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Maui Travel Tips
Untitled Document
Table of Contents
- Should I bring my gear or rent?
- What restaurants would you recommend?
- What can I do if it doesn't blow?
- All I see are pictures of big waves. Can beginners
sail on Maui?
- What about
Jet Lag?
- Should I rent a car or a van?
- When is the best time to sail on Maui?
- What if I decide to purchase gear on Maui?
- Annual events around Maui
I love to rent because:
Matching gear to conditions!
Maui has waves, flat, chop, strong winds, light winds and a huge variety of
conditions. Trying to bring the perfect gear for meeting these conditions can be
challenging as well as very expensive. When I rent, I always have the proper
gear for the conditions. Maui Windsurf Company is only 2 miles from the beach
and its free to change my gear as many times as you like.
Travel made easy!
I just pack my harness, a pair of gloves, shorty-wetsuit or shorts/rash guard
and I'm set! No bags no airport hassles. No extra baggage charges. Maui Windsurf
Company even gives me a FREE car rack or will arrange for a windsurfing van
rental.
Try the new gear!
Renting makes it easy to try a lot of different gear during my stay. Maui
Windsurf Company rents the latest gear from GOYA boards and GOYA sails Try a range of equipment to see what works best for you.
No wind refunds!
If you rent and it doesn't blow, Maui Windsurf Company will let me use their Surf
boards and Boogie Boards for FREE.
I love to bring my gear because:
You are willing to do other things if the wind doesn't blow.
If you fly direct to Maui, it only costs $125 each way to bring my gear and you are
staying for more than two weeks. Renting for that long can be a bit more
expensive. I know that Maui Windsurf Company offers great prices on longer term
rentals but since you are staying for so long, you are willing to do other things if my
gear won't work for some conditions.
You are staying for a short period of time and I don't want to spend a whole week
getting use to a different setup. I realize that Maui Windsurf Company offers
high-performance gear and they're always happy to take the time to set up my
gear but I've been sailing on the same equipment for over 5 years and
nothing else seems the same.
The food is unbelievable on Maui. You can find cuisine from almost any part
of the world. These are some of my favorites:
On the North Shore:
- Mama's Fish House (one of the best reastaurants on Maui)
- Jacques Northshore (the party is on Friday nights otherwise a good restaurant)
- Milagros (good Mexican restaurant with Pacific influances)
- The Fish Market (try the Ono burger)
- The Flatbread Company (BEST organic Pizza)
- Cafe des Amis (good crepes and authentic curry)
- Fresh Mint (very good vietnamese vegetarian restaurant)
Up Country
- Polli's (all time favorite for Mexican)
- Casanovas (goot Italien)
- Hali'imaile (first class cuisine)
I think Maui is one of the best destinations in the world to have a windless
windsurfing vacation. Here is a short list of thing to do:
- Surfing - South shore, North shore, any shore. The waves get better when
the wind dies. This is the perfect compliment to the sport of windsurfing
- Helicopter Tours - Spectacular views of the entire island from the top of
the volcano to waterfalls to scenic landscapes.
- Hikes/Hana Highway - Take your time on this drive and stop to visit remote
waterfalls.
- Bamboo Forest - Hike through a bamboo forest to three beautiful
waterfalls.
- Waterfalls - More than you can imagine
- Lava Flow - South shore lava flow against the blue background of the
ocean makes for spectacular pictures.
- 10,000 ft. Downhill Bike Rides - Several companies on the island will pick
you up, drive you to the top of Haleakala to watch the sunrise then guide
you back down 10,000 feet on a bike. When traveling from the east of Maui it
is best to do this during the first few days on the island. Your jet lag
will be working for you!
- Snorkeling/Scuba Diving - Fantastic snorkeling from many south shore
beaches. Maui has clear water a wide variety of tropical fish. We rent
snorkel gear for only between $6 per day. If Scuba is your thing, Maui
Dive Shop offers dive tours for all ability levels.
- Golf - Some of the best courses in the world are on Maui. The Kapalua and
either of the Makena courses are my favorites.
- Other - Luau's, Outrigger Canoe Rides, Parasailing, - Most of the
major hotels offer weekly luau's.
You can book most of the activities in our shop!
Stop by the store any time and we'd be happy to recommend something for you
to do. Most of the hikes and snorkeling are free and we'd be happy to guide you
in the right direction! If you need help booking other activities, we'd be happy
to assist you with that as well.
YES!! Maui is the perfect place for beginners. Kanaha beach is fully
protected from the outer reef and is an excellent place for beginners and
intermediate sailors to learn and perfect their skills. It offers a shallow
launch with light winds where sailors can easily transition to the next level. Maui Sports Unlimites will provide you lessons.
Together, we can get you to the next ability level in no
time!
What
about Jetlag?
When traveling from the East Coast, try to get a flight which lands me in
Maui late in the evening. Then, I try to stay awake as late as possible and
sleep as late as possible the next morning. This usually kills the jetlag
quickly. When leaving the Island try to leave as late as possible, get as much
sleep as you can between Maui and LA, change planes, have breakfast. Upon arrival
on the East Coast stay up as late as possible, sleep late the next day and
jetlag is again minimized.
If you plan on traveling with a group or you have a large amount of
equipment, we would recommend that you book a regular compact car. Since we offer the roof racks for free and all cars have seats you can fold down you will save quite some money. Only if you are in a larger party go with a van. Maui Windsurf Company can help
you do this.
The summer months are generally the windiest, with days on end of 4.5 and
smaller. As we approach winter, the wind can get a bit more fickle, but the
wave height increases. Winter can also allow some "Kona" storms to pass
through the islands creating some epic port tack wave sailing.
Maui has a huge selection of equipment that is state of the art and designed
for the conditions on Maui. In addition to those custom hot rods, shops like
The Maui Windsurf Company have a great selection of the new "custom
production boards" from GOYA. This new breed not only works as great if
not better than the customs, but also performs equally well on Lake
Wherever.
Should it be sails, masts, extensions or booms, or even that form fitting
wetsuit that makes you at least look like the King of the Surf, all your
needs can be met with one stop shopping.
When your shredding vacation comes to an end, gear purchased from us can be
packed and shipped to your door step, or carry it with you on the plane for
approx 150.00 for each connection.
Every summer, the Maui Race series holds a series of events for amateurs and
pros alike. From May through August racers compete in different formats for
their chance at glory. The Professional Windsurfing Association holds it's
final stop on the PWA tour with the Aloha Classic held at Hookipa
Beach Park. Pros from all over the world converge on Maui to battle in the
surf for a chance to be called number one. Whoever said windsurfing wasn't a
spectator sport.
October on Maui ushers in the "Marti grad" of the pacific with the annual
Halloween festivities in Lahaina. With food, games and a definite party till
you drop attitude it is something not to be missed.
The Taste of Lahaina and the Kapalua Wine Symposium are two culinary and
palate delights sure to impress every connoisseur. Chefs from all different
walks band together to create taste extravaganzas, in an open-air
atmosphere. Definitely something to experience.
On going events at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center are always worth
looking into. Every thing from great concerts under the stars to diplays of
modern and Hawaiian art, the MAC is full of many opportunities to learn and
enjoy.
The Maui Ocean Center in Maalea is our new aquarium, home to hundreds of
Hawaiian water reef and deep ocean fish and other creatures. By strolling
along the plexiglass walls you will learn what lurks beneath you in the big
blue.
Skip Dennis-Christian Weers.
Copyright © 1999 Maui Windsurf Company. All rights reserved.
Revised: September 11 th 2007
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