Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL

2 Updated Kealakekua Bay Tours

To get back in the swing of things, we’ve updated our tours to the bay and they are better than ever!

• Morning Magic
  Join us for a kayaking and snorkeling experience in Kealakekua Bay. This is our original tour, now better than ever, and one of the best ways to spend time on and in the water on the Kona Coast. Learn more >
• Midday Meander
  The midday meander tour of Kealakekua Bay is a great way to fit a second activity into your day, or leave you time for a mellow morning before setting out for some ocean fun. Spend an afternoon with our certified guides and enjoy the majestic scenery of Kealakekua Bay while learning about its rich history and cultural importance. Learn more >

As of 1/2/2013 Kealakekua Bay is under a moratorium from kayaking, stand-up paddling, and other crafts while the State revises its management plan of the area. We hope that the moratorium will be lifted within 2 to 3 months.

“The state will temporarily ban kayaks, surfboards and other watercraft in waters around Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park while it devises rules to protect the heavily used area.

During the moratorium, people will not be allowed to operate, launch, transit, beach or land kayaks and other vessels from Napoopoo, within the waters of Kealakekua Bay, and at Kaawaloa Flats, DLNR said.

Also prohibited in the closed area will be other floatation devices and watercraft such as stand-up paddle boards, surfboards and bodyboards. Swimming and snorkeling are allowed in the bay, but no landing anywhere or entry at Kaawaloa will be permitted.” – Honolulu Star Advertiser and the Department of Land and Natural Resources

See the DLNR’s post and map of the affected area here.

Where can I go then?

Kona has been blessed with several fantastic places for you to kayak, SUP, and snorkel. Check out Kamakahonu Bay, which has great kayaking, SUP, and snorkeling (and we happen to have a beach shack right there to serve you) for one. Or, check out one of about 5 other places along the coastline.

In fact, there are so many good spots to go, you’ll have to give us a call and let us know what kind of day you’re looking to have. We’ll make it happen.

Kona Boys New Tour to Kealakekua Bay

If your heart is set on Kealakekua Bay, we have an awesome, new double-hull outrigger canoe tour and snorkel! Our new tour fits within the moratorium guidelines and is an unbelievable opportunity to experience a small group tour on an authentic Hawaiian outrigger canoe from Keauhou Bay to Kealakekua Bay. Check out more about our new Kealakekua Bay Outrigger Tour here.

So what should we do?

We know that your priority is to get out on the beautiful Kona waters. That’s what we’re here for. Give us a call and we’ll get you on the water and having a blast and creating great experiences to remember for a lifetime!

For More Information

If you’d like more specific information about the moratorium, please contact any of these people or departments directly.

Curt Cottrell
DLNR Spokeswoman
Hawaii Parks Division Deputy Administrator
O‘AHU (MAIN) OFFICE:
Kalanimoku Building
1151 Punchbowl Street, Room 310
Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 96813
Phone: (808) 587-0300
Fax: (808) 587-0311

William Aila
Department of Land and Natural Resources
Division of State Parks
P.O. Box 621
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96809
E-mail: dlnr@hawaii.gov
Office: 808-587-0400

Help Us Keep Kealakekua Bay Accessible and Healthy

What’s Happening:

Hawaii State has pulled the permits of kayaking companies in Kealakekua Bay and is considering shutting down all activities on the bay.

As it stands today, the state has denied all kayaking permits in Kealakekua Bay after they expire at the end of December as officials consider ways to better regulate commercial activity in the area.

The state has refused to answer any questions in regard to the scope of the closures.

• Will this close down the bay to ANY and ALL activity?
• Will anyone be able to launch anything from Napo’opo’o pier?
• Will anyone be able to access Ka’awaloa by kayak, craft, or trail?
• How will boats like zodiacs and larger crafts be affected by this?

