Bucket list item number 16 was to attend Duke’s Oceanfest in Waikiki and this year I made it happen all thanks to miles and points. Duke’s Oceanfest is a week-long celebration and ocean sports festival held every year in honor of legendary surfer, Olympic swimmer, and original ambassador of Aloha, Duke Kahanamoku. Events include numerous surfing competitions, swimming, beach volleyball, stand up paddleboarding and all the proceeds go to local charity. Duke Kahanamoku is widely credited with helping revive the ancient Hawaiian sport of stand up paddle, so it was truly a privilege to be able to participate and race in his honor.
Duke’s Oceanfest 2013
The decision to go to Oceanfest on Oahu this year was very last minute, meaning it wasn’t exactly the ideal situation when it came to planning. We were already going to be on Maui for the week, and the thought of being less than 100 miles away and missing the festivities was torturing me. All partner awards on Hawaiian Airlines had been blocked out for weeks, and with revenue tickets for the 19-minute flight going for more than $200 a piece, it wasn’t looking good. Thankfully, I had a small hoard of Chase Ultimate Rewards points from a recent credit card sign up and I was able to use my points to book revenue Hawaiian Airlines tickets via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal at a 20% discount. It may not have been the highest value redemption I’ve ever pulled off, but I strongly feel that miles and points are meant to be enjoyed, and crazy stuff like this is why I save them.
Booking Last Minute Tickets on Hawaiian Airlines Using Chase Ultimate Rewards
We caught an early morning flight from Maui giving us plenty of time to explore the island of Oahu, which was a treat and something I’d never really done before. In recent years I’ve probably been there a half dozen times but sadly never had the chance to leave the Honolulu/Waikiki area. Of course there was plenty of time spent in Waikiki too since my race was there, and catching a couple waves at sunset in front of world famous Diamond Head was one of the highlights of the trip. We spent the night at the Hyatt Regency, and honestly I don’t think we could have picked a better location for Oceanfest. The venue was right across the street from the hotel, which made it very convenient when registration started early at 7am the next morning.
View of Kuhio Beach from the 38th Floor of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki
This year’s inaugural “Paddle with Aloha” race started at 9am(ish) at Kuhio Beach. The course was 3 laps around a series of buoys, through the surf zone, and was entirely different from any other SUP race I’d ever done before. Until now all of my races have been on the mostly-calm waters of Lake Tahoe, so the added elements of waves, wind, and an unfamiliar board definitely made for an interesting challenge. The crew from Surftech was nice enough to hook me up with a 12’6″ Bark race board (which was a lot faster but not as stable or maneuverable as the 10’6″ surfboard I’m used to) and I tried my best to not embarrass myself as the sole representative from the mainland. I didn’t win anything (in fact I got schooled by a bunch of 9 and 11-year-olds), but I did set a personal best record despite falling in the water a couple times. In the end, it turned out no one could have cared less about any of that. It didn’t matter where I was from or what kind of board I was on. I was embraced as a fellow paddler all the same.
Trying to Get the Feel of Things: My Third Time Ever on a Race Board
After the race a bunch of us were blessed by a kahuna (priest/wise man) who had been roaming around the beach in his robe blowing on a conch shell. At first I found it a bit strange (and definitely not the kind of thing we see around Lake Tahoe), but his words somehow resonated with me. He led a small prayer and reminded us all of the legacy of the great man we were there honoring that day. He wanted us all to spread the Aloha spirit that Duke was famous for and had an important message regarding ocean safety (and life); “If you see someone struggling, you always go help them.” It was in that moment that I realized why I was there. It had nothing to do with competition or trying to win a race. It was about coming together, sharing something we all love (in this case the ocean) and remembering to keep an eye out for each other, both in and out of the water. It was an experience (and lesson) I hope to never forget.
Surfers and Paddlers Sharing the Waters Off Waikiki
Trip tab:
3 tickets on Hawaiian Airlines OGG-HNL: 51,165 Ultimate Rewards Points
1 night Ocean View room at the Hyatt Recency Waikiki: $199 (corporate rate) HT- The Mr. Pickles
SUP rental/catching the perfect wave at sunset: Best $20 I ever spent!
Race entry fee (including awesome new t-shirt): $40
Honoring the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku and learning the true meaning of Aloha: PRICELESS