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Custom Designed Kayak
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Betsy Morrigan creating a beach-side
gourmet breakfast..
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MULTI SPORT
ADVENTURES:HAWAII KAYAKING, HIKING, and CAMPING
TOURS. Kayak paddling and adventure tours in Hawaii with luxury camping
and B and B stays. Hike the coast and mountains in Hawaii. Experience
Hawaii kayaking with bright-colored tropical fish, see beautiful native
trees and flowers, and learn about Hawaii’s unique culture and history.
Kayak and hike Hawaii! See the island from white sand palm-fringed beaches
to tiny black sand coves, to waterfalls in lush green rain forest valleys,
with snowcapped volcanic peaks, and the red-hot lava eruption up close.
We invite you in the spirit of aloha to join us on a one day kayak or
hiking tour; a four-day kayak/hiking trip; or a week-long multi-sport
paddling, hiking, island-style adventure. Upscale camping and charming
bed and breakfast stays show you the island in comfort. We offer Hawaii
adventure tours for couples, families, camps, schools, or educational
groups. Come explore this island with us for the best in Hawaii kayaking
and hiking!
Kayaking at Honaunau Cave.
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HOW WE PADDLE:
Basically we paddle 3 to 6 miles a day, pretty much hugging the coast
very close to shore, from bay to bay. It all depends on the skill level
and interests of the group and the wind and weather. Around each corner
is a new bay, cave, cliffs, cove, or beach, totally taking your mind
off your troubles. In these sit-on-top, open-cockpit kayaks, there's
never a need for an Eskimo roll, and being in warm, forgiving, easy
water close to shore increases your pleasure and confidence! Occasionally
we are paddling hard for a few miles against water that's choppy and
has some big swells, which is quite exciting. The water is intense shades
of turquoise, azure, green, to deep blue.
Kayaking here is considerably easier than on the Mainland or in Canada
because there are no narrow passes, open crossings, large vessels, strong
tides or currents to worry about, and because the water is so warm and
buoyant! There are no "wet exits" or rescue situations here. If you're
out of the boat in the water, it means you're snorkeling or cooling
off!
We usually paddle about two hours at a stretch, then stop for a snack
or lunch, then paddle a little more and enjoy some snorkeling in the
warm azure blue waters. We camp under the beach palm trees, set up a
table and chairs around the campfire, eat great meals, drink Kona coffee
and good teas, possibly enjoy a brief paddle with empty boats at sunset
or moonlight, and occasionally see dolphins frolicking in the bay in
the morning. Expert guiding through the waters and natural and cultural
sites is a big part of the trips--geared for your safety, enjoyment,
and education about Hawaii. I recommend a four-day, three-night kayak
camping trip with a special day of hiking as the best possible experience!
Paddling in Honaunau Bay in front of Hale 'O Keawe Temple (heiau.)
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KAYAK EQUIPMENT:
The boats we use are sit-on-top plastic open-cockpit kayaks with backrests,
paddle leashes, and good PFD's and paddles.
FOOD ON KAYAK CAMPING TRIPS
includes locally-grown Kona coffee, fresh Hawaiian fish (ono or ahi)
grilled on the coals, fresh salads with organically grown local greens
and veggies, and tree-ripened tropical fruit. Hawaiian cuisine, local
island specialties, and Pacific Rim specialties are the rule of the
day! We shop for food at local small farms and and buy from local fishermen
whenever possible.
DOLPHINS AND WHALES:
Hawaiian spinner dolphins (nai`a) are sometimes viewed in these
bays year-round. Humpback whales arrive for a few months in the winter.
We always keep a respectful distance when in their presence. These are
species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act which says that
we should stay 100 yards away from whales and 50 yards away from dolphins.
So this is definitely NOT a "swimming with the dolphins" trip!
Hawaiian Double Hull
Canoe
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VOLCANIC MOUNTAINS: As we paddle or hike, we are always
facing one or more of the five massive volcanic mountains that form this
island: Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, Kilauea, Hualalai, and Kohala.
DAY HAWAII KAYAK
TOURS: The easy day kayak tours--perfect for groups with
less experience and for families--include about two to five miles of paddling,
snorkeling, a deli lunch with tropical fruits, and usually a short hike to
various historical areas. A short lesson in paddling, safety, and the history
of the area starts the day trip off. Depending on weather conditions, we paddle
from a variety of small bays on the sunny, safe, leeward side of the island
including Miloli`i, Keauhou Bay, or out of Ho`okena Beach. We do no commercial
trips or outfitting for Waipio-Waimanu-Hamakua Coast.
