A kite over the beach at Kanaha — Photo: Kirt Edblom

Kites and windsurfers off Kanaha Beach Park, Kahului behind. — Photo: JeanTessmer

A kiter in the air at Kanaha. — Photo: Kirt Edblom

The beach at Kanaha from a grassy dune. — Photo: Forest and Kim Starr

United States

May · 91% rideable

Kanaha

What it's actually like

Wingers pick between Kite Beach and the wide Naska, Old Man’s and Naish beach, with the reef offshore and bump-and-jump chop inside. The trades build through the morning to about 18 knots from June to August, and riding starts after 11am.

Aloha (hello, and goodbye too) and welcome to Kanaha Beach Park, on Maui’s north shore at Kahului, right beside Kahului Airport. It is a long beach and the home of Maui’s kite schools. Locals split it into School Beach, Ka’a Point or Pro Beach, Naish Beach and Old Mans Beach. The trade winds blow in from the north-east and east-north-east, and a reef sits offshore with waves breaking on it.

The wind figures hold for March to September, November and December. June and July are the pick: the wind clears 12 knots for at least three daylight hours on 98 days in a hundred, and August is close behind at 96. The mean over those rideable hours is about 18 knots. In July the trades are at 12 knots or more on nine days in ten from 10am to 6pm. January, February and October have no wind figure.

Naska, Old Man’s and Naish have the widest beach and are where schools and beginners go, along with Teach Beach. Advanced riders head for the wave breaks. Pro Pool has the closest parking and the least space. The inside at Naska, Old Man’s and Naish is reef-protected and reportedly about 50 cm to 2 m deep, with the reef break some 500 m offshore.

The kite launch the Maui Kitesurf Community describes is at the far west end of the park, rated intermediate: you should be able to launch and land on your own. The entry road is poorly kept, and in winter the approach can fill with water. The rigging area is sheltered unless the wind blows from the north or from under 40 degrees, and the protected pond makes it popular with families. Fishermen like it too, with crowds fishing for oama in the pond in spring.

There is only one place to launch, so keep it clear of gear. Launching is easy in a north-east wind. It is tricky in east-north-east, when trees on the upwind point block it, and the community suggests a drift launch. Come back in through Pro Pool and drop the kite downwind of the launch zone, or land at Teach Beach when the beach is busy. Never come in through the pond: children swim there, the rocks are dangerous and a kite can end up in the tree.

The tide barely moves, with a mean range of about half a metre at the Kahului gauge, though at low water the reef sits closer to the surface. Inside the reef the water is bump-and-jump chop. The outside breaks work on a north swell, and the winter surf is much bigger.

The reef is the hazard. Watch for sharp coral reef and rocks, especially at low tide. The Weird Wave area between Lowers and Uppers breaks unexpectedly. Stronger currents run around the reef and the wave zones.

Hawaiian Sailboarding Techniques teaches windsurf, kite and wing, with its instructors in the water beside you. The Kiteboarding School of Maui teaches kite and wing at Kanaha. If you are new, start with a school on the sandy sections; the reef and the waves outside are for riders who can look after themselves.

Rules and safety. Hawaii Administrative Rules §13-256-130 keep swimming zones A, B and C for swimming only, with no vessel or sailboard inside them. They allow no sailboard launch from Kanaha Beach Park before 11am. Windsurfing lessons and beginners are allowed within 300 feet of the shore, between zones A and B, after 9am. For kites, the FAA waiver allows kiting only between official sunrise and sunset, no higher than 125 feet above sea level. No kiting is allowed in the corridor 2 nautical miles long and 1 nautical mile wide off the end of the runway. The lifeguard tower is staffed from 8am to 4:45pm; when no lifeguard is in the tower, call 911.

When it's good

Is it for you?

LevelKnee taxi to sustained flights
Learn wing with a school on the sandy sections; the reef is for confident riders.
WaterSmall chop to head-high
Outside breaks work on a north swell; inside the reef it is bump-and-jump chop.
LaunchMind your feet
Sandy launching areas, but keep clear of the sharp reef when you fall.
WetsuitBoardies
Sea about 26 °C in May: boardies weather, with a rash vest at most.
AprèsLights out at nine
No bar within 5 km, but 32 places to eat: early nights, early sessions.
CostNot checked yet

Where to launch

Conditions change. Check local rules and conditions before you ride.

Launch
Parking
Stay

Kite Beach

The kiting area at Kanaha.

For kite, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Naska, Old Man’s and Naish

The widest beach, used by schools and beginners.

For kite, windsurf, wing. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps
Pro Pool

Closest parking and the least space.

For kite. Directions: Google Maps · Apple Maps

In an emergency

Emergency, outside lifeguard hours 911

Getting there

Nearest airportKahului (OGG). Maui’s main airport sits right beside the beach park, so you’re rigging not long after landing.
Getting aroundCar. Reach the park by Amala Place in Kahului, a short drive from the airport.

Stay, learn and rent

Full details for every place are in the Pocket Guide.

Aloha Surf Hostel

Budget hostel on Baldwin Avenue in Paia, between Ho’okipa and Kanaha, with secure gear storage in the six-bed dorms, and private rooms.

Website

Maui Seaside Hotel

A hotel on Kaahumanu Avenue in Kahului, with Tante’s Island Cuisine on site.

Pocket Guide

Kanaha, in your pocket

Everything you need on the beach in one PDF. Save it to your phone and it works with no signal.

01The month: wind, conditions and water02Every hazard, and the local rules03The launches, with maps04Getting there with kit05Stays, schools and kit hire06Where every score comes from

Kanaha

When it's good

Is it for you?

Where to launch

Kite Beach

Naska, Old Man’s and Naish

Pro Pool

In an emergency

Getting there

Stay, learn and rent

Aloha Surf Hostel

Maui Seaside Hotel

Hawaiian Sailboarding Techniques

Kiteboarding School of Maui

Action Sports Maui

Kanaha Kai

Second Wind Maui

Kanaha, in your pocket

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