First ride with Kenalu Ho'oloa

[Glowmaster]

Hi Gang,

Just got a Ho'oloa today and cut it, glued it let it set an hour, and off to a river run.

Thanks to Jim K from extreme windsurfing for the great service and deal on the paddle.

I have been using a Werner bent shaft fuse paddle for over a year.  The shaft is bigger diameter and oval. It has the Fuse blade which is almost identical in area down low but higher in area further up the blade.

Ho'oloa 95, Fuse 105 sq in.

The conditions have been fairly consistent lately and today compared well with Saturday's run.

I love the smaller shaft, need to polish down the grip to reduce chafe on my hands.

Well bottom line is 4.5% reduction in run time with the Kenalu. 

Average with the Werner 5.27 mph over 6 miles
Average with Kenalu Ho'oloa 5.5 mph over 6 miles

I noticed the recovery the most.  At the end of the run with the Kenalu I also had more gas left in my tank.

The Kenalu felt stiffer with the 90 flex than my Werner.  The Werner was easier to hold perfectly aligned with the hull. Every once in a while I splashed the Kenalu by having it a little off axis.  I am sure I will learn this.

I am also going to extend the handle a little to get the paddle a little deeper up front in my stroke.  The extended ergo handle is great for this.

Werner Bent Fuse Data 5/3/2014

Total Duration : 01:06:39
Total Distance : 9.429 Km
Total Avg. Speed : 5.27 Mile/Hour

Duration over 5 Mile/Hour : 00:45:47
Distance over 5 Mile/Hour : 6.821 Km
Average over 5 Mile/Hour : 5.55 Mile/Hour

5 best 250 meter (at least) average = 9.60km/h [5.19Knots
5 best 1000 meter (at least) average = 8.90km/h [4.81Knots]
5 best 1852 meter (at least) average = 6.96km/h [3.76Knots]

1852 meter run n°1 = 9.20km/h [4.97Knots] (1,852.7 m. in 724.958 s.) -
1852 meter run n°2 = 8.92km/h [4.82Knots] (1,853.6 m. in 747.955 s.) -
1852 meter run n°3 = 8.46km/h [4.57Knots] (1,853.9 m. in 788.954 s.) -
1852 meter run n°4 = 8.22km/h [4.44Knots] (1,852.7 m. in 810.952 s.) -


Kenalu Ho'oloa  5/07/2014

Total Duration : 01:04:19
Total Distance : 9.488 Km
Total Avg. Speed : 5.50 Mile/Hour

Duration over 5 Mile/Hour : 00:50:24
Distance over 5 Mile/Hour : 7.752 Km
Average over 5 Mile/Hour : 5.73 Mile/Hour

5 best 250 meter (at least) average = 10.10km/h [5.45Knot)
5 best 1000 meter (at least) average = 9.37km/h [5.06Knots]
5 best 1852 meter (at least) average = 7.36km/h [3.97Knots]

1852 meter run n°1 = 9.70km/h [5.24Knots] (1,854.2 m. in 687.958 s.) -
1852 meter run n°2 = 9.34km/h [5.04Knots] (1,854.4 m. in 714.957 s.) -
1852 meter run n°3 = 9.09km/h [4.91Knots] (1,854.0 m. in 733.955 s.) -
1852 meter run n°4 = 8.65km/h [4.67Knots] (1,852.2 m. in 770.952 s.) -

Overall I am very happy with the change.  definitely measurable.  the feel of the lighter paddle is awesome.

Good job Kenalu.

ed

[mrbig]

Glowmaster - Great to hear about your positive experience with the new KeNalu Ho'olua paddle!

I also received my new KeNalu Ho'olua that I had ordered in the smaller size, an xtuff stiff shaft, and regular t handle. Hair dryer, hacksaw, tape, NAPA door trim ( low budget paddle edge guard), and super glue were the prerequisites for some fun.

