Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [264]
KITESURFING
There’s no better place to learn kitesurfing, also called kiteboarding, than at Kite Beach, at the southwestern end of Kanaha Beach Park (Click here) in Kahului. Vans and instructors set right up in the parking lot.
You can get the lowdown on everything to do with kiteboarding from the Maui Kiteboarding Association (www.mauikiteboardingassociation.com) and Maui Kitesurfing Community (www.mauikitesurfing.org).
SCUBA DIVING
The granddaddy of Maui dives is the islet of Molokini (see the boxed text, Click here), whose steep crater walls nurture an amazing variety of sea life. Another prime dive is at the untouched Cathedrals, on the south side of Lana′i, which takes its name from its underwater caverns, arches and connecting passageways.
Most dive operators on Maui offer a full range of dives as well as certification courses. And if you’ve never tried it before, introductory dives for beginners get you beneath the surface in just a couple of hours. Book directly, and don’t monkey around with activity desks.
SNORKELING
Don a mask and fins and a whole other world opens up. The waters around Maui are a kaleidoscope of colorful fish, coral and honkin’ big sea turtles.
For phenomenal snorkeling right from the beach, top spots include Malu′aka Beach, dubbed ‘Turtle Beach’ (Click here), in Makena; ′Ahihi-Kina′u Natural Area Reserve (Click here), south of Makena; Ulua Beach (Click here) in Wailea; Pu′u Keka′a (Click here), aka Black Rock, in Ka′anapali; Kapalua Beach (Click here); and, in summer, Slaughterhouse Beach and Honolua Bay (Click here), north of Kapalua.
Snorkelers should get an early start, as not only does the first half of the morning offer the calmest water conditions but some of the more popular places begin to get crowded by 10am. Snorkeling gear can readily be rented at reasonable prices from dive shops or at more inflated prices from hotel beach huts.
A terrific destination for snorkeling cruises is the largely submerged volcanic crater of Molokini (see the boxed text, Click here), off Maui’s southwest coast. The best place to join a cruise is at Ma′alaea (Click here).
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MAUI SURF BEACHES & BREAKS Jake Howard
While there are hippie holdouts from the 1960s who believe the spirit of Jimi Hendrix roams the Valley Isle’s mountains, today Maui’s beaches are where most of the island’s action is found. On the north shore, near the town of Ha′iku (Click here), is the infamous big-wave spot known as Pe′ahi, or Jaws. Determined pro surfers, such as Laird Hamilton, Dave Kalama and Derrick Doerner, have helped put the planet’s largest, most perfect wave on the international map, appearing in everything from American Express commercials to mutual fund ads. Jaws’ waves are so high that surfers must be towed into them by WaveRunners.
Not into risking your life on your vacation? No worries, there are plenty of other waves to ride. Maui’s west side, especially around Lahaina (Click here), offers a wider variety of surf. The fun reef breaks at Lahaina Breakwall and Harbor cater to both beginner and intermediate surfers. To the south is Ma′alaea Pipeline, a fickle right-hand reef break that is often considered one of the fastest waves in the world. On the island’s northwest corner is majestic Honolua Bay (Click here). Its right point break works best on winter swells and is considered one of the premier points not just in Hawaii, but around the world.
Gentler shorebreaks good for bodysurfing can be found around Pa′ia, Kapalua and the beaches between Kihei and Makena.
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SURFING
Maui’s surfing spots are legendary. See the boxed text (above) for details.
SWIMMING
Maui makes a credible claim to being