Hanalei Housing

[BobJ]

For the last couple of SHTP's (at least), this house has been rented by several of the racers. It is easy walking distance to the Tree, the grocery store is across the street and it is central to everything else. Often skippers and their guests gather at the house in the evenings - it has almost become part of the SHTP experience. Also, the per-night cost of taking one part of the house is less than staying most other places in Hanalei.

Since the house will not be used as R/C headquarters this time, one or more racers need to take charge of reserving it including making a deposit, promoting its availability (you can do that by continuing this very thread), collecting money from those wishing to stay there and making sure the owners get paid, etc. By the way, the owners are Jim and Shannon, themselves sailors who have done extensive world cruising.

I have informed Shannon of the likely dates but unless a deposit is made soon to hold it, the house may no longer be available.

I need one or more volunteers who are interested in using the house to take care of this - it is outside the scope of the Race Committee's duties.

 

[Culebra]

So, where are you all staying?

For those planning to race, I'm wondering if folks have decided yet where they are staying? Is the RC staying at Hanalei Bay Resort? I'm wondering if any of the racers are planning to stay there (as it happens, my wife has her eye on that particularly nice spot).

Wondering also if folks on the RC could share how some of the logistics will work... getting to and from the boats on the dinghy, where does the dinghy launch from, how often, and how inconvenient it might be if one stayed at the Resort and wanted to meet at the Tree now and then, buy groceries, load fuel onto the boat... geez, details!

Thx, Paul
Culebra

 

[Alchera]

Well, I'm not RC, but I can tell you how it typically works. It's about a 15 minute drive from the Princeville resort, where the RC makes their base, down to the town of Hanalei. Hanalei Bay Resort is in the same area and therefore takes about the same amount of time. The gas station that has diesel fuel and the best grocery store for reprovisioning are also in Princeville. Of course, you will need diesel fuel containers if you want to get the diesel back to your boat!

The RC hires a chase boat to meet the racers coming in and it is usually available before or after such duties to carry skippers to shore or back to their boats. However, don't count on it being available at any other time, or after the last racer has arrived, although you never can tell. For a price you can arrange just about anything. Often some of the racers with larger boats will have their own dinghies and are usually happy to help ferry skippers back and forth when they aren't otherwise occupied. In the past, some of the racers have shipped dinghies over and picked them up for use while they are there. Some folks make due with cheap lightweight dinghy-like inflatables in a pinch, which are difficult if not impossible to row to shore against the strong tradewinds, but it can be done. Get everything done in the morning before the tradewinds pick up! It's also possible to rent kayaks from a place in the town of Hanalei, but they can't transport very much. I've done it just about every way possible, and it's certainly nice to have your own dinghy if you can manage it, but it's also quite possible to do without and rely on the kindness of others so long as you make it as easy on them as possible.

The best place to land and launch dinghies from is the mouth of the Hanalei river at the boat ramp or next to the pier if the surf is down. Do not leave your dinghy unattended for any length of time at the launching site because it will get stolen! Best to keep your dinghy attached to your boat or safely tucked away out of sight wherever you may be renting if possible.

And FYI, pretty much everyone meets at the tree every day, not just now and then!

Mark/Alchera

 

[BobJ]

Well I'm not RC either . . . no, wait . . .

Some overlap with Mark and jumping around a bit, but here goes:

There are two main areas - Hanalei (the town) and Princeville. If you stay in Hanalei you are within walking distance of the post-race activities, like Tree time and the awards dinner. It's farther but you can also walk to the river where racers will come and go with motorized dinghies. (Those with oars tend to pull them up on the beach if the swell isn't too strong, and this is much closer to town.)

The Hanalei Bay Resort, the R/C condo, the luxurious Princeville Hotel/Resort and more shopping options are up in Princeville. It's also where you can fill your diesel jugs for the trip home. In 2006 we stayed up in Princeville and in 2008 we stayed in Hanalei.

Connie and I stayed at the Hanalei Bay Resort in 2006 and really liked it. There was an open-air restaurant with a great view of Hanalei Bay and wonderful breakfasts, and the tropical birds would fly in and land on your table (some might not like that but we thought it was great). If HBR is the same as it was then, I highly recommend it. You are a ways from Hanalei so a rental car is necessary. Once your "driver" leaves for home, you'll need to be down in town (probably staying on your boat), so plan to do your commissioning for the return trip while you still have wheels.

