Hawaii Aviation

Source: Naval Air Pilot, 1936.

DESCRIPTION

Location: Restricted anchorage north of the wharf.

Depths: 3 to 23 feet

Tidal range: 2 feet.

Character of bottom: Soft sand and mud.

Currents: Weak.

Shelter: During the summer season, with the steady northeast trades, seaplane could, with moderate assurance as to their safety, be moored fairly close to the beach. A wind to the south of east or west would make this positions untenable.

LANDING AND TAKE-OFF AREA

Location: Open sea.

Area: Unlimited.

Shelter: None.

Obstructions: Coral heads on both sides of channel. Buoys.

FACILITIES

Provisions and water can be obtained in limited quantities. Ordinary gasoline can be obtained in limited amounts.

Beach: Continuous surf, except in ideally calm weather, makes hauling out or beaching impractical.

Communications:  Radio station, call letters KHO. Local steamer calls biweekly.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Aspects: Kaunakakai 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.

Landmarks: Silver-colored water tank, 4 miles northeast of Kaunakakai, high up the mountain side. Whie radio tower and silver-colored oil tanks. About 1 mile west of the village at the water’s edge, is a conspicuous, thick coconut grove.

Tender anchorage: Anchorage for small craft only on account of limited swinging room. Vessel can anchor temporarily just outside the entrance, in about 15 fathoms, but there is a little shelter from the trade winds. A rock and gravel mole extends 3/8 miles from the shore to the concrete wharf which has 12 feet of water along its outer face. Small steamers drawing as much as 14 feet can go alongside.

Importance: Presents a fair location for operations during the summer seasons.