Oahu North Shore in April

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

In Hawaii on business and will have a few days on the North Shore afterwards to mess around. Worth taking kite gear, or just surf? How's Mokes, any other good spots? Kite sizes?

Onad · Mon Feb 18, 08 6:03 pm

Yah!! Us too... Mid-April!! Razz

Got some beta for us Alex??

Tx, Dano

tonyb · Mon Feb 18, 08 7:04 pm

Just found out I have to go to Honolulu on business March 2nd through the 7th. I may have some time late afternoons the last couple of days. Is there any place to kite near by? Is it a good time of year to take gear there or should I just hop over to Maui for the weekend?

Tony

Nak · Mon Feb 18, 08 11:28 pm

there are 2 basic Oahu spots on the normal Easterly trades. Moks and Kailua. I've not kited Moks so I'll let Alex fill you guys in... Kailua can be a really good spot, or you can sit around waiting for wind. (Kind of like sauvies...) You can have epic days there, but plan on bringing the lightwind gear too.

Sometimes you can get an hour or two at dawn on an otherwise light day. The Sun hitting the mountains can add a slight thermal effect for a short time.

To be honest, my favorite time to ride at Kailua is dawn patrol. No traffic getting over the Pali highway. Generally I'm the only one out for 45 - 60 minutes. Being out on Kailua bay as the sun comes up over the ocean, with the mountains painted red by the sunrise... It's a religious experience. Very Happy

So, absolutely bring your kiting gear!

wakeup · Since 11 Sep 2005 328 Posts always Obsessed

dan i was going to tell you about this spot we used to go to when jake and i lived there. it is a killer spot with hardly anyone there. and only 15min from sunset, but on the windward side.

but jake said i shouldn't tell, so out of respect for his opinion and i will PM you later

Sol-flyer · Tue Feb 19, 08 7:27 am

i hear its best to wear fish cutlets around your neck when going out for down patrol

paxters · Since 31 Jul 2007 2 Posts New Member

i'll second that on Kailua, it's a great spot when there's wind, but I ended up using my 17.5 quite a bit this January. the beach is pretty narrow and people LOVE to watch you launch from a vantage point right downwind. there's another beach just to the south, Lanikai, that's less crowded during the day and has a wider area for launching. look out for dolphins.

tonski · Since 11 Jun 2005 332 Posts NW Portland Obsessed

Hey Paxters, can you launch from Lanikai or do you walk down to Kailua beach? I'm so psyched if we can kite right from Lanikai b/c we booked a cottage a block from the beach there in April. Very Happy

Nak · Tue Feb 19, 08 11:07 am

tautologies · Since 24 Aug 2006 602 Posts Oahu Addicted

Aloha guys...

april is when the trades start filling in and the tides are a little higher..so yes worth it BUT there is no wind guarantee so don't com-a-looking for this Norwegian when the wind isn't there.... In general April can have some epic sessions...you might be lucky to hit the spot where the last winter swell hits AND there is good consistent wind. Right now it is super shallow at moks, but otherwise good...well except for no wind.

Just be careful and don't go out in something you are not comfortable with...it can look small from shore, but when you get out it is well overhead, and a lot of current. Fun, as long as you don't get hit, and left on the reef. Smile

Same thing goes for Kailua...wind or not is a matter of luck..generally the trades are more consistent, but no guarantee. It seems we are getting hit with a small south swell on sunday, so the patterns are a little off...otherwise it has been 30 foot faces last week...so again unless you are comfortable with huge swell decide when you get to the beach if you go out or not. I am not saying this to scare or anything like that..just know it is not always bad to leave a session to it self. Smile

Now when that is said, best option from town is Kailua for sure. Can be epic if you hit a wind + NE swell combo..april is fairly late for that, but those waves are a lot more forgiving than the NS ones. Kailua isn;t more than 20-25 mins away from town...NS is 45 mins. This is a small island.

If you decide to explore, be really careful and stay way away from everyone...there is a lot going on on this island right now, and we are struggling with threat of bans, and we are receving personal threats in terms of spots to launch, so if you decide to go somewhere else..going in a line up with surfers..not good. There are some beaches where locals promise that you car will not be the same when you get bacdk..and you will be lucky to keep your health. I am exaggerating a little but we do receive phonescalls like that. Sad

Punctured LE / bladders / tires do, however unfortunately occur. In general peopl are nice, but we have a few renegades on this island who will not listen to common sense, and they mess it up for a lot of us. Sad

So bafore you go out, check the wind conditions...some spots are gnarly in terms of gusty squally wind changing direction dropping out..so if you have a lineup say Sunset down wind...know what you are doing..also if there is a swell, I assure you don't want to end up dowsn there with lines and a kite Smile

Man I sound really negative..I am not really..it is just all the politics we deal with here...

...but when all this is said..IF you hit the wind swell combo, I can guarantee you the session of your life. Going down a double to triple overhead swell .5-1 mile from shore in Kailua is an experience that will keep you stoked for months after. I am not kidding!!! I haven't been out in a long time, I still remember that looming shadow over me...the board hammering under my feet...the speed, the thundering sound of the wave starting to break...edge, go down around back up the wave (tho doing a proper bottom turn at that speed is impossible for me)...do it again...it just cancels out everything...and nothing can bring you down like i have in the beginning of this post Smile

Wakeup: which jake?

Dawn patrol is super nice. I've had some really nice zen sessions there..just flying your kite..no one is out, and light winds and calm ocean..you can just play around...I do that before work somedays...
Actually if you hit the full moon, consider a night session too...bring some of those self glo things...and remeber to not fall or loose your board... Smile

It is awesome. Yay.

We have a website with some local rules and guidelines..and outr own forum...please respect them since they are pretty much critical for keeping the spots open...

www.kiteoahu.com

Mahalo for your kokua Smile

a.