windsurfing Kailua Kona Mar and April

johncaloundra · Joined: 30 Nov 2010 Posts: 1

Wondering if there is wind over 20Knots at this time of the year in Kailua Kona. Looking at spending 3 - weeks there next year if there is wind of course.

carl · Joined: 25 Feb 1997 Posts: 2674 Location: SF bay area

Maui is a much better choice.
The K-Kona side of the big island is in a wind shadow for the normal
ENE trades. I hear there are no WS rentals either.

windsrf · Joined: 01 May 1998 Posts: 464

Many years ago you could rent from Dave at A-Bay (old Sheraton Hotel) about 20 min north of Kona airport. However, winds were almost never adequate. Much better for kiting. Plus many coral heads to dodge - ouch. Body surfing at Hapuna is much better option (another 10 min north or so).

weihlac · Joined: 21 Apr 2000 Posts: 12 Location: Maui

Wind on the Kona side of the Big Island generally doesn't exit at any time of year. The NE trades are blocked by two 13,000+ foot mountains.

For example, today (now--12 noon) at Kanaha on Maui it is blowing 31 with gusts to 35 (since 10 AM HI time) and the Big Island sensor at Keahole Point is reading 9.

If you really want to windsurf, go to Maui in Mar-April

hammerton · Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 49

I'm not an expert on windsurfing on the Big Island but I do have customers from there and the majority fly over to Maui to go windsurfing! Sometimes there is windsurfable wind on the windward side they tell me (5.8 or bigger sails).

Bottom line: Kailua Kona is good for sportfishing (due to the exceptionally calm waters and abundance of Billfish) but bad for windsurfing.

MalibuGuru · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 9300

Great sailing near Waikoloa. No rentals that I know of.

goinoff · Joined: 01 Feb 1998 Posts: 154

I been to the Mauna Lani area a number of times in July and the wind cranks there at least every other day.. I've only seen a few windsurfers and kiters goin at it in the area and I've also seen a few around the Hilton Waikoloa Village area.

Hit Hapuna Beach for body surfing and if there is a good south swell you can surf next to the cliff at the end of the beach..Also, for snorkeling, check out beach 69 which is the next bay over from Hapuna.

Beach 69 parking lot:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=waikoloa&fb=1&gl=us&hq=waikoloa&cid=0,0,17482926888159153879&ei=FCf5TPCNK4K-sQOjz9XOAg&oi=local_result&ved=0CDcQnwIwAQ&ll=19.980876,-155.827814&spn=0.003206,0.002822&t=h&z=18&iwloc=A

Hapuna parking lot:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=waikoloa&fb=1&gl=us&hq=waikoloa&cid=0,0,17482926888159153879&ei=FCf5TPCNK4K-sQOjz9XOAg&oi=local_result&ved=0CDcQnwIwAQ&ll=19.990641,-155.824167&spn=0.006412,0.005643&t=h&z=17&iwloc=A