TOCC was formed in 1993 by Susan "Susea" Grant with support from a former teammate Daphne Hougard. Susea's vision of starting TOCC came after relocating to the Bay Area from Southern California, where she paddled and raced with Marina del Rey Outrigger Canoe Club for 23 years. It was there under the guidance of coaches Steven Kekuewa and Sandy Kahanamoku (nephew of the famous Duke Kahanamoku), that Susea was fortunate enough to race in the first women's Molokai-to-Oahu channel race, also referred to as the Na Wahine O' Ke Kai (The Women of the Sea).