Community Events for Keiki!
This spring, Kailua Beach Adventures had the opportunity to put on and support several noteworthy events for the keiki of Kailua and Oahu.
This spring, Kailua Beach Adventures had the opportunity to put on and support several noteworthy events for the keiki of Kailua and Oahu. In March, we partnered with Quicksilver to host an event for the 6th graders of Kainalu and Ka'ōhao Elementary Schools, and this past weekend we supported the Boys and Girls Clubs of Oahu by providing an opportunity to introduce children to a plethora of watersports while educating them about ocean safety.
On Friday, March 15th, sixth grade students came to Kailua Beach Adventures to share their sustainable boardshort designs, receive autographs from professional surfers, and view a screening of the Quicksilver Generations movie. Surfers including Freddy Patacchia, Zeke Lau, Jamie Mitchell, and Joey Johnston came out to sign autographs and to select a winner of the creative sustainable boardshort art project.
Some students took the project to another level by collecting microplastics and waste from the beach and incorporating it into their design. Other students artistically depicted healthy aquatic scenes, and a few depicted side by side comparisons of a healthy ocean v. a polluted one. Students made it a tough decision for our judges - these sixth graders have talent!
We at Kailua Beach Adventures were overwhelmed by the turnout and the energy students and parents brought. Pizza was served, and a good time was enjoyed by all.
Later this spring on Saturday, April 20th, organizations including Hawaiian Island Creations, Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku foundation, Volcom, and more collaborated to get keiki of the Boys and Girls Club out on the water. The goal of this event was to introduce children to ocean sports and fitness.
For many keiki, it was their first time trying an ocean sport. Children rotated among four stations and had the opportunity to play volleyball, catch waves on a surfboard, boogie board, and paddle. The paddling station was comprised of outrigger canoes and SUPSquatches. Waves were caught and smiles were shared!
With over 40 volunteers and more than 100 children, the turnout was excellent and the energy that this event inspired was tremendous. We already can’t wait for next year’s event!
Earth Day Beach Clean-Up with Le Jardin
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, approximately 1.4 billion pounds of trash enter the ocean each year. While we are lucky to teach guests from around the world about Kailua Bay and share our beautiful waters, it is not without reminders of a problem we ourselves have created: plastic pollution.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, approximately 1.4 billion pounds of trash enter the ocean each year! While we are lucky to teach guests from around the world about Kailua Bay and share our beautiful waters, it is not without reminders of a problem we ourselves have created: plastic pollution.
This week on Earth Day, we had the privilege of collaborating with the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation to facilitate a beach clean-up for the students of Le Jardin Academy. For those unfamiliar with this organization, it was founded by local singer and surfer Jack Johnson, whose passion to protect our oceans inspires his lifestyle and music. (A couple of years ago, Jack Johnson wrote a song titled Fragments that speaks to our ocean plastic problem.)
Le Jardin has also done work in recent years to reduce their waste. In the spring of 2016, the school began to transition to a waste-free cafeteria with the help of students, the administration, and Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation’s Waste Reduction Coordinator, Doorae Shin. Although many of Le Jardin’s 10th grade class are from Hawaii or have lived here for many years now and are well-educated on sustainable practices and waste reduction, for some students it was their first beach clean-up.
To kick-off our day with the 10th graders, we gave them a tour of our facility at Kailua Beach Adventures. Although many students live in Kailua Town and are paddlers, some had never visited our shop. After sharing with these young adults who we are and what we do, Natalie McKinney, Executive Director of the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation led a talk to discuss what this plastic problem is, why it exists, and how we can begin to lessen our impact.
Natalie asked students, “Where does trash go when we throw it away?” and addressed this intangible place that we so often speak of our trash going. The answer for those of us in Hawaii is Indonesia.
She also discussed plastic’s origin - oil - as well as a major culprit and contributor of micro-plastics - single use water bottles. She shared the surprising fact that more water is used to produce a single plastic water bottle than the bottle itself can hold.
Students also learned that micro-plastics are classified as plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, or 0.2 inches, and most importantly perhaps, students learned about how to actively participate in legislative decisions regarding sustainable practices by submitting online testimony.
