Hawaii Tour 2008 - Day 3

Natalie and I hiked up and then down Cactus Launch at Makapuu as the wind was too light and east.

FireDave and Jetflap (two local pilots) decided to hike over to the ocean side of the lighthouse ridge and attempt to fly from there.

We stopped in at Sandy's (HUGE grassy LZ field) where we met up with my old friend Don, Jeff (aka Stalker), Jim (aka One Eye), Joey, and Navy Dave. Winds were still light and we almost decided to head to the only real thermalling site on Oahu (Nanakuli) but I thought it best for Natalie to get an easy and assured flight in here so up the Koko ridge we went.

I am always amazed by the sheer tenacity and growing speed of the flora in Hawaii. The trail head was next to impossible to find and the first part of the hike was more bushwhacking than anything else. Wind was straight in on lower launch but not as strong as needed for sustained flight so Joey, One-Eye, Natalie, and I hiked to Upper (Navy Don launched from lower and bombed out).
At this point we could see Fire Dave and Jetflap maintaining above the lighthouse ridge (FireDave would eventually make his way around the corner to the main Makapuu Ridge before landing at the main LZ while Jetflap would get up at Makapuu and make a run for Koko Crater, landing about half way).

Joey was first off and he did great! He stuck to his gameplan and worked the ridge lift, gaining nicely about 1000' ato. The wind lightened somewhat and One Eye made a few passes before joining Navy Don in the bomb out. Natalie was next and did likewise (another site though Natalie!). I was undecided whether to hike or sled down and chose the later. Turned out that I was able to scratch in the light thermic lift and climb high over the crater rim and fly my fill before landing at Sandy's across the highway.