Noodle’s Notes

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Kawaihae Haiku Creations

Sailing Kohala

Good redneck song sung by Clem

Life don't get better

Awesome sailing day

Five volcanoes peering down

We are truly small

Two nights rock and roll

Then Kawaihae, a calm spot

Life is goo again

Gracefully departure

It was definitely not

Mending well, thank you

(Marcy got injured in Honokahau, she is recovering nicely)

Chemistry between friends

Some old and some new

Kona blue waters

Sailing bay to bay

Gems along this rugged coast

Sad to leave each one

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Kawaihae and Nishimura Bay

At anchor in Nishimura Bay, Kohala Coast, Big Island

We ended up sailing much of the way to Kawaihae with reefed main and jib in the strong trade winds. Puanani reported a peak apparent wind speed of forty three knots. It didn't blow that hard most of the time though, and we arrived at the small boat harbor just before noon.

The Kawaihae Small Boat harbor is a typical government construction project. What is there is first class in every respect, but there is much that should be there that isn't. There is room inside the magnificent breakwater for a couple of hundred boat slips, but only 24 slips were installed... without water or electricity... That leaves an empty 150 yard diameter open basin with nothing in it - a perfect place to drop the hook and swing safely at anchor.

Clay lived here on the Big Island for many years, and a number of his close friends came down to visit him in Kawaihae. Pete, the unofficial Mayor of Kawaihae came out followed by Clem, an architect by day and a self contained party in progress at night, who brought craft beer, pupu, and a guitar. We rafted the boats up for the party, and the wind died off in cooperation. A good time was had by all.

This morning we powered and sailed the ten miles north to Nishimura Bay where we anchored at 1040. Moderate trades are blowing here, but the seas are the calmest I've ever seen. We are looking forward to a lazy afternoon of snorkeling and napping.

Just before our arrival at Nishimura Bay the squadron powered right through the middle of a school of feeding tuna. They were hitting the surface all around both boats, but they left our lures alone.

The crews are changing a bit going forward. Steve got off Puanani in Kawaihae and Clay's son Johnathan will be joining them tomorrow morning. Marcy is getting off Maka'oi'oi in the morning as well.

After the crew changes are made we will take off across the Alenuihaha Channel for the 37 mile sail to La Perouse Bay on Maui. It should be a quick and exhilarating ride. There are small craft warnings for the channel, but the wind will be far enough aft, and we will be well reefed down, so we don't anticipate any problems with the crossing.

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Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Kua Bay

Bo was staring intently at our lures off of Kailua, and a fish streaked towards one of them and.... nothing. That's the closest we've come to catching a fish around here.

Honokahau Harbor went smoothly. Water filled, garbage dropped, beer and ice purchased, Steve Halsey, pal of Clay's, taken aboard, and we were off.

The local knowledge brain trust aboard Puanani had a couple of potential anchorages queued up, but the first one we poked into, Kua Bay, looked good so we stopped there.

Kua Bay is a small but beautiful inlet a few miles north of Keahole Point. White sand abounds from the beach out into the anchorage so the holding was great. A light thermal onshore breeze was blowing when we arrived, so the anchors went down well offshore. All was tranquil and beautiful.

At about 530PM the trade winds filled in from the opposite direction with a vengeance. The boats swung 180 degrees which put them well offshore, outside the protection of the little bay, and into the trade wind chop from the Alenuihaha Channel. It was rock and roll all night long.

All of the anchorages between Keahole Point and Kawaihae suffer from this potential exposure to the trade winds. If you want to stop along the way, you may have to deal with this discomfort.

The wind and waves didn't stop the squadron officers from gathering to enjoy cocktails and pupu aboard Maka'oi'oi at sunset.

At sunrise this morning we were visited by a couple of pods of spinner dolphin. Dolphin go great with coffee.

We got an early start this morning and as I write this we are pounding along upwind with sails reefed heading for the Kawaihae Small Boat Harbor. We should arrive before noon.

And finally, today's haiku submissions:

Blessed to have this wife!

Married above my station

I am a reacher!

Why no catch fishes
It is battle of wishes
Maybe fish too smart

Constantly trying

Hand lines, course and depth correct

Fish just will not bite

Bo learning cribbage

Drops the first three games and then

Kicks Noodle's butt twice

Haleakala

Hualalai, Kohala

Watching over fleet

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Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Red Hill Anchorage

The anchorage in front of Clay's pal Bob's house was tight and it it was difficult to find sand to drop the anchor into, but once we got secured it turned out to be a lovely spot.

Bob paddled a SUP out for cocktails aboard Puanani. He departed at sunset and the Puanani officers dinghied over for dinner aboard Maka'oi'oi. Marcy put out a 4th of July dinner - ribs, baked beans, grilled Teri beef and grilled egpgplant. Awesome.

We agreed that all of last night's haikus were great, so I thought I'd share them. In no particular order and authors to remain anonymous:

Maka'oi'oi on hook

Green flash no show tonight

Life with boys is goo!

He stands on the beach

Minding our own bidness ya'll

Get fuck outta here!

Upcoast power done

Maka'oi'oi anchor snug

Under red hill cliff

COVID staycation

Cruising Hawaii with friends

As good as it gets

Mauna Loa views

Healthy coral strewn bottom

Tranquil Okoe Bay

This morning Clay and Mark got up before first light to take Puanani out trolling for Ono. The theory was that Ono feed at dawn, and it they went fishing at that time they'd have a better chance of catching one.

No luck though. They came back empty handed so we pulled Maka'oi'oi's anchor and the fleet moseyed north to Honokahau Harbor where we filled water and fuel, got rid of trash, and replenished our beer and ice supply. Puanani also picked up a new crew member, Steve Halsey, a pal of Clay's.

As I write this we are poking along north of Keahole Point looking for an anchorage for the night. This is Clay and Steve's stomping ground, so they are in charge of selecting a good one.

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Monday, July 6, 2020

Moseying Up the Kona Coast

Underway, heading north.

Yesterday afternoon's experiment with the "Skorkle" was a success. Marcy and Clay gave it a try and it functioned just fine. It was a lot of work to pump air into the tank with the hand pump though. The crews of both boats pumped like maniacs for about fifteen minutes and got about two minutes of skorkeling out of it. Not very efficient. The group decided that it would be a great tool in an emergency, but might not be too practical for recreational use.

The squadron's officers enjoyed cocktails and dinner aboard Puanani last evening. The itinerary going forward was discussed, and we decided to try out a new anchorage in front of a house owned by one of Clay's pals next. It is located just a couple of miles past Kealakekua Bay. Kealakekua is beautiful and historic, but we have to sneak in and sneak out during non-business hours to avoid getting cited by DLNR for being there. I've always gotten away with it, but it's better to avoid the risk if we can find a place nearly as good nearby.

I think Clay has decided that the motley group of officers that command the squadron need a bit of culturing. He has proposed "poetry night" a couple of times and received something less than an enthusiastic response from us heathens. To prod us along, he has read a Robert Service poem at two of our squadron dinners. It was "The Killing of Sam McGrew" a few nights ago on Niihau, and last night "The Cremation of Sam McGee". The group had decided on a compromise, and going forward each squadron officer will recite a haiku they have written especially for the occasion at dinner every evening.

We had time for a snorkel this morning before getting underway. The water was warm, super clear, and full of fish and coral.

As I write this, we are moseying along up the Kona coast under power with two fishing lines out. Puanani is guarding our port quarter from any pirate activity that might come from that direction. It is a beautiful sunny Kona day with a barely perceptible sea breeze blowing. Life is goo.