Hui Waʻa Kaukahi

Nui a lehulehu na mokupuni, ʻaʻole lawa ka manawa

So many islands, so little time!

Category: Paddles

Summer Solstice Celebration 2024

Story and photos by Terry Shimabukuro (except as noted)

June 21, 2024

The kayaking part of this event was canceled because of a Small Craft Advisory (SCA), but a small group of us gathered at Electric Beach to snorkel, picnic and watch the sunset. Ruby and I were joined by Norm Chun, Mary Ann, Jled, Beth and Won Yee Cheng-Leever and Susan Wilcox. While there was a steady breeze it was nowhere near SCA level nearshore so we were disappointed that we could have been kayaking.

A small pod of spinner dolphins cruised back and forth a little beyond the power plant outflow and kept us entertained with their acrobatics before sunset. The conditions were perfect for snorkeling so Norm, Beth and I jumped in. The warm water at the outflow attracts a wide variety of fish and it was fun to watch them “playing” in the current.

Picnic spot overlooking the ocean – photo by Beth

Waiting for sunset – photo by Beth

We enjoyed our picnic dinners and getting to know Susan who was attending her third club event. Good ol’ Sol did not disappoint and painted the horizon in a relaxing, warm orange glow. A wonderful end to the second longest day of the year (the solstice was actually the day before).

Even the feral cats line up to watch sunset!

Beth and Won Yee silhouetted at sunset

We waited for La Luna to rise, but a hill masked her appearance so we packed up and headed home. Once we drove around the hill she shined big and mesmerizingly beautiful! Too bad we didn’t see it while on the water…maybe next year!

June 21, 2024
He‘eia Kea to Ahu o Laka 2024

Story and Cover Photo by Joe Hu

Other photos by Terry Shimabukuro

June 9, 2024

It was a great day to paddle to Ahu o Laka, the Kāneʻohe Bay sandbar. Eight paddlers met at the Heʻeia Kea Canoe Hale. This was the first club paddle for new member Susan Wilcox and the first after a brief hiatus for Marie Stuart. It was low tide so we had a sandy beach to set up our kayaks. At our captain’s meeting we did our radio check on channel 72 and outlined the route we would take using the red then green channel markers.

Launching a little after 9am, we headed north to our first waypoint the red channel marker marking the entrance to Heʻeia Kea Harbor. We had to stay away from the marker itself as there was a submerged shallow reef around the marker and a northeast wind was trying to push us over the reef. With Kepapa Island to the north, we proceeded NNE towards the green channel marker which marked the ocean side of the Kāneʻohe Bay Channel.

Joe leading the captain’s meeting

As we crossed the channel, we waited for a few motorized boats to pass across our path. Always good to paddle as a group when crossing a busy channel. After passing the green channel marker and some white poles marking shallow areas, the water turned a light blue as we could see the sandy bottom of the sandbar coming up to us. We then began to pass coral heads easily seen through the crystal clear waters.

Norm joined us with his power boat and Terry anchored his boat in ankle-deep water with the rest of us rafting up to his boat. Most of us got out of our boats and appeared to walk on the water as we explored Ahu o Laka. Stan McCrae passed us on his super fast Hobie Kayak sailing to Kualoa where he reported traditional waʻa anchored there for FestPAC.

Marie leaving the harbor

Anchored at the sandbar

We then walked the sandbar looking for snorkeling sites. A number of turtles skirted by the edge of the sandbar passing almost under us. We rescued a kayak that started to drift away from Kat as she followed one of the turtles.

Rested, we got back into our boats and headed south back to Heʻeia Kea, identified by the tall white masts of boats anchored there and the dock buildings nearby. The bay was calm with little wind and waves. The tide was higher as we landed with a little of the beach left. A fresh water shower and Terry’s water hose ended this pleasant EZ Glider paddle.

Lisa gliding across the sandbar

Small honu in the shallow water

June 9, 2024
Tracks to Pokai Bay 2024

Story and Photos by Terry Shimabukuro

June 2, 2024

Advisory level trades threatened to cancel our paddle, but the SCA ended early Sunday morning so it was a go for six paddlers, including new member Bill McCarthy who was on his first paddle on the open ocean.

Small swells rolled up the beach at Tracks, but they weren’t breaking so we all launched without incident. As we began our journey up the coast a lifeguard on an Ocean Safety jet ski pulled along side me and asked where we were headed. When I replied Pokai he responded, “Whoa!”

