It’s easy to understand why you would want to celebrate your loved one on a private yacht on the blue Pacific waters off Oahu. Hawaii has a strong spiritual energy both on and off the ocean. A farewell at sea is a healing and soothing way to say goodbye.
Your ash scattering includes a private sailing charter (optional)
A reflective ride to Diamond Head establishes the mood for your ash scattering/ life celebration. How often are we surrounded by rainbows during this boat tour? Almost always. Talk about setting the mood!
Take as long as you need to talk about your loved one as you scatter their ashes and celebrate their life. Bring as many un-strung flowers/petals as you want. When all is done, an easy down-wind sail brings you back to the harbour.
Customise your Hawaii Ash Scattering.
If you would like to include your pastor, or other, to conduct a service and/or blessing for you, please do. If you have no connections here, reach out and we can give you some suggestions. Perhaps you’d like to sail longer than just the time it takes to celebrate and scatter. What time of day is best? Because this is custom sailing, we can sail any time of day you want and whatever length of time you wish. Our islands are most consistently graced with trade winds so any time is a good time to go sailing…✨SUNRISE, morning, afternoon, SUNSET✨. It is all good.
Email us today with your Hawaii Ash Scattering request:
Sail BLUE Hawaii offers you the perfect escape of a private Honolulu boat tour. Whether you are a first time boater or an old salt, your private Honolulu boat tour may well be the highlight of your Hawaii vacation.
Why choose a private boat tour in Hawaii?
Because you will be safely sailing in your own private bubble. Pick up the phone and call Sail BLUE Hawaii. You will be so excited as your captain sets sail on the stunning blue waters that surround the Hawaiian Islands. “Kaikiwi” sails from Oahu’s south (protected) shore, not far from Waikiki, past beautiful coastline in the cobalt blue blue waters of our Pacific. Wildlife such as green sea turtles, “honu”, dolphins, “nai’a”, humpback whales, “kohola” (in winter season only), and flying fish, “malolo” are some of the critters we may see as we sail. Beautiful views of Oahu, Diamond Head and, on clear days, far in the distance, Molokai and Lanai can sometimes be seen.
Last week as we were coming to the end of a 4-hour sail, I saw something that didn’t look typical. It took me a second or more to realize it as a hawaiian monk seal. It was rolling around, swimming, dunking, splashing, rolling again around and around. The hawaiian monk seal, a protected species, is a very rare sighting in our sailing area. There are only about 300 who live around the main Hawaiian islands, no wonder we seldom see them and they are not in my list above. The hawaiian name is”ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua,” which means “dog running in the rough water.” Yup, that’s close to what we saw.
Sign up today for your private Honolulu boat tour. You never know what your experience will be or what you will see. One thing is for sure, you won’t be disappointed.
Let’s go private sailing in Hawaii. Private sailing (you are not sharing the boat with another group) is on “Kaikiwi”, the 42 ft Beneteau 411 featured on this website. She sails from Oahu’s south (protected) shore, not far from Waikiki, past beautiful coastline in the cobalt blue blue waters of our Pacific. Wildlife such as green sea turtles, “honu”, dolphins, “nai’a”, humpback whales, “kohola” (in winter season only), and flying fish, “malolo” are some of the critters we may see as we sail. Beautiful views of Oahu, Diamond Head and, on clear days, far in the distance, Molokai and Lanai can sometimes be seen. Please understand this is not “destination” sailing. “Destination” is sailing.
I Love Sailing
so much I was simply stunned into silence the other day when someone asked “don’t you get bored doing this every day?” Never! I know sailing is not for everyone but..geez. Perhaps they had heard that awful saying: “Sailing is 95% boredom and 5% terror”; or is it: “Stay calm, and share your bananas.” ? Whichever, I did realise that particular guest was bored.
Let’s Go Sailing
There is so much that thrills me sailing every day: no sail is the same. That Pacific Ocean colour; I swear someone drops the dye in daily; it is stunning. The wind, the waves are all different daily; it’s beautiful when Kaikiwi’s sails trim to the wind and finds the gentle waves that let us surf. The marine life that comes to play. The sunsets, and sunrises. The guests, yes YOU, entertain me fully. So what’s there to get bored about?
Don’t Dream your Life; Live your dream
When you visit our beautiful islands, be sure to sign up with Sail Blue Hawaii. It doesn’t matter if you have never been on a sailboat before. Expand your horizon, yes. Let’s go Hawaii sailing! It may well be the HIghlight of your HI vacation.