“The Department of Land and Natural Resources, citing concerns about impacts to Kaawaloa, compliance and under-reporting of commercial activities, as well as worries about public safety, has issued a de facto ban on kayak tours in Kealakekua Bay, starting next year.” Erin Miller, West Hawaii Today

“[The] plan is not finalized yet. I’m not going to comment on any of that. The attorneys are looking at something right now. At the appropriate time, we’ll make the announcement on the overall plan. We’re working on it.” Chairman William Aila as quoted in West Hawaii Today

Why It Matters:

A ban would affect thousands of visitors and locals yearly who kayak and snorkel in Kealakekua Bay If permitted, regulated kayaking in the bay is terminated we have concerns that:

• Both Kealakekua Bay and people visiting it will be put at greater risk of damage or injury as people find some other way to access the bay, without first getting the education and safety briefings they currently receive from licensed operators. Damage to the bay’s coral system would take generations to heal.
• Visitors and locals alike will be unable to enjoy this culturally important and naturally wonderful place.
• Businesses and the community in the area will be heavily negatively impacted. Tourism at Kealakekua Bay is a primary revenue generator for the state, the county, and the towns involved.

What You Can Do:

Give us your thoughts to personally share with the BLNR. Whether you are a resident, part-time resident, or past/future visitor to Kealakekua Bay, your opinion matters!

Kona Boys will be presenting our testimony and yours at a hearing on this issue at the November 30^th Board of Land and Natural Resources meeting in Honolulu on Oahu.

We will state our desire to continue to be part of the solution.  We hope to advocate for renewing our permits, not terminating Kealakekua Bay access, and enforcing existing laws related to kayaking in Kealakekua Bay and Ka’awaloa.

We really want to present your thoughts and our own to equip the decision-makers with the best ideas and information possible.

If you care about the future of accessing Kealakekua Bay, its health, and the future of Kona Boys and other local businesses, please let the BLNR know how you feel about this.

More Information

Who’s Involved:

Department of Land and Natural Resources

William Aila
DLNR Chairman
Office: 808-587-0400
E-mail: william.j.aila@hawaii.gov

Dan Quinn
State Parks Administrator
Office: 808-587-0290
E-mail: dlnr@hawaii.gov

Curt Cottreell
DLNR Spokeswoman
Parks Division Deputy Administrator

Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
Phone: (808) 587-0320

Board of Land & Natural Resources

Adaline Cummings
Land Board Secretary
1151 Punchbowl Street, Suite 130
Honolulu, Hawaii  96813
adaline.f.cummings@hawaii.gov
Phone:  808-587-0404
Fax:  808-587-0390

Rob Pacheco
Hawaii Island’s Land Board Representative

State of Hawaii Governor’s Office
Neil Abercrombie
Governor, State of Hawai’i
Executive Chambers, 
State Capitol
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Phone: 808-586-0034
On Facebook
On Twitter

Barbara Dalton
Governor’s Representative
808-327-4953

Timeline:

• August 21: DLNR submits exhibit to the Board of Land and Natural Resources stating kayak tours in Kealakekua Bay not negatively impacting Kaawaloa
• September 14: Hawaii Pack and Paddle kayak permit terminated by the BLNR
  Hawaii News Now Coverage
  Big Island Video News Coverage
• September 17: Received letter (dated September 4) telling us permits will not be renewed
• September 20: Curt Cottrell says the state is considering limiting access to Kealakekua Bay
• October 5: Chairman Aila confirms Kealakekua Bay kayak tour permits will not be renewed
• October 7: West Hawaii Today article “DLNR To End Kayak Tours in Kealakekua Bay“
• October 10: Big Island Weekly article “Uncertain Future Ahead for Kealakekua Bay“
• October 12: BLNR reconsiders and reaffirms 9/14 approval to terminate Hawaii Pack and Paddle’s permit.
• November 14: Kona Boys spoke to Barbara Dalton at the Governors West Hawaii Office…She is preparing a report about the DNLR’s plan to shut down Kealakekua Bay to Kayaks that will be presented to Neil Abercrombie. If you have input or comments you can call her at 808-327-4953.
• November 30: BLNR Meeting

Conversations and Comments On Kona Boys’ Facebook Page:

