Seventeen paddlers showed up on March 2 to enjoy a leisurely paddle out to the sandbar in Kaneohe. We launched a little later than originally planned because low tide was around 10:30 a.m., which is a good time to be out there to walk around easily. Also, since I was chosen to be the paddle leader and had to pick up my sister at the airport late the night before, and my original co-leader was feeling poorly we made it an hour later (the perks of leadership).
The flotilla preps for launch – photo by Tim
There were some trade winds that deterred some of us from snorkeling, and then regretting that we didn’t after hearing about all the cool undersea wildlife from those who did. Many honu, an eel, fish, are some of the things I remember hearing about. But it was a pleasant time to socialize in the water with all the paddlers, new and used/old to our hui.
Talking story – photo by TimChillin’ at the sandbar – photo by TimDramatic clouds – photo by Tim
On Sunday, February 23, a group met to do the “Weed out the Wimps” paddle. The morning was clear and calm, the forecast was for light wind and chop, or so we thought. We must have missed a late breaking update somehow, but more on that to follow. Here’s a picture, by Sandy, of the group getting ready to launch at Makai Pier:
Setting up for the paddle
There were seven in the group, two of the boats were doubles, Katrena and Randy in one, us in the other. Sandy, Stan, and Steve were all in their Scupper Pros. It was so beautiful out at Makai Pier when we started, and it was Victoria’s first time to do this paddle. Stan even sang the first line of “Oh what a beautiful morning” from the musical Oklahoma as we left Makai pier. But, as we left the pier and passed Rabbit Island on the left, it got windier and the swells started to get bigger and rougher. Victoria didn’t have any prior expectations about what the paddle would be like, and so just kept paddling, trying to keep perpendicular to each swell like Paul had taught her. It seemed very challenging, but doable, and only seemed scary or raise doubts when Paul would occasionally blurt out, “It wasn’t supposed to be this rough!” But we just kept churning along. Paul said that it would get calmer once we turned the point at Makapuʻu, and would continue to get calmer the farther we went. It did gradually, so that the hardest slog was the first part. We stopped at 2 Beer Beach with Stan and Steve for a little rest and snack. Sandy, Katrena, and Randy kept going.
After we turned the corner at Makapuʻu Victoria had thought the next point of land in sight would also be a corner, but it turned out to be a long stretch of walls along the shoreline of Koko Head. It seemed to go on for a very long time. Victoria decided that she could only focus on the next little bit, so would find a landmark (a shape or puka in the next bit of wall just ahead) and then just set the goal of paddling toward it for the next 5 minutes, until we were level with that landmark before choosing another one a little farther ahead. Paddling downwind towards Koko Head, we passed Sandy Beach and the ‘Eternity Beach’ shoreline without trouble, though the following seas and breeze made for a bouncy ride. We passed Hanauma Bay and saw this famous shallow sea cave as we started around Koko Head.
Koko Head sea cliff cave
We finally turned past Portlock, and then into Maunalua Bay, toward our landing destination at Hawaii Kai Beach Park. The beach park didn’t seem to get closer for a long time. We had headwinds that were pushing us back out to sea. We tacked against the wind, paddled hard, and surfed a small wave which helped us get a little in toward the beach. We had kept in radio contact, and everyone made it to shore.
Despite the challenge and it being a little daunting, the experience was really amazing. Despite the wind and the swells, it was such a beautiful day out on the water, and it was very satisfying for a novice to be able to accomplish the paddle. It was inspiring, and makes Victoria want to go out and paddle more.
This was a once in a lifetime paddle. Every single trip is once in a lifetime. Seize the day and do it!
Psst! It’s a secret. The best time to find parking at the Kailua Boat Ramp is when everyone else has the Super Bowl on their mind. But, we know life is not a spectator sport!
The launch line up at the Kailua boat ramp – photo by Kevin
There were 13 kayaks present to catch Kevin Ching’s Surf Clinic before heading out to the Mokes. He gave an informative overview of how to catch and stay atop of the wave, including parts of the wave, bracing with your paddle and timing is key. He also touched upon surf etiquette and the don’ts of drop-in and cut-off.