Whether you are a “newbie”, an old salt or in between, nothing will thrill you more than summer Hawaii monohull sailing! Why? A summertime monohull sail in Hawaii offers a style of sailing that’s hard to replicate anywhere else on the planet’s waters for many reasons:
1. It feels like real sailing
As Kaikiwi heels (leans), she responds directly to the waves and wind, powered only by the sails. At Sail BLUE Hawaii, we sail your entire charter so, instead of feeling like you’re riding on a floating motorised platform, you feel safely connected to wind and ocean.
2. Summer brings ideal trade winds
During Hawaii’s hot summer months, the northeast trade winds are generally more consistent and stronger, helping the seas to flatten out; seas are often calmer than in winter. This translates to:
Steady, enjoyable sailing conditions.
Comfortable temperatures with cooling ocean breezes.
Less chance of weather-related cancellations.
Longer daylight hours for afternoon and sunset sails.
3. A monohull creates a more personal experience
Kaikiwi offers PRIVATE sailing which limits your party to no more than 6-pax—just you, your family/friends, or your intimate other in a truly romantic setting. This stands in stark contrast to the local catamarans that pack on dozens of passengers. Specifically, you enjoy:
More interaction with Kaikiwi’s captain (no obligation; haha)
A quiet intimate atmosphere.
A more relaxing trip, with or without your favourite playlist; no loud thumping music that travels annoyingly over the water to neighbouring vessels; no party crowds.
4. A closer connection with nature
Without the engine, Kaikiwi under sail is truly quiet. You can hear the wind in the rigging and the water flowing along the hull. This quiet sanctuary lets us spot Hawaiian spinner dolphins, green sea turtles, flying fish, mermaids, and—later in the year—humpback whales with minimal disturbance to the animals.
5. Spectacular Hawaiian scenery
Summer sailing off Oahu offers excellent visibility for taking in our volcanic coastline, the lush Ko’olau mountains, and crystal-clear azure blue water. Every day my guests remark on the color of this Pacific Ocean water! On clear days, far in the distance, Molokai and Lanai can sometimes be seen. This spectacular backdrop sets the stage for memorable sunset sails, where warm evening light reflects beautifully off the open ocean.
6. A classic maritime experience
Monohulls have been the traditional sailing vessel for centuries. If you’re looking for the romance of sailing rather than simply spending time on the water, Kaikiwi provides a timeless experience.
7. Who will enjoy it most?
A summer Hawaii monohull sail is an excellent choice if you:
Appreciate authentic sailing and genuine cruising.
Prefer small-group intimacy over commercial crowds.
Want a peaceful, uncrowded ocean outing.
Enjoy feeling the wind and the easy, natural lull of the sea.
Experience Hawaii under sail
Reach out to Sail BLUE Hawaii for your summer monohull experience. We offer a uniquely immersive and memorable adventure. One that could well be the highlight of your Hawaii vacation.
For locals: it’s summertime. Bring your family for an experience they’ll remember as a summertime highlight…one the kids will talk about when they go back to school, making their classmates jealous and asking more.
If your goal is to experience Hawaii under sail as sailors do, a summer monohull sail on Kaikiwi offers a uniquely immersive and memorable adventure. Summer is perfect for Hawaii monohull sailing.
check out this delicious summer day last week…the couple absolutely loved their sail and the quality time sailing together gave them, soaking in a true Hawaiian summer day
Book your summer sail
Email Sail BLUE Hawaii today with your sailing request: capt.gaelyn@sailbluehawaii.com . To secure your spot on the water, please remember to include: your ideal departure time (daytime or sunset); your group size (up to 6 passengers); your preferred dates.
Whether you are a local or a visitor, you will well remember the summer you said ” let’s go sailing”. It’s a fabulous way to let loose, enjoy quiet and healing ocean time, spend intimate time with friends and/ or family. Whether it is a sunrise sail, a day sail, or an easy sunset cruise, send Sail BLUE Hawaii your request and treat yourself and your’s to something so delicious as a private sail. Because this is custom sailing, we can sail any time of day you want and whatever length of time you wish. Our islands are most consistently graced with trade winds so any time is a good time to go sailing…..✨✨magical SUNRISE, full sail morning and afternoon, romantic/ peaceful SUNSET.✨✨. It is all good. Let’s go sailing in Hawaii!
Why does Boating have Superstitions?
