Our islands are the exception to that world-wide charter boat competition. There are a just a handful of individual charter boats available statewide and large companies such as The Moorings and Sunsail have ignored Hawaii's waters completely in favor of the resorts previously listed. Ask why and the charter companies will tell you that it is due primarily to the fact that most of our islands have rocky, reef-bound shorelines with very few safe anchorages. Couple that with insufficient moorings in our small boat harbors, add some very challenging sea conditions between our islands, and you can understand the lack of interest. Give Laura Lee Suyetsugu at the North Shore Activities Center in Haleiwa a call at 637-6722.
Sailing clubs are another option in the Honolulu area.
There is a sailing club at the University of Hawaii's sailing team facilities that is open to the public and has Lasers and Flying Juniors for use in Keehi Lagoon. Another is the floating sailing club on the 48-foot catamaran Free Spirit moored in the Ala Wai Marina. Members can crew on day sails, or longer voyages to the neighbor islands. For more information, call 737-8115. After a quick question and answer session and a checkout sail, you can be flying a hull off Waikiki Beach.