2011 Standup Paddling Awards

Jenny Kalmbach: 2011 Female Paddler of the Year

Standup Paddling (SUP) is a relatively new sport that's really taken off in Hawai‘i and around the world. Here at Holualoa Inn, our very own Jenny Kalmbach was recently crowned the world's top female paddler at the 2011 SUP Awards held in California last month.

If you happen to be staying at the Inn, you can easily recognize Jenny by her broad, strong shoulders — no surprise since Jenny is one of the most accomplished long-distance paddlers in the world. Last April, Jenny paddled across all of the major channels in the Hawaiian Islands, charting 300 total miles. Her amazing 82-mile trek from O‘ahu to Kauai took a grueling 16 hours to complete.

One of 15 wahine paddlers nominated for Female Paddler of the Year, Jenny said the award took her by surprise. "It was very exciting and very much of a shock. I just want to be a positive role model in the community and represent the sport of standup paddling the way it should be represented."

Jenny surfs Pavones in Costa Rica.

Jenny has traveled to places like Holland, Germany and Costa Rica to compete in SUP events. Her next adventure takes her to Canada, where she will paddle through a proposed tanker route while raising awareness against a pipeline slated to be installed in British Columbia. You can keep track of Jenny's SUP activities on her website: jennykalmbach.com. She's also on Facebook at facebook.com/jennykalmbachSUP

Beach clean-up

Active in environmental issues, Jenny says standup paddling offer participants a whole new perspective about the ocean. She thinks it's awesome that so many people are trying the sport. "The more time people spend on the water, the more they want to protect what they see."

Kona offers excellent places for beginners to learn standup paddling. Jenny recommends the pier area in Kailua Village, where Kona Boys provides boards and paddles for rent. Our Holualoa Inn ohana will also give you tips and advice on other great places to visit during your stay at our romantic Kona Hawaii inn.

Innkeeper Holualoa Inn