Another Hawaiian Journey Begins

Groggily, I flicked up the cover on the window portal beside me. Harsh sun-light beamed across the aisle; seeming very unnatural for a 3am equivalent Sydney time. Miles of textured blue ocean lay beneath, then the site of the coastline came into view. Hawaii!

I jumped in a shuttle bus and we hurtled south along the slick highway, amongst the dark moonscape of Big Island’s west coast. The volcano was shrouded in dark clouds. “You know, this island is the only island that creates it’s own energy. Do you feel it?”, the cabbie asked. On cue, a large rumble descended the mountainside.

I definitely felt excited. It was the start of our Hawaiian journey!

But our journey actually started several months ago, when we met at the AB Hotel to discuss all the possibilities for a paddling trip to Hawaii. A paddling festival, week long OC1 camp, changes race, channel crossing… all these ideas were raised and, not being able to choose, we’ve ended planning to do all of them.

North Head OC1 session

We’ve come a long way since that first discussion. A few special moments stick in my mind - Tuesday night 2hr sessions have become the norm; something that Cath G pointed out as we tapered with a leisurely 70min session last week.

3hr Harbour changes session

I remember paddling upwind alongside the airport, on one of our “downwind” sessions, with 14 OC1 embracing the challenge. There was the Harbour Tempest OC6 session, where we saw Geoff’s Men’s crew rise 4m up on the wave ahead of us, before he thankfully decided to turn and run into Quarantine station. 

Some good swell off Shelly Beach

A smattering of yellow lifejackets moving in and out of the swell at Bluefish Point. Amanda grinning in her happy yellow canoe. Charlotte’s giggle as she slides down a wave at LR on her OC1. Dolphins jumping across the bow near La Perouse. 

PD Men join us for their Molokai training

Cold mornings, frozen toes & tough interval sessions with the boys. The best scrambled eggs in Sydney at the Belgium Cafe in Clontarf.

We're ready!

The shuttle bus door slides open, breaking my daydream and I hear, “Shelly!” coming from outside. Kath B bounds out of the hotel, all smiles, whisking me away to merchandise, breakfast supplies and a relieving dip in the ocean.

Kerry and Amanda meet us in the corridor and recount tales of their 2^nd place in the OC4 sprints – a compulsory huli, missing paddles, missing paddlers and an almighty sprint to the finish to bring in a medal.

And then I hear the next surprise; we’ve been given the privilege of paddling a local crew’s Koa Canoe tomorrow (Puna Canoe Club). This is a canoe that has been hand carved from the wood of the native Hawaiian Koa tree.  The wood glows a beautiful golden colour, that seems to come from the inside of the craft.  It’s an incredible honour to be given this opportunity, (we are the first international crew to be loaned this boat, which was built in 1978), and it will add a special dimension to the race tomorrow.

For more about our trip, follow this link. For more pictures, visit the Gallery