Decided on Maui for my kiting holiday, has anybody been and can suggest a good beach or accomodation there?
Paia is a cool little town nearest to Ho'okipa. There's a few other kiting possibilities nearby in the Sprecklesville area and also in the 'saddle' of the island.
The prevailing winds come from the East so the West side where all the big hotels are tends to be drier and calmer. Some amazing snorkelling.
I was there for a month for work but had my own accomodation so can't advise on that.
Island life-wise, you can hang out with all the honey mooners or try and meet some real down to earth people (Mana's Grocery Store in Paia would be a good start 
) and sample the legendary hawaiian culture / history / hospitality / friendliness / laid back attitude. There's lots of Americanisms, especially in town so be prepared.
Have a good one! Wish I was going back...
'Last night in my dreams
I saw your face again
On a wide (windy) sandy beach
Of Hawaii'
Hi Brian,
Maui doesn't exactly have a heap of great beaches to kite from, so you kind of have to make the most of what you have.
The main kiting beaches are Pro Beach (the one in all the old videos) and then Action Beach which is about 100m further downwind, just a stones throw downwind of that is the Poo farm 
You can launch a bit further upwind and ride up to "Lowers" which is the furthest downwind break from the Kanaha Beach Park. Don't go up to the beach park, it's windsurfing land and you won't be welcome.
You can also ride on the other side of the island at Kehei, can't remember the name of the spot, but brown water, small kickers roll in over shallowish reef. Pretty fun spot and not as crowded as main beach on the other side.
If you've got your game wound tighter than a swiss watch, you may like to try your hand at Lanes. Lanes is the eastern end of the North Shore further upwind than Paiia. It's right next to Ho'okipa Beach Park and is a great wave, dreadful launch over semi dry sharp reef in extremely gusty cross offshore wind. Expert only location on a decent day.
You can't kite anywhere along the north shore I thihnk between Mama's fish house and Kanaha due to the location of the Airport just near sprecklesville.
If I were you, I'd rig at Action Beach and ride way upwind to "lowers" and play up there. It's an easy fun wave in clean water, deeper reef and loads of open space, less gusty than Pro Beach, but it's just choppy surf.
Have a great time. Maui starts firing in May.
Good winds,
Paia is the way to go, you dont want to stay on the wrong part of the island as you will be doing a lot of driving to get back to the north shore for kiting. Its also the nicest town anyway - laid back and plenty of bars and places to eat, shops etc.
Check online for a range of accom options around there. Then you are 5-10 minutes drive from kitebeach (part of which is the pro pool), as described above. In season, its pretty much blowing every day - you'll be on your small kite 9 out of 10 days.
Kiehard said "Maui doesn't exactly have a heap of great beaches to kite from, so you kind of have to make the most of what you have."
how come maui is not as good for kiting as windsurfing then? Can't you kite at the windsurfing spots? (sprecks hookipa! etc)
Hi MYN,
No, you cannot kite at windsurfing spots!
You have to understand that Maui is a Mecca for kiteboarding and always has been since the birth of windsurfing. It gets absolutely chockers with poleys in the season. You cannot rig and kite at Kanaha which is the main beach park for poling. You cannot rig and ride at Sprecks because it is right by the runway and is crowded with Euro poleys.
You cannot ride Ho'okipa beack ark because again, this is probably the best known wave break for poleys in the world and as such draws massive crowds of Euro wannabes.
I've seen Ho'okipa dead flat and still has 20 windsurfers out.
Like I said, Maui is limited in places you can ride. Oahu has many more spots with cleaner wind and better launches. Friendlier crowd too.
Maui has stronger wind, but is definately gustier too. Small kites necessary. A 9 and 7 will do Maui nicely.
Cheers,
maui rocks. Never heard a bad word about it from someone who has been there June/July - It is wind on tap all day - everyday. Beaches are small as and real messy- no one ever seems to take home their litter? but on the water it is all good :-) NJOI
Yes to all these comments - I was based at Sprecklesville too. It's not the most amazing kiting every in my opinion - there are places in Australia that beat it hands down, but it is a mecca and interesting for that alone.
Handy hint...the coral has staph in it - do not get grazed. Launching at kite beach this isn't a problem but there are other places that are a bit sketch.
And no, I wouldn't be trying my luck at Hookipa.
Its great for windsurfing but pretty **** for kiting, go too Maritius!!! , now thats a kiting heaven
Went there in 05. Just after the redbull king of the air. All the big names were kiting kite beach. I talked to Hadlow and watched him kite. Maui is a place that i can say i've kited at but don't think i'll hurry back to. 60 other kites out,a smallish beach with thorns in the sand. Try it for yourself though.
Brian,
Been there about 5 times over the last 13 years, originally as a poley and most recently as a kiter. I love the place but thats probably because of the group I go with. The time of year will determine the likelihood of wind and size of the swell. August is a great time for wind with the trades coming in like clock work every day at around 11am. Local rules say no poleys or kites are allowed on the water before 11 anyway so it works out well. Dont stress, the wind stays until about 7pm every day.
As most have stated there are some exclusion zones typically based on the flight path of the air port. We kited mostly at a beach between Kanaha Beach Park and kite beach some may know as the canoe club, just north of the famous Pro pool. Popular spot which can get pretty busy at times. The water always looks busier than it is once you get out. Sometimes you need to body drag out 50m or so where the wind is not flukey.
The island is basically two volcanoes, the trade winds wrap around the larger and accellerate as it passes through, stangely you kite on the same tack on both sides of the island as the wind turns about 90 degrees. If the wind is a bit low on the north side it will be a few knots stonger on the south side at Kihea.
There are some good contacts on the island that specialise on accomodation for Kiters and Poleys, Wind Safari is one that comes to mind. The Guys at Al West can also hook you up with a station wagon or van at great prices, they come complete with racks, (for poleys) beach chairs and eskys!! There have been some recent changes to local laws re holiday rentals i.e. houses / apartments which has pushed some prices up particularly on the Nth shore.
If you want some more details or links or contact details let me know.
Regards,
Andrew S
Hi Guys
HERE in Maui right now....been here for a week...bit of break from Fiji and checkin in with the Maui Cabrinha guys before we open our FIJI PRO center in June at Safari Lodge.
THe wind has been really bad this week..only two days kiting...in 7 days ...lots of really unhapy aussies at the beaches......no kiting..no fun...
BUT our team has done awhole lot of touristy things.....cool fun!
I was last here in 1994 / 1993 / 1992 and 1991 so there have ben lots of changes here...like Kiting!! Darren is accurate with where you can kite..not as wide an area as you may think...We are staying at Maui Sunset and have kited directly in front at Sth Kehei...no wind on the Nth Shore at all since we got here a week ago....
Conditions here are cool for kiting...large grassy areas
Not a patch on Fiji but i am biased and going home to FIJI for a great kite on the weekend!! Rgds
Warren
