Makaha Meet & Greet

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!