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Outrigger Canoes

Daybreak in Paradise

Greet the morning- e' ala e' aloha kekahiaka -with a solitary walk or run along the beach side or mountain road. Morning birds waking. Palms whispering gently. Waves lapping the coastline. Heavenly! Breath deeply, stretch, feel totally alive in the sweet smells of Hawaii. Put on your Hawaiian eyes and realize where you are...

Enter the Day

Early mornings in our Hawaii are stunning, particularly if you're on the ocean. And there's nothing better than being on the ocean paddling in an Outrigger canoe. Paddling in unison with other crew members sometimes hard and fast, other times slow and relaxed. Perhaps passing by a Honu, a Hawaiian green sea turtle and everyone in the canoe being thrilled! Seeing a Honu is good luck in Hawaii. And what a fun way to relax your body and ready your golf swing for later. Just wait and see!

Canoe paddling is a lovely sport and is Hawaii's State Team Sport. Outrigger Canoe paddling is a big big thing in Hawaii. Very big. There are large Outrigger Canoe Clubs on every island competing by age group by island. The island champs then compete at the end of each summer for a great State Championship race. You should see some of these folks race. Unbelievable. In the off-season months folks paddle in the long distance races culminating with the pretigious and not so easy Moloka'i Race. Outriggers race from Moloka'i across the channel all the way to Honolulu. Incredible athletes, these paddlers. If you are in Hawaii during the summer regatta months, then do yourself a favor and watch a race. Great fun and you'll see a slice of real Hawaii!

And today, if its a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, you'll get to join one of two outrigger canoe clubs on Maui that have graciously created recreational paddling and visitor paddling programs. If its a Monday or Wednesday then you'll join the Maui Canoe Club during their early morning recreational paddling time. Or if its a Tuesday or Thursday, then you'll join the Kihei Canoe Club for their morning visitor program. How cool is that! You will be a local Kama'aina for a bit of time. And you'll have some wonderful exercise, great camaraderie, and incredible fun.

The Kihei Canoe Club, located on the beach at the north end of Kihei Town on the island of Maui, is perhaps the only outrigger racing club to allow visitors to join them in their six-person canoes. Part of the club's stated mission is to revive, develop, perpetuate and promote the Hawaiian traditions. (Kihei Canoe Club). And they effectively do this through their racing programs but also through their visitor program. Each Tuesday and Thursday a few lucky visitors get a brief paddling lesson, borrow a paddle and head out to see the turtles (year round) and the whales in season (winter months). Listen folks, space is extremely limited and is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. They say to arrive by 7:15a.m. Paddlers must be at least 10 years old, know how to swim and be able to engage in vigorous exercise. A contribution of $25.00 is requested and is tax deductible.

The Kihei Club also have a recreational paddling program for experienced paddlers at 6:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You could do a years membership for $150 and paddle with these folks for the whole of your vacaton if you want. Or you could do a donation of $25 for your first paddle, nominal donation for additional paddling days. Great option here for you die hard experienced paddlers. And check this out! Guest paddling sessions usually begin with E Ala E, a traditional chant to welcome the rising sun and end with a Mahalo chant to give thanks to the land and the sea and to Hawaiian deities such as na kupuna (ancestors) and na aumakua (family gods.)

The Maui Canoe Club is an outrigger canoe club based in South Kihei on Maui, a club formed to promote the educational and "fun” aspects of Hawaiian outrigger canoeing through recreational paddling. No racing with this club, just good fun paddling off the coast of Maui. Membership in Maui Canoe Club is open to everyone. There are three types of membership: Family - $200, Individual - $125, and Provisional - $50. A Provisional membership entitles an individual to four one-hour training paddling sessions with the club on Mondays and Wednesdays, equipment provided. This is a perfect way for newcomers and visitors to experience Authentic Hawaiian Outrigger Canoeing. Visitors and provisional members are welcomed two days a week, Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:15am and 8:15am. The club has 29 trained steersmen, so lots of good quality people will paddle with you. Children allowed from ages 6-13 with coast guard approved life jackets.

The club takes you out in waters that are the calmest place anywhere on the island. You head straight out from the beach to Wilson buoy (because it looks like a Wilson soccer ball) where you'll take a break and decide which direction to paddle. Then you'll paddle for an hour or so in both directions depending on the weather. You'll head into the wind first for the toughest part of the paddle, and then on the way back when you might be a little tired, the wind will be to your back. Good thinking! In the summer months there might be a south swell and this will be fun for riding the waves on your way back into shore. Very good fun! And, summer month tend to be less busy than the winter months.

We have got to tell you, outrigger canoe paddling is the ultimate sport in our Hawaiian waters. In our opinion, there is nothing better! To be out in Hawaii's pristine waters and to be paddling in unison with other paddling crew is a wonder. A big big mahalo to both the Kihei Canoe Club and the Maui Canoe Club for offering paddling to everyone out there! Make sure you arrive at the beach early if you want a seat. And have the best time ever. When we're on Maui, we will see you there!

Mid-day’s Lingering

You're definitely ready for some hearty breakfasting before your golf game after your outrigger canoe paddling fun! So, we vote you head directly to the Seawatch Restaurant located on the Gold Golf Course in Wailea, just a 10 minute drive down the street. To get there, drive south from Kihei on Piilani Hwy.

Turn right onto Wailea Ike Drive, where the state highway ends. Then turn left onto Wailea Alanui Drive. Continue past the Grand Wailea Resort and the Four Seasons Hotel on your right. Continue on past the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort for approximately half a mile. You'll need to turn left at the gated entrance to the Gold and Emerald Golf Courses on Wailea Golf Club Drive. That's okay because this is where you'll be spending the rest of your afternoon, golfing right here on the slopes of Mount Haleakala. How cool is that.

