To bring board or not... to Kauai

[sharksupper]

I'm heading to Kauai in a couple weeks.  I checked a bunch of rentals out but not real impressed with the selection!  I ride a JL Mano 9-0 and Naish Hokua 8-4 at home in Cali.  The smallest rental I could hunt down was a 7-7 Hypr fish(?), but looking at some of the specs and pics/vids I'm wondering if it would be better to bring one of my own boards?  Any info on these boards or how they ride?  Are there rentals with better boards?  Sorry to post here, but thought there would be more experience with the Hyprs here.

Mahalo!

[Canuck Kook]

I was there a few weeks ago and rented a board for a couple of days before I borrowed a board from a friend. If you are looking for a smaller high performance board i think you will have a tough time. There are a lot of rentals but they are the usual - surftech , NSP, some naish (foam mana). Most of the ones I rented or looked at were well used.
If you can take your board I would go for it.

[VonR]

That's a good question. I'm headed to Kauai in October and was wondering the same thing. Keep us posted.

[aircube]

I was there in Dec/Jan and rented a Hypr ay Hanalei.  Found a 10' psh and a few other local boards.

Lesson learned, I would not go back without my own board.  More selection on Oahu, but really limited on Kauai.

[sharksupper]

Glad I asked! 

It's only $75 each way to bring a 9' or shorter board  on Alaska Airlines.

Saves money over a rental anyway.

What would work better for Kauai waves the 9-0 Mano or 8-4 Hokua?

I'll also check while I'm there what is available for rental.

[aircube]

Havn't riden either so not sure.  I'd go with the one with more range.  For me 10x29 was feeling large on even the smaller waves b/c of the power.  I'm a beginner(2 years) 195lbs,  if  I get a chance to go back, i'll take somthing in the 9-9'6 x 28-29 range.  theres a pretty wide range of wave types from flatter mush to steep and gnarley.

[aircube]

Oh yea and cost was here and there.  One place a piece of junk for 20$ for the afternoon.  Another place a psh $75/hour!

Westjet in Canada will take up to a 9'8" surfboard/per ticket for free.  Kinda cool, cuz if your wife and kids come along, you can take multiple boards for free. 

[beaglebuddy]

Sharksupper, where are you staying on Kauai?

[sharksupper]

Poipu

[808]

My vote would be to bring your own stuff. You are going all the way their spending money already might as well take the equipment you are familiar. Why deal with deposits rental fees and the unknown of finding a board that you like . Then spending precious time getting used to it only to realize that you wish you brought your own board.

[beaglebuddy]

You could use my wife's PSH 9'11" X 28.5" for a smaller fee but I am in Princeville.
And what will you do for a paddle?

[808sup]

Are you flying direct to Kauai? I doubt it. Don't forget the interisland flights will hit you for a fee as well.

[Rolf]

I may be going to kauai next year sometime also , wondering same thing
bring my 9'3" Ripper or rent, will be flying out of seattle.
 

[Reid SUP'd]

Hey sharksupper what dates are you there for? I will be leaving for maui this monday then going to kauai the following week, ill be there the first week of may and spending the first half of that in Poipu, i'm only bringing my paddle with me but I'm going to need a decent board and if anyone else lives/visiting there has any interest in going out for a surf?

beaglebuddy, if you have no takers on the PSH, maybe me?

regards,

-Reid

[sharksupper]

I'll be coming May 2-8, direct flight from Oakland to Lihue, same on return.  Taking a board will be $95( $20 standard + $75 oversize) each way.  I'd just stuff the paddle in the bag with it.  My friend might also bring a prone board, we'd put it all into one bag. 

Thanks for the offer beagle.  Another option is there is a new-ish 7-3 Hokua for sale there, I could buy it, ride it, and bring it home.  ... like 808 said, if you're going to spend money, go all the way