Author: Terry Shimabukuro

As we rendezvoused at the Hale‘iwa War Memorial the beach park was already bustling as early birds began to arrive for the 25th Hale‘iwa Arts Festival. While I’m sure the festival offered lots of lovely things to see, three other paddlers and I opted to enjoy the beauty of the ocean instead.

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.

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!”

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.