Hui Waʻa Kaukahi

Nui a lehulehu na mokupuni, ʻaʻole lawa ka manawa

So many islands, so little time!

Author: Terry Shimabukuro

Magic Island Meet & Greet

Story by Terry Shimabukuro

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 Ikaika

Pre-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 channel

Paddling 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 Mark

Stern 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 Terry

Our guests pause outside the Outrigger Reef to capture a memory – photo by Terry

Kevin 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.

February 2, 2025
Remembering Ed

Long-time club member and my good friend Edmund (Ed) Rhinelander passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on December 16, 2024 on the eve of the club Christmas party. The shocking news of his death spread quickly through the club as he was well loved and admired by many. Ed and I joined the club around the same time, back near the turn of the century (I feel ancient phrasing it that way). His welcoming and generous nature drew people to him. He could walk up to a stranger on the beach and within minutes they’d be talking like they were old friends. We became friends immediately. In addition to kayaking we shared common backgrounds in fishing, camping, beer drinking, football and growing up local.

We were also both ardent members of the do-it-yourself club, reluctant to pay others for something we could do ourselves. An electrician by profession, Ed was a Jack of all trades, but not a master of none. He was a master of many. He constantly surprised me with the ability to do so many things and do them well. Unlike my DIY skills that rely heavily on YouTube, Ed’s skills came from life experience. Befriending and learning from other craftsmen, he practiced until he got it right and those skills became second nature.

One memorable project that he undertook began when he inherited a used Hobie Mirage Drive, the pedaling system for Hobie fishing kayaks. He didn’t own a Hobie kayak and already had more kayaks than he could use so he decided to mount it in a fiberglass Cuda that he had previously modified for sailing. He studied the Hobies to understand what made them work and then he took a saw to his Cuda. It took him longer than he planned and several iterations to the drive mounting, but he finished it. I went with him on its maiden voyage and it worked beautifully! Rock solid pedaling and smooth steering.

One of the few areas where Ed lacked skills was in the digital realm. I don’t think it’s because he wasn’t capable, but he probably tried computers back when they crashed frequently and software wasn’t user-friendly. He didn’t have the patience for that so he left it for others to do. That might be one of the reasons he married Lois because she was proficient with email. He stuck with a simple flip-phone until he was forced to get a smartphone for foreign travel with post-COVID tracking requirements. I was pleasantly surprised when I received my first text from him. He seemed quite proud. And then he discovered emojis!

If asked to choose one person you’d want to be stranded with on a desert island you couldn’t go wrong picking Ed. Sure, he wasn’t much to look at in a swimsuit, but you would survive and probably live pretty comfortably. One of Ed’s favorite TV shows was “Survivor”. I don’t watch reality shows so I never watched an episode with him, but I assume that he constantly critiqued the participants the same way that he yelled advice to the coaches of the football games on TV (I’ve seen that).

Through his network of friends and contacts he often learned about a cache of used material or equipment that was about to be thrown away. No landfill for those items, he would give them a second life. He also had an eye for spotting discarded “treasures” along the side of the road, much to Lois’s chagrin. He was upcycling before it became fashionable.

The most obvious example of this is the steep hillside garden behind their house that he terraced by creating retaining walls out of used tires. I’m pretty sure that he didn’t get a structural engineer’s stamp of approval, but I would put money down that the retaining walls last at least as long as the house. Ed spent a good part of his retirement working in that garden and it’s the last thing that he worked on. He had come back to the house after working up on the hill in the morning. Lois found him sitting on a folding chair on the front deck looking like he was asleep with one shoe off and the other half off. Attempts to revive him by Lois and Glenn and later the EMS were unsuccessful.

Like many of us, Ed hoped that he would die before losing the ability to take care of himself and that his death would be quick and painless. He got his wish, but he left us too soon and we didn’t get to say goodbye. Ed had planned to grow old with Lois in the home that they built together. Preparing for the day when they had reduced mobility, they built a wheelchair ramp on the side of the house and installed a front door wide enough for a large wheelchair. Ed’s best friend commented, ironically, that Ed’s only ride on the ramp was on the gurney to the mortuary’s van.

