He haʻuki wai kaulana ʻo kayak. He ala maikaʻi kēia e hoʻoikaika ai i ka wā e leʻaleʻa ai i ke ʻano. Pono ʻoe i ke alakaʻi kūpono ma mua o kou hoʻomaka ʻana i ka kayak, a i ʻole e hoʻopau ʻoe i luna! E hoʻomanaʻo ʻaʻole hiki ke ʻike ʻia ka wai a pono ʻoe e ʻaʻahu i ke kapa ola i ka wā e kaʻa ana.
Hoʻokomo kayak
1
E kau i ka lole ola a me ke kaula ma mua o ka holo kayak no ka palekana. ʻAʻole pono ʻoe e hele kayak me ka ʻaʻahu ola. E kūʻai mai i kapa ola a hoʻolimalima paha mai kahi hui hoʻolimalima. E kau i ka ʻaʻahu ola ma luna o kou poʻo a hoʻopaʻa i ke kaula i kou umauma. Huki i nā wēlau ma luna o nā kaula e hoʻopaʻa i ka ʻaʻahu ola a hoʻopili pono i kou umauma.
Pono ʻoe e ʻaʻahu i ka mahiole hardshell inā he kayak wai keʻokeʻo ʻoe a i ʻole kayak kahawai. It’s not a good idea to do this the first time, though.
2
Find a calm, rock-free area to enter the water from the shore. If you’re taking your kayak off a beach or shoreline, look for a flat area with a gentle slope into the water. Avoid areas where you see rocks or debris sticking out of the water.
If you enter your kayak from the dock, you don’t need to worry about finding a peaceful place to launch your boat.
3
Hold the front straps and tow the kayak to shore. To move the kayak, look for fabric straps on the front of the boat. Grab this strap and slowly drag the kayak closer to the water. If you’re with other people, feel free to put the kayak together, holding it from the ends so it stays off the ground.
ʻAʻole pono kēia inā hoʻopaʻa ʻia ka kayak i kahi pā.
4
E hoʻohaʻahaʻa i ka kayak no laila aia ka cockpit ma ka lihi o ka wai. E huki pololei i ka kayak i ka lihi o ka wai. E paʻa i ka hoe ma hope o kou kua i ka huki ʻana i ka kayak me kou lima manuahi. E hoʻomau i ka huki ʻana i ka kayak a hoʻohaʻahaʻa i lalo i hoʻomaha ka cockpit i kahi e hui ai ka wai me ke kahakai..
Inā aia ka hoe i mua ou a hāʻule ʻoe i loko o ka wai, e lana ana paha.
5
E komo koke i loko o ka cockpit a kau i kou mau wāwae i waho. Me nā hoe ma ke kua o ka cockpit, e noho ma ka lihi o ka kayak. A laila, hoʻokuʻu mālie i kou pūhaka i loko o ka cockpit, e hui pū ana i kou mau wāwae i kēlā me kēia manawa. E hoʻoneʻe i ka noho i hope e noho pololei ʻoe, a laila e kau i kou mau wāwae i mua ou a noho ma luna o ka kayak.
If you are getting on from a pier, use the edge of the pier to balance yourself. Keep your feet low in the cockpit to balance your weight. Balance the paddle on the edge of the dock as you enter and sit in your seat.
If there are footboards in the kayak, place your feet on them.
Most people don’t wear shoes when kayaking. If you do want to wear shoes, wear water shoes.
6
Use the paddle and your body weight to push yourself into the water. When you’re ready to hit the water, grab the paddle and hold it vertically by your side. Dig the blade into the shore and repeatedly shift your body weight forward to push into the water.
If you are with other people, ask them to push you into the water. It’s a lot easier than getting yourself into trouble.
Inā ʻoe e kau ana mai kahi pā, e kali paha i ka wehe ʻana o ke kahu moku i ke kaula, a i ʻole e wehe iā ʻoe iho mai ka waʻa aku a nakinaki i nā ʻauamo ma ka uapo.