• https://www.facebook.com/KonaBoys/posts/367533806663838
• https://www.facebook.com/KonaBoys/posts/402470093154565
• https://www.facebook.com/KonaBoys/posts/419814011416579
• https://www.facebook.com/KonaBoys/posts/10151041142981841
• https://www.facebook.com/KonaBoys/posts/10151020976136841

Work To Date on Kealakekua Bay Management

• DLNR Kealakekua Stewardship Area Plan, Grouped According to Issues, August 2009 (pdf)
• DLNR Kealakekua Stewardship Area Request for Comment
• Kealakekua Bay Marine Life Conservation District Description

The owner, Michele, is super nice. People who stay at Kona Leilani also receive return customer rates on kayak rentals from Kona Boys.

KONA LEILANI Vacation Home is located in the Kona Paradise subdivision at:
87-450 Kaohe Road,
Captain Cook, HI 96704

Website: http://konaleilani.com

Kona Boys has been voted West Hawaii’s 2012 Best Kayak Rental. This is the 11th year in a row you have voted us into this honor! We are stoked by it and thankful to our customers and staff.

Here is what Terry Manning of West Hawaii Today had to say when he presented the award to us:

“This honor has been bestowed upon you by our readers for your outstanding customer service and commitment to insuring the safety of your clients, while they are visiting our Island. It is also apparent that Kona Boys is the absolute local favorite as this is the 11th time you have been chosen as the Best in this category. You gentlemen are beyond the “Gold” standard and your genuine respect for the ocean and your efforts to educate others to adhere to the principals of aquatic conservation and protection make you the only logical choice.”

Thanks for the kind words Terry! We love the ocean and helping others–and future generations–have a great experience with it.

As a way to show our continued appreciation for our local customers, we’re giving free SUP rentals at the beach shack to kama’aina all week long. Check out the ad here for the details, and thanks again!

Feel free to share this gallery or these pictures to spread the aloha.

Amenities include:
click to show

MOE’UHANE VACATION SPECIAL: From now until November 30, 2012 you can book 6 nights with Pu’uhonua House and receive 1 night for free!

Address:
82-5971 Old Government Rd.
Captain Cook HI 96704.55555

Phone: (415) 785-8406
Email: info@konadream.net
Website: http://konadream.net

Captain Cook on Dwellable

An endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal pulled up next to the Kona Boys’ Beach Shack to rest on the shore of Kamakahonu Bay in Kailua-Kona, July 1st, 2012. NOAA representative Justin B. was there and gave Kona Boys the low-down on the plight of the Monk Seal.

There are currently only about 1,100 Hawaiian Monk seals left in the world, 8 – 10 of which frequent the Big Island. This female seal relaxed and bathed on the shore as onlookers took pictures and kept a respectful distance.

Hawaiian Monk Seals are typically relaxed, calm, and fun-loving. It was recently discovered that they have the amazing ability to comfortably dive below 1,500 feet deep in search of food.

We love supporting locals and their work. Alison has been particularly fun to journey with through Alison’s Adventures and her work with Donica Shouse on Odina swimwear. We’re proud to carry their line of bikinis at our Kealakekua shop, and blessed to occasionally hang out with Alison when she’s not on the road doing amazing things.

What was your latest journey?

I recently set off across Australia and New Zealand for some wild adventures for my upcoming Alison’s Adventures webisodes.

In Australia I headed into the Outback with Cockatoo Paul or as I call him “Cockatoo Dun Dee” and learned how to survive in the bush eating rabbits and kangaroo stew and making fire and shelter! Cockatoo Paul is the ultimate Australian bush tucker that knows everything about every plant, spider, kangaroo and every survival tactic in the book and always has his cockatoo named Pickles on his shoulder.

Then I headed over to New Zealand and teamed up with pro maori surfer Daniel Kereopa and his family and did an episode with him about the importance of keeping Maori tradition alive and passing on important sustainable secrets to the future generations to ensure their survival and the survival of our earth. We set off in canoes down the coastline to gather shell fish for dinner and even learned about surfing hand made alia surfboards, which Daniel humbly showed everyone up on by surfing the 5’8 alia with no fins doing 360s through the barrel! Incredible!

