My thanks too to Tweez for starting this thread, and to the many surfers (esp Baz) for keeping it going over the years. There's obviously a special kinship between we ocean lovers on Pelican, even though it was our favorite marque that led us here. Something about slicing through the water, especially when riding swells & breakers ..
Growing up on Oahu, the ocean has always been part of my life. As a kid, I kept a surfboard in a Waikiki locker right in front of Canoe's surf break. Big for my age, I was recruited at 10 for Hawaiian canoe racing on Waikiki Beach by Rabbit Kekai, which led to a long and warm relationship with a Hawaii legend. I was only one of hundreds of kids mentored by Rabbit, and he remembered every one of us by name for all of his life. In the '60s, Rabbit was quoted in a mag interview declaring surfing to be on par with sex. With the constant flow of coeds to Waikiki, he did a lot of both.
After over a decade of no canoe paddling, I've recently ordered a 1-man, specifically for downwind coast runs, in which you can connect swell after swell, practically doubling your speed. Portlock to Waikiki will be our main run.
A week ago, my wife and I borrowed this 2-man canoe to paddle my Mom's ashes out to sea, joining my Dad off Diamond Head .. and when my time comes, the kids know where to take me .. back to the sea.
