Story and photos by Amy Fujimoto
January 25, 2026
We met early at the Sand Island Boat Launch Facility — Bill (our paddle leader), myself, Debi, Miki, and Stan — and immediately began the logistical dance that comes with a one-way paddle. Bill and I drove our cars to the landing point at Puʻuloa Beach Park at the end of Fort Weaver Road, while Stan kindly chauffeured us back to Sand Island. By the time we returned, Debi and Miki were ready to paddle. Sandy joined us for the start, paddling with us through Keʻehi Lagoon and part of the runway before turning back, so most of the day’s adventure belonged to the five of us.
It turned out to be a great paddle. The water was incredibly flat and glassy, even once we were out in the open ocean. Bill commented that this was the flattest he’d ever seen, which was especially good news for Miki and me since we were in for an eight-mile day.
The clear water made the paddle even more special. We could see tiny reef fish weaving through the coral below us, and several turtles surfaced nearby for quick breaths before slipping back under. One unforgettable moment came when we spotted what we thought was either rubbish or floating, lifeless turtle — only to discover it was actually a Hawaiian monk seal enjoying a lazy rest. It eventually woke up, swam a couple of curious circles around Bill’s kayak, and then disappeared quietly into the depths.
One of the most unique parts of this route is that you paddle along the entire length of the runway. Planes were constantly gliding in over our heads to land or roaring off beside us, all in perfect, orderly rhythm. Up close, the long wall beside the runway slowly changes from rock to massive dolos blocks, which is surprisingly interesting to see from the water.
Once we passed the runway and neared the Pearl Harbor access channel, the waves and wind picked up a little, but it was still very manageable. We stayed well clear of Pearl Harbor and the firing range — definitely not a place you want to wander into — and before long we were lined up with Puʻuloa Beach Park. From there it was a straight shot in, with the occasional wave giving us a gentle push toward shore.
Getting back on our land legs turned out to be the hardest part of the day. We were all a bit wobbly, and the deep sand didn’t make things any easier. Dragging our kayaks up the steep beach took some effort, but we were able to rinse the sand off our kayaks and wheel them back to the cars in good time.
The highlight on land was watching Bill work his magic loading four kayaks onto the top of his car. It earned him a well-deserved round of applause — and a commemorative photo — before we all headed our separate ways.
It was a very successful paddle and a truly unique one. I’d highly recommend this route when it comes around again, especially if we’re lucky enough to get water as calm and beautiful as we had on this day.