Dip In!

When it comes to paddling sports – kayaking, outrigger canoeing and SUP – Hawai‘i reigns supreme.

Byline: Kathryn Drury Wagner

Makaukau? That’s what an outrigger canoe steersman asks his or her crew in Hawai‘i. It means, Are you ready? Well, it’s easy to be ready to try paddle sports, like outrigger canoe paddling, stand up paddle boarding and kayaking, while you’re in the Islands. The water is so clear and warm – 77 to 82 degrees on average – that you can’t help but want to get out onto (and into) the ocean. And paddle sports are an eco-friendly way to observe Hawai‘i’s aquatic life without disturbing any of the kaleidoscopic fish, playful dolphins, swooping green sea turtles, and majestic humpback whales you’re sharing the ocean with. So grab a paddle and let’s go!