© Inspirimental
After the educational classroom piece, 60 students alongside KBA and Kōkua staff headed to a section of Kailua Beach with a high concentration of microplastics. By using our handheld sand sifters, students scattered along the shoreline and worked for an hour to collect a grand total of 50 pounds of microplastics. Well done, Le Jardin! Thank you for your hard work - keep it up. We at Kailua Beach Adventures, just like so many people in Hawaii, like to think that every day is Earth Day!
Drone footage by Kellie Spriggs. Check her out on Instagram!
Business Profile: A Different Kind of Kayak Company
We recognize that we are not just running a business in a ‘vacuum’ as if we were a restaurant or retail store. We interact with our guest’s, nature and the community when paddling in Kailua Bay.
Let’s face it, life is good in Hawaii. It’s easy to just catch the tropical breeze, soak up the Pacific sun and passively enjoy life’s moments as they float by. Hawaii’s remote location and Polynesian roots allow us to invent our own priorities and way of life. These include relishing the ocean and land but also preserving its pristine state. Otherwise, before you know it, “they’ve paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”
We recognize that we are not just running a business in a ‘vacuum’ as if we were a restaurant or retail store. We interact with our guest’s, nature and the community when paddling in Kailua Bay. We consider those pillars as the foundation that keeps us grounded. We look at work as an opportunity to facilitate the interactions between human, animal and our natural world. Granted we could look the other way and operate as an amusement park but that would not be fair to our company morals and community we have built. As a company we want to preserve the beautiful culture and environment and hold ourselves accountable as environmental stewards.
Our Goal: Educate and push coexistence throughout Kailua
How we accomplish our goals:
We hold beach clean ups in perpetuity as the world’s plastic consumption is relentlessly endless. We allow these cleanups to act as an educational tool as well as to bring attention to issues such as the Pacific Garbage Patch. Seeing this issue has pushed us to pay out of our own pocket for compostable containers for the restaurants providing our kayaker’s lunch and sell water in boxes instead of plastic bottles. We help the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources recruit volunteers, provide staff and kayaks for restoration of our offshore islands. We see this kind of cooperation as the perfect embodiment of our goals as a company.
We stay humble, however as we recognize that we can always do much more. We learn from our neighbors and from our out of town guests as the problems facing us are complex and pervasive. So, go surf, go kayak, be outside and spread your passion for these things. People will work hard to protect the things that bring them enjoyment and we’re all in this one together.
The Ideal "Family" Day In Kailua
What goes down must come up, and on the windward side the sun comes up in spectacular fashion every morning.
Hawai’i is all about spending time in the great outdoors. If you like to stay up late and sleep in, a trip to Ibiza may be more fitting. Around here it’s up with the sun, maximize your day and have dinner when the sun goes down.
Everyone knows Waikiki is famous for sunsets. Crowds of tourists taking selfies on the beach, fighting for space to get the perfect angle. The colors are beautiful and its a surefire way to inspire FOMO with your friends, but is there a better option? YES! What goes down must come up, and on the windward side the sun comes up in spectacular fashion every morning.
Kailua and Lanikai are incredible beaches to watch the sunrise from, and you won’t have to fight any crowds! It’s late March so you’re going to want to hit the beach by 6:15am to really get the full experience. If you stare at those islands long enough though, you will eventually get the urge to paddle out. But don’t get ahead of yourself, grab breakfast at a favorite local spot!
TOP 5 BREAKFAST RESTAURANTS IN KAILUA:
(Also famous for brunch, but you’re getting an early start)
1. Cinnamon’s Eggs Benedict fans rejoice, they have an entire page of their menu dedicated to this delight. Try the Crab Cake Benedict for a twist on this traditional dish.
2. Boots & Kimo’s These guys are a local phenomenon with a line out-the-door every day but Tuesday (only because they are closed). They have a winning formula with their mac nut (macadamia) pancakes.
3. Crepes No Ka ‘Oi If you want to bet that you can’t put a Hawaiian twist on french crepes, you’re about to be “out some money”. These guys bridge the gap not only from Europe to Hawai’i but from confection to savory. Try the “Haole Boy” and experience Maui Gold pineapple with ham on this unique adaptation.
