Places to launch a kayak near HPP/HB?

[kimo wires]

Launching a Kayak there would be good, If you have a death wish.

Launch it from the beach at Hilo Bay, paddle into the harbor, Stay safe

[4antares]

There isn't any way, short of spending millions which neither the HPPOA or the county have, to create safe water access on this coast. Trade winds blowing across 2300 miles of open ocean tend to make waves that will wash away any beach you build, sometimes within hours. It's generally not a place of gently lapping waves caressing a tropical shore.

life is short. enjoy it

[malolo]

15 years or so ago some friends lowered their Ocean Kayaks down the 20 foot HPP cliffs (with help), but it was crack-of-dawn, on a glass-flat Kona-winds day, and being sensible safety-conscious individuals, they made no plans whatsoever to pull out along the HPP-coastline. Instead, they paddled all the way to Hilo-bayfront, where they met their pre-arranged rides.

They were serious athletes, had both done plenty long-distance paddling, had several days worth of food and water along just-in-case they had to spend a night at sea, had all the requisite safety gear (including mirrors & flares), had notified people of their estimated arrival-time, and they each had extra paddles along.

They managed okay, had themselves an adventure, but as far as I know have never ever done it again. My guess is, were they to be asked this question, they'd laugh, shake their heads, and agree with the "suicide by wood-chipper/sausage-maker" comments.

Drive to Hilo... or Kawaihae.... or elsewhere in Kona.
Stay safe. Live to paddle another day. Your family and friends (and assorted body parts) will thank you.

[Carey]

This is one of the reason why it is speculated that the Puna area was underpopulated in the old Hawaii days...there are very few haul out areas for boats, and as the Hawaiians relied on outriggers for much of their provisions, the windward side of this island provided few areas, and after the 2 subsidence events (one in the almost a century ago & one in 1975) and the lava flow over Kalapana Black Sand, we have even fewer areas for haul-out than in the pre-contact days.

I am emphasizing the haul out areas, as you can ENTER the ocean in many areas along the coast, but that is wayyy less than one half of the planning that should be considered, as was highlighted in Malolo's post

[hilodiver]

Dave, I've paddled and kayak fished the east side for several years. If you are a strong paddler, comfortable in strong winds, currents and swells, then Pohoiki is good. If you want something a little easier, Leleiwi is a great place to launch if the surf is down. The fishing is also great there! The easiest places to launch are Hilo Bay and Puhi Bay. Hilo Bay has bathrooms, showers and hoses to rinse down your kayak. You can follow the coast towards Honolii and do some whale watching. Puhi Bay is calm and glassy early in the morning and is a great place to launch if you want to cruise the reefs and shoreline. Also a good place for whales. Pay very close attention to the weather. The wind is your worst enemy! If the trade winds are light, paddle to the SE early, then ride the wind back to your launch area later in the morning.

Aloha!

[nana valley]

quote:

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Originally posted by Seeb

I think launching off HPP would be kind of like jumping in a wood chipper

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Laughing so hard!

He who hoots with owls at night cannot soar with the eagles in the morning.

[ericlp]

Of all my time going to the park to watch the surf (in HB) I've only seen ONE person actually get into the water...

When I saw it I was like HOLY CRAP! That guy fell in... I was thinking what I should do to try and help. But I only had my cell phone. He wasn't in the water for that long and there is a spot when the surf isn't that bad you can kinda jump in, get wet and climb back out again. Tho, I wouldn't recommend doing it and I'm a pretty good swimmer.

I figured if somehow the state could build a peer that went out about 50 feet with a floating dock and ladder at the end... But even at that, if someone died they would be in for it. You'd need a few lifeguards at the end of it for sure. That would be the cheapest way one could get in the water tho, it would have to a spot where the current isn't bad ... Not sure if a place like that exists on this side of the island. And the peer would have to extend past the breaking waves.

[macuu222]

A couple of D9's could rip the cliff down to a gradual slope...but that's about $10 grand. And you'll still have the wave problem...

[bananahead]

Hilo is the place to go, many many spots to kayak...

lower east side Puna...... there are only a couple lower spots on this side ie Shipman Beach, Honolulu Landing, ....if you have to get in close to HPP, try Honolulu Landing on a calm swell-free day, but its better to just drive the extra bit to Pohoiki ... where there will also people around if you need help etc.

you need to be able to get out, thats the prob with the cliffs or rocky shoreline, getting out!

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save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha

[Seeb]

Always thought there should be a UK style lifeboat slipway somewhere along the HPP cliff. a couple people a year go in the water there and by the time the county helicopter gets here it's a recovery

we have at least one ex Bering Strait fishermen in the park that could drive the thing