Just wanted to ask for wisdom and help. These emails came to light yesterday. Apparently a misled, but well connected person of the canoe club community has been giving false reports to influential political leaders in the community and as a result has gotten a ban placed on foiling in the harbor with zero input from the public.
The sad thing is that it never needed to come to this. Many in the foiling community are accomplished watermen and women on the island who participate in all sorts of water activities, including canoe paddling. There has been substantial efforts to be out of the water when the canoe clubs are practicing. There are no reported incidents between wing foilers and canoe paddlers.
Any wisdom, advice will be helpful. Please help protect the epicenter of Wing Foiling
The emails:
Subject: Banning recreational users at Kahului Harbor
FYI
From: "Kim, Duane SS"
Date: September 29, 2021 at 8:19:07 AM HST
To: Mahina Martin , "Sen. Gilbert Keith-Agaran" , "Rep. Troy Hashimoto" , "Rep. Justin Woodson"
Cc: Kauhane Luuwai MIL SEABURY , Owen Seiki , Keone Ball , Tiare lawrence , GMAIL-Sunshineorchids , "Lee, Rowland D" , "Asuncion, Shayna M" , "Koa, Henry" , "Brittain, Harold E"
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Kahului Harbor
Aloha Mahina,
Thank you for your email and I apologize for not keeping everyone informed of DOT Harbors' intentions to still prohibit any type of foil surfing in Kahului Harbor, including Kahului Bay.
Between September 1-30, we have been relegated to only one (1) Harbors roving security guard for all of Piers 1, 2 & 3. This made it impossible to post extra Harbors security officer in/around the parking lot at the end of Pu'unene Avenue as well as the beach areas where the foil surfers gather together.
We have a new DOT Harbors security contract in place for Allied Universal Security Services to start this Friday, October 1, 2021. We would need to provide them at least a couple of week to ramp up and train their security officers.
Word has already started to spread that DOT Harbors will prohibit foil surfing as I've already received a couple of letters/calls. We are prepared to post signs in a week or so to inform users of the date in which this prohibition will take effect, and my Harbor Master Notice will be posted on our DOT Harbors website. Based on our Harbors Administrative Rules, there will be "no in-between".
Respectfully,
Duane S. S. Kim
Harbors District Manager
DOT Harbors, Maui District
Get Outlook for iOS
From: Mahina Martin
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2021 9:15:25 PM
To: Senator Gilbert S. C. Keith-Agaran ; Representative Troy N. Hashimoto ; Representative Justin H. Woodson ; Kim, Duane SS
Cc: Kauhane Luuwai MIL SEABURY ; Owen Seiki ; Keone Ball ; Tiare lawrence ; GMAIL-Sunshineorchids
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Kahului Harbor
Aloha Senator Keith-Agaran, Representative Hashimoto, Representative Woodson, Harbor Master Kim -
First, I'd like to again mahalo each of you for your interest in our profound concerns regarding conditions at Kahului Harbor involving foilers and windsurfers. I'd also like to thank Representative Hashimoto for giving us an update in August. On behalf of our hui of paddling and fishing representatives, I'm writing to inquire on any progress made regarding our concerns and on our request for assistance in removing foiling and windsurfing activities from Kahului Harbor. The dangers posed by the inundation of foilers and windsurfers continues daily as does the disrespect our people are experiencing.
I'd like to reiterate that our interest is not to accommodate foiling and windsurfing activities in the harbor. The hazards their activities pose in the area and the ever-increasing volume of foilers and windsurfers create unsafe and unsuitable conditions between their use and cargo ships, tug boats, small boaters, paddlers, fishermen, divers and swimmers. Equally, we are reluctant to place the cultural practices related to wa'a and the rights of fishermen secondary to recreational foiling and windsurfing, As we've noted, Kanaha Park is nearby and already has accommodations in place. We are prepared to come forward and provide assistance to your efforts should you need a demonstration of support. We understand that there will likely be opposition to our position and would like you to know that we are committed to bring forward the larger paddling community on Maui and across Hawaii, as well as those from the fishing and boating community should there be a need to.