Now I’m in Fiji and enjoying surfing beautiful waves with the best surfers in the world who are pouring in to compete in the Volcom Pro next week at Tavarua Fiji…..As soon as I get my fill of surfing Could Break I’m off to an outer island to document some of the last fire walkers in the world and really dive into Fiji culture!

What is the one thing you have learned during your adventures that you will never forget?

It is amazing learning the ancient secrets that many cultures around the world have in terms of survival and alternative medicine. Some call it witchcraft, some call in sorcery, some call it shamanism, some call it sustainable living, but I’ve found it to simply be lost solutions to to our everyday problems. I’ve learned how to cure cancer with leaves in Indonesia, cure blindness with guinea pigs in Peru, and predict the future with coca leaves in the Andes. It may seem like ‘magic’ to the uninitiated but to these ancient cultures it is the normal practice of a “doctor” or “councilor.” If the future generations continue to learn these methods I believe they can be extremely beneficial to the future of our planet…and I hope to help spread the magic!

When will you be home?

I will be home July 3rd ready for some fireworks!

What are your dreams for the future?

To make the world a smaller place and encourage everyone to live THEIR dream. My favorite thing to do is to visit a new culture or re-visit one from my childhood and get to know the people and how they live and think and what wild and mystical traditions they have and what we can learn from them about their secrets to life, happiness, and survival/sustainable living…and then share it with the rest of the world.

Thus I’m currently hosting, producing, and directing my own adventure series called “Alison’s Adventures” which is primarily located online at www.alisonsadventures.com.

I would say its “Samantha Brown meets Bear Grylls” for today’s generation – with an extra touch of magic and eco-love;-)

The basic concept is that I travel the world with my backpack and surfboard on wild — usually bikini-clad — adventures, and offer viewers a special passport into my global family and their mind blowing customs in a fun, inspiring, and unique way. I aim to spread cultural preservation, global awareness, eco-lifestyles and, above all, to be a role-model for “living your dreams!”

What is your favorite song and why?

As cheesy as it sounds I must say I love “A Whole New World” from Aladdin because I seem to find myself in a whole new world every day! It’s also the first cassette tape in English that I ever had. I listened to it over and over again trekking through the Himalayas and it was the only thing that kept me going up to Everest Base camp;-).

Describe your favorite surf spot?

I love Cloud Break and Restaurants at Tavarua, Fiji and of course my (secret) home break in Hawaii. But I have to admit one of my favorite things is to come across random nameless breaks on my travels in some remote corner of the world and see the looks on locals faces when they see a chick on a pink surfboard paddle out;-).

How do you pass the time flying on airplanes?

Work on film and photo editing from my adventures, draw, watch movies and make new friends!

Scary Travel Experience?

When I was in Morocco I had to kiss a live cobra snake to save my life from a bad surfing accident….also when I was about seven years old I was walked over by an elephant in Thailand for “good luck.”

Who has helped make your journey possible?

My sponsors make my wild adventures possible and I couldn’t be more thankful to them:

• Odina Eco Swimwear
• GoPro
• Spy
• Patagonia
• Keen
• Kavu
• E-Tech Surf Boards (Eco Board Works)
• Clif Bar
• Sustainable Surf
• Manfrotto
• LowePro
• Yoga Adventure
• Arts Factory
• Mojo Surf
• Paddle Hawaii
• Fiji Surf

And, Sarah Lee Photography–she is also a Kona girl and has been working her booty off shooting me this adventure.

2012 is the 10th Annual Roots Bodyboarding Contest. It’s great for the keiki and the aina. Check it out and bring the kids.

Click to enlarge

Here are the vitals:

Saturday, June 30th @ Wai’aha (Honls) Beach
Registration: 7:00 AM
Blessing: 8:00 AM

Come for music, food, games, prizes, and more!

Turn-in/Pick Up Entry Forms at Millers Surf.

17 + Under = Open Entry, All Ages
18+ Over = Entry Limited

If you’d like to make a donation to the event or help sponsor it, get in touch with Krista at the phone number on the poster at right.