Kaumalapau – Lana`i (The pineapple island)
We are learning for us new geography almost every day. We have only moved to the next island from last short report. We sailed from Lono harbor to the “capital” of Moloka`i – Kaunakakai and spent a couple of days there as Karl Otto had to fight some fewer and did not feel too well. Luckily it let go after 2 days so here it is happy ship again. We had a very nice afternoon on board Wheytotgo with Sharon and Ian at the anchorage outside Kaunakakai, and also a trip in to town. We are going back here on the way back again to explore some nice hikes on the island when Karen also is joining us.
From Moloka`I we crossed the Kalohi channel, who is one of the most windy and wavey channels, over to the leeward side of the island of Lana`i. We anchored outside the “needle” looking rocks at Nanahoa. This was a place for snorkeling and exploration of rocks and special formations. This anchorage is very open and had some strong drop winds from the coast. We stayed only one night and have agreed that cruising the Hawaiian islands is probably not the first place you should start learning anchoring etc. We find it exciting and have to use everything we have learned on our trip this far to drop the anchor at the right place to wind direction (which is turning around, drops to zero and comes back to 25 knots in just minutes).
The next day in the afternoon we moved 3 miles south, to the industrial harbor of Kaumalapau. There are drop winds here to but it is a calmer harbor for sure. We have also dropped a stern anchor so here we are very stable and safe. The industrial harbor is maybe not the right word as the snorkeling around the boat is fantastic, it`s a totally un spoilt and beautiful coral reef just 50 yards from our boat and fantastic visibility.
Yesterday we had decided to chase some internet connection, or mobile phone connection at all. To find this you have to get to the top of the island, about 1000 feet of altitude, and a lot of miles of walking. Lucky as we are a car passed us and picked us up. A stupid thing to walk around in the heat were the reason… The driver Stuart was on a drive around the Island with his sister in law and it all ended with a full tour around Lana`i for us. First they dropped us off at Lana`i City so that we could do our internet work, a bit of shopping and sightseeing before they picked us up again 2 hours later and took us back to the boat again, via all the roads on the island. Fantastic hospitality!
Now we have started the trip across the Alenuihaha channel over to the big island – Hawai`i. We will do this overnight as the tradewinds are weakest then. It is supposed to be light tonight but we are still prepared with our heavy weather jib and the trysail is connected to its track.