Where in Maui?

[Scotty]

Wife (non kiter) and myself (kiter) wish to vacation in Maui for the first week of April. I would like to kite and sight see with the wife. Any recommendations where to stay so I can be close to kiting spots? Some of the packages that Vela offer seem really pricey..

[knyfe]

I just came back from MAui and I have to admit it is not that good for kiting and a good "other" vacation too. Maui is great for sure no doubt about that. We had a Westfalia Camper van (http://www.imua-tour.com/) which was really insane as you can stop wherever you want and dont need to get back to the hotel.

The kite beach is really beside the airport (Kahului, parallel to the runway, dont get into the runway in and out) really similar to 3rd Av here. Reasonable kiteing but nothing nice around for others. Ok there is a beach but if you are out in Maui you dont want to end up with a beach where every 15 minutes a big plane goes right behind you. The swell was never as good as our coast here and the wind was not there every day too.

Most of the other beaches we went were not kiteable as hidden between rocks or wrong or no wind at all.

Just (nearly) forget about the kiteing if you are not alone there. Maui is just to nice on other spots that you dont want to get stuck at the airport. The drive to Hana is a blast! Before you go check if they opened HWY 31 in the south as we couldnt get through due to earth quake road damages. Or the North West is top too. Take your surfboard with you and you will get more time on the water and nice beaches. Oh, snorkeling not to forget!

Georg

try: http://www.mauikiteboardingassociation.com/ for more info

[fearlu]

April will be a lot better for wind based on my experiences there. Swell can go either way. Drive to lower Kanaha/Kite Beach every day after lunch and you'll be stoked! Plan it right and it's GREAT for two parallel vacations with two sets of needs.

I'm also going in April and bringing along non-kiting family members. It's the perfect spot for us since we typically snorkel in the morning as a family, eat lunch together, then kitesurf or sunbathe/swim/shop in the afternoons. Reconvene at the pool for cocktail hour. You may even catch a Kona day on the north winds and not make the drive at all.

Our pick is Wailea since it's got great beaches, world-class snorkeling and shopping and the North Shore is easily reached via the Kihei "Highway" for windsports. The Kaanapali "commute" is NOT recommended unless fighting traffic is acceptable for you. The Westphalia sounds like a great idea too. Be sure to pick up the "Maui Dive Guide" at one of their stores which are all over the island.

The road to Hana is something most people do... ONCE!

Have fun, the ocean experience there is second to none for ALL water lovers. Bring small kites too. The locals there thought I was absolutely NUTS to be riding a 13 when they were on 6, 8, 10...

[More Waves Please]

I'd have to agree with Fearlu over Knyfe's comments. My wife & I have been going to Maui at least once a year for the last 11 years. It's a great place for kiter and non-kiter.

April is getting into prime wind season for Maui. That time of year, most of your sessions will be on the North Shore around Kahului, but a spring storm may set you up with Kona (southerly) winds for a couple of days. Best places for Kona winds are around Kehei.

If you have family, then Wailea/Kehei on the South Shore is probably the best bet. Lots for the wife and kids to do, and about 15 minutes to the kiting beaches on the North Shore. Winds are generally calm on the South Shore, so nobody gets blasted on the beach. Waves are small (if any), and the water is clear and great for snorkeling.

I also agree with fearlu on the Westside towns of Lahaina - Kaanapali. Bad traffic and big crowds. Plus, it'll be about a 45 minute drive to the Kahului neighborhood. You might get lucky and score a session on the upper Westside, but the trades are gusty and unpredictible there since they have to "bend" around the NW point of the island.

If it's just you and your wife, then the North Shore towns of Paia and Haiku are great. Paia is a little hippy town right on the beach. Good food and a couple of decent bars. It's about 5 miles from Kite Beach, and there are some hidden spots in the Spreckelsville area. If you're into sketchy launches, you can even launch at Lanes just West of Hookipa. There are plenty of rental cottages in and around Paia.

Haiku is a little further East on the Hana Hwy and is a very quiet residential community. Same deal as Paia - plenty of rental cottages around. No nightlife at all, and you'll end up driving for just about everything.

Check out www.mauisurfnturf.com for some ideas on rentals.

[marina cc]

Check out the maui rental at www.kitelauncher.com. The inventor of this product just purchased and upgraded a very sweet 3 bedroom house complete with hi speed internet, flat screen dvd, etc. It's located in Paia. Mark does everything first class so I'm sure that it's fantastic!

If you book it, tell him marina from The Kiteboarder referred ya!

[knyfe]

Yeah, the impressions are different and depend on what you or your family is looking for on a vacation. Good that you have different impressions which helps Scott to make a better decision. Our drive to Hana took us 3 days and I would do it again ... Hana is not worth the drive but if you appreciate the beautiful nature with hikes and beaches and what else on the way to there...

Fearlu is right about Wailea as a main station, dont forget to get into the water snorkeling at Maui Prince and snorkel through the south (left). This was a rangers private recommendation and wow we saw heeps of BIG sea trutles. Nice nice nice.

I also think 13 is the biggest what you want to bring. If there is more wind at that time skip 13 and start with probably 10.

G

[max]

my wife and i were just there for the first time, and my recommendations are:


for sightseeing:

I thought the northeast of the island was super cool, but north + northwest was golfersprawlhell
the hoapili trail/la perouse bay is a nice area to hike



for kiteboarding:

I much preferred launching at the beach (canoe beach?) east of the canal, just east of the rock jetties. The easternmost one (where the schools are) seems to get more shadow off the trees and has an omnipresent and IMO irritating peanut gallery. and a much smaller launch.

(said before) bring a small kite.

ichiban is a kickass post riding dinner. Open until 7.. try the teriyaki ahi with gobo

[whitecap]

here is a take from left field....been there a few times, and almost always stay just upwind of sprecks/sugar cove.....Launched off of the beach at the sugar cove condos with don montague and some other locals...kinda a sketch launch in a wind shadow, but you can get upwind to secrets, which is a pretty sweet wave, although you have to fight to get your space among the windsurfers.

If you are always going to drive to the beach to kite at kite beach, think about going upcountry to Makawao.....no bugs, less humidity - cowboy country....plus they used to have a decent bar - forget the name...Charlies? Hard to escape the humidity at the coast, but it is nice up a couple thousand feet. we just got back from Cozumel, which was an interesting trip. Onshore wind and waves, with bikinis and margies at the launch...not a bad scene!

bob

[david]

Maui is awesome for kiting.(it is just hit or miss in the winter) ... if you can deal with a lot of wind and gustiness.

If money is an issue at all, I believe you will find the most affordable places in Kihei. And only takes about 15 minutes to drive to the north shore kite spots. (or about a minute to Kihei local spots)

And here is a good affordable one (a local windsurfer owns it):

http://bZsMaui.com

And, she does mortgages as well (here in the bay area), and if you use her for a mortgage, I think she may give a week for free at the condo. (tell her I sent you)