SNORKELING: All trips, have good snorkeling. The variety of
brightly colored tropical fish is remarkable, and of course the water is clear,
warm, and very buoyant. Occasionally you will be visited by an endangered green
sea turtle ("honu" in Hawaiian). If you've never snorkeled before, our
guides will teach you how so you will be comfortably viewing fish in the water
in no time. Bring your own equipment or use ours at no charge. Prescription
masks are available to rent in Kailua-Kona.
THE COASTAL
SETTING: All along the coast there are black sand, gray
sand, and a few white sand beaches and bays, with interesting and unusual
natural or historical features that we know and love to explore and share. One
fascinating hike goes to the amazing Green Sand Beach (Mahana bay)! Most are
shaded with large palms or other beach shade trees.
THE
WEATHER: The weather on the leeward side near Kailua-Kona
is usually warm, sunny, and clear in the mornings, with a fine ocean breeze,
and often a little cloudy for a few hours in the afternoon, when you need the
sun protection the most! A wide brimmed hat, a white woven long sleeve shirt,
or SPF rash guard, and 30 spf sunscreen are crucial for sun protection. It's
almost always about 75-85 degrees year-round with cooling breezes about 50%
humidity during the day and about 65 degrees at night. The summer and the
winter temperatures vary by about only 5-10 degrees, but there is more seasonal
wind and surf in the winter months of December through March.
Some
rain can be expected daily on the Volcano hikes. It is the rainfall that makes
these upland tropical rainforest jungles so verdant and lush and so full of
bright native birds and unusual foliage, so bring a lightweight rain poncho!
Waipio Valley
backpacking.
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HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SITES: Everywhere you go in Hawaii
expresses the heart and soul of the ancient Hawaiian culture--the rock walls,
walled house sites, the small and large temples ("heiau"), the fish
ponds and wells, and the exciting holua slides ("land surfing"!). And of course
the Hawaiian people still live here in and near their ancestral villages.
Miloli`i is the last traditional hawaiian fishing village, where the fishermen
dry their opelu outdoors on racks in the daytime and talk to their friends in
Alaska by e-mail at night!
A big part of any of my trips is to
introduce and share Hawaiian history with you as well as to let you know about
twentieth century Hawaiian issues--as much as you are interested in. All your
guides know a great deal about the fish, sea, plants, history and geology of
the islands that they are eager to share with you.
Says Betsy: "On my
trips we work hard in every way we can to leave the area better than when we
arrive, to tread lightly and quietly, to respect the beings of the sea and land
in all that we do. We respect the local community’s and families’
attitudes and we know that the spirits of the Hawaiian ancestors is expressed
in so many living structures throughout the island. We don’t touch, stand
on, add to, or take from anything we might come to respectfully view and learn
about. Of course we'll stay away from burial caves, and other kapu areas, and
limit our souvenirs to photographs. And more than that, I am actively at work
in the community to ensure that these sites are preserved, respected, and made
safe for years to come. I also contribute to these communities by offering a
college scholarship.“
REFERENCES: If you'd like to speak to
some people who've been very happy campers with me, you can call:
- John Brock & Elaine Chang, (Washington) who wrote
"Thank you for your skill, hospitality and spirit."
- Don Turner
(Alaska) said "an idyllic trip to Honomalino Bay. The sunsets & paddling
were really great."
- Frank and Margie Stangel of Arizona wrote
us, "We enjoyed snorkeling the coast with you, the dolphins and the meals,
especially your interest in us. Thank you for taking such good care of us."
- Michael Odgers, Australia. "Paddling back, a pod of ten dolphins
crossed our path. A fantastic experience."
- Clas Hagelstam,
Finland, "Very professional."
- Koba Kobayashi, Tokyo. "We saw many
whales and dolphins and had so much fun."
WEB
LINKS:
Wilderness Ventures
Hawaii Ecotourism Association........
Hawaii Visitors and Convention
Bureau...........
Volcano Lava
Update......
Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park........
Pu`uhonua O
Honaunau National Park......
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