More than 1,000 canoe paddlers from around the globe competed in the 2008 Catalina Channel Crossing US Championships the weekend of September 6 and 7, 2008.

On Saturday the 27-mile open ocean Wahine and Coed Race started from Newport Harbor, Newport Beach and ended at Casino Point off Avalon. On Sunday the 31-mile Kane Race started at 10 a.m. off Lovers Cove, Catalina Island and ended at Newport Dunes, Newport Beach.

Duke Kahanamoku was the Grand Marshall of the first event on September 20, 1959. Two koa wood canoes were shipped from Hawaii for the first race. The canoes were named Malia meaning calm waters and Niuhe, meaning shark. The malia team was composed of Hawaiian All Star outrigger paddlers and the California team paddled the Niuhe.