Tom’s Tips – Big Island Kayaking

Certainly one of the most beautiful places to Kayak in Hawaii is on the Big Island. Of particular beauty is the coastline on the way down to Kealakekua Bay and the Bay itself. Beyond the bay going south is the area surrounding the City of Refuges and that coastline is remarkable as well. I was listening to the radio not too long ago and I heard a woman being interviewed who lived in that area. She was a mediator and evidently held retreats over the years somewhere along that coastline. The interviewer asked her why she lived, worked and operated her practice in that area of the island and she admitted that it was essentially because of the spiritual strength of that area. And I will admit that I can testify to some level of awe that occurs here. The ocean is so blue and so clear and usually so quite. It is like an inspiration. Being there, is like a meditation. Quite beautiful and serene.

Some years ago when I was perhaps a bit more foolhardy than I am now I jumped into the water at the City of Refuge and decided to swim to the Captain Cooke Monument across the bay. Honestly, it did not look as far away at the time as it turned out to be and in the middle of the swim when I realized that it was much, much further than I thought, I contemplated turning around but I think two things stopped me. First, I had set my mind to do it and I wasn’t about to disappoint myself but the second reason I think was a bit more powerful. As I swam in the crystal waters which were much deeper than I had expected, and could clearly see the solid cliff chiseled down through the mountain and deep into the sea, I was struck by the peacefulness of it, the serenity of the place and the sheer beauty. This is an amazing place to be, but for you, I would recommend doing that coastline in a kayak. You won’t be disappointed.