Cruising Hawaii in the Winter

[Heinous]

Originally Posted by SV Windrush II

The marinas are usually full even for visiting yachts so we are still waiting for a slip.

The big problem here in Hawaii is that all the marinas and shoreline is owned and run by the DLNR so you deal with the government on everything to do with marinas and moorings. And since it is a monopoly they do not see the need for much services or catering to the needs of sailors. even finding a marina that has a fuel dock or just to pull up and get water is really hard to find. Compared to the mainland, sailing here is more like a third world country standard for services. If I didn't know any better, I would not know I am still in the US.

Boating in Hawaii should be amazing, but in fact it can be very difficult. The fact that most of the marinas are run (mismanaged) by the state is a big part of it. Take a quick walk through the most popular marina, Ala Wai, and you'll see several boats with eviction and/or impound notices several months old yet the boat is still taking up a slip that someone else would happily pay for. That's just one reason there is such slow turnover for slips. It's also common for slipholders who no longer have boats to retain their slips indefinitely, as the state lags enforcement and people illegally sublet their slips. The waitlists drag on forever.

Another issue is services. It is very difficult to get decent work done on your boat here. I have one engine issue that has taken two years with a local mechanic shop, that would have taken a week back in San Diego.


HOWEVER, it is ****ing beautiful here. The water is warm and crystal clear, the breeze is almost always blowing, and it's never cold. Maybe if we overwhelm the state with enough enthusiastic boaters out here we can change the boating situation.

[SV Windrush II]

HOWEVER, it is ****ing beautiful here. The water is warm and crystal clear, the breeze is almost always blowing, and it's never cold. Maybe if we overwhelm the state with enough enthusiastic boaters out here we can change the boating situation.[/QUOTE]

Definitely a good idea. It is very beautiful and lots of things to see.

On our way to Ala Wai from Maalea Bay, we saw lots of whales and caught 3 tuna, had a beautiful sail across the channel, all in one day. Can't complain about that!

Also our new neighbors in Ala Wai are very friendly and helpful getting us into our Tahiti style moorage.

Hopefully the state will value what we sailors can bring here and help the local economy so they will improve the marinas

[savoir]

" Hopefully the state will value what we sailors can bring here and help the local economy so they will improve the marinas "

I first heard comments like that 35 years ago. Don't hold your breath.

[phoenix-marie]

We cruised Hawaii 8 years ago and LOVED it, plan to make it our first stop again on our more extensive Pacific tour starting this summer from Washington. I hear that the decrepit state of the marinas is due to a law from the 60s that has not been able to be overturned that keeps the public marinas from charging more than $10 a day or $300 a year. Not sure the numbers are right, but that's what some of the harbormasters told us. Yes, anchoring is more attractive than the marinas, but we prefer that anyway.

We did NOT find people unhelpful, in fact the harbormasters treated us well. The prices were wonderfully inexpensive, and some places had showers which we don't have on our boat so are glad to find. Kaunakakai had a fabulous shower. Hanalei bay had some cold water showers for beachgoers. Hilo (Radio Bay) had showers. Nawiliwili had showers, but no door for the shower facing the parking lot. Oh well. Yes, most places were in poor repair, but we were thankful for what we got considering the 0 to $7 per night fees we paid.

The weather is moderate - not like Mexico's scalding summer temps. Each island is different in culture and flavor. And it's a great jumping off place for the rest of the Pacific. Lots of good things about Hawaii despite the bad press.

We have some cruising notes here: Oh the Places I've Been... - Sailing Phoenix