Story by Kollin Holmgren
Photos as credited
August 17, 2025
As picturesque bands of mauka showers drifted across the island, seven intrepid paddlers convened to make the journey from Nimitz Beach to Tracks on the leeward coast. Terry, Sandy, Jennifer, Stan, Steve and myself joined Beth’s return to the Hui Waʻa Sunday paddles.
Ever changing swell and pounding shore breaks made launching a bit tricky and reports are that more than one of us were toppled as we launched. Thankfully, all members eventually launched safely and started the downwind leg around Barbers Point .
The downwind leg proved to be quite epic as 6 ft+ southern swells rolled under us while a trade wind driven swell sometimes gently and sometimes not so gently pushed us past the Barbers Point lighthouse and into smoother water. Such were the rolling swells that my heart rate monitor was at its highest during the last half mile stretch around the point as I rode the swirling waters just outside the area where they turned into breakers!
Rounding the point to the leeward coast brought much calmer waters, but it also brought unpleasant aroma of the recycling center which one paddler described as “The butthole of Oʻahu”. The author can’t disagree with the analogy! We were reminded over the radio to be grateful for the area that helps maintain the standard of living we all enjoy on the island! Thankfully, as we paddled further up the coast we were greeted with fresher winds and more pleasant scenery as more bands of showers floated across the Waiānae mountains, replacing the the tanks and refinery as the visual source of beauty.
We were rewarded with beautiful calm and clear waters as we arrived at the reef just before Electric beach where Beth and Jennifer (and maybe others) took the opportunity to snorkel. Beth had an amazing interaction with two good sized Honu that surfaced literally within arm’s reach of her after she observed them sparring under water. They seemed to be very curious of her and her kayak and took a minute or two to investigate while filling their lungs for their next dive.
The team was quite spread out by the end but all paddlers arrived safely at Tracks in beautifully calm water for a much more gentle landing after 8.3 miles and 3.5 hours of paddling.
Steve and Terry were joined by Jennifer in trolling during the paddle. Jennifer caught one fish in the first five minutes! Terry ended up with four caught and one keeper. Steve caught and released two.
To quote Sailor Steve, “It was another great paddle!”