As nice as the HB Resort was, we MUCH preferred staying in the house in Hanalei (in 2008). The main thing is being closer to the boats and other racers, bumping into each other walking down the road or while having breakfast at the shopping pavilion thing in town - just being a part of what's going on.

No matter where you stay the beepers will keep going off at night - at least in your head. They stop about the same time you no longer feel the need to wear a watch. After that it's all good.

The R/C will be staying in a Princeville condo that faces more to the North (overlooking the finish line) and is in its own complex - no amenities. It's up to Rob and Jim, but since that's the business center for the race and the finish line committee will be up at all hours and sleeping whenever possible, racers should not plan to go there*. Thus the attraction of the Hanalei house as a central gathering spot. I really hope a couple racers step up and rent part of the house.

*Edit: Jim and Rob say visit the condo when you like: http://www.sfbaysss.net/showthread.php?t=488

Logistics - I didn't have a dinghy in 2006 and really felt isolated from my boat and dependent on others to keep an eye on it (remember it's at anchor). In 2008 I took a little Achilles inflatable with oars and I was much more relaxed. I thought I'd want an outboard but just rowing around was good enough. The lack of a motor also made my dinghy less of a theft risk (a problem in 2006). There are no docks - the only access to your boat is by small boat - and there are also no dinghy services - you either have your own or put your thumb out. You CAN impose on others like I did in 2006 and get it all done, but if too many plan to do that it could get awkward.

I think I addressed your questions but fire away if you have more.

 

[Alchera]

There are also a number of other places to rent in the town of Hanalei, some of them right across the street from the tree where we all meet in the afternoon. We stayed at Hanalei Bay once or twice and it's very nice, but I far prefer renting down in the town of Hanalei now with it's easy access to the boats and the skippers and all the action.

- Mark

 

[Culebra]

Okay, thanks. Good info. Getting back to the subject of the Hanalei House, turns out that we're getting a place to stay in town (not far from the park, actually), but not at the aforementioned Hanalei House.

Paul

 

[ajgoldman]

Is anyone else just planning on staying on their boat like I am? Is there a problem with this? When my girlfriend flies over maybe we'll splurge for a room for a few nights, other than that, it's the starboard settee for me!

AJ

 

[Critter]

I'm planning to stay on the boat, unless the budget miraculously starts looking rosier.

 

[BobJ]

You certainly can stay aboard and many skippers do.

But by the time you get to Hanalei you may want to go ashore for a couple of nights where there's a good shower and more space to stretch out. There is a typical beach shower but I don't know if it even has hot water. Hanalei Bay is not a marina, just an anchorage.

Also remember you'll be in the tropics - it is warm and humid. If you stay aboard you'll probably want a DC fan or two, and a way to keep the rain out of the hatches so you can leave them open. One realizes why yacht designers make such a big deal out of good ventilation.

In my case, we stayed ashore because my wife (2006) and wife/kids (2008) were there and NO WAY were they going to stay aboard my little boat. We made quite the family vacation out of the thing and I had the credit card bill to prove it!

 

[Oceanslogic]

Staying On The Hook

I will also be staying aboard my boat "Blue Moon" once we get to Hanalei. Kathe my girlfriend will also be staying with me on the hook. So between napping, reading, surfing, and perhaps some more surfing ---for those of you staying away from your boat I will keep an eye on the fleet.

Adam
s/v Blue Moon
International Folkboat #175

 

[AlanH]

Joan and I stayed here in 2008. It's wonderful for two, but two and a family is no problem, as there's a second bedroom.

http://bestvacationinparadise.com/tutu-hanalei.htm

The back deck looks out on an undeveloped area with a small trail that winds through Hanalei behind the market. You walk back there and you feel like you're in Jurassic park. The little house is really very nice, and it's about four-five houses down the street from the Big House that Bob is talking about. It's a super easy walk to the market and less than five minutes stroll to the beach and the Tree.

Joan stayed here by herself for several days before I arrived and loved it.

