Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [265]
WINDSURFING
This sport reaches its peak on Maui. Ho′okipa Beach (Click here), near Pa′ia, is so hot it’s been dubbed ‘Windsurfing Capital of the World.’ The wind and waves combine at Ho′okipa in such a way that makes gravity seem arbitrary. However, Ho′okipa is for experts only as hazards include razor-sharp coral and dangerous shorebreaks. For kick-ass wind without taking your life in your hands, the place to launch is Kanaha Beach (Click here) in Kahului.
Overall, Maui is known for its consistent winds. Windsurfers can find action in any month, but as a general rule the best wind is from June to September and the flattest spells are from December to February. At Ma