We look forward to learning more about what progress has been made and if there is a need for us to make a more public stand at this time in support of your efforts. We feel deeply that the situation will continue to escalate and sincerely appreciate your assistance.
Mahalo,
Mahina
385-1221
What a bunch of Haters!!
Really the only solution is to play the same game. Write to the relevant leader's and let them know the numbers of constituents who support foiling and windsurfing, make them aware of the economic impact of banning windsports in areas in Maui. Seek involvement from businesses who support foiling and windsurfing in Maui ( there's a lot), propose education programs and right of way rules then possible compromise on exclusion zones and times.
There is a lot that can be done but obviously this can take up a lot of time and energy!
Good luck with the fight, the harbour is really the only safe enclosed waterway for learners on Maui so its worth fighting for!!
Sounds a bit like Stand up paddling 2.0.Same sort of reaction of people that don,t like to share "there" spot and claim the other party is creating dangerous situations..
Dont have any advice for you, hope you can get it sorted out! Iwould remove all the names in the emails from your post for privacy purposes though, no need to put all those peoples names on the internet.
The harbor is such a great place for Maui's community be it paddling, winging, surfing, sailing etc. its really the only super safe and accessible place to learn wind sports on the north shore. I have seen the harbor bring so many people together otherwise inactive people into the water!
I understand the paddler's and harbor's frustration, though they aren't reported, wingers get in the way of the paddlers and commercial shipping almost every day and are a serious risk to the safety of the paddlers and themselves. The canoe club worked for years to be able to paddle between the buoys at the harbor, they have also do their best to avoid obstructing any shipping operations from the harbor.
I also have some concerns about grey areas in the new rule, like is prone/SUP foiling the surf spots still allowed? Does this restrict inside the red buoys or the entire harbor? Can we still end a Maliko run at the boat ramp? If not, what if out board is registered as a boat, we carry a radio and comply with the boating regulations when entering the harbor?
The foiling community should be a part of this to help educate them on what foiling is, how it works, and the different types of foiling.
Foiling is the new kid on the block, and as a collective, we need to show respect before we can make demands or expect much in return. The last thing we want to do is cause even more trouble.
Some things that I've seen help are to take an effort to teach newcomers safety, right of way rules, and general etiquette. Talk to the lifeguards, windsurfers, kiters, paddlers, fishermen and learn how to cause the least impact to their activities. Pay attention to what is happening around you, more than just the wind and waves. Don't be afraid so tell people they're doing something wrong, most people don't even realize and are happy to learn!
Ps: Any winger wanting to ride Ho'okipa point, please talk to the lifeguards and maybe some windsurfers before going out and follow their advice. The wave is definitely worth learning and I want some more wingers to ride with! 
Sounds sensible. Malama the harbour and all the different groups.
Maybe there could be a roster system so the harbour doesn't get too busy. Like foils on Fridays and windsurf Wednesdays, or something like that. Kinda like the public tennis court system in Hawaii.
I hear that there will be a meeting of the different groups soon to sort this out. Already wing foilers are trying to be good neighbors. If you been to the harbor lately, there are posted rules in several spots. People are getting out of the water when the tug boats are doing their thing. Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons the kids paddle, so all wingers leave and give them the whole harbor. We also pick up rubbish and keep the place nice. None of the homeless that were cleared out of Kanaha ended up at the harbor.
There are not "daily incidents" at the harbor. The reality is that activities that take place there happen at different times and locations. Canoe clubs usually paddle after work. Surfers are on the small boat harbor side. The sport is new, but not the folks that do it. The vast majority of wing foilers on Maui are coming from other water sports. There are folks from the canoe clubs that wing. Most of us surf, SUP and paddle. There are windsurfing and kite boarding folks.
