October 2025 Newsletter

puakahilima
2 days ago
4 min read

Sailing Into a New Season with Kohala Sailing Foundation & Pua Ka Ilima Sailing Charters

Aloha sailors, supporters, and ocean lovers,

We’ve got some exciting updates from the Kohala Sailing Foundation and our private charters! Thanks to your continued support, our mission to get local keiki out on the water and connected with the ocean is growing stronger every month.

Adult Sailing Classes Now Open!

We’re now offering adult sailing classes, perfect for beginner and intermediate sailors, or anyone looking to build confidence on the water. No experience necessary. These classes not only give you a hands-on sailing experience but also help fund our free Keiki Sail program.

Gain sailing skills aboard our 42-foot sailboat
Minimum of 4, maximum of 6 persons per class
Classes are 3 hours long
Exchange is $130 per class, additional tax-deductible donations accepted, proceeds benefit our keiki sailing program.
Sign up for one or multiple classes - no limit!
Sail out of Kawaihae south harbor
No sailing experience necessary for the beginning course! However, we recommend participants to familiarize themselves with some basics:
- Terminology: port, starboard, bow, stern, mast, boom, mainsail, jib, jib sheet, mainsheet, furling a sail, deploying/unfurling a sail;
- Knots: bowline, figure eight knot, double half hitch on a bite;
- Compass directions: N=0 degrees, S=180 degrees etc.

Your sailing instructor:

Captain Pablo (Paul Allen) - a charter and keiki sail captain, 30+ years of high performance dinghies, skiffs, grand prix and Ocean racing at a professional level. 35 years of teaching/coaching sailing experience as well as rigging, boat building, project management and sailmaking.
Quote from instructor: "I'm excited to have the opportunity to teach these classes and share sailing with our community in the waters of Kawaihae"

Beginner course will cover basic sailing including docking, angles of sail, identifying wind and sea state conditions, basic sail trim, man overboard scenario, basic emergency communications and procedure, helming and seamanship.

Intermediate course students should have knowledge and practice in all of the areas covered in the beginning course. The intermediate course will cover proper halyard tensions, jib lead placement, boom vang trim, traveler trim, basic anchoring, approaching and leaving a mooring and reefing.

Class Dates:

Beginner: October 24 (postponed due to weather), October 26 (sold out), November 1, November 7, November 15
Intermediate: October 31, November 9, November 14, November 16
Classes are from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm

How to sign up:

Please email us at puakailimasailing@gmail.com to sign up and reserve your spot - let us know which day(s) you are signing up for. Remember maximum is 6 persons per date, and minimum 4 to operate. We will send you a confirmation email with further instructions. And let us know if you have any questions!

We’ve Been Featured!

We’re honored to have been highlighted in recent media coverage! Mahalo to everyone who continues to share our story and help spread the word about what we’re doing here in Hawai‘i. Check out our features!

Cruising World

Big Island Now

West Hawaii Today

Special Guests: Shark Stewards on Board!

Our August Keiki Sail was extra special; we were joined by Shark Stewards, an amazing nonprofit dedicated to ocean conservation and shark protection.They shared hands-on education with our keiki about marine ecosystems, ocean safety, and the vital role sharks play in keeping our waters balanced and healthy.We’re so grateful for their time, knowledge, and passion for inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards! Learn More About Shark Stewards

Whale Season Has Arrived!

The first whales have been spotted! Whale season is officially here, and there’s no better way to experience it than from the deck of a sailboat. Join us on a private charter for a peaceful, eco-friendly way to watch these gentle giants in their natural habitat.Click here to book or learn more

Easier Ways to Give

We’ve updated our donation platform, making it simpler than ever to support our programs. You can now donate easily online, and every dollar goes directly toward keeping our keiki sailing.Donate here

We also have a new mailing address: PO Box 511, Hawi, HI 96719

New Business Sponsorship Opportunities

Local businesses can now sponsor a Keiki Sail Day for just $800.Your sponsorship covers the full cost of a sailing day for local keiki, and we’ll feature your business on our website and social media as a proud community partner.Learn more or become a sponsor

Next Keiki Sail - November 2nd!

We’re setting sail again on Sunday, November 2nd, for another unforgettable day on the water. Don’t forget to get your keiki signed up!

Sign up here or forward this to a family who might be interested

If you are interested in supporting the Kohala Sailing Foundation’s mission, here’s how:

Donate: Your contributions help fund our free keiki sailing program, ensuring access for all regardless of financial circumstances. You can make a donation by visiting our website HERE, or by mailing us a check:

Payable to: Kohala Sailing Foundation
Address: PO Box 511, Hawi, HI 96719

Spread the Word: Share our story with friends and family to help us grow our community of ocean enthusiasts.
Follow us on Instagram and like our Facebook page
If you've sailed with us before, leaving a review on TripAdvisor or Google would be appreciated!