Kitesurfing in Hawaii at last

Another windless day passes. I’m working on a thank-you poster for all my hosts. The house and me, alone. I head to the beach again in the evening. For free, as expected. At a good Mexican restaurant, I treat myself to a club, firm and liquid. Back home again. My surfing in Hawaii has so far only taken place on the Internet. Desolate kite lulls me into a restless sleep.

The next morning I am woken by the unfamiliar sound of moving leaves. Only briefly, then it’s over. I fall asleep again. Shortly before midday it’s clear: there’s finally wind today. Not much, just enough. Once more than the forecast, so far it’s always been 5 miles less in Kailua. My last day in Hawaii. Kitesurfing at last.

I can just see the tail lights of the bus. It was either 20 minutes too early or the same 20 minutes too late. I get a ride to Kailua on the back of a truck. I don’t waste any time on the beach this time. Immediately set up the kite, put a 30 block on my face and get into my clothes. Out onto the water. The wind is just enough. Half under water, half over. A few times I even feel like I’m creating spray. It’s impossible to think about staying aloft. But with so little wind, going upwind on the beach is easy.

I simply have the smallest. I only see 14s, 15s, 17s and a 20. Okay, two girls with 12s. That’s it then. I whip my kite into every wind hole and then pluck it out again as a corpse. I can really do light winds now. I finally want to surf. After a while, the wind drops again and I have to get out.

A nice Filipino from yesterday is back. Artit has problems with his borrowed board. And apparently takes pity on my unsuitable kite. Offers me the chance to test his 14 Cabrinha Contra. I think about it for 0.000234 seconds before saying yes. I go out and enjoy the 2 extra metres. Exactly what was missing. The thing goes really high, even in light winds. I’ve been kiting for eight years. Today was my first time with a bow. While still on the water, I shout “I WANT IT!” several times.

The kite is awesome. Where every somewhat heavier gust with my nitro would tear me to pieces despite full depower, with the Contra you simply give way with the bar. Swoosh, pressure completely gone, gust eaten. Where I start to get sinuses with my nitro when the pressure is not enough when fully powered up, I simply pull on the bar with the contra. Park the kite on the edge and pull the bar forwards and backwards. Finally, I’ve had to wait a long time for this. Bow is really the biggest step since the fourth line. HAVEN WILL! See blog for current donation addresses :-)

We don’t leave the beach until the evening. At the Mexican restaurant I notice two things in the mirror. Firstly, the salt crystals in my beard look pretty daring. And secondly, my nose is so burnt red that I don’t even need a second beer.

So that’s it for kitesurfing in Hawaii. I realised just in time that my flight to Fiji leaves tomorrow, not Wednesday. Once again far too little time for everything. I want to change that. I’ll make the time. The shuttle to the airport tomorrow costs me the same for 18 miles as five complete island tours in Fiji (approx. 1000 miles). I don’t think three weeks in Fiji will be nearly enough. Time to rebook. Aloha!