I am teetering on my board on shaky legs as I approach the final take out of the final day. The race leaders, brothers Daniel and Bruno Hasulyo, have finished hours before yet approach the water’s edge to congratulate my sister and to help get her board out of the water. I have a few friends of my own from years prior who are not racing this year, but who have made the special journey just to stand at the water’s edge to support me. They grab my board as well. Smiles all around as we embrace our supporters; high fives and claps on the back welcome us into the fold of athletes who have already finished. Our names are trumpeted over the loud speaker to announce our accomplishment. We finish dead last. Yet to everyone else, we are now one of them: ohana…athletes…finishers. SUP
