Paddle Log #22: Kailua to Mokulua Islands

Ahhh, it's good to be back in port again after almost three weeks out at sea.  It was a very busy time with no days off and not much in the way of sleep, so it was nice to have this weekend off to rest.

So what did I do to relax? 

Went back out to sea, of course!  Well, this time under my own propulsion.

A friend of mine and I went to Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks and rented a tandem kayak to paddle out to the Mokulua Islands and back.  It was a beautiful morning on the water. 

Normally, the winds around here are from the northeast (hence why this is the "windward" side of the island).  More often than not, it will be cloudy on the windward side of the island with the clouds bunching up against the Ko Olau mountain range, and it will be bright and sunny on the south side where Waikiki and Pearl Harbor are. 

Not today.  Oddly enough, the winds were out of the south-southwest today, so it was cloudy on the south side of the island as I left the naval base, and it was gorgeous over on the (normally) windward side where we were planning to go kayaking.

Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks has kayak rental down to a science.  They have an incredibly smooth process for checking people in, moving you on to watch their safety video (which is very informative, funny, and entertaining), check out your gear, head down to the waterfront, and get paddling.  It is all very well orchestrated, and I was amazed at how many customers they were able to process in a very short period of time AND with friendly and professional service to boot.

 Standing on Flat Island, looking back toward Kailua in the background.

On our way, paddling from Flat Island to the Mokulua Islands.

The Mokulua Islands are a bird sanctuary, so you can't leave the beach.

Evidence

Sidenote about my Garmin:  I forgot to start my Garmin Forerunner before we got in the water.  Paddling out through the surf we took a good amount of splashing and wave slap.  The Forerunner uses a touch-screen, so when I tried to activate my Garmin on the way paddling out, the saltwater on the watch just drove the touch-screen nuts.  I locked it (pushing both side buttons at once locks or unlocks the touch-screen) and waited until we got over to Mokulua Island.  I rinsed it with fresh-water and let it dry out in the wind, then I unlocked it and activated it for the paddle back to Kailua, so that's why my Garmin Connect data isn't complete for this trip. 



Overall, we had an excellent morning getting some exercise in the fresh air with some saltwater splashed on us.  We wrapped it all up with a stop at the legendary Boots & Kimos for some banana pancakes with macadamia nut syrup.  Mmmmmm.  :-9

Stats for the paddle log:

• Date: 20 February 2011
• Time In: Approx 10:35 a.m.
  
• Time Out: 12:35 p.m.
  
• Elapsed:  About 2 hours
• Moving Time (GPS): unknown - technical difficulties with watch
• Stopped Time (GPS):  unknown - technical difficulties with watch
• Mileage (GPS): Approx 4 miles
  
• Sea State: 1
• Winds: 8-10 mph E observed in Kailua (Intellicast), but overall winds from SW made for a cloudy day on the south side of the island and a clear day here in Kailua.
• Air Temp:  77F
• Water Temp: Not sure.  Warm.  Bathwater.
• Current:  None.
• Gauge Height:  N/A.
• Avg Speed (GPS):  3.2 mph (at least for the second half paddling back to Kailua)
  
• Max Speed by (GPS):  5.0 mph (I'm pretty confident we didn't exceed this paddling out INTO the swells on the way out)
• Rapids?  None. 
• Hazards?  Waves breaking over reefs.
  
• Kit: Rental kayak (unknown model). NH ballcap, NRS paddling gloves, long sleeve shirt, swim trunks, Keen sandals.
• Configuration: Tandem.  I sat in back, S sat in front.
• Route:  Put-in at Kailua Sailboards & Kayak rental, headed out into surf and over to Flat Island.  After a brief stop at Flat Island, we paddled southeast parallel to shore and then out to the north Mokulua Island, paddling into 3 foot swells crashing into the bow.  Rested on the island for a bit.  Paddled back toward the shoreline, then northwest parallel to the shore back to Kailua.
• Other comments (such as wildlife spotted): None.