LeaLea looks very pretty. We don't often see her at a dock these days, most vids are of you guys underway. I'm amazed the two of you have lived on her for so long, I have a Trintella 1a, 29ft, and I feel claustrophobic after two weeks holiday on her. I can't imagine *years* of it.
Just stumbled upon your channel, great stuff! Have to admit tho, I was drawn to the Ala Wai name. Spent my elementary years in Aina Haina, late 50's, and would be at the Ala Wai on a fairly regular basis. My memory of it was the odor, it had a pretty bad smell about it. I hope that situation was cleaned up in the years between and suspect the piers have been rebuilt by now, 6-7 yrs on. Great location tho.... I'll be sure to check out the rest of your vids, Thanks for posting a trip down memory lane! Tom
This was just a couple of days before the Tinman Triathlon in which Laura and Leah were competing. They were both pretty much in peak condition. More on the Triathlon later in the series. Laura competed in two other events before we departed, one less than a week before our departure. There may be a few shots of those as well in upcoming videos in this series.
That Chinese Junk was still there last Sept. I never saw Moe Ipo, don't see how I would miss it. The docks had been rebuilt. I was really surprised at the garbage floating in the water. When we walked to the mall, we went along the beach. I guess the next beach over is where locals hang out. Two different guys threw us the bird and I didn't see any other tourists, they stuck to the road. Is that a thing there?
carbidegrd1 We know the docks were rebuilt, also the fuel dock and boatyard are gone, replaced by two wedding chapels. The Magic Island landfill (Ala Moana Park) channels the effluent and debris that flows down the streams from the hills and the city above Waikiki into the Ala Wai canal and into the harbor to collect among the boats instead of flowing out to sea. They have a harbor cleanup weekend once a month. Next day it is just as bad as ever . It is especially bad in the winter (See th-cam.com/video/yghaEExFCRk/w-d-xo.html) All of Waikiki is either reclaimed salt marsh or landfill and they have to truck in sand from Waialua a couple of times a year to keep the beach presentable. Hawaii has never been very friendly, no matter what the Visitors Bureau would have you believe. We lived there for thirty years and the best thing we have to say about it is that the weather is nice most of the time and the resorts are very pleasant. But we love the music and have a lot of friends still living in the islands. Still we don't think we will be going back.
I always wondered why you were never in a hurry to return to Hawaii. Alaska is nice and all but still cold and a difficult place to live. It never occurred to me that slum conditions could exist in a Hawaii marina. I guess living on the cheap has it's price.
mrmike1346 Its not cheap. And the condition of the docks is not the worst of it. We have seen far worse in our travels and that alone would not dissuade us. The floats in the Al Wai have since been replaced anyway. Don't get us wrong. A visit to Hawaii can be a wonderful experience. We just don't recommend it as a cruising destination for sailors. Fly in. Stay in one of the many fine resorts. You will have a great time.
Larry, everyone we knew living there has left. There are no bare boat charters available but plenty of booze cruises. Be sure to have a beer at the Lahaina Yacht Club (open to the public). A stroll around the harbor will give you an idea why there aren't many cruisers visiting there. The last time we were in Maui we left the boat in Manele Bay on Lanai and caught the ferry over for the day.
So what happened with all those boats? Did they move to another island, or place them on the hard? One would think the state would build state of the art marina's, 500 boats at $300.00 ea. per month adds up. Why couldn't a inlet on the island be used, this makes no sense.
Long story Larry. Roy Disney, who owned one of the top TransPac race boats, wrote a scathing letter published in Latitude 38 about the condition of the Ala Wai Harbor. Oddly, the state of Hawaii was very anti boating. One governor proposed filling in the harbor and making it a golf course, eliminating the "Floating trailer park" he said would improve Waikiki and generate more revenue. At the time this video was shot, only about half the slips were usable. It is too tempting to go off on a long rant so we will stop right here.
It never seems to fail, that one person or a very small group can dictate the rules for so many. It would seem that the Hawaii people could stake out a piece of land and build a marina that would meet all needs. And bring in monies to help the locals build a better future. Island, Big water and boats...this is a no brainier.
Sadly, infrastructure across the USA is crumbling --- too much money wasted by the military, I guess...I'm a retired expat, living in Bangkok for the past four years. Took my Thai wife twice to Waikiki, we stayed near Ala Wai canal both times. I'm new to sailing, mostly finished w/Nauticed 'online' courses and learning a lot from your videos while I prepare to get wet!!!
Nice to see! Some beautiful classic sailboats back then.
Nice to see you back. Chuck, your narration is fabulas. Looking forward to the rest of the series. My best to Laura.
What a great historical episode, I bet your amazed at how far you have cruised since those days.
Amazed and delighted.
very cool! Thanks for digging these up. Looking forward to the series.
Looking forward to this series! from Savannah GA.
Brilliant video... Thanks
Warren
Yay can't wait for more videos ... Great video as usual
LeaLea looks very pretty. We don't often see her at a dock these days, most vids are of you guys underway. I'm amazed the two of you have lived on her for so long, I have a Trintella 1a, 29ft, and I feel claustrophobic after two weeks holiday on her. I can't imagine *years* of it.
