Going to Maui in a few days to meet up with some family vacationing from the mainland. I live on oahu and go to the big island once in a while but this will be my time first time on maui so any info would be great, we will be staying in Kihei at the Maui Kamaole condos. Are there any good surfspots you could walk to from the condos? The outer islands off of maui seem like they would block a lot of the south swells, where are the best and most consistent places to surf on the south and southeastern shores of the island? where should I teach them to longboard and bodyboard? where can I find a hollow left?
Wheres a good place to rent bobyboards and surfboards in Kihei? best place to buy or rent snorkels?
Any info on snorkeling, cliff diving, hiking, mountain biking and general tourist attractions would be great.
Oahu----------------I’ve got a bunch of info for you. I don’t have time right now to post it all in a thoughtful manner, but will get back to you tonight. I’ll give you the whole run down; surf spots, boards, snorkeling, food etc. and yes I will even tell you where there is a hollow left. Better rent a car though. I may private message you though. Is that ok? McDing
My wife worked at the whale sanctuary in Kihei for 2 years and I was back and forth from the mainland. I’ll give you what I know and ask her for more when she’s back in town.
For teaching someone to surf Kihei is actually pretty ideal. There is a place right out front of “downtown” Kihei called the Cove where they give lessons. Nice little ridable waves good for teaching someone to get up and turn. Whe the waves were a little bigger you can move 300 yds to the west for a little bigger wave a hundred yards further out.
I skipped renting a board and just bought one which I sold for $50 less several months later. way cheaper than renting withouit any of the hassle. Tho I recall there is a guy who rents boards at the cove called “Mango Manny” who will give you a break if you break the ice with a six pack.
For bigger waves on the South side of Maui we would drive up towards Lahaina. Had some fun at Puamana which is at a little car park right before you get to Lahaina. There were a few guys who rented boards / gave lessons there as well.
North side try Ho’okipa (sp) for some fun and standing on the cliffs and just looking at Jaws.
The Cove is always super crowded if there are any waves. If you do go there say hi to Kimo, Moon, and Dave. AS mentioned there are numerous spots along the way into Lahaina and “Breakwall” right in Lahaina is ok too, but shallow with some waiting coral. Hollow lefts this time of year?
Olowalu won’t be blocked much. Its a public at a series of road turnouts about 5 mi. south of Lahaina. You can find it on maps. Brings in souths nice. Going north from there, Launiupoko park has lots of peaks and is a prime beginner spot. There’s even a salt-water wading pool for kids protected from the waves. Its where the Ole surf fest is every summer. Puamana, as mentioned, but that’s mostly a right. Lahaina breakwater/yacht harbor (south end of town) stands a chance at barrelling lefts - well, lefts anyway. Same for sharkpit which is between Lahaina YH and Puamana.
was just on Maui two weeks or so ago, and drove from Kahului to Honolua. Flatter than shit all the way out, unless one-footers at Puamana float your boat.
Kihei has an occasional wave, and if you get far enough down the coast toward La Perouse, there can be some real nice waves. HOWEVER, your chances of getting decent south shore waves on Maui in the late end of a pretty-damn-small summer 2004 are pretty friggin bad.
You’d do better at Ho’okipa, but it’s gonna be side-onshore trades, a lot like surfing, say, somewhere on the windward side, maybe Pyramid Rock. Ho’okipa is hard bottom but not deadly shallow. The major bummer will be the windsurfers, but usually they are not early risers nor to they stay till late afternoon (if my experience at Diamond Head holds for the Maui group). Still, Ho’okipa needs some sort of north swell, so at this time of year the odds are pretty damn small. You’d be riding wind chop-and-slop, though this can be interesting, maybe even fun. Surely it’ll sharpen you up.