Where to kitesurf/windsurf and where to stay in Maui?

Dorte · Joined: 12 Mar 2012 Posts: 1

G'day!
We are from Australia and are keen to go to Hawaii for a holiday. This would involve some water action in form of kite and windsurfing. Maybe some surfing, if you twist my arm Smile

Anyhow... we are one really good windsurfer who would like to give the good ol' kite board a go

One kitesurfer who knows a teeny tiny bit but needs an easy spot to improve (flat water would probably be my pick)

And the third partner in crime is only two. I goes he has no choice but follow his parents...

So my question is: WHERE TO GO?
And: Where to stay if you don't want to pay $600 / night?!?!?

I am very grateful for any tips! Thanks

D

rich1 · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 146

So many options, it boggles. 100 to 130/night is totally doable for a very nice place to stay.

What time of year are you planning?

kellygeygan · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 47

Haiku was nice and for the money, was the best I found. Its been a while but we paid $80 a night for a nice place with a private hot tub and BBQ....Under $100 a night is likely still attainable.

tmmaui · Joined: 27 Jun 1994 Posts: 46 Location: CA/HI

Contact Matt at matt@pritchardwindsurfing.com, or go to his website http://www.pritchardwindsurfing.com/, for help on where to stay on the North Shore of Maui as well as gear rental. Also check out http://mauisurfreport.blogspot.com/ for info on Maui's water sport activities. For kite boarding activities (lessons, rentals, etc.) try contacting Suzie and Dave Dorn (Dave is a fellow Aussie) at suzie@actionsportsmaui.com. Good luck.

stevenbard · Joined: 11 Nov 1993 Posts: 2721

Matt is a good contact for sure.

One warning about kiting on Maui. There is a lot of wind, and there are a lot of rocks. Kite beach at Kanaha is workable and you can windsurf from there also, but be careful launching a kite unless you're really good. There is no question that Maui is a better windsurfing destination than kiting spot.

North shore is affordable. Check vrbo.com for Paia, Haiku, and North Shore/Upcountry Maui.

rich1 · Joined: 10 Apr 2000 Posts: 146

And... one warning about the north shore. I've been staying in the Haiku area for the last 12 or 13 years and I love it. I've just come back from 2 weeks there and it rained every day. This is not unusual for the winter. I can't speak for the summer, never been there during that time. Things start drying up as you travel west past Hookipa, but if sunshine is a priority, then the leeward side might suite you better. We prefer the N shore for the windsurfing proximity and there's lots of very private quiet places to rent.

Why bother learning to kite if you are a really good sailor? Maui is great windsurfing conditions, full stop. If I was planning on learning to kite, I'd do it somewhere where the windsurfing was nothing special.

Also, anything sandwiched between the ocean and the airport will be noisy. Better to stay elsewhere and drive to Kanaha than stay in a beach place in that area IMHO

Have fun,

Chris