SUP & Snorkel Travel Style - Episode 2

Join 'Elele Kevin Cullen and Christian Edie' on their 'winter' adventures in Hawaii.  A weekly blog to share the Aloha of beautiful HI.

SUP & Snorkel Travel Style

For the past few years everywhere we go we bring our Pau Hana Surf Supply Inflatable SUP’s and Kialoa Insanity Travel Paddles. We like to venture off the beaten path and the ability for this gear to pack easily can’t be beat. We’ve been able to paddle down remote whitewater rivers in New Zealandand explore incredible remote sea cliffs and caves along the West End of Jamaica with our travel gear. While living on Hawaii this winter, our SUPs, travel paddles, and snorkel gear have allowed us to explore remote stretches of coastline and the treasures beneath the surface on both the Big Island and Maui.

Just south of Hilo on the Big Island there is an incredible stretch of beaches and coastal access. While these places are popular swimming holes and snorkel spots our SUP’s allowed us to quickly escape the crowds. At Carlsmith Beach Park we discovered a narrow channel that led us to a hidden pool filled with Sea Turtles and surrounded by lush jungle. The Hawaiian word for Sea Turtle is Honu and there are few things more majestic in this world than seeing them up close. While they are curious and social it is important to not touch them as we can transfer harmful bacteria. However, paddling and swimming with them while giving them a little space is absolutely incredible! They often swim up to check you out and say Aloha.

The Hilo side we stayed at fell into a winter wet weather spell – it rained and rained for days. Our good friend Kyle Sullivan, founder of Aina Productions, called us up and asked if we wanted to take a day adventure to the Sunny Kona side and check out Honaunau Bay famed for spectacular snorkeling. On our way around the south of the Island we made a quick stop at South Point to scope out the cliff jumping and deep water solo rock climbing. The sea was too rough that day but we vowed to return and headed off to our destination. Honaunau Bay, also known as Two-Step Beach, is just next to Pu’uhnua O Honaunau National Historic Park, which includes royal & burial grounds and was also a place for refuge for those that committed Kapu, the breaking of sacred laws, and those defeated in war.

Pulling up to Honaunau Bay, giant Ki’I (wooden statues) and coconut palm trees lined the magnificent coast. We pumped up our inflatable SUP and grabbed our travel paddle and headed out into the ocean. Along with us and Kyle, two other friends, Justin and Nate, joined us for the day. Among the five of us we had one SUP and swam like a pod of dolphins along our craft into the deep water. Coral reef of amazing variety descended along shelves and there was an abundance of marine life. The SUP is the perfect addition to a group snorkel because it provides some safety and a resting place for being in the water. We would take turns paddling or lounging on the board while others explored the world beneath the surface. 

Spending time at Honaunau Bay it is easy to see how the Hawaiians have developed such a close relationship to the natural environment. On and under the sea you can feel the Mana, the spiritual power, of the Kai (sea) and Aina (land). Every day here is such a blessing and we feel so recharged from our time paddling, swimming, and exploring. After watching the sunset at this sacred place the five of us, snorkel gear, SUP and paddle all fit into Kyle’s Prius. With an inflatable SUP and Kialoa Travel Paddle the water is always within reach.