Island activities log

Island Activities Logbook

Friday, July 8 - From Sylvia Foster (AnnaLee's Mom)
AnnaLee described hiking around Rainbow Falls. They saw lots of polywogs and interesting vegetation but no rainbows. They were planning to attend a Polynesian Cultural Festival on Saturday that the City of Hilo was sponsoring.

Monday, July 11 - From Sylvia Foster
After watching lava flows in the dark Sunday night, they rented a car and drove around the south side of the island to the Kailua Kona coast and went snorkeling today. On the way they stopped and saw the City of Refuge. They had dinner Monday evening with the the Wilsons (friends of the Jennesses), and among other things enjoyed some spicy, raw octopus!

Tuesday, July 13 - From Sylvia Foster
While snorkeling Marty saw nemo, a clown fish, and a puffer fish up close. Mark and AnnaLee saw a sea turtle and a Moor (?) fish. Katrina relaxed in the shade, not being too keen on ocean swimming.

Thursday, July 15 - From Sylvia Foster
The drove back to the Hilo side of the island Wednesday, via Waimea (Kamuela), Akaka Falls, and a botanical garden, and headed for the other side of the lava flow to a beach that is said to have a hot springs. Also, AnnaLee was winched in a harness to the top of the mast (52 ft above the water) where she fixed the topping lift. The girls are lobbying for a stay over in Maui [on the way to Kauai] but the Captain doesn't think there is anything to see on Maui. Nevertheless, he placed a call to the harbor master at Port Maalaea (where small craft can safely harbor) to check things out. They met a gentleman who sailed over from San Diego who will island hop with them to Kauai. He is said to have had a rather eccentric crew. He almost lost his life to some kind of inflammation but was saved by the intervention of a Russian ship that had picked up his ship's signal. His name is Nicholas. AnnaLee thinks he is in his mid 50's. They have also met a few other colorful characters. They expect to return to Hilo after island hopping and be ready to head for Oregon on August 8.

Monday, July 18 - From Captain Mark via Carol Balcom
This was the planned departure date for Kauai via Maui. They are sitting in the harbor at Hilo on a cloudy, windy day watching 30-40 knot winds creating 16 ft waves. Mark is hoping to leave for Maui on the 20th (Wed) and stay for 2 days, then head for Kauai for a 2-week stay. They still plan to leave for Oregon from Hilo on Aug. 8. Marty will finish his volcano class on Aug. 6, and AnnaLee will fly back to Oregon on the same day. Susan, a new crew member for the return trip, will arrive by air with her husband on Aug. 3.

Tuesday, July 19 - From Sylvia Foster
Yesterday the crew walked in to Hilo town from the port which is a 3 hour round-trip. They saw the Viet Nam Memorial and were struck by the fact that just from that county there were 50 names on the monument. They have also been to the Tsunami Museum. They have had some interesting encounters with food too. Both Katrina and AnnaLee are in agreement: NEVER eat breadfruit! "It's nasty"! "Tastes WORSE than poi". It has a waxy texture, sucks the moisture out of your mouth and has NO flavor. On the other hand Apple Bananas are the BEST BANANAS ON THE PLANET! They are 1/3 normal size, satisfying and taste good! They are only found in Hawaii and are not exported. Then there is Jack Fruit. Captain Mark says that Jack Fruit is the
"vegetative version of a hedgehog". It is a weird looking fruit in size ranging from a coconut to a watermelon; green with bumpy spikes all over it. No mention of how it tastes. There is unanimity on Haupia, a coconut pudding with an appearance and texture of Jell-o - "Delicious"! The girls have adopted a local saying too. "If no can - no can. If can - Verna's"! The actual island saying is "If no can - no can. If can - can" but Verna's is their favorite local hang-out and thus the adaptation. When they go out they are surrounded with the divine fragrance of pink and white plumeria and around the port they have a coconut palm (coconuts are still green) and lots of hibiscus. They still hope to head to Maalaea Bay and Maui on Wednesday and Marty hopes to be able to find the time to download photos of their activities on Hawaii - if his computer will comply.

Thursday, July 21- Reported by AnnaLee via Sylvia Foster
They left Hilo Wednesday about 11 am and cleared the breakwater about noon. The crossing of the Alenuihaha Channel between the big island and Maui was a little rough but okay. About 9 am Thursday they were just passing by the tiny island of Molokini between Kahoolawe (AnnaLee says that the "w" is pronounced like a "v" in this word) and Maui [See chart here]. The weather Thursday began with a low overcast with a few light showers becoming sunny with a few light puffy clouds. They have no wind waves but the swell is about 3 feet so the Kaiulani is floating upright with no heeling. They are in the Alalakeiki Channel right now and expect to be at Maalaea Bay around 3pm our time. The Harbor Master said that Maalaea is full but the crew are going to stop by to see the area anyway, and then head up to Lahaina to check it out their facilities.

Friday July 22 - Reported by AnnaLee via Sylvia Foster and by Mark via Carol Balcom
As they approached Maalaea Bay Thursday, the winds were so strong coming through the isthmus that even under full power they were only making 1 knot! So they continued on to Lahaina arriving about 3 pm (AnnaLee) or 2 pm (Mark) where they expect to stay through the weekend. The slip was barely big enough--about 11 1/2 ft for a 10-ft beam--but they slipped in just as nice and easy as you please. AnnaLee got to dive in and swim to the mooring buoy and put the line through the bridal on the mooring buoy and hand the line back to the Captain. At last word, they were cruisin' Front Street in Lahaina (by foot).
The plan is to leave for Kauai Monday 7/25, about 170 nm away, then leave Kauai for the return to Hilo on Aug. 8 where Marty will rejoin them. AnnaLee will be flying home, and Susan and her husband will join the crew making a total of five people on the return voyage. It may be a bit tight!

