Chad Kikuta couldn’t take his eyes off the picture. While surfing the Internet about a year ago, he came across a photo of people stand-up paddling (SUP) at sunset on boards equipped with lights that illuminated the water below and around them.

"The picture looked otherworldly," he said. "The caption below it read, ‘I Waaaant That,’ and that’s exactly how I felt."

The idea of paddling at night on lighted boards intrigued him, but he wasn’t sure if the boards really existed; he thought the image might have been digitally altered. A Google search confirmed that the boards were indeed available and that evening SUP tours were being promoted across the mainland but not in Hawaii.

"Kind of strange, right?" Kikuta said. "Surely we must have the most surfing and paddleboard companies in the world, yet no one here was offering that cool activity. The more I thought about it, the more I realized there are very few outdoor nighttime activities in Hawaii. Things started clicking in my brain. I could fill that void!"

Although Kikuta had never tried SUP in the dark before, he could see its potential. At the time he was between jobs, searching for a passion in life that he could turn into a career.

"When I saw that picture of the lighted SUP boards, I got a gut feeling that this was it," he said. "I love being outdoors, and I had spent most of my adult life working in the food-and-beverage industry, so I knew I could be successful in a customer service-oriented business."

Enthused, Kikuta began obtaining the equipment, knowledge and skills he needed to launch Nocturnal Adventures Hawaii. Selecting the final tour locations was his biggest challenge because he had to consider several factors, including safety, convenience, accessibility and tidal conditions.

He predicted his tours would primarily attract people with little to no SUP experience, so the water had to be deep enough for paddling but relatively flat. Ample parking, well-lit facilities and areas that were legally open at night were other requirements.

"I spent months driving around Oahu, stopping at every location that looked promising," Kikuta said. "I tried them out myself first, and if I liked them, I set up test runs with friends and family to see what they thought. I took detailed notes on the facilities, parking, closing times and water conditions. I also chose sites that I thought were scenic, that had some ‘wow’ characteristics that would make the experience special."

The boards add even more drama to the experience. Two waterproof LED bars attached beneath the board emit 2,000 lumens of light, which glows 10 to 15 feet around the board. In addition, participants wear a glow-in-the-dark necklace, and guides put on a headlamp to help shine the way.

Nocturnal Adventures Hawaii welcomed its first guests in March. Two options are available: the Firework Friday Adventure and the Hale­iwa Sunset Adventure. Both tours last two hours; after an orientation, participants spend 90 minutes on the water, starting just before sunset.

According to Kikuta, it’s safer and easier for novice paddlers to get the hang of SUP while there’s still some light. They also appreciate watching the sunset while they’re on the water, and as twilight descends, the LED bars beneath their boards become brighter, enabling them to catch glimpses of coral, fish, urchins, turtles and other marine life.

"Obviously, I can’t guarantee the equivalent of Hanauma Bay (Oahu’s most popular snorkeling site)," Kikuta said. "Also, visibility depends on weather conditions; for example, if it’s windy, ripples and churning sediment make it hard to see anything. But just paddling when it’s dark is a thrill. Sight is our most prominent sense, and it’s scary for most people when that’s taken away. At the same time, though, that’s what makes nighttime SUP exciting."

For the weekly Firework Friday Adventure, participants first cruise around the reef and shallow waters near the Hilton Hawaiian Village Wai­kiki Beach Resort, enjoying sunset and the spectacular panorama of Diamond Head and the Wai­kiki skyline.

When the fireworks show that the hotel sponsors fills the sky with vivid bursts of color, the group has "the best unobstructed ‘seats’ from the water," Kikuta said. "We’re so close — the fireworks are so big and bright — it’s as though they’re exploding right above us. It’s an entirely different perspective than seeing the show on land."

The Haleiwa Sunset Adventure takes visitors to the rural North Shore where one highlight is sunset sans crowds and skyscrapers. Without competition from city lights, the moon and stars then take center stage.

"As we glide down the Ana­hulu Stream, we notice the stars — how many there are and how bright they are," Kikuta said. "If the moon is full, that’s an extra treat. Chances are we’ll spot honu, Hawaiian green sea turtles, along the way. It’s a really peaceful and relaxing trip.

"Our SUP adventures are not races or ‘extreme’ wave-riding activities. Rather, they give people opportunities to slow down and enjoy nature when the sun goes down — to experience a little bit of night magic."

Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Star-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.