HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - At 11 years old, Ayden Salis is now the youngest solo paddler to cross the treacherous Kaiwi Channel.

“It was pretty hard but it was fun at the same time,” said Salis. “I just saw the pros do it and I decided to do it.”

A determined Salis left Molokai the morning before Memorial Day in a one-man outrigger canoe in the Kanaka Ikaika Race.

The Kailua Elementary student has been paddling since he was 8 with No Na Keiki, but this was his first time solo on the 26-mile so-called “Channel of Bones,” which is notorious for its grueling conditions, strong currents and waves.

“There’s this one time I almost flipped and both of my legs were out of my boat, but I stayed on top of my boat,” said Salis.

Salis surfed six foot swells with winds blowing 15 to 20 knots. Mom

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