04/17/2019
5stars
Trip Advisor
Reviewed 4 weeks ago
Outrigger canoe ride - lifetime experience
Called Jamie on a Friday afternoon, looking to accommodate Dad's (81 years old) wish for an outrigger canoe ride. Problem was we were leaving Maui Saturday at 11am check-out.. Jamie said he is closed on the weekend, but once I explained we had three generations ready to ride he made an exception!
Two canoes ready for us at 7:45am the next day, six people, including two seniors. Dad appreciated the assistance getting in and out of the tight canoe. Not an issue for the rest of us, and we are by no means Olympic athletes!
Jamie pointed out a barracuda chasing a fish along the shoreline, jumping out at a high rate of speed, that would have been enough for wildlife except...
We saw some whales off in the distance and paddled out in the general direction. Jamie gave us lots of info about local history and his very large ohana. The canoes move gracefully through the water, and everybody can help paddling if they're able.
Suddenly a mother and calf came into view, along with a male es**rt a bit farther away. They came right at our canoe, and we just stayed there for ten minutes while they played all around us. Can't really give enough words.
We left to do some paddling down the shore, all of us (including Jamie and the other Hawaiian paddlers) enthralled by what we just witnessed.
We ran into other canoes practicing for the outrigger race season beginning in April. Jamie knew them all, and we talked for awhile and raced for about two seconds before they pulled away.
After that we headed back to shore, never to forget this experience. I can't recommend this company enough, but especially if it's whale season and you get lucky enough to see what we did.
***Mahalo Im so Happy we ALL had a awesome Cultural Experience. A hui hou til we meet again.. ALOHA