Sailing has centuries of tradition, and with that comes a surprising number of superstitions. Many began as practical lessons that became folklore over time. Here are some of the best-known ones—and the stories behind them.
🍌 No bananas on boats
We went diving the other day and were reminded of this; it is one that my guests most often ask me about while sailing. The background to this is the fact that bananas ripen very fast and were often hung in a hammock alongside other fruit. Whichever fruit was touching the banana skin was the one that went bad first and fast. Inedible overnight. Of course, as sailors, we like to exaggerate and embellish. Therefore,
The legend: Bananas bring bad luck, causing lost fish catches, equipment failures, storms, or even shipwrecks.
Other possible origins:
In the age of wooden sailing ships, banana cargo spoiled quickly, so captains rushed their voyages. Fishermen traveling on banana ships had little time to stop and fish, leading to the belief that bananas scared fish away.
Banana shipments often harboured venomous spiders and snakes hidden in the bunches, creating dangerous surprises for crews.
Methane gas and heat from ripening bananas could speed the spoilage of other cargo.
Today, many fishing captains still jokingly, or very seriously, refuse to let bananas onboard. Many boats harboured in Honolulu take this more seriously than most. Why? You’ll have to ask them. Me?*****
🍾 Never rename a boat
Sailors traditionally believe every boat’s name is recorded by the sea god Neptune. Changing the name without first “removing” the old one from Neptune’s records is said to invite bad luck. Many boat owners perform a lighthearted renaming ceremony involving:
removing all traces of the old name.
reading a blessing
pouring a small amount of champagne into the sea as an offering.
When I bought “Kaikiwi” her name was “dream seeker”. I had held the name “Kaikiwi” for many years in my heart, waiting for the right boat to name her with. I changed the name in Mexico, before I sailed her over. Did I have a ceremony? No. But I did have a long quiet and meditative time as I physically peeled the old name off with a heat gun and proudly applied the new one I had brought with. What does “Kaikiwi” mean? https://sailbluehawaii.com/faqs/
🎩Never leave port on a Friday
One of the oldest maritime superstitions.
The origins are unclear:
Friday was traditionally associated with Christ’s crucifixion so some believed it was an unlucky day to begin any major undertaking.
Friday was often pay day and leaving port would mean dragging men out of their drinking holes and going to sea with a drunk crew. No good at all.
Historically, however, ships certainly did sail on Fridays when schedules demanded. I sail almost every Friday.
👩 Women on ships—good luck or bad?
This superstition changed over time.
Some believed women aboard distracted the crew and angered the sea.
Others believed women calmed the sea, which is why many ships featured carved female figureheads on the bow to “watch over” the vessel.
I am in favour of the latter, for sure 🙂
and lastly, for now at least, Three sheets to the wind:
“Three sheets to the wind” is one of the most famous expressions to come from sailing, and it has nothing to do with bed sheets.
In nautical language, a sheet is a rope (more accurately, a line) used to control the angle of a sail to the wind. Despite the name, a sheet isn’t part of the sail itself—it’s what the crew uses to trim the sail (change the shape of the sail) for speed and direction.
If a sheet comes loose, the sail begins to flap wildly and loses its ability to drive the boat efficiently.
The phrase “three sheets to the wind” originally described a ship with multiple loose sheets. With several sails no longer under control, the vessel would:
Lurch unpredictably from side to side.
Yaw off course.
Be difficult to steer.
Appear unstable and uncoordinated.
Observers noticed this erratic motion resembled the way an intoxicated person staggers while trying to walk.
How drunk is “three sheets to the wind”?
In the 18th and 19th centuries, there was even an informal progression:
One sheet to the wind – slightly tipsy.
Two sheets to the wind – noticeably drunk.
Three sheets to the wind – very drunk.
Today, the phrase simply means extremely intoxicated, and the earlier “one” and “two” sheet versions have largely fallen out of use.
Fun fact
All these expressions are pieces of authentic sailor’s jargon that has survived for centuries. Many common English idioms have similar nautical origins, including:
“Learn the ropes” – becoming familiar with a ship’s rigging.
“By and large” – describing a ship that could sail both into and away from the wind, later meaning “generally.”
“Taken aback” – when the wind suddenly catches the sails from the wrong side, stopping the ship and startling the crew.
“Loose cannon” – a cannon that broke free on a rolling ship, becoming a deadly hazard.
All are great examples of how maritime language has shaped everyday English long after most people stopped sailing.