A short time later I am paddling in Lovers Lake with my newly assembled 70" high (or in this case low) Ho'olua. Smaller area, narrower width, and xtuff stiff nailed it for me.

Can't wait to catch dome waves on this bad boy. I'll never miss another wavo except when I fall. And my arm is straight Todd!

I believe another zoner will be reporting soon on his Ho'olua as well. That must have sent them all on the same truck!

OBTW the paddle was my first of the year in baggies. Skinnin' it never felt better. And the swans are sitting on a nest with four eggs in it. A beautiful day in the neighborhood!

[kayadogg]

Thanks for the reviews guys.  Would love to hear other reviews from people using this blade.  I'm in the market for a new race/distance paddle and I'm interested in this paddle.  Have 2 KeNalu's already in the family, so adding a 3rd would make it that much more fun with the different combos. 

Can you guys take some pics of the new blade?  Specifically compared to other paddles if you have them? 

[mrbig]

Kayadogg - Own  KeNalu with 90 elite shaft and Molokai blade; a Kialoa GL Hulu with a 95 sq in blade, and a funky Focus that has been cut really short. I got the Ho'olua when I realized that I needed a smaller blade for surfing. Will post pics when my next billing cycle starts in a day.

I suspect that the larger Ho'olua with its narrower width would be kinda like the new,QB trifecta which also has a narrower width blade than other QB's with 95 sq in blades.

[PDLSFR]

Kayadogg, I got one yesterday which I will be using to train for the CCBC, mine is the 84 blade and xtuff shaft. I hope to get out this weekend for some miles and I'll report back how it was compared to my 2 QB paddles.

[Tom]

I've got the 84" with the 90 shaft and love it. I use it for surfing and find that it is does everything you'd want it to do. Easy on the shoulders, can paddle at a high cadence, and has extra power for wave catching. I'm sure it would be a good race paddle also.

[PonoBill]

Mr Big--take that door trim off. If you MUST, just use some thin tape. If I can find it I'll post some video of what door trim does to the water flow on a Ke Nalu face. Not good. After a lot of experimenting I run mine naked. Better to use rail tape.

If you want to feel the difference for yourself, paddle for a half hour with the trim on, then take it off and paddle. Big change.

[Glowmaster]

PonoBill,

It was your physics analysis of the effect of paddle weight and horsepower available that made me want to lose 8 oz. 

You estimated 5% difference, very close to what I measured.  That is cool.

I know I am a techno-geek,  I am a physicist by profession.

So my tag line is

Kenalu, powered by a physicist!

[hbsteve]

When I took the door trim off my first paddle and used electrical tape instead, it made a huge difference.

[mrbig]

BUSTED! The shame of it all. I need protection. Cheaper than rail tape,  not a racer, and more. I do know the awful truth as I have paddled without my NAPA stuff, and it is way better. Perhaps this zone "intervention" will lead to new and less irrational clinging to something that ain't good for my paddling evolution. Thanx boys!

[spookini]

I love the smaller shaft, need to polish down the grip to reduce chafe on my hands.

Glo,
Good to hear that PBill's narrow-diameter shaft feels good in your hands.
But someone told me long ago, "if you're chafing, you must be doing something wrong".

Maybe you need to take a day off?
Or at least loosen your grip.   

[mrbig]

Paddle pics as requested.

[kayadogg]

Thanks MrBiggieSmalls 

That Ke Nalu next to it is the Molokai blade, correct?  Looks big.  I'd love to see the Ho'oloa next to a Wiki, it looks very similar, at least from this pic but I'm sure there are subtle differences.

[mrbig]

Kayadogg   - You nailed it you dog you. Biggie was my nickname before the notorious B.I.G. existed. And the big fat boy blade is Molokai. Massive and another of my newbie blunders. Major difference is the width is narrower for a given area blade. You need one, I can feel it!

[mdsurf]

Mr Big,  the molokai is a big blade for moving big water.  I love mine with the xtufs in the surf.  I can't wait to try the new 95 in the surf and race