Nice! This will be a cool series.
Just stumbled upon your channel, great stuff! Have to admit tho, I was drawn to the Ala Wai name. Spent my elementary years in Aina Haina, late 50's, and would be at the Ala Wai on a fairly regular basis. My memory of it was the odor, it had a pretty bad smell about it. I hope that situation was cleaned up in the years between and suspect the piers have been rebuilt by now, 6-7 yrs on. Great location tho.... I'll be sure to check out the rest of your vids, Thanks for posting a trip down memory lane! Tom
Love this info
well done
Looked like a great opportunity to purchase fix up and start renting slips.
happy holidays s/v Lealea !
Wow Laura is quite fit. Chuck you choose well. :-) Happy Thanksgiving!
This was just a couple of days before the Tinman Triathlon in which Laura and Leah were competing. They were both pretty much in peak condition. More on the Triathlon later in the series. Laura competed in two other events before we departed, one less than a week before our departure. There may be a few shots of those as well in upcoming videos in this series.
That Chinese Junk was still there last Sept. I never saw Moe Ipo, don't see how I would miss it. The docks had been rebuilt. I was really surprised at the garbage floating in the water. When we walked to the mall, we went along the beach. I guess the next beach over is where locals hang out. Two different guys threw us the bird and I didn't see any other tourists, they stuck to the road. Is that a thing there?
carbidegrd1 We know the docks were rebuilt, also the fuel dock and boatyard are gone, replaced by two wedding chapels. The Magic Island landfill (Ala Moana Park) channels the effluent and debris that flows down the streams from the hills and the city above Waikiki into the Ala Wai canal and into the harbor to collect among the boats instead of flowing out to sea. They have a harbor cleanup weekend once a month. Next day it is just as bad as ever . It is especially bad in the winter (See th-cam.com/video/yghaEExFCRk/w-d-xo.html) All of Waikiki is either reclaimed salt marsh or landfill and they have to truck in sand from Waialua a couple of times a year to keep the beach presentable. Hawaii has never been very friendly, no matter what the Visitors Bureau would have you believe. We lived there for thirty years and the best thing we have to say about it is that the weather is nice most of the time and the resorts are very pleasant. But we love the music and have a lot of friends still living in the islands. Still we don't think we will be going back.
I always wondered why you were never in a hurry to return to Hawaii. Alaska is nice and all but still cold and a difficult place to live. It never occurred to me that slum conditions could exist in a Hawaii marina. I guess living on the cheap has it's price.
mrmike1346 Its not cheap. And the condition of the docks is not the worst of it. We have seen far worse in our travels and that alone would not dissuade us. The floats in the Al Wai have since been replaced anyway. Don't get us wrong. A visit to Hawaii can be a wonderful experience. We just don't recommend it as a cruising destination for sailors. Fly in. Stay in one of the many fine resorts. You will have a great time.
Chuck, I am headed for Maui and might you know any folks with a sail boat there? I would like to spend a little time sailing while on Maui.
Larry, everyone we knew living there has left. There are no bare boat charters available but plenty of booze cruises. Be sure to have a beer at the Lahaina Yacht Club (open to the public). A stroll around the harbor will give you an idea why there aren't many cruisers visiting there. The last time we were in Maui we left the boat in Manele Bay on Lanai and caught the ferry over for the day.
So what happened with all those boats? Did they move to another island, or place them on the hard? One would think the state would build state of the art marina's, 500 boats at $300.00 ea. per month adds up. Why couldn't a inlet on the island be used, this makes no sense.
Long story Larry. Roy Disney, who owned one of the top TransPac race boats, wrote a scathing letter published in Latitude 38 about the condition of the Ala Wai Harbor. Oddly, the state of Hawaii was very anti boating. One governor proposed filling in the harbor and making it a golf course, eliminating the "Floating trailer park" he said would improve Waikiki and generate more revenue. At the time this video was shot, only about half the slips were usable. It is too tempting to go off on a long rant so we will stop right here.
Cruising Lealea
Floating trailer park! LOL. Japan is anti boating, too...unless it's a taxpayer supported, subsidy sucking, fishing union boat...
Nice change up of videos but you should have introduced Leah to John...lol
It never seems to fail, that one person or a very small group can dictate the rules for so many. It would seem that the Hawaii people could stake out a piece of land and build a marina that would meet all needs. And bring in monies to help the locals build a better future. Island, Big water and boats...this is a no brainier.
There is one decent private marina on Oahu, Ko Olina. But it is some forty miles from town in West Oahu. Live aboards not allowed.
Sadly, infrastructure across the USA is crumbling --- too much money wasted by the military, I guess...I'm a retired expat, living in Bangkok for the past four years. Took my Thai wife twice to Waikiki, we stayed near Ala Wai canal both times. I'm new to sailing, mostly finished w/Nauticed 'online' courses and learning a lot from your videos while I prepare to get wet!!!
Not a cruising video, a dock condition video.
Disappointing to say the least.