advice for Maui July/August please?

[Kyle]

Hey friends, my fiance and I are stoked to be planning our honeymoon in Maui and are looking for some advice. Two weeks total end of July through first week of August. We want to check out Kite Beach, and were planning to spend most of our time on that side of the island in Paia. Thought it would be easier to rent boards there and maybe even check out Naish and Cabrinha? But we've heard the Kihei side gets better waves in the summer and is now a very popular kite spot as well. So should we split our time? More time on one side or the other? Our quiver is 6/8/10/12... are we going to need a 4m this time of year?

Thanks so much for your help!

[ino]

Just go the island will present opportunities that can not be planned, Kihei is great Kitebeach is awesome you can even ride maalea and lahaina side

U ll probably not need a 4m unless you foil. Anywhere on kihei or kitebeach ask any locals and tell them I say hi. Maui is second home. U ll love it

[stewart]

We stayed in Kihei and had to commute to Kanaha to kite. There was no wind on that side of the island while we were there for a week. I just brought my 10m (6'1" 240lbs) and demoed equipment from Nash store. Was very easy to do. All of there boards were in excellent condition.

[doubledogdare]

I have been going to Maui every other year for about 16 years that time of year. I usually stay near Kaanapali beach only because I go with my wife and her family. Occasionally I get a few extra days off work and I will stay near Paia. My favorite place was Sugar Ranch Maui which is owned by a kiter and walking distance to the beach. A really narrow launch but doable for an advanced kiter. Not really any wave action during that time of year and its pretty flat out there compared to this last October when I went on my own to get some big surf .
When I'm based out of Kaanapali I drive to the wind and have never come across the right conditions in Kihei while I have been there, so I've never kited there. I hear its pretty nice and it also has to be the right "Kona Wind" conditions. Typically the trades are howling that time of year so I'm usually on my 7 or 9 Drifters(I'm 175lbs). Any lighter winds and I'm off sightseeing, hanging with the family and or hanging out at the beach ( there is a lot of other things to do in Maui besides kite).
Surf board baggage fees are outrageous now so I just rent. I pack my kite gear in a big duffel bag and check that in, pack my personal clothes and stuff in a carry on, and I usually get my board at Neil Pryde sports. Renting still comes out way cheaper than paying for one way of board baggage fees. Haven't done the twin tip in the "golf bag" for a while now so I don't know if they have caught on to that yet??

Hope that helped.. and congrats. A great place for a honeymoon.

Cheers,
Mike

[Kyle]

thanks so much everyone! Agree the best experiences cannot be planned in advance and typically happen unexpectedly with new friends. But we are hearing good things about Sugar Ranch and just looking to simplify the trip as much as possible and hopefully make some new friends along the way. We'll keep you posted and thanks again!! Kyle

[Aloha]

Also while we're on the topic of HI travel I just heard about this today - starting in Nov/Dec!

https://www.virginamerica.com/cms/trave ... new-routes

Hawaiian is a great experience - but I've never had a crazier Halloween than the night that began on a VA flight from SF to LA...

[pipedragon]

Kite beach will pretty much nuke everyday right at 11am. Late afternoons can be good in kihei but not as common in that time of year. Expect little to no wave kiting but expect to get good wind like everyday. I usually stay in Weilea but that is so the rest of the family has something to do. The drive to kite beach is 20 min. each way just don't go through the airport as this adds time. Make sure you also know the rules about kiting at Kite beach. Honestly it is not a big deal and everyone is cool but just so you know. http://www.mauikiteboardingassociation.com/

Also there is a theft problem if you park at kitebeach. Smash and grab so don't leave anything visible in your car but also they watch for your keys and wallets left in your gear on the beach. I carried only what I needed with me and kept keys and iPhone in an aquapack around my neck. Just FYI. I have been multiple times over the years and never had a problem. Have fun, best place to kite on earth IMO!