Those of us that paddled with Ed, especially the ones that went on kayak expeditions with him, undoubtedly gained some wisdom from him that made us better kayakers, fishermen, campers, cooks or people. We grieve along with Lois, Kelly, James and the rest of his family. We didn’t get to say goodbye, but he left us with many cherished memories. Aloha my friend. A hui hou.

January 5, 2025
Christmas Party 2024

Story and photos by Terry Shimabukuro

December 17, 2024

This year’s Christmas Party took on a somber note with the sudden passing of long-time member Ed Rhinelander the day before the event. Ed loved a good party and while we missed his radiant smile, infectious laugh and amusing stories we consoled ourselves with memories of the good times we shared with him. Event organizer Eileen directed her elves to transform the almost 100-year-old HTMC clubhouse into a festive setting for all to enjoy. Early arrivals enjoyed ono pupus and purchased stylish club t-shirts.

Outside the HTMC clubhouse

Marie, Stan and Alan peruse the club T-shirts

Incoming club president Bill Murphy led about 40 members and guests in a moment of silence for Ed and introduced new club members. Beth gave a multi-denominational blessing and hungry attendees swarmed the bountiful buffet. Except for Peggy’s perfectly roasted turkey and Beth’s expertly sliced ham this was a pure bring-whatever potluck and it was great to see members respond with a delectable assortment of healthy grain dishes.

Potluck buffet

Diners spread out over the brightly decorated tables under the covered lanai to enjoy their meals, catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Peter should look happier surrounded by the lovely Marie, Susan, Paula and Eileen

Kimberly flashes the shaka with first-time party goers Mary Ann, Jled, Teresa and Alan

Norm, Tim and Stan enjoy the festivities

Peggy wonders what kind of silly face her husband’s making. What do their wedding photos look like?

Rusty Lillico, one of the club’s founding members, created the club’s website over twenty years ago. With no prior training, Rusty taught himself the basics of web design and put together a simple, but effective website to publicize the club activities. Back then, there was no social media so unless you knew a club member or happened upon a club paddle the website was your portal to the club. Many of our most active members discovered the club through Rusty’s website. We presented Rusty with a custom plaque made by club member Elliott Wong to thank him for his many years of dedicated service as webmaster .

Rusty receives his webmaster recognition plaque

Katrena organized the photo and video contest and efficiently tallied the votes to keep our activities on schedule. Kevin showed off his camera skills winning both the photo contest and claiming the Peebles’ Award. He also won the video clip category. Chalsa had the second place photo and Ruby and I tied for third. My capture of Norm’s Coptic Easter campfire kanikapila earned a video clip second place. Sandy and I collaborated on a Crash and Burn video that garnered the first place video award. Kevin produced the #2 video documenting the Windbag Regatta.

Katrena presents Kevin with a laser cut Hui logo box for his first place photo

Chalsa’s second place photo

Ruby and Terry’s third place photos

In addition to making the one-of-a-kind plaque for Rusty, Elliott donated prizes showcasing his mastery of other skills with his laser cutter. Contact him if you would like to purchase similar or other custom made items.

Laser etched logo water bottle

The elusive Elliott Wong from 2014

Laser cut box with the Hui logo

Norm and Mary Ann led the group in the joyful singing of Christmas carols. Kimberly directed the “white elephant like” gift exchange where stealing was allowed and, in fact, encouraged. No one came to blows.

Norm and Mary Ann lead the caroling

Kimberly leads the gift exchange (the kayak was a prop, not a gift!)

Happy party goers!

Mahalo to Eileen for expertly organizing our year-end event and to all who helped with setup and cleanup. We look forward to another year of great paddles!

December 17, 2024
Double Roughwater Swim 2024

Comments by Mark Ling edited by Terry Shimabukuro

Photos and video from Mark Ling

October 5, 2024

This isn’t a full story on this year’s Double Roughwater Swim. This is feedback that new member Mark Ling gave to Eileen regarding his first experience as an escort for the Double Roughwater Swim...

“I totally enjoyed it and had a blast! This was my first time escorting a swimmer. I would definitely do it again! We were a little nervous, we both did not do an event like this before. My swimmer, Wes, said don’t sweat it, let’s just wing it! I smiled and said let’s do this.”