The Seawatch is located uphill in the clubhouse at the right. There's plenty of parking on your left. And not to worry, the Seawatch knows that some people like late breakfasting and others like early lunching, so they've created wonderful breakfast lunch kind of dining. And wonderful food. Check this out! Smoked Salmon Benedict with caper Hollandaise, Crab Cake Benedict with roasted pepper Hollandaise, Seawatch "Loco Moco" - grilled hamburger patty, 2 eggs, white rice, Maui onion gravy, very local kine style. And lots more. So, kick back and enjoy. Eat hearty for your afternoon of golfing fun!

Afternoon Delights

Make sure you leave the Seawatch in enough time to ready yourself for your afternoon of stunning and great golf on your choice of either Wailea's Gold or Emerald Course.

Wailea Golf Course Gold is a rugged and stunning play course. It's the most challenging of the three Wailea Courses and hosts the popular Wendy's Champions Skins Game during the winter. It's for the really really serious competitive player out there. This course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., and is considered one one of the world's best designed courses (Wailea Golf Club) by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. Golf Magazine and Golf Digest also like this course. Listen folks, you'll be playing on grounds with stunning views of the sparkling Pacific Ocean, the island of Molokini in the distance and with lovely contrasts in color all around you. It is gorgeous. Just think of lush green with black natural lava rock outcroppings that sparkle in the sunlight and are just spectacular. This course has a 200 foot elevation change along the bottom slopes of Mount Haleakala. Wow! It also has 128 sand bunkers. Hows that for you. "Throughout the course are stark lava rock outcroppings, indigenous Hawaiian grasses, an abundance of kiawe (a relative of mesquite), and remnants of papohaku, prehistoric lava rock walls built by early Hawaiians and preserved for their historic value." (Wailea Golf Club) The course has been labeled a "thinking player's" course because it demands strategy and careful club selection if you want to play a great game. So if you're a thinking player and you have a really good golf game, then its the Gold for you.

And then there's the Emerald. The Wailea Golf Course Emerald is a course designed to be fun for practically every player. It's a lush, tropical, beautiful golf course with beautiful flowers blooming everywhere. Lots of gorgeous tropical delights include plumeria, bird of paradise, allamanda, gazenia, bougainvillea, beach morning glory, and lots of others. You'll play on carpet-like fairways with stunning vistas of the Pacific Ocean and Mt. Haleakala. Lovely! The Emerald Course has kinder fairways and is really an ideal for golfers who play for the pure joy of it, for just fun and recreation. If you're one of these guys or gals, then its the Emerald Course for you! And, all you women golfers out there, check this out. Golf for Women Magazine has granted the Wailea Golf Club a Top Fairways Award, honoring this course as one of the country's most female-friendly golf facilities. What a nice compliment! They have six tee boxes on every hole. So, take your pick! And have fun here!

Okay, we agree, the rate at the Wailea Golf Course are rather pricey, ranging from $175 for resort guests to $200 a round for your play. But... but... since you're playing a tee time after 1:00pm, you get to enjoy the Wailea's twilight tee time cost of $130.00 per round. So, there you have it! Have a great golf afternoon, whichever course you choose and just enjoy the heck out of this lovely place. The views will be stunning and truly a joy. Have a great time, be awed, and have a great golf game!

Sunset & Pupus Await You

We've heard that sitting out on the lanai of the Seawatch Restaurant for sunset is just wonderful. So, who cares that you had your breakfast-lunch there. Head on back and get yourself ready for one of the best sunsetting and pupu time on this island. Sit back, order up some fun umbrella drinks or cold ones, perhaps an order of Macadamia Nut Crusted Brie with Waikapu pineapple chutney and Pepper-crusted Seared Ahi drizzled with spicy lilikoi ponzu sauce. Wow. Maybe the Seawatch Sampler with Pacific crab cake, tiger prawn cocktail & porcini-seared scallop. You may have died and gone to heaven. Fun fun and beautiful sunsetting wonders. Smile smile smile!

Evening Bliss

Where to go from here! Back to the ocean of course where you started your day. If you want to top the Seawatch, then head to Spago's for more spectacular dining and stunning up close kind of views. Spago's is located in the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and lots of folks love it here. The restaurant has an interesting bar and an intimate lounge where you have wonderful panoramic views of Wailea Beach and the ocean. Just stunning views really. You can dine inside or out on the covered lanai, again with great views as you dine. The seating is creative and quite comfy. Fun and romantic!

Wine selections are quite varied and have a wide price range. The menu is great! Check this out! Whole Big Island Moi Steamed "Hong Kong" style; Pan-Roasted Opakapaka with Lobster Crusted Potatoes and Lobster Sauce "Americaine"; Grilled Mahimahi with Pineapple - Ginger BBQ, Sweet Maui Onions. They also have a wonderful coconut soup with local lobster, keffir and chili. Too much fun! But save room for dessert too.

And after dinner, well a walk along the tiki torch walkway or beachfront. And then find yourself a lovely little lounge, maybe the open-air Lobby Lounge at the Four Seasons for some contemporary music. Or the rather fantastic Botero Gallery Bar at next doors Grand Wailea Resort. Music there too. Or to the Fairmont Kea Lani's Lobby Bar for their live local musicians playing contemporary light jazz and music from the Islands. Great choices to continue your great canoe and golf day in our Hawaii. Maui no ka oi for sure. Aloha folks!