August 10 - 25th, 2006

Definition of Gant's Disorganized Tour:  Find a place you want to go and try to figure out how to get there while on your way... make interesting turns and side trips.

The Gant visit was amazing this year!  Our favorite trip was a definite "Gant's Disorganized Tour" organized by Samantha and myself.  A few months previous Samantha had kayaked to Kipu Kai beach with some friends.  It was a harrowing experience and I really wanted to see it.  She brought home shells I couldn't believe.  The most amazing was cowry shells, which we do not find on any of the beaches on the island.  The plan began with paddling out the harbor and south to Kipu Kai direction.  We had 4 kayaks; Hal and Karen, Samantha and Desire, Jeanette and Caitlin, and one for me.  Just outside the harbor we switched out to have Caitlin w/ Samantha and Desire and Jeanette together.  Unfortunately this is about the time Caitlin started getting seasick.  She was sick most of the trip but I was really impressed with her trooper attitude as we continued on while she heaved.  Samantha did a great job paddling them both the majority of the trip.  Poor thing.  I paddled alone in a double.  It was difficult but with the outrigger canoeing I do three times a week it went well (more later about that).  We arrived at Kipu Kai Beach in about 2 1/2 hours.  The waves were minimal, the water was an amazing azure color, and the views of the coast (we were about a mile from the coast) were spectacular.  We landed to the right of the bay and will know better next time as it was reaf all the way to the sand.  I was last and go stuck but waited for a wave to carry me up.  Hal and Karen, I heard tried to exit on the reef and got a bit shaken.  Everyone else seemed to land fine.  We walked to the bay around a corner and were we amazed!  Such a beautiful, clear, people free bay.  We swam and searched for shells, rested and continued on our adventure.  The shells were not as good as when Samantha had been there but still an enjoyable experience with mystery still around the corner as we took off for Mahalapu (near Poipu).  We arrived there in about an hour and a half where we rested and ate lunch.  Hal and I took my car (we had left it there with the cooler of food and drinks to pick up the other vehicle.  We then loaded the kayaks on our vans and returned them to Nawilliwilli.  It was an AMAZING ADVENTURE.  I think this one will be hard to beat in the future.  Not until the next day did Hal really understand what a big deal it is to say that we kayaked to Kipu Kai.  This location is not always accessible in the unpredictable weather here and it was a bit risky.  I'm really glad we did it.  Hal will have to add his comments.  Maybe he'll write it down and I'll add it to this.

Most Adventurous Kipu Kai Trip Pictures

Another trip we made was something I had wanted to do for about a year.  I had told Hal and Karen about it but had only talked it over with locals and never done it.  When they mentioned they were looking forward to it Samantha and I went the day before they arrived and checked it out.  Lordy, were we amazed!  We scared ourselves so bad that we couldn't stop laughing!  This was a drainage ditch we had heard of up in the hills.  We took our boogie boards, got in the ditch and were very soon in a shallow pitch black drainage pipe.  We had brought along, and used, a small head lamp someone had told us we would need.  It didn't matter that we had light.  There was no one there and we were really talking ourselves up into getting in it.  As we continued down the ditch we saw one turn off that was blocked and kept going.  Finally we saw daylight at the end of the tunnel and as we came out a little waterfall, swimming hole, and a rope swing.  This is the part I knew was at the end but I thought we would never really get there.  Ralph (property manager at our condo that I hike with some) and I had hiked the path the first time I heard about this place and so I knew it should end up there but I was really scared and in the process scared Samantha quite a bit.  It was a great place to swim and we couldn't wait to take the Gant's on this adventure.  So.... The second day after their arrival (Hal, Karen, and Desiree) we packed everyone up and took my 4-wheel drive van up the road.  It takes about an hour for the drive and a very bumpy trip it is!  We had told them to buy cheap floats and later figured out the mats were the best.  We didn't take the lamp on this one as Samantha really wanted them to experience the dark.  They loved it!  And so did we!  We went one more time with them and the newly arrived Jeanette and Caitlin.  This time Samantha and Desiree really scared themselves when they thought they had gone down a turn in the pipe so it was pretty funny.  Grand Drainage Ditch Adventure Pictures

While the Gant's were here Samantha competed with her canoe club, Pu'uwai, in the Na Pali Challenge race.  It started at Hanalei Bay and wrapped around Na Pali and continued towards Polihale and ended at Kikiaola Harbor.  About 35 miles.  The race consisted of 12 paddlers and a six-man canoe. The paddlers were 6 men and 6 women, with changes done at 30-minute intervals.  The Gant's stood at the harbor opening taking pictures of just about everybody as they came in looking for Samantha.  I arrived late after teaching Poll Watchers ( election officials) and after a bit saw the Pu'uwai Masters (who won second in their division- 50+years old) and then a bit later Samantha on board the escort boat after I'd just seen her club canoe come in.  Results.  Pretty exciting stuff as this was her first year and just to go was an amazing experience.

Na Pali Challenge Pictures

Samantha (4th seat here during the Oahu State Championship Competition) started it all by joining Pu'uwai.  Then a few months later, after watching every race and attending all Pu'uwai events as MOM I joined my own group, Kawaikini.  This group is all women.  They did not race last year but our plan is to enter the Regatta's next year.  I am now the president and enjoying this remarkable sport.  We meet 3 days a week and paddle our hearts healthy.  I'm really enjoying being with these amazing women and look forward to every practice.  Paddling an outrigger canoe on the Wailua river and in the ocean is a miraculous experience each and every time we go out in the water.  Watching the rainbows over the river, as we paddle up the river to the Fern Grotto (3 miles), or looking down and seeing the bottom of the ocean (a trip we make only when the weather cooperates) are just indescribable experiences.  Since I started paddling I've become much stronger.  I look forward to the Regatta season starting in February (every Saturday).  I will be able to race in two categories.  Novice B for 1st year paddlers, which is a 1/4 mile race and Senior Women (50+yrs old) 1/4 mile race.  I'm really looking forward to next year's season.

Our trip again this year to Queen's Bath was fantasic as usual.  The tide coming in and the pleasant area are always great fun. 

Queen's Bath 2006

Well, that's about it.  We had a great time this summer and really look forward to next summer with the Gant's.  Hana hou (ha-na ho - Do it again)