4. Over Easy One of Kailua’s newest breakfast joints has come out of the gates swinging. Locally sourced eggs from Waimanalo create the foundation and then it’s up to you to build your dream breakfast of kalua pork, Portuguese sausage, candied bacon and a huge variety of fresh veggies.
5. Mokes One of the best kept Kailua breakfast secrets. If you are looking for the best home-made corned beef hash this is the place to go. The Lillikoi pancakes and Kualoa Loco Moco will also make your decision on what to get for breakfast that much harder.
Full? Perfect. You are gonna need those calories for the trip ahead. Why not spend part of your day out on the picturesque kailua bay. Drop into our shop and grab some free parking. Lockers for keys and wallets are available so you don’t have to worry about planning too far ahead. We’ll help you formulate a plan and go over everything you need to know to have a kick butt day. A good package for the family would be two double kayaks, a dry bag for your phones and cameras and snorkel gear for some turtle seeking while you’re out there.
Launching into Kailua Bay is an amazing experience, whether it’s your first time or your thousandth time. The offshore islands encircle you and the outer reef keeps the bay relatively calm. Head out to either of Kailua’s offshore islands for a surreal ocean experience. Popoi’a or Flat Island will take about 20 minutes and is a good destination for family fun with kids. Moku Nui, the larger of the Twin Islands is a more advanced destination taking upwards of 1 and a half hours, but the view of Oahu’s windward side mountain ranges will be worth it! On the way back, make sure to stop off at breathtaking Lanikai Beach for some much deserved rest and beautiful snorkeling. Let the trade winds bring you back to Kailua Beach and spend some time reflecting on mother nature…
Hungry again? I thought so. Grab a bike and take an easy bike ride to one of
KAILUA’S TOP 5 LUNCH RESTAURANTS:
1. Teddy’s Bigger Burgers There’s no way around it, there’s just something about their buns. With dozens of ways to dress your burger, Teddy’s offers a fun experience for the carnivores in your family. Kids will be stoked.
2. Lanikai Juice is what Jamba Juice would be if it was born of Hawaii, with Peruvian roots! This trend setting local smoothie shop made acai bowls famous in Hawai’i and started the pitaya (dragon fruit) craze with its mesmerizing deep red rouge. You’ll learn about the health benefits of all of their ingredients and add boosts of what your body needs to tackle the day.
3. Whole Foods Kailua Has been great at locally sourcing fruits and vegetables and products made in Hawai’i. Their hot bar and salad bar combo goes on sale every Wednesday but we still seem to end up with worth of food piled up. There’s a bar in Whole Foods. This is not a typo and is unbelievably a favorite hang out for Kailua locals. They bring in seasonal micro-brews and always keep our very own Lanikai Brewing Co. on tap!
4. Paniolos is a local burrito shop, inspired by the Paniolos or Hawaiian Cowboys. This is a cool part of our history, further expanding the diversity of the islands. Show up hungry and leave with your wallet fully in-tact.
5. Buzz’s Steakhouse It is impossible not to include Buzz’s on any list of recommended restaurants in Kailua. Grandfathered in as one of the only businesses close to the ocean, Buzz’s has been a go-to for lunch and dinner since your daddy was a baby. Calamari steaks with a lemon caper sauce will change you for the better. Both Clinton and Obama have dined here while they were active presidents, look for their dedicated table in the back. Buzz’s is also canal side and offers one of the few vantages from their parking lot of the sun setting over the Ko’olau Mountains in Kailua.
If you follow these instructions exactly, we can guarantee you’ll fall asleep with a smile on your face and a hankering to wake up in the morning and crank up the ol’ adventure motor bright and early the next day. So what are you waiting for? Come see the windward side!
When you’re ready to go, start by booking your kayak online here:
Sustainable Tourism Certification
The Hawai’i Eco-Tourism Association is the leading authority on Sustainable Tourism.
The Hawai’i Eco-Tourism Association is the leading authority on Sustainable Tourism, and Kailua Beach Adventures is ecstatic to be Certified for the fourth year in a row! KBA’s commitment to the environment is clear in all of our operations, but the kayak guides are truly shining stars when it comes to environmental awareness and activism. Employees regularly volunteer for beach cleanups, restoration efforts, and bird count trips to the offshore islands. We are grateful for everything The HEA does and love being a part of their vision for the future.