Seaplane Anchorages

HAWAII SEAPLANE ANCHORAGES

Hilo BayThe westerly shore of Hilo Bay is bluff, while the southerly and easterly shores are low. Limited quantities of aviation gasoline and oil available, by making advance arrangements with the harbor authorities through the commandant; 14th Naval District machine shops are available where minor repairs could be made.  No drydocks or large marine railways.
Kailua BayKailua Bay is a small indentation in the coast at southerly end of a flat plain. Provision and water can be obtained in limited quantities. Ordinary gasoline and some ship chandlery may be obtained. Standard Oil branch warehouse is located here.
Kawaihae BayThe shore Kawaihae Bay is rocky with stretches of sand beach and has thick growth of algaroba trees. Provisions and water can be obtained in limited quantities.
Kealakekua BayThe shore of Kealakekua Bay is low, except on the northeast side. The village of Napoopoo consists of a few houses scattered among the coconut trees. Provisions can be obtained in limited quantities at the village Napoopoo. Fresh water is scarce. Ordinary gasoline and some ship chandlery may be obtained.

MAUI SEAPLANE ANCHORAGES

Hana BayThe shore of Hana Bay is rocky except for two gravel beaches. Provisions and water can be obtained in limited quantities. Small stock of ordinary gasoline. No hotels in village.
Kahului HarborThe shores of the bay are low and sandy; much higher ground is to be found on both sides of the harbor at a distance of 2 or 3 miles.
Lahaina RoadsThe cost consist of a low sandy beach with fringe of coconut and algebra trees back of which the cane fields extend inland for about 2 miles. Between Lahaina and Mala the highway skirts the shore, and the automobile lights along the road are usually the only lights visible. Lahaina village is situated among the trees near the beach.

LANAI SEAPLANE ANCHORAGES

Manele BayLat 20*45′ N., 157*00′ W. It is an emergency anchorage, about 1/4 mile wide and indents the coast about 1/4 miles. It has a boat landing facility, a good beach at the head of the bay, and it has a very heavy swells.
Kaumalapau HarborKaumalapau Harbor is a small bight at the mouth of the most prominent gulch in the vicinity. Provisions and water can be obtained in limited quantities. Good machine shop at Lanai City.

MOLOKAI SEAPLANE ANCHORAGES

KalaupapaLat 21*12′ N., 156*53′ W. It is an an emergency landing during ordinary weather. Subjects to heavy swells and need permission to visit.
Kamalo HarborKamalo Harbor is a pocket in the reef opening southward. Provisions and water can be obtained in limited quantities.
Kaunakakai HarborKaunakakai Harbor is pocketed, 600 yards long and 200 yards wide, in the reef and open southward. The village consists of a few houses and stores about 1/2 mile inland from the mole.

OAHU SEAPLANE ANCHORAGES

HonoluluSmall harbor usually congested with shipping. Planes may easily docked but good anchorage is hard to obtain. Tide flats may be used to beach planes, in sinking conditions. Prevailing winds are offshore, making take-off difficult, as it necessary to run down channel, cross wind. Very bumpy Air
Kailua BayAn open bight affording emergency anchorage with no shelter from trades. Shoal water extend 7/8 miles off shore of the bay. It has telephone and small boats. The beach swells heavily and sandy.
Koko HeadIt is an emergency anchorage in Maunalua Bay an open bight on the westerly side of Koko Head. Shoal water extends 3/4 miles from the head of the bay; there id an opening in the reef where small boats may pass to the sandy beach. It has telephones and small boats.
Waialua BayA small indentation at the bend near the middle of the northwest coast of Oahu. It has telephones and stores. The beach has heavy swells and the anchorage in creek mouth available for few planes.
Kaneohe BayKaneohe Bay is full of reefs and shoals. In heavy trades the sea breaks across both entrances. Several villages are scatters along the shore of the bay. The village of Kaneohe is located at the southeastern end of the bay.
Pearl Harbor – Fleet Air BaseNaval station and Ford Island. Honolulu 6.5 miles southeast. Suitable for any size ship. United States naval base. Excellent seaplane base.

KAUAI SEAPLANE ANCHORAGES

Kilauea PointLat 22*00′ N., 159*25′ W. It can only afford emergency anchorage in good weathers.
Waimea BayLat 21*57′ N., 159*40′ W. An open bright affording excellent emergency anchorage during ordinary weather. It has limited facilities such as provisions, wharf, no repairs, and telephone. The beach are sandy and it’s not practical to use the Waimea River.
Hanalei BayHanalei Bay 1 mile wide and indents the coast about the same distance. Along the sandy beach at the head of the bay are clumps of ironwood and coconut trees and a few houses. The village consists of a scattering of houses around the shores of the bay and along the highway close to the head of the bay. Three miles inland the mountains attain height of over 4000 feet.
Hanamaulu BayHanamaulu Bay is 1/4 mile wide and indents the coast 1/2 mile. The shores are low rocky bluffs about 40 feet high except for the white sand beach at the head of the bay.
Nawiliwili BayThe shore of the bay consists of rocky bluffs except at the mouth of the Huleia River and in the northerly part near Nawiliwili village.
Hanapepe BayThe shores of Hanapepe Bay are low rocky bluffs except at its head. Provisions can be obtained on several day’s notice. No repair facilities. Numerous lighters and towing launches.

FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS SEAPLANE ANCHORAGES

French Frigate Shoals Seaplane Anchorage French Frigate Shoals is a crescent-shaped atoll with a number of small, bare, sand islets. It is 17 miles long in general northwest-southeast direction, and 12 miles wide at southern end. East Island is a low sand islet 600 yards long and 100 yards wide. It is about 10 feet high, has a scattering of low weeds, and is the nesting place of sea birds and turtles.