Completed: 06/22/2013
Wide foam boards with adjustable paddles
Trying stand-up paddling (SUP), along with other water activities, earned its spot on my
bucket list because I have a great fear of water, especially open
waters. I have very minimal swimming/floating skills, yet have lived in
this island paradise all my life and therefore want to make more of a conscious effort to enjoy the waters that surround me by adding a few water-related activities on my bucket list.
For a little background on SUP, it is a fairly recent leisure activity that was born in the Hawaiian Islands in the 1960's. Add a lightweight paddle to a wider, also lightweight surfboard, and voila, you have all the tools necessary to enjoy this sport. It is relatively easy for people of all ages to enjoy, as the activity is not difficult and actually quite natural to pick up on.
For this adventure, one of my best friends, Mary, was back in the islands for the summer. She is into water sports (she is scuba certified), so I felt that it would be a perfect opportunity to conquer one of my water-based bucket list items.
First time in the waters at Ala Moana Beach Park
Doing a little research, I found a pretty cheap place to rent from online. Hawaii Beach Time not only provides an array of equipment for patrons to enjoy the waters of Hawaii, but they also conveniently deliver. I was able to rent two paddle boards that were brought all the way to the edge of the waters of Ala Moana Beach Park for under $40 per board (tax and tip included). Kamaaina (local Hawaii residents) get a special discount for all-day rentals, so I even got more bang for the buck when I invited my sister to join us as I knew that I would not be able to SUP the entire day (3 people for the price of 2 boards!). I do recommend this company because the price is reasonable and the customer service as acceptable as well.
After settling on a spot on the beach, Mary and I headed out on the
boards. I felt more comfortable with the life jacket, though it luckily
didn't need to come in use. Balancing on the board was not difficult at all. We
got out to the reef section pretty quickly (it was quite windy that
day). When I realized how far out I was though, I got a bit anxious and tried
to turn around. It was difficult for me to turn the board back around, and when I
eventually did (with the help of Mary using her board to turn me in the
right direction), I tried to paddle back to the shore. But with the
wind blowing against me, it was no an easy task. My inability to steer properly coupled with the constant need to paddle (as resting would only push me out further than I felt safe in), it was quite taxing to get
myself back. At one point, I remember banging up against the reef and
getting stuck. For me, it turned out convenient, since it allowed me to relax my shoulders for a bit, with the rocks obstructing my board from continuing to blow out. I hung out for a bit there before attempting to make my way back
again. I did so successfully, after about 45 minutes, and was pooped.
Me heading out
After resting for a bit, Mary and Stacy headed out, where the winds were not as strong and Stacy, being the fast learner that she is, learned it with a breeze. Mary was able to get some yoga poses on her board, and after about another hour out in the water, the two came back. The boards were picked up and we headed out to a nearby sandwich stop called Spero Spera, which we found courtesy of Yelp reviews. The day ended with mochi ice cream from Bubbies. It was a fun day and I'm glad I finally had the chance to try SUP!
Garlic Veggie and Mixed Avocado sandwiches
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