“We had a little trouble going into the first buoy I couldn’t find him for the first 10 minutes. I had to call the jet ski assist to help me. But we finally hooked up and we’re on our way.”

Wooden medallion for the swimmer and escort

Mark and Wes show off their medallions

“He was happy with the time he turned in. And we had a delicious breakfast buffet at the Outrigger Canoe Club. This was the first year, both swimmers and escorts were awarded a prize.” – Editor’s note: Swimmers and escorts have both received medallions for a few years now

“All in all, what a wonderful day it was!”

October 5, 2024
Makaha Meet & Greet

Story by Terry Shimabukuro

July 14, 2024

The surf was up at Makaha, but that didn’t deter 16 paddlers from venturing out into the beautiful blue at our second Meet & Greet event of the year. Nine of the paddlers were on their first club paddle. I nervously watched the forecast as advisory level winds blew across the state in the preceding days. Good karma came through, however, and the advisory expired just before our event. A second threat came from an advisory level south shore swell that had potential for some wraparound on the west. I put my faith in Surfline’s prediction of 3 to 4 foot surf at Makaha and trusted that the wide channel in the bay would give us plenty of leeway to paddle out safely even with beginners.

Terry says, “We’re going that way!” – photo by Ruby

Bill, Steve and the Kennedys provided loaner kayaks. They gave the beginners brief instructions and got them fitted into their PFDs and kayaks. I told the group that our route was down the center of the bay, staying well clear of the breaking surf on each side, and then turning south. Our goal was Lahilahi Point, being aware that there could be large swells and not to venture too close to shore. Right after launch we would practice kayak reentry with experienced members helping the beginners.

Ready to launch – photo by Katrena

As we lined up our kayaks at the water’s edge a life guard zoomed up on an ATV. He just wanted to know where we were headed and to warn us about the big swells outside. We thanked him for his diligence and began the paddle with Stan expertly demonstrating a huli and recovery.

Stan demonstrates kayak reentry – photo by Ruby

Carolyn shows that she can do it too! – photo by Ruby

We got everyone off the beach without incident although I did have to chase down one first-timer as she began drifting toward the surf break. We gathered in the bay for the group photo at the top of this post before heading out. Katrena took a photo of us as we began to paddle out with what looks like a very large breaking wave going across the bay. I don’t recall a breaking wave spanning the bay (otherwise I would have had second thoughts about leading the group out that way) so it must have just been the angle that she took the shot at along with telephoto compression that created this dramatic perspective. In any case, we didn’t have to plow through any breaking waves and we safely began our journey.

Surf was up as we headed out (not really)! – photo by Katrena

Occasional large swells rolled by as we headed toward Lahilahi giving the beginners the thrill of bobbing up and over these gentle moving liquid hills. Sandy and I escorted most of the group with Bill and Stan staying close to a couple of the slower paddlers. I had a slight scare when a large swell passed us by and I noticed Bill and his paddler well inside of us, possibly in too close. I breathed a sigh of relief after watching them disappear behind a wall of water and then nonchalantly reappear. Regardless, I quickly radioed Bill to move further outside. “10-4!”, came a prompt reply.

Susan enjoying her first SOT ride – photo by Terry

The Philpott family three – photo by Terry

Christine enjoying the paddle – photo by Terry

New member Ben Burgess – photo by Terry

We turned around at Lahilahi with most of the group heading straight back to shore. A few people wanted to snorkel so I tethered their kayaks to mine while they jumped in. Mark Philpott and one of his daughters snorkeled while the other stayed in the kayak. She was a little nervous as our little flotilla drifted outside of the surf break. Her nervousness stemmed from an kayaking incident they had a week earlier resulting in their rescue near Kahana Bay. They made the news! Mark looked us up soon after. He wants to learn how to paddle safely and to be able to paddle with a group.

Amy and Adam return and Randy and Bill lend a hand – photo by Katrena

An additional twelve non-paddlers, members and guests, held down the picnic site. Norm and Alan Matsuo grilled goodies while Ruby and Eileen setup the potluck spread. We enjoyed an opu-filling lunch and got to know the first-time paddlers. Ben Burgess and Mark Philpott joined the club on the spot and the seed was planted in the others. Mahalo to all who contributed to another successful Meet & Greet!

July 14, 2024