Continent
North America
Country
Hawaii (USA)
Next Big City
Kahului, Maui
Next Town
Kahului
 
Type:
Ocean
Rider Ability:
Intermediate, Expert
Features:
School, Toilet, Parking

Water

Type:
Flat, Chop, Small wave, Medium wave
Hazards:
No information
Quality:
Crystal clear
Best Tide:
Tide independent

Inside is flat and calm outside the point area is choppy and at the reef there are waves (righthanders). Water can be very packed.

Beach

Type:
Sand
Size:
Small
Hazards:
Rocks, Trees
Beach Users:
None

The best launch site has a point with riders launching one at a time. Rigging is under big trees and out of the wind and then you take your kite to the point with clean winds for launching. Launching off kitebeach can be tricky: ask the local riders for advice before launching to avoid causing potential danger to yourself and others.

Weather

Spring:
Shorts
Summer:
Shorts
Fall:
Shorts
Winter:
Shorts

The water is 78-80°F (26°C). Air 76°F in average year-round.

Wind

Best Months:
May, June, July, August, September, October
Wind Type:
Trade
Best Direction:
NNE, NE
Main Direction:
NE, ENE, E

Winds are sideonshore blowing from right to left towards the shore and will typically start up around 9 am until 6 pm. May thru October offers the best winds for windsurfing and kiteboarding. The further East the wind blows, the gustier it will be at the beach. Best with NNE, then you can ride onto the beach.



How to get there

Transport
Car
Access
Short walk

Kanaha Beach Park. Kahului International Airport. Get a rental pickup for about USD 20/day. It is THE kitebeach, so every surfer knows that beach. Located on Amala Place. Just west of the airport.

Extra information

Rules
Time

No kiteboarding before 11am! Fishermen, swimmers and outrigger canoes have right of way. Watch out for runaway kites since it is the playground for many pros practicing every day. Can be very packed close to the beach! Don't leave any cash or small valuable things in the car. No problem for gear. Better bring no cash or take it down to the beach. View the map and read the official rules: With the increasing popularity of kiteboarding, kiteboarders on Maui see the need to step up self-regulating efforts to keep the sport growing in a positive direction. In addition, all kiteboarders are under specific FAA waiver stipulations. The FAA waiver stipulates that all kiteboarders must comply with: 1. No maneuvers shall be performed over persons or property not involved with kiteboarding activities; 2. No kiteboarding in the 2 mile long by one mile wide corridor at the end of the runway in Spreckelsville; 3. The waiver is applicable and only valid between the hours of official sunrise and sunset; 4. All kiteboarders operating within the area from Ho`okipa to Waihee Point shall be responsible for seeing and avoiding non-participants; and 5. The kite will not be operated 125 feet above sea level. Maui County requires that windsurfers and kiteboarders observe the 11 o'clock rule , which was developed by windsurfers, fishermen, spear fishermen and swimmers 17 years ago, and adopted by the state. That rule allows for swimmers and fishermen to have exclusive access to the ocean prior to 11 am. After 11 am, when the winds pick up to near-full strength, windsurfers and kiteboarders have shared access, while watching out for any fishermen who may still be practicing their sport.

Nightlife

Kahului does not offer much in the way of nightlife...far better to go to Lahaina on the west side, Kihei on the south side, or up to Paia on the north shore.