Kayak from Hawaii Kai to San Souci/Kaimana Beach Waikiki – 4 or 8.5 Miles

Aloha Paddlers, This will be the last paddle that I do, as I;m leaving Oahu for about 6 to 9 months. So, If any one would like to take over these club paddles, let me know and we can talk it over.

Aloha,
Bob Twogood

Hawaii Kai to Sans Souci/Kaimana Beach Waikiki – 4 or 8.5 Miles - This is an 8 mile paddle, and we can take the “inside the reef” route for the 1st 4 miles to Diamond Head, or go straight outside and do a straight downwind paddle in the open ocean. Because it’s down-wind the 8 miles goes by quickly and its’ not as tiring as it would be otherwise. If you’d like to go on this adventure, but you’re not quite ready for 8 miles, there are 2 alternate routes. One stopping point will be Kahala Beach Park which is on the Hawaii Kai side of Diamond Head and only 4 miles from the start in Hawaii Kai, and it’s inside the reef all the way, so it’s a good paddle for our less experienced members and for those that like to stay off the open ocean. This 4 mile route will take about 1 to 1 ½ hours to complete. A second alternative route will be the 2nd ½ of the full paddle, a 4.5 mile paddle from Kahala Beach Park outside the reef, around Black Point and Diamond Head, then over to Sans Souci Beach Park in Waikiki. This route will take about 2 hours.

Surf permitting, we’ll make a stop at Doris Duke’s marina (weather and waves permitting). The shuttle for the short routes will be arranged at the gathering point in Hawaii Kai prior to cars leaving for the long course shuttle. The 8 mile route will take about 3 hours to finish, unless the surf is good at Diamond Head, in which case we may have to stop there for a while to catch a few waves, so we should finish the long course about 1:30 PM. We’ll be meeting at 8:00 AM in the parking lot at the Diamond Head end of the Hawaii Kai boat launch parking area – 6200 Kalanianaole Hwy. After off-loading kayaks, we will leave at about 8:20 to pre-position our cars at the finish points. Before we leave we will agree on our shuttle plan to bring everyone back to the kayaks at the starting point. We’ll plan on starting the paddle around 9:15 to 9:30 AM.
*==== CHANGED YOUR MIND? ====
Be sure to check the Meetup – Hua Iki web site for any changes and updates and to PLEASE CHANGE YOUR RSVP if you change your mind.
*==== KNOW YOUR LIMITS ====
Know your capabilities, limits, forecast conditions and check your equipment before you go. Sun Screen, hat and plenty of water are a must. Sun glasses, gloves and dry bag are a good idea. Remember to stay in sight of the group and TELL OTHERS IF YOU ARE LEAVING. You alone are responsible for your health and safety. Check conditions at http://www.surfnewsnetwork.com/ or call the National Weather service at 808-973-4380 (#2 to get wind speeds and #3 for surf report). Knowing the latest forecast, you can decide (based upon individual abilities) whether to paddle, or stay home and clean the yard.
*==== NEED TO RENT ====
If you need to rent a kayak, First call Bob at 808-375-1030 and he may be able to help. If not, call Kailua Beach Adventures gives Meetup members a discount off regular rental rates! MENTION YOU ARE JOINING THE CLUB TRIP. They also have car top pads, straps, dry bags, etc. Call the store 808-262-2555. You can also ask them if you can pick up your kayak the day before, after 3 pm so you can drive straight to the put-in the next morning; let them know and they may be happy to accommodate your request. Also, you can check the club site for possible ride and kayak sharing arrangements.
*==== CONTACT ====
If Bob is leading, call his cell 808-375-1030.