Kayaking in Hawaii
Other results for Kayaking in Hawaii
Kayaking in Kailua, Hawaii Kayaks For Sale, Hawaii Kayaking in Kaneohe, Hawaii
Kayaking has established itself as one of the most popular watersport activities in Hawaii. Considering that the Hawaiian Islands were discovered by Polynesian paddlers in a sailing canoe, this fact is not surprising. Today, every major island in the chain has kayak surfers, kayak rentals, kayak fishing, guided kayak tours and even some white water kayaking.
Sea Kayaking In Hawaii
The Hawaiian Islands have over 750 miles of coastline, every inch of which has been explored by sea kayak. Much of Hawaii, however, can have very rough ocean conditions, large waves and strong currents and are only suitable for experts.
The factors that are most important in determaning if a location is suitable for kayaking are wind direction and sea floor topography:
Winds should be onshore to blow you back to to land, rather than out to sea. Wind speed is generally comfortable for paddling if it is less than 15 miles per hour, difficult but reasonable if less than 22 MPH and nearly impossible for a novice if more than 30MPH.
Sea floor topography is specifically important for kayaking in Hawaii because of the potential for large waves. A deep ocean that rises suddenly onto a shallow shelf, reef or beach will create larger and more powerful waves. A gradual rise and or an area that is protected by an outer reef, sand bar or land mass, will have much smaller waves and will be more suitable for a kayaking trip.
Additionally, the direction that the shoreline is facing is very important in Hawaii when considering where to kayak. East facing shores are the windward side of the Hawaiian Islands, under typical trade wind conditions . All other sides have potential to be offshore, especially West facing shores, being the lee side of the islands under trade winds conditions. The direction of the facing shore will also determine the likely surf conditions during a given time of year in Hawaii. During the summer months, ground swells are generally from the South and during the winter from the Northwest. For this reason, these shorelines should generally be avoided as a kayaking destination during these times. Especially the North shores of Oahu and Maui, during the winter season, are known to have some of the largest waves in the world. Kauai, Molokai and the Big Island of Hawaii all have nearly inaccessible sea cliffs on their North shores and while this creates an opportunity for isolation, it also means your along way from rescue assistance and requires more planning. Once again, due to these factors, kayaking on East facing shores is generally more suitable for the average kayaker.
The factors that are most important in determaning if a location is suitable for kayaking are wind direction and sea floor topography:
Winds should be onshore to blow you back to to land, rather than out to sea. Wind speed is generally comfortable for paddling if it is less than 15 miles per hour, difficult but reasonable if less than 22 MPH and nearly impossible for a novice if more than 30MPH.
Sea floor topography is specifically important for kayaking in Hawaii because of the potential for large waves. A deep ocean that rises suddenly onto a shallow shelf, reef or beach will create larger and more powerful waves. A gradual rise and or an area that is protected by an outer reef, sand bar or land mass, will have much smaller waves and will be more suitable for a kayaking trip.
Additionally, the direction that the shoreline is facing is very important in Hawaii when considering where to kayak. East facing shores are the windward side of the Hawaiian Islands, under typical trade wind conditions . All other sides have potential to be offshore, especially West facing shores, being the lee side of the islands under trade winds conditions. The direction of the facing shore will also determine the likely surf conditions during a given time of year in Hawaii. During the summer months, ground swells are generally from the South and during the winter from the Northwest. For this reason, these shorelines should generally be avoided as a kayaking destination during these times. Especially the North shores of Oahu and Maui, during the winter season, are known to have some of the largest waves in the world. Kauai, Molokai and the Big Island of Hawaii all have nearly inaccessible sea cliffs on their North shores and while this creates an opportunity for isolation, it also means your along way from rescue assistance and requires more planning. Once again, due to these factors, kayaking on East facing shores is generally more suitable for the average kayaker.
Most kayak rentals in Hawaii are sit-on-top and self bailing. A sit inside kayak, with a spray skirt, is not necessary, because Hawaii's year round water temperature remains around seventy degrees Fahrenheit. A sit-on-top is also much safer to have as will not fill with water. For this reason, very few decked or sit inside kayaks can be found in Hawaii's rental fleets. *A "scupper hole" is the term for the hole in which the water drains from the deck.
Most popular kayaking locations in Hawaii offer guided tours and are generally recommended. There is no official kayak guide certifications for the state of Hawaii and the National organization responsible, the American Canoe Association (ACA), is not active in Hawaii. Many kayak guides may have kayak certifications from ACA that they acquired in other states. This accreditation, however, is not necessarily relevant to Hawaii's waters and having someone with extensive water experience is more of a benefit. As a minimum, guides should have first aid and CPR by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. Also remember, that while guides are there for safety and instruction, they are also there to enhance your experience, possibly taking you places and showing you things that you otherwise may have missed.
There is very little navigable whitewater in Hawaii, due to a simple lack of time for water to accumulate before it reaches sea level. The spots that can be kayaked are mostly remote, steep creeks, with class IV, V and VI rapids, that are only possible to kayak at flood stage (usually winter). Only experts with local knowledge, should attempt to paddle any of Hawaii's whiter water creeks.
| Kayaking in Kailua Kayak Rentals Kailua Kayaking in Kaneohe Kayaks for sale Kailua |
Kitesurfing in Kailua Kitesurf Gear Kailua Windsurfing Lessons Kailua Windsurf Rentals Kailua |
Windsurf Gear for Sale Kailua Stand Up Paddling Kailua Surfing Kailua Surfboards for Sale Kailua |
Surfing Lessons Kailua Boogie Boarding Bicycling in Kailua Snorkeling in Kailua |
Kailua Wildlife Lanikai Beach Eco Tours Kailua Kailua Beach Park |
Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, Inc. 130 Kailua Road - Kailua, Hawaii 96734 Telephone / Reservations (808) 262-2555 Fax (808) 261-7341 Copyright 2008 Kailua Sailboards & Kayaks, Inc. |
||||