Paddle Hot Spots
When you think of places to paddle in the world, where do your thoughts take you? Maybe to the blue waters of Tahiti or some deserted tropical island destination.
There are a lot of great places to SUP and one of the best; we give you Oahu, one of the five main Hawaiian Islands for our maiden voyage issue. Not only is Oahu arguably one of the most diverse places to paddle from the calm warm waters of Ala Moana Beach Park, to the big waves of the island’s north shore, but it is also the birthplace of our sport. Where the beach boys mastered surfing with canoe paddles off the shoreline of Waikiki.
We explore a few of some of the best places to paddle on Oahu. And although they might not be the first places that come to mind, they are some of the best in easy access and scenery.
Now you have to ask yourself, why did the sport start here? The reason is simple; the island of Oahu is one of the best places to paddle. But don’t take our word for it.  Visit this great island and when you paddle here, whether it is for exploration, fitness, or just plain fun, remember that you are tracing the old pathway of the Hawaiian beach boys.

Ala Moana Beach Park
Located five minutes south of Waikiki by car or cab, Ala Moana Beach Park is a man made waterway, which was cut through swampland back in the late 1950’s. A year round safe and easy place to paddle “if” and we mean if you know what you are doing. This place gets crowded at times but because you have open free parking, showers, safe sand bottom entryway on the Diamond Head parking area side, it also is protected by the surf and has very calm waters unless the tide is high.

One thing you need to be careful of are the swimmers as they have the right of way here and for the novice, you should take a lesson in both safety and turning from the various paddle schools on the island.

Be careful on days when the trade winds are blowing because you could be pushed out onto the reef, however, if you already have paddle skills, you should be okay. Also always consult with the local lifeguards and paddlers before venturing out.