Kite Boarding Maui July Any Tips??

Hi guys.

Im planning a trip to Maui on the end of a quick tour of America in July.
I expect to arrive in Maui 2nd or 3rd week of july.

My questions are to any body who has already done this is:

Where would be the best places to look at Kiting and nearby stay?

Where can I find Kite / Board hire?

Is there anything to watch out for over there that I may not be aware of?
(conditions, local rules etc)

Any feedback on past trips around this time of year would be great.

Thanks!!!

Hi Moustacheo,

I spent some months in Maui a few years back but I doubt it has changed much. I would be happy to go back anytime. July is a really windy time, 25 knots or more, day after day so you will be looking for a small kite. I don't know if you can rent but a search online will tell you. Used gear will be cheap compared to here. You will want to stay on the North Shore, the wind will be off shore on the south side. Paia is the cool hippie town on the north shore, there is a hostel there that is strictly run by a disciplinarian but is just a walk from the town center and beach. Wailuku is the armpit of Maui and the location of the Banana Bungalow, a bit more of a party hostel. They may even have shuttles to the beach, lots of kiters stay there and if the wind doesn't blow, not likely, or you need to rest, more likely, they have free tours. It is also fairly central, good for popping over to the south side for a surf out of the wind, or a beer in Lahina. Haiku has lots of laid back rural type accommodation and is a very nice area, but you will be driving more, especially if you want to surf and have to go to the south side due to wind.

Kiting was mostly at kite beach, just downwind from Kanaha Beach Park. Upwind from Paia is the famous Hookipa, a big wave spot, over run by pro windsurfers, however the very next break down, Lanes, is pretty much kite territory. Further downwind from kite beach is the break Sandpiles at Waiehu Beach there, is some onshore wave action here as opposed to sideshore on the reefs. I think kites have probably spread out more now and probably go off the beaches around Paia.

As for rules, well it would be nice to kite from Kanaha, the windsurf launch, but the airport won't have it, they don't like the blips on their radar. Also, you can't windsurf or kite before 11:00 am, to share the beaches with surfers and fishermen. This is not a problem as the wind comes up around this time anyhow, and do you need more than 6 hours on the water?

Rent a car so you can cover the island, drive around the north end of the island, don't bother driving around the south end, past Hana is a waste of time.

All in all it is well worth the trip, there is really good snorkeling all around the island as well, so have a great time!

Matt - most the kiting on Oahu is at Kailua, the windward side, and pretty popular it is. This was the cradle of windsurfing but the wind is often too light so kites have taken over. If the wind cooperates the north shore is a big play ground, but no waves in July. Diamond Head on the south side might be the go if the wind and waves cooperate. Consider a cheap flight to Maui instead. If you have a small kite take it too, if you can rent it will cost. A bicycle box will fit 2 kites and a twin tip, or cut it down for one kite if you don't have a travel bag.

Cheers