In 1996 I borrowed a slowly deflating inflatable from a local guy who was nice enough to let me use it, but don't count on that. in 2008 I had a super cheap vinyl inflatable...basically the same sort of quality as a Sevylor Fish Hunter, except I'd got it at a flea market. Chris Humann had The Ticket, if you ask me....it was an inflatable canoe thing, kind of like this...

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|27082|993031&id=590080


My impression is that an inflatable canoe has a bigger payload than an inflatable kayak. The Sevylor Colorado can be rigged up to seat two, or one person. If you put one person in it, you can drop in 75 pounds of junk in dry bags, or two 10 pound jerry cans and you're still easily within the capacity. You probably won't want to schlepp more than 75 pounds, anyway. Anyway, you can get by with a cheapo vinyl one, but if you drop some more cash you'll have something a lot more substantial, but it still won't weight too much. The canoes weight a lot less than an inflatable dinghy. Make sure to get a foot pump to blow it up and don't forget a paddle!

 

[haulback]

With all due respect to everyone who says that you either 'Will Really Want To' or Simply Must' take lodgings ashore I strongly disagree. In fact, I would go so far as to say it is total bunk and complete phooey!!

I have always been amazed at how most of the guys can't get off their boats fast enough once they finish the race - and then never go back out to check on them for days and days afterwards......not that it's wrong or anything like that I guess ..... but I for one, really quite enjoy hanging out on the boat once I get to Hanalei. I think it helps me enjoy being there more, watching the island from the water (and let's face it, it's how islands were meant to be viewed - that is why they are built way out there in the middle of the ocean in the first place!!)

I have always stayed aboard in the anchorage and found it to be most refreshing......it's cool and breezy through the cabin at night, you can go swimming whenever you want, bugs are not an issue, it's nice and quiet - no street noise ...all in all, it's perfect!!! There are fresh water showers in both parks close by - and outdoor sinks to do your laundry in.

You are on the boat all the time so you can knock-off one or two small jobs a day to keep on top of things and always right there to check on the anchor at night when a squall blows through ( imagine what it would be like waking at 0-dark-30 in a strange bed and worrying about your boat out in the anchorage?)

It's cheap.

And seems to me the whole point of going away on the boat, is to be on the boat - not someplace else..

Jim/Haulback

 

[AlanH]

I have to agree with Jim, if you've got a boat that's big enough to settle in on and relax, then do it. AJ Goldman, you'll be perfectly comfortable. Maybe it's not so much a great idea if you're in a Moore 24 or a Cal 20! But hey, whatever! I stayed on my Ranger 29 in '96 and it wasn't luxury digs and I loved it. "course Joan didn't come over that year, so....

 

[ajgoldman]

Thanks Jim, very nice thoughts. We have not met, but I look forward to meeting you. I make a mean Mai Tai, I'll save you one!

Cheers,

AJ

 

[Lucie Mewes]

Princeville v. Hanalei Bay v. Other Housing

What a virgin I was! The RC Condo reeks with tradition: siting the line with the broom and patio markers, view of finishers coming in, good internet. I didn't dare mess with tradition like last race and this one...could say I wasn't particularly creative.

Bob and Jim are quite clear that The Condo is open for visitors. Sleep? Who sleeps?

In 2004 (I think) everything race HQ was off limits to all but the committee. In 2000 the fleet was so tiny that the awards banquet was a BBQ at the condo. 2002 I hear was middle of these two.

Our family has stayed in a variety of resort condo configurations in Princeville for weddings, grandbaby visits, and racing. I always recommend HBR for its amenities and quick drive to town. The walk to the beach is great too; shared with Princeville.

Some of the racers' welcoming parties took over whole compounds such as The House In Back Of Tahiti Nuie. NaNa and Seabird had plenty of fun and have plenty of experience going there.

I do know that I spent half my time as RC in town, running into people, and in Princeville getting food and beverages for The Daily Tree, leis for the finishers, and getting together with folks. By the way, Kapa'a had the HUGE Safeway and Long's when you want to talk provisioning.

Note to racers: If the outrigger fundraising luau is held while you are there, don't miss it! No frills, plenty of actual Hawaiian dancing from local kids, etc. Nice event!

[redacted]

Lucie