Tuesday, October 11, 2022

HPA Cattle Drive: Saturday, October 22, 2022


Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 4:00 pm is the date for our long awaited membership meeting and party. 

I am excited about the venue at the covered rodeo grounds in Kahuku: the Pohaku Nui Ranch. Thanks to hard charging new pilot Keal for offering us this unique location for our club event. 56-970 Kamehameha Hwy, in Kahuku. 

https://www.pohakunuiranch.com/


It is a bit of a drive for us townies, but I think it will be a great time. The first time I saw the place was a few years ago on an XC from Makapuu. I was super low in Kahuku and scratched back up from the bluff that the rodeo sits on top of. I have always wondered about the place. 

Keal has been flying off the property, so maybe bring a wing. 


Potluck style, so bring something to eat and drink. I hope to see you all there. 

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Celebration Of Life For Yo Morita ~ October 8th, 2022 @11am ~ Makapu'u LZ

(Posting for Maui Doug, from Chie Morita...)

Hi everyone,

As you know, my Dad died last summer after a multi-year bout with cancer.

I was lucky to be in Cave Creek, Arizona for his last months and have spent the last year handling his affairs, trying to guess his passwords, and considering how to best honor his passing.

Thanks to an amazing offer from his paragliding community (and some hints from him, too) I will be hosting a Celebration of Life for him in his favorite place (Hawai'i) doing his favorite pastime (paragliding). I think he would be pleased.

There will be snacks, sun, and plenty of Aloha.

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Beating A Dead Coyote (Chelan Ozone Open 2022)


What follows is a bit of my myopic view from our now annual paragliding competition in Chelan Washington. First, there are two different weeks of competitions, the first week is a ‘C’ glider comp, the second week is the US Nationals. Only JK and Reaper double dipped for the second week of fun!

Monday, May 02, 2022

Why Teach?

Why teach?

Many years ago, when I watched some gliders run down a hill and get flight, I was so excited to see this. I had been a paratrooper in the Army and always wanted to fly again. I reached out to the skydiving community, but they wanted to charge me extra for my bad static line Army habits and charge my little brother less. I thought screw you guys. WTF? I’m a paratrooper, wtf could you teach me about jumping out of an airplane? (hehe, I had no idea back then).

I bought a wing and a harness, and no reserve. I rode a jet ski to Catalina Island on the 4th of July in 1989 with my wing on my back. I had no lessons except for watching my buddy Brian fly. I crashed that Sunday and was paralyzed for a couple of months. I told myself that if I recovered, I would do everything possible to make sure NO ONE EVER felt that pain I did and that I would devote my life to teach people to fly paragliders without the suffering I had endured.

Thirty-five years later and hundreds of students later I fulfilled my mission. I also spent many years since 1995 launching and rescuing paragliders when no-one else wanted to. As of 2021, I have successfully rescued over 175 pilots and two fatal recoveries. John Clifford died in a river in Pemberton that I found, and James Oroc (Aka Kiwi) we found in Eureka, NV last year. Closure is an amazing life spirituality. It’s good for the living.

Wednesday, March 09, 2022

Notes from the Convergence (a Link-Up Manifesto)

On most days, the central flatlands of O'ahu are not an inviting place to fly a paraglider. When the trades are blowing, ragged stacks of cumulus tumble over the Ko'olau range into the saddle that connects the Honolulu suburbs with the North Shore. Here they regain some form passing over subdivisions, solar farms and agriculture land before getting supercharged in the Waianae mountains. If the winds are strong, the hot turbulent soup is swept westward, out to sea in long cloud streets that mark our position long before the island itself can be sighted on the horizon. When the air is still, low pressure systems usually provide ample moisture that collects in the gulches and the vegetation, until the morning sun lights the fuse. By lunchtime the cumulonimbus are breathing deep and by afternoon the center of island is cast into shadow and rain.

Saturday, February 19, 2022

(New Date): HPA Meeting and Party Saturday 3/5/2022


Saturday, March 5, 2022, is the first meeting and party for the club for 2022. We will be going over current issues and voting for board members, all mixed in with the usual party vibe. We are hoping to see all PG pilots, spouses, friends, or anyone who might be just PG curious. 

Reapers party pad, starting at 6pm at 660 Palawiki Street in Kailua. Pupus and drinks as usual. 

Look forward to seeing everyone next week!

Friday, December 17, 2021

HPA Christmas Party / Reaper's Birthday Bash

 

Christmas Party / Reaper's Birthday Bash 12/18

Well it's that time of the year again where we can all get together for the holidays. Christmas Party at Fort Gravity and lucky me it's also my birthday. BBQ, and party. Jacuzzi is hot too. 
When: Tomorrow December 18th 
Time: 4pm-?
Where: Fort Gravity
            660 Palawiki street, Kailua
 BYOB and a dish if you like. 
 
 

 


 

Saturday, September 25, 2021

Membership Meeting- Saturday October 2, 7pm


 Saturday October 2, 7pm at 660 Palawiki St., Reaper’s House. We haven’t had a meeting in a while and Reaper offered up his house for the night. We will be going over club issues and news, seeing each other’s face for a change and generally just getting together for a bit. BYOB and maybe bring a pupu. Bring $20 for dues, the club is low on cash.

COVID rules will be in place, Reaper mom is there. Most of the action will be outdoors. Hopefully, everyone is vaccinated by now, but if you are really worried, stay home instead. And really, getting COVID isn’t even in the top three of bad things that can happen to you at Reapers party pad!

Seriously, we hope to see you all next Saturday!

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Fight or Flight: Monkeys in Orbit

If you say the word "Chelan" to a free flight pilot who has never been there, it triggers a mental cascade of images and lore passed through the ages. Dust Devils. Wind. Bombouts. Cloud streets. Turbulence. Big lines, big plans, personal bests, and stinging defeats. By the time Matty Senior came touring through Oahu in February with his merry band of crushers, a good percentage of the local crew had already plopped down six hundred bucks to attend his comp(s) this July and sample the goods.

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Chelan 2021: The Circle Jerk!

 


Can’t stop turning!

The 2021 Ozone Chelan Open in Chelan WA just finished up and we had a big show of Hawaii monkeys there for the fun and the dust. The old crew:  JK, Doug Hoffman (with son Matt) and I, along with the Maui guys Jeff and Louie. The hard charging newer guys, Drew and Marc. And the new comp pilots; Patrick, Marcel, Marissa and Nour. Reaper was also on hand volunteering and doing Reaper stuff all week. Alex couldn’t make it this year due to mechanical problems, lingering symptoms from his pneumonia, but was fully involved from back in Hawaii.