He warned me that there was surf breaking along the coast so he suggested that we stay a little outside. I passed the word along as the lifeguard zoomed in to intercept Stan Dalbec who was already busy with his usual close inspection of the rocky coastline.

Leaving Tracks, approaching Nanakuli

Nanakuli Valley

Our dolphin escort failed to show up for this paddle. I think they knew that Beth, Eileen, Nikko and Sandy weren’t with us so they went to look for a better audience. I didn’t see much wildlife except one large honu and a few ‘ua’u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) flying by.

Without wildlife to entertain us the Waianae mountains filled the void with a glorious show. The heavy May showers produced lush green valleys and hillsides. High clouds framed jagged peaks from Makakilo to Makaha. Normally, at this time of the year the leeward coast is more brown than green so we relished this rare treat.

Bill Murphy and Lisa C

Majestic Ma’ili Point

While I don’t claim that these photos are works of art try viewing them on the largest screen that you can (or at least read this in landscape mode) to get a better sense of what we saw.

Passing the Waianae Valley

Approaching Pokai Bay with Makaha Valley in the background

Bill McCarthy stands a lanky 6′-4″ and he folded himself into his used Scrambler for this 8-mile trek. His long reach gives him a powerful stroke that allowed him to keep up with us, at least until the pad-eye anchoring his seat back popped off. I noticed that he had another pad-eye forward of the failed one so I attempted an on-water repair with some spare line that I carry. We clipped his seat back to the line and I cinched it up and, “Ping!”, another pad-eye launched into the sea! Disappointed in my failed McGuyver moment, Bill shrugged it off, engaged his core and soldiered on.

6′-4″ Bill in his Scrambler

Coming in to land at Pokai Bay Beach Park

He was running low on gas by the end of the paddle, but we cruised safely into Pokai Bay. In spite of his struggles Bill remained in good spirits. Earlier, when we took a short break after rounding Ma’ili Point Bill took a moment to soak in the vista. He turned to me and said, “It never gets old.” Bill gets it. This is why we paddle. Welcome to the Hui Bill!

June 2, 2024
Makai Pier to Kailua 2024

Story and photos by Terry Shimabukuro

May 26, 2024

Seven kayakers answered the call to trek seven miles from the Makai Range Pier to the Kailua boat ramp with a rest stop on Moku Nui. We welcomed new paddlers Steven, Nicole and Zachary. Breezy tradewinds kept most of us inside the reef with only paddle leader Steve Harris and his guest, Zach, braving the outside swells.

Partial cloudy skies tempered the tropical sun and the constant breeze kept us cool throughout the paddle. Nicole whooped with glee whenever their tandem crested the occasional trade swell.

Steven and Nicole passing Waimanalo

Heading toward the Mokulua Islets

Kelvin approaches Moku Nui with world famous Lanikai Beach behind him

This was Kelvin Tom’s first time paddling this route and his first time on the water in a few months. He handled the journey with ease although I heard him discussing the effectiveness of ibuprofen at the break on Moku Nui.

At February’s surf clinic there were four monk seals on the beach at Moku Nui. This time only a solo pinniped sunbather lazed on the sand. It must have been content as it didn’t move an inch except for an occasional head bob.

Frequent wails and moans came from the abundant ‘Ua‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater) resting under shrubs or in burrows. The breeding pairs had gathered on the islet to lay their single egg for the season.

Lone monk seal resting on the beach

‘Ua’u kani laying under a shrub

Steve’s 11.5 pound omilu ulua

Steve was stoked with his catch of the day, an 11.5 pound omilu ulua! He caught it on a popper after freeing his lucky SP Minnow lure on his other line from the reef.

May 26, 2024
Makua to Kaena Point 2024

By Steve Harris

April 28, 2024

Again, only Sandy and I made this exceptionally beautiful paddle from Makua Beach to Ka’ena Point and back. This was about a 9 mile paddle as we paddled a little way around the point. The weather was stunningly good with very little to no wind and very clear and beautiful blue water. At one point we saw a turtle underwater. Wow! Sandy also spotted a pod of porpoises heading our way near the end. That was cool even though they only stayed up on the surface for a short time so we couldn’t dive them. This was a no carpool paddle, and no fish were caught. Still we hit the weather perfectly and we need to keep this paddle on our schedule. The route from the cars to the beach is now pretty steep and sketchy due to the concrete barriers that have been placed along the parking area. That has to be adjusted for by parking further way from the break in the wall and doing a two-person carry of our boats down to the beach.

Steve enjoy the beautiful water photo by Sandy Johnson

April 28, 2024