Makapu'u - Oahu Hawaii

[bowen.tim]

I got an email from my boss a week ago Thursday asking if I could fly into Honolulu and assist with an ongoing project for up to 4 weeks. I mulled it over for a millisecond and said yes. the first thing I did was check into options to fly while here. I got in touch with a local named Dave Goto. Makapu'u is Oahu's primary, and I think only, hang gliding site. They rate the site as a hang 3 for locals and a hang 4 for visiting pilots. He wanted to talk to area pilot back home, so I gave him Rich Hays number. He vouched for me (Thanks Rich).

I went out to Makapu'u a few times with Dave, Mike Benson, and their loyal driver/launcher, Tim Tilden. I talked to Dave in the LZ after his flights and found we had some thing in common. I was stationed in the same Army unit as his Dad back in the 80's, He spent some young years living around the Baltimore area, and loves blue crabs and Rock fish. That may have sealed the deal, but he also said he saw confidence in my eyes.

If anyone has seen and videos on Vimeo or YouTube, the cliff launch is way different than High Rock. With Highrock, once you get your nose in the air stream, you start feeling the suck. You need guys on your sides and keel. The air at launch here funnels up a wedge in the cliff face and provides a fairly smooth air flow, with no suck. Rabbit Island is about a mile and a quarter out to sea. It provides dirty air into launch, or along the ridge line depending on the direction. Air is more smooth from the north, and dirtier from the east.

To launch, you bring your glider up, out of the flow, lower the nose to the the nose man. Once you are ready, he slowly raises your nose and you step off. The launch was smooth as silk. I flew an hour and a half (could have flew all afternoon with the constant air flow. The launch was flawless. The flight was incredible with the scenery. The LZ is very tight, and suffice to say, I could have done better. No broken on bent tubes, just and ego.

I was speaking to Charlie Fager and he told me this was one of his bucket list sites. I never heard of Makapu'u before this, but I guess I can cross this off my list now. I do plan to fly more, and Dave invited me back while I am here. BTW, I flew a NorthWing Horizon provided by Dave. I stowed my harness, helmet, and vario in my luggage. Dave doesn't allow GoPro's for the first few flights with visiting pilot, so won't be distracted. Who I am I to argue, I got to fly Makapu'u!!!!

[jimsmess]

Great job Tim. Most of us long time pilots have always dreamed of flying there. I saw a video post on hang gliding.org from 7-25-15 showing the launch and LZ, truly spectacular. The LZ does look a little tricky.
Jim Messina

[Danny Brotto]

I flew Makapu'u in the late 80's (I think) with a rented Pro Air ($25) and set of borrowed contact lenses (priceless.) The launch was a bit intimidating but followed the locals' instructions and it went very well. Phatest, smoothest air I've every soared in. Really sweet. Beach landing was fine. told the glider's owner that I thought the glider had a turn in it. He thanked me for letting him know as he had just remounted the sail after repairing some bent tubes after an incident.

If you get the chance Tim, go out to Maui and try to fly Treeline (also called Poli Poli) or even head up to the volcano for an early morning launch.

"Dave doesn't allow GoPro's for the first few flights with visiting pilot, so won't be distracted." How wise is that!

Danny Brotto

[XCanytime]

I don't believe they allow hang gliding from Haleakala crater rim any more . Bacil

[CraginS]

The launch site on Haleakala is not in the National Park, it is on the back side of the observatory. However, you have to drive through the park to get there. A number of years ago the head Park Ranger exhibited a high level of animosity toward hang gliding, and banned hang gliders from traveling through the park. That action effectively close the launch, since it is pretty tricky sneaking a glider past the gate. When Sparky went to work for the Park Service we asked him to scope the situation to see if flying could resume. He had no luck.

Back in '99 I got set up on that launch, but then the cloud deck closed in below us and we had to scrub flying. While on that trip on Maui I did fly Poli Poli, which is effectively a 300' training hill, and also flew from the 6K launch on the road up to the crater, landing in the field known locally as Wounded Knee. Like Tim, I worked the flying into a business trip to Oahu.

The full story, with photos of all three launches, is in the Skyline Archives (thanks, Mark) at
http://chgpa.org/skyline_jm2c/skyline/9911/islands.htm

[Richard Hays]

glad I could help out Tim. The guy I talked to was really nice and we spent some time on the phone. Then he sent me some videos. what an amazing place to fly! wow....