Wind
For current conditions iWindsurf has a sensor near Kanaha which gives a pretty good indications of the conditions there. They also have sensors at Kihei and Hookipa. If you’re not a member iWindsurf have a 10 day trial which gives access to all sensors.
The iWindsurf Kanaha forecast is also good for predicting the wind pattern though it seems to underestimate the local effects that accelerate the wind. Also worth a look is the NOAA forecast for Maui, though the forecasts are only given to the nearest 5 knots so for windsurfing it’s only useful for a general idea of if it’s going to be windy or not, i.e. a forecast of 10 knots probably isn’t worth it, 15 knots and up probably is. If you’re looking for slightly lighter conditions for intermediates then getting on the water at 11am can work as the wind may still be building, or getting on later in the day after 4pm may also be worth a try which also keeps you out of the sun.
It’s definitely worth adding some local windsurfing insight into the mix by following Jeff Bennett’s Twitter Feed and his blog. The Marine Winds section of Glenn’s Daily Weather Narrative can give you a good overview of what’s happening.
Waves
The NOAA surf forecast gives you an idea of what size waves to expect. Remember that local conditions will affect this to, for example Lowers will probably be breaking smaller than Uppers and Hookipa.
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If you’re an advanced sailor you probably know all the spots in Maui, and there is plenty written elsewhere about them, so here I’ll concentrate on Kanaha for beginners, intermediates and non-windsurfers.
Intermediates should love Kanaha, it’s a brilliant spot to improve your sailing and start getting out in the waves. The reefs at uppers protect the main launch from the swell so while there is a shorebreak it’s fairly tame even when there are mast high waves breaking on the outer reefs. The water upwind of the launch is generally pretty flat, so don’t worry if every picture you’ve seen of Maui has a monster wave in it, this isn’t like that at all. Beginner lessons are run before 11am (when you otherwise can’t sail) before the trade winds pick up - check with the schools who will be there with their vans, but it should be ok for you to sail without a harness in the top corner where they sail if you’re a beginner.
The beach does drop off quite quickly so it’s not the best place ever to learn beachstarts and waterstarts, and the it can be fairly choppy when the wind is up so it can be a challenging spot but in a good way! There is a very long stretch of sandy beach downwind with just a few rock breakwaters poking out to avoid if you end up downwind.
Kanaha beach park is a popular picnic and BBQ spot with locals, and there is a small marked swimming area with a chain to keep sailors out, so it’s not a bad spot to hang out if you’re not windsurfing. There are plenty of toilets and showers, but nowhere to buy food or drinks so bring a picnic. The grassy area is huge with plenty of shade, and unless you’re on the beach only a light breeze makes it through the trees. There is plenty of parking even on weekends so there’s no need to rush down to get a spot.
Hazards
A few things to be aware of:
- The “weird wave” which breaks straight out from the launch. This wave breaks almost upwind which means it can be hard to escape if you’re getting worked as the wind will push you back into the impact zone. Don’t be tempted into trying to ride it - nobody is on it for a reason! If you’re a beginner or intermediate just turn around before you get to it.
- There are quite a few small rocks rolling around in the shorebreak (broken off the reef) so if you’re spending a day working on waterstarts or beachstarts then booties might be a good idea. Don’t just jump off your board in the shallow water as you might well land on a rock.
- The trees drop spiky things everywhere on the grass at Kanaha, so some reef shoes or sandals will save your feet as you walk to the beach.
- Watch out for the chickens which seem determined to run under your car!
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When planning your trip you’ll probably go straight for your standard guidebook choice, like the Lonely Planet. These are great since you are probably familiar with the format and writing style.
What you definitely should consider though is a copy of Maui Revealed. It gives very in depth write ups of the key tourist activities (for example the Molokini snorkel trip reviews) and points out all sorts of hidden attractions - though for this reason it’s not so popular with a lot of locals who reasonably enough would prefer to keep quiet spots quiet! The writing style is annoyingly conversational, but the information content is huge, independent, and opinionated - unlike most books they’re happy to say when something is bad or not as good as advertised.
Buying through these links supports this site.
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The Highway to Hana gets near top billing in every guidebook, and they have plenty of detail on where to stop and how to plan your day so I’ll defer to them.
What you need to know from a windsurfing point of view is that this is a whole day trip, so plan it for a light wind day, or a rest day if you can! When the trades a lighter it probably means less rain as well which should make for a better trip.
Despite being 35-55 miles depending on where you start from, it’s a long drive with the majority of the trip is at a speed limit of 15mph due to the narrow winding roads you’ll be driving on - we counted 30 corners in a mile, and there are over 50 one lane bridges. For the driver this requires a lot of concentration so it’s easy to miss out on the views and spend all day trying to squeeze your van though narrow gaps. If you can share the driving and get a few people together that’s the way to go.
Be warned that everyone seems to set out between 8am and 9am, and parking spots at the various attractions are minimal, so you might not be able to stop everywhere you want. It’s kind of like a traffic jam but with amazing views. But if you’re coming back the same day you’ll find the same spots virtually empty in the afternoon, so you can plan on a visit then. Or if you’re staying over in Hana it might even be better to set out a little later.
On a practical note - make sure to bring mosquito repellent if you’re the type to get bitten, and some shoes or hiking boots you don’t mind getting muddy and a bit wet, since you’ll be doing at least a little bit of clamouring up wet boulders and muddy paths to get to some of the better spots.
admin off the water
If you’re coming from outside the USA then there will probably be a few unfamiliar things to be aware of when driving.
Drive on the right!
An obvious one, but it’s worth repeating to yourself if you normally drive on the left, lest your instincts take over when pulling out! Also important is to remember this when crossing the road so you are looking the right way for cars.
4-Way Intersections
These intersections have a stop sign for each direction, and right of way goes in order that the cars arrive.
U-Turns
You are allowed to do a U-Turn at traffic lights, unless these is a sign stating otherwise. This is especially useful as a tourist when you’re getting lost and need to go back to where you were.
Right Turn on Red
Unless marked otherwise, you can turn right at a red light after stopping.
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Safeway is generally more expensive than Costco, but has normal sized packaging so is great when you just want a small amount of something. You should definitely get a Safeway card right away as it’s free and gives significant discounts on some items - overall it works out at about a 10% discount.
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Costco in Kahului is members only, and is $50 to join. It’s a wholesale setup which means you can only buy large quantities like three huge jars of pasta source, or a tray of 24 peaches. However the deals can be amazing, like 24 cans of coke for $7, about 30c a can, so it doesn’t take long to make back the $50 membership fee - especially if your accommodation has a fridge big enough to handle the pack sizes. Though if you’re shopping for yourself you would need to be happy eating a lot of the same thing for days on end.
It’s also a good place to go straight after a sail as they always seem to have a few free food samples to tide you over before dinner!
The pizza at Costco is a pretty good deal, about $10 for a huge pizza easily enough for 2 people, maybe 3. It’s also available by the slice if you need a quick feed after windsurfing!
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