A lot of North Kohala is agricultural land. The drive along the mountain road from Hawi to Waimea passes through ranch land, lush and green on the mountain side of the road becoming dry and browner as it slopes towards the ocean. This is cattle country with a good number of horses for the paniolos (cowboys) who tend them – though it has to be said that these days much of the paniolo’s work is carried out on ATVs.
This view is from just off the mountain road looking down toward the ocean.
These photos are from the Kohala coast, which is somewhat screened from big Northwest swells by the other islands. I took them around the time of the 31st Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau big wave surf event at Waimea Bay on Oahu. Eddie Aikau was a legendary big wave surfer and lifeguard at Waimea Bay.
It’s the 31st year for the event, but only the ninth time it’s actually been held because the waves have to be big enough for it to ‘go.’ Apparently, the surf this year was the biggest ever. I watched on my computer, which is about as close to waves of that size that I’d want to get, unless I wanted to test just how comprehensive my health insurance is.
There’s a common expression that has emerged from this event. While discussing the dangerous size of the waves before the first Eddie contest, Mark Foo, a professional surfer said, “Eddie would go.” It’s a phrase that resonated and is now applied to many things in Hawaii.
For more information about Eddie Aikau and The Eddie event, go to quiksilver.com/surf/events/eddie-aikau/.
This old water tank is now quietly rusting away on the Kohala coast.
White shirt, white boat, whitecaps.
Racing along.
I saw these guys speeding along the coast on a very windy day, whitecaps everywhere. The outriggers on the kayaks help, but I was happy to be watching from the shore.
Hey, where’s my boat?
Often, clouds roll in during the day and by late afternoon the Kohala Mountains are obscured. This was one day they remained clear.
Irrigating the pastures of North Kohala. The water comes from the Kohala Ditch, an irrigation channel that runs from the northeast side of Kohala mountain to the dryer northwest end. The ditch was constructed back in 1906 to bring water to the sugar cane fields. These days the water goes to the many agricultural activities in the area.
For more information about the history of the Kohala Ditch, go to fluminkohala.com/the-kohala-ditch.
A tranquil view of the volcano, Hualalai. It last erupted in 1801, but is still considered active. If it does go off again, it could be very bad news for the Kohala coast resorts and the airport at Kailua Kona, which is built on the flow from one of the last eruptions.
For more information about Hualalai, go to hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanoes/hualalai/.
There aren’t a lot of good anchorages around here. A sandy bottom makes this spot decent and since it’s on the west coast it’s sheltered from the prevailing northeast trades, but look out if a southwesterly blows up. It can get very rough indeed.
Graham's Island 