— Paddling Toward a Dream, One Stroke at a Time
KOROR, Palau — With a paddle in her hands and a notebook in her backpack, Summer Kennard is proving that you don’t have to choose just one path—you can carve out both. At only 19 years old, Summer is not only making her international debut as a va’a paddler at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, but she’s also an intern journalist at Island Times and a student at Palau National Community College.
As the Games approach in just five days, the Skojio Ramp in Meyuns will become the arena where Kennard and her teammates will face off with the best of the Pacific. But her journey to this moment started long before the countdown began.
“I was introduced to Va’a in middle school, but formally joined and participated in Microcup 2022” she said. “After the Belau Games, I was motivated to work towards competing in the Pacific Mini Games.”
That motivation has carried her through months of rigorous training. Summer joined the women’s national va’a team in October. At first, practices were five times a week, but soon intensified to six days a week—rain or shine. “From November until now, we’ve been training Monday through Saturday,” she said.
Va’a, or outrigger canoe paddling, is one of Palau’s most physically demanding sports. Every race is a test of stamina, strategy, and synchronization. For Summer, it’s the spirit of collaboration that fuels her love for the sport.
“What I love about va’a is the teamwork,” she shared. “We all have to paddle in sync. To move the canoe forward, it’s not about one person’s power—it’s about working together.”
And working together is exactly what the women’s team has done under the guidance of national coach and Olympian Ikelau Otto. What began as a mix of paddlers from different clubs evolved into a single unit. “Our coaches work very hard, and I really look up to them because I may lack sometimes but our coaches will always show 100% and that is really inspiring to see in a coach” Summer said.
Though this will be her first-time representing Palau on the regional stage, Summer’s excitement outweighs the nerves. “I’m a little nervous, but also really excited. This is my first-time representing Palau internationally,” she said. “Just being part of the team is already a dream come true.”
Balancing paddling with school and journalism isn’t easy, but Summer thrives on the challenge. Her perspective as both an athlete and reporter gives her a rare voice—someone who’s not just covering the story, but living it.
Behind her strength stands a quiet force: her family. “My sister has been a big part of always encouraging and being supportive of me since I started paddling—especially when I doubt myself,” Summer added with a smile. That steady presence has helped anchor her when the waves of doubt rise.
The women’s team is made up of 11 athletes, all representing the strength and determination of Palauan women: Uroi Salii, Mariah Okada, Nihla Reddin, Meang Ngiraingas, Haina Mamis, Pkngei Otobed, Mystique Wilson, Kedals Reklai, Elliai King, Aliyah Aldrin—and Summer herself.
As they prepare to race in the V6 500-meter sprints and the grueling 1,500-meter turns, the team carries the hopes of the nation with every pull of the paddle. But for Summer, the honor goes even deeper.
“It means everything to me,” she said. “Representing Palau, doing what I love, being part of this team—it’s all truly an honor!”
From classroom lectures to team huddles, from interviews to outrigger lanes, Summer Kennard is showing the next generation of young Palauans that excellence has no single direction—it moves with heart, with discipline, and always, with purpose.