beach in Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, sitting in front of the very canoe he and his crew train with for one of the world’s most iconic endurance events: the Molokaʻi Hoe World Championships of Outrigger Canoe Racing.

Molokaʻi Hoe Canoe Race. (Photo courtesy: Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association)

The Molokaʻi Hoe isn’t just a 42-mile channel crossing from Molokaʻi to Oʻahu. It’s a test of endurance, teamwork, and heritage that connects modern athletes to the voyaging traditions of Hawaiʻi and Polynesia.

Carrying Kauaʻi’s Legacy

Sonny and his teammates paddle with Hui o Mana ka Puʻuwai, a club founded in 1990 by Jeff Ano and Uncle Joe Rapozo. The hui paddles out of Wailua River and represents the deep roots of Kauaʻi’s paddling culture — where generations of families have trained, raced, and taught the next wave of paddlers.

This year, their Open Men’s crew ranges from teenagers to paddlers in their 50s — a beautiful expression of lokahi (unity) across generations. They train daily with a sense of kuleana (responsibility) to represent not just their island but the entire Hawaiian paddling community on a world stage.

Spirit of CAN. Proudly Supporting the Journey

Spirit of CAN. is proud to sponsor Sonny and Hui o Mana ka Puʻuwai in this year’s Molokaʻi Hoe — supporting a crew whose discipline, humility, and teamwork perfectly capture the CAN. mindset.

Sonny has become both a friend and an ambassador for the brand, and you’ll hear it in this episode — his warmth, humility, and absolute stoke for his team and the sport shine through every moment of our talk.

Highlights from the Conversation

On what paddling means:

“For me it’s really cultural. It’s tied to my ethnicity. This sport has traveled the world — people all over are paddling Hawaiian canoes just like this one. It’s more than competition; it’s connection.”

On teamwork and timing:

“Timing is everything. In a six-man canoe, you can feel when someone’s off. When everyone hits together — the same pull, the same motion — that’s what we call lokahi. We become one. It’s effortless effort.”

On the feeling of the glide:

“When you catch a bump just right, the canoe lifts — it feels like flying. It’s the moment every crew lives for. You lock that feeling into your mind because it’s pure flow, everyone working together in perfect sync.”

On representing Kauaʻi in the Molokaʻi Hoe:

“It’s a huge honor. There’s pride, but there’s also humility. You’re carrying your island with you across that channel. You can feel the mana of the ocean — it reminds you to stay grounded and grateful.”

On the CAN. mindset:

“Every day you face obstacles — in training, in racing, in life. But that’s what makes you stronger. You just keep showing up, keep pushing, and trust your crew. That’s what it means to live the spirit of CAN.”

Listen Now

🎧 Episode Title: Defeating Can’t: The Spirit of Paddling with Sonny Cruz
📍 Recorded live from Kalapakī Beach, Kauaʻi
🔗 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube — link in bio

About Hui o Mana ka Puʻuwai

Founded in 1990, Hui o Mana ka Puʻuwai is a nonprofit paddling club based out of Wailua River on Kauaʻi. The club is dedicated to preserving Hawaiian culture through the sport of outrigger canoe paddling and to supporting youth and families across the island through mentorship and community engagement.

Follow and support their journey:
🌐 facebook.com/huiomanakapuuwai
📸 instagram.com/huiomanakapuuwai

Andy Notes

Mahalo to Sonny Cruz and the entire Hui o Mana ka Puʻuwai crew for carrying the spirit of CAN. into every stroke across the Kaiwi Channel. Your strength, humility, and unity remind us all that greatness is found in perseverance, purpose, and teamwork.