Kevin shares his kayak surfing wisdom – photo by Mark
There were familiar faces on the paddle: President Bill, Treasurer Sandy, Vice President Stan, Steve, Paul, Mark, Roger, Carolyn, Marie, Denny and a newcomer, Angie. She had stopped in and introduced herself at our Meet & Greet at Magic Island earlier in the month. This was Angie’s first trip to Mokulua Nui where she joined us watching the surfers practice their skills on the SW shoreline. They sure made it look easy, but then that’s the finesse of timing the wave which comes from practice.
The group at Mokulua Nui – photo by Nikko
Sandy and Paul hiked to the backside of the islet where the water was frothy.
What makes Paul do crazy things? – photo by SandyThis is more like it! – photo by Sandy
We were able to get mug shots of sleeping monk seals who also enjoyed the “uncrowded” spot. All in all, a “super” way to spend the morning and still make it home for the final score.
Monk seal resting behind a rock – photo by NikkoA monk seal hauled up the beach in front of our kayaks – photo by BillSandy-faced snoozing seal – photo by Sandy
Featured photo by Kevin Ching, other photos as noted
February 2, 2025
A beautiful day was forecast for our first 2025 Meet & Greet, but torrential rain a few days before caused a couple of sewage spills upstream of the Ala Wai canal. There were also reports of other opala flowing into the canal. So, the concern for this event wasn’t the weather, but the water quality at the Magic Island canoe ramp where we planned to launch. There were no brown water advisories posted for the area, but Kevin sent me updates from his evening runs warning that the water looked dirty so Ruby and I went to Magic Island on Saturday to see for ourselves. I didn’t see any floating garbage patches in the channel and I could see the bottom in the area around the canoe ramp so I gave the go ahead to proceed as planned for Sunday with a caveat to those sensitive to water quality.
We arrived Sunday morning well before eight expecting the normal early morning crowd at Magic Island. Instead we ran into a crowded park road with a myriad of serious people carrying racing canoes to the lawn area around the canoe hale. It turned out that the Kanaka Ikaika Racing Association had a big canoe race scheduled that day with their starting line right in front of the canoe ramp! Auwe! This is one more thing we’ll have to check before planning paddles at popular beaches. Our participants had to hunt for the remaining parking spots so our launch time was delayed and we had to stage our kayaks on the bank next to the canoe ramp.
Canoe racers with our kayaks on the bank in the background – photo by Kanaka IkaikaPre-launch staging – photo by Mark
We had a good turnout of 18 kayakers in 15 kayaks, including six first-time club paddlers. Ruby, Hilda, and President Bill stayed ashore to hold our picnic spot. The races were well spaced out so except for the parking hassle and having to carry our kayaks down the bank instead of the ramp we were able to launch easily between races.
Sweep Mark Ling captured our flotilla going out the channelPaddling toward Leahi under a cloudless sky – photo by Terry
We paddled past a grounded sailboat outside of the Ala Wai harbor breakwater. Upon closer inspection, Mark uncovered the name of the boat, Oar-Gasm! Hmmm…did a distracted captain cause the grounding?
Grounded sailboat outside the breakwater – photo by MarkStern view of the grounded sailboat – photo by Mark
With near perfect conditions of full sun, warm air, light breeze and minimal swell, we cruised slowly past the resorts that prime our state’s economic engine. Kevin took the lead and our guests followed my instructions not to go past him. Other members were assigned a guest to escort and Mark swept making sure no one was left behind. The calm conditions allowed us to keep close together out and back.
Eileen and Barry pass the Hilton Hawaiian Village – photo by TerryOur guests pause outside the Outrigger Reef to capture a memory – photo by TerryKevin leads us past the Halekulani and Sheraton – photo by Terry
While kamaʻaina tend to shun the concrete jungle of Waikiki, paddling the shoreline under these picturesque conditions helped me understand why tourists continue to flock here. We paddled almost to Kuhio Beach where we gathered so that Kevin could take the group photo at the top of this story. We then turned around and headed back to Magic Island.
Admiring the pink palace before returning to Magic Island – photo by Terry
There was a lot of traffic when we got back to the Ala Wai channel with canoe racers sprinting to the finish line, pleasure boats leaving the harbor and several teenagers in little sailboats that sailed right onto the race course. We stayed to edges of the channel and made it safely back to shore.
After stowing our gear, we gathered at the picnic site and enjoyed an ono lunch. I’m not sure if it was the beautiful weather, the bountiful potluck spread or our sparkling personalities, but we signed up a record five new members at this Meet & Greet! Welcome to the club Barry, Clarice, Kim, Sarah and Angie!
This is our second Magic Island Meet & Greet and we’ve had a car key incident both times. The first time, a key was accidentally left in the car door key slot which invited someone to take the car. Luckily, the joy rider left the car in the Ala Moana shopping center parking lot and it was quickly recovered. This time, a member lost their car key. Stan Dalbec graciously drove the member home to retrieve their spare. Perhaps we need to add a car key check to our paddle leader checklist.
Just another day in paradise! I am constantly reminded how fortunate I am to live on Oʻahu. Today was one of those days! It started with an hour and half drive from Hawaii Kai to Lāʻie taking the scenic route along Kalanianaʻole and Kamehameha Hwys. The lush green Koʻolau Mountains on my left and the mesmerizing Pacific Ocean on my right, where surfers and beachgoers were already enjoying the warm waters, made the trip more pleasant.
I arrived at Mālaekahana State Recreation Area around 10am to find other kayakers unloading their gear and heading to the beach area. Stan, the leader, gave a short safety talk, along with some encouraging words, before we launched. There was a small group this time, only 6 kayakers, but it was a fun group! Stan was the lead, while Sandy, Katherine, Debbie, and I followed, and Bill was the sweep. After a short, invigorating, half mile paddle we reached the island. It was a bit rough, for me, with the winds and waves crashing into the boats. But I would do it again in a heartbeat if I had such a great team to go with!
Waves in Mālaekahana Bay – photo by SandyField of ʻākulikuli and kīpūkai with nesting Laysan Albatrosses – photo by Marie
We landed on the western shore of Mokuʻauia and pulled our kayaks onto the beach. After a brief rest, we took a tour of the island. According to Hawaiian legends, Mokuʻauia, which also includes the 4 other islands in the Lāʻie area, was formed when the demigods, Niheu and Kana, killed a giant lizard and threw the pieces into the ocean. It got its English name, Goat Island, because goats once, briefly grazed there when early European explores brought them here in the 18th century.
Mokuʻauia is now a protected bird sanctuary for shearwaters and other burrowing seabirds. Today, we saw 9 Laysan Albatrosses in the vicinity, sitting out in the open or taking flight. It was magical being able to see these amazing birds in the wild! This is my 2nd trip to the island, and things were a bit different. That time we saw a curlew! It is a small island, which holds many hidden treasures that will take more visits to find.
Small flock of Laysan Albatrosses in a field of ‘akulikuli – photo by MarieLaysan Albatross – photo by Marie
Stan led the tour around the island. He is somewhat of a geologist, as well as an historian! He was explaining how the sand dunes and coastline on the island formed. It was all very interesting! Several of us started picking up bits of trash as we went around the island. Stan, ever ready, had a large trash bag in his kayak for us to use so we did not have to carry it back in ours!
A hatched egg – photo by SandyMolted crab shells – photo by Sandy
After snacks, it was time to head back. We had been on the island for almost one an a half hours, but no one was ready to leave the beauty and peace of Mokuʻauia! The paddle back seemed faster as the wind was at our backs and the waves were helping to push us to shore. A sea turtle surfaced briefly, but was gone before I could call out to the others.
This was a great kayaking adventure, filled with camaraderie and memorable moments! I even got my kayak seat fixed, thanks to Stan and Bill. What more could a girl ask for!!