Monday July 25 - From Marty via his Mom and Renee Jenness; and from Mark via his son Larry
While the rest of the crew is exploring the islands, Marty is taking a class on volcanology. He reports the course involves lots of hiking, six long days a week, to collect gases from ferrel holes on the volcano for testing.
Meanwhile, as of 3 pm PDT, Captain Mark, Katrina, and AnnaLee are preparing to leave Lahaina, Maui, for Kauai. The weather is almost clear with a light breeze from the right direction. They expect to arrive at Kauai (port unknown) about 8 am Wednesday.
Correction of Friday report: Susan's husband Joe will be flying back to the mainland, not sailing back with the crew. So the return crew will consist of four members, not five.

Wednesday July 27 - Directly from Captain Mark by cell phone, and from AnnaLee via her Mom
After an eventful voyage they were within sight of Lihue, Kauai at 3 am this morning. Mark did not want to head into the port in the dark, so sailed around locating various beacons to confirm their position. He finally headed in about 20 minutes before sunrise, could not find an empty slip, was shooed away from a commercial harbor and anchored about 1/4 mile offshore, leaving a long dingy row to the nearest landing. After rowing in, they could not find the harbormaster at first. They really needed to get a slip for easy access to laundry facilities, and for reprovisioning the ship for the return trip. (CORRECTION: They are returning to Oregon directly from Kauai, not going back to Hilo first. Marty will fly to Lihue, and Susan will also.) The port is at Nawiliwili, close to Lihue.
The trip from Lahiana to Lihue began with a gentle breeze. They put up the main and the jib and were doing fine until Mark saw white caps ahead. Before they could strike the mainsail they heeled over 45 degrees and remained there for the 20 minutes it took them to strike the main. The used the jib the rest of the way, doing about 6 1/2 knots. They passed Oahu shortly after sunset, enjoying the lights and the spectacular view along Waikiki beach.
On Maui, they met up with a colorful character named Uncle Billy who owns the only chain of native-family-owned hotels on Maui. Mark and Carol had become acquainted with Uncle Billy on earlier trips. Uncle Billy was impressed with the fact that Mark had twice sailed all the way from Oregon; he gave them all native rates--about half off the usual tourist rate.

Thursday July 28 - From Mark by cell phone and from AnnaLee via her Mom
They are finally tied to a pier in the boat basin and can begin serious exploration of the island before preparing the ship for the return voyage. Another task is to repair the jib that needs some resewing. He is having a problem booting the older 486 laptop computer, the only one that can display weather maps. He said he could just get the weather from voice broadcasts, but that would be more tedious. He has a new camcorder to replace the broken one so we should expect some video shows when he gets back.
AnnaLee began running a fever yesterday with a sore throat and ear pain. Today her fever is up to 101.6. Her Mom located a pharmacy in Lihue on the internet, and arranged to have a prescription faxed to them.

Sunday July 31 - From AnnaLee via her Mom
AnnaLee has recovered and the crew is exploring the west side of the island around Waimea. They are planning to celebrate AnnaLee's 23rd birthday tomorrow by getting Hawaiian spa treatments before going to dinner at Duke's Canoe Club on Nawiliwili Bay.

Wednesday August 3 - From AnnaLee via her Mom
Well, the birthday day was a rousing success with super relaxing polynesian salt rubs and seaweed wraps and a delicious dinner with a lovely Hawaiian trio singing to the birthday girl and then a grand stroll through a luxury hotel next to Duke's Canoe Club that had an outstanding Koi pond.
First Mate Katrina gallantly put her hand to the jib repair but it was a tough job and it was decided to use the spare jib and repair the other jib on a sewing machine at home.
Today they did some sightseeing at Wailua Falls with Katrina's cousin who lives on the island. While there they met a Hawaiian man who shared some interesting history of the island and also told them about a free Polynesian show at the Radisson where he would also be appearing. So they had a great night and the gentleman also gave them a great tip on a local diner known for its noodles. This was a great tip because it was a local place that Katrina's cousin had been hearing about but hadn't yet been able to locate. They had a wonderful day and all sounded in high spirits.
The ship is pretty well ready for the return trip and all are looking forward to the arrival of Susan and Joe and a bit more sightseeing.
Katrina and AnnaLee have been composing Haiku about highlights of the trip. Katrina wishes to save sharing them until their return, but one they did share was:

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a, (State fish of Hawaii -- count the syllables!)
Rainbow's pot of gold.

Saturday, August 6 - from Mark by cell phone
At the time of our conversation just after noon pacific time, they were about to take AnnaLee to the airport, and send Susan and Joe out for a tour of the island while Mark does laundry and Katrina reconfigures the boat for the new crew arrangement. Tomorrow they will be taking inventory and restocking the boat.
They rent a satellite phone for the time at sea, but not while in the islands--it is expensive--so returned it after arriving in Hilo. At the last minute, they were told the satellite phone company would not ship a phone to Hawaii for the return trip, so the phone will be shipped to Renee (Katrina's Mom) who will ship it to the crew. They expect to get it by Monday. That seems to be the pacing item for their departure, which hopefully will be on Tuesday, Aug. 9.

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