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Kitesurf in Hawaii : all you need to know

Hawaii, it’s one of the cradles of kitesurfing, maybe a good idea for a stay?

The best season extends from June to August or even September.

The best kitesurfing spots are certainly on the side of Maui.

High Season

From June to August (or even September for Maui)

Required level

All levels

Best suited for

Group|Family|Couple

Budget

€€€

Spots

Freeride, waves, freestyle

Other activities

Hiking, surfing

Why kitesurfing in Hawaii is a good choice ?

Hawaii, the favored land of Robby Naish and Pete Cabrinha, is undeniably the Mecca of windsurfing and kitesurfing…

While Hawaii’s reputation is well established, it is a bustling tourist destination, complete with all the necessary infrastructure. However, all the islands of the archipelago also harbor beautiful landscapes, to be discovered through excursions on the volcanoes, mountains, and other peaks.

You will inevitably have a stopover in San Francisco, Los Angeles, or Seattle in most cases. However, it is sometimes more cost-effective to take two separate flights.

Best period and spots to kite in Hawaii

In particular, the islands of Maui and Oahu are the most renowned. They indeed offer some of the most impressive waves on the planet, reserved for the best surfers and waveriders, as well as more versatile spots for freeride enthusiasts (particularly Kailua in Oahu and Kitebeach in Maui).

Best season (for kiting): June to August (but the season is much longer in Maui due to its shape and mountains: it goes from March to October).

Discover the kite spots in Hawaii

Kailua

Kailua, a versatile spot where it is possible to start.
Best season : From June to August
Spot type : Flat, choppy, waves

Maui Kitebeach

Maui is one of the birthplaces of kiteboarding, there are some very nice spots on this island in the Hawaiian archipelago.
Best season : From March to October
Spot type : Flat, choppy, waves

What we love most

Drawbacks

  • Consistent wind
  • World-class waves
  • Surfing Way of life
  • Very expensive
  • Mass tourism
  • Long journey

Our best advices to travelers

How to get there ?

Travel time: It takes 18 – 24h
Direct flight: no
Time difference: UTC-10
Airlines: United – Air France – Delta Airline – Air Canada – American Airlines – KLM
Main airports: Honolulu (HNL) on the island of Oahu and Kahului OGG on the island of Maui
Flight price: Prices range from 1000 to 1500 euros depending on the season.

Formalities

  • Mandatory vaccines: No specific vaccines required
  • Visa requirements: No visa required for stays up to 90 days
  • Electrical adapter: Type A and B electrical outlets, same as in the US and UK
  • Official language: English
  • Currency: US Dollar

Additional tips

Like on the rest of American territory, it is better to take laws seriously!

Renting a car is essential to get around (you should budget at least $150 per week).

Do not be mistaken: life is expensive in Hawaii, due to tourism!

What are the best non kitesurfing activities ?

The Hawaiian archipelago is quite vast, and is full of tourist activities. Overall, it is better to plan for a sporty stay.

It will be an opportunity to test out legendary surf spots, or to go on beautiful hikes to the summits of volcanoes.

Hawaii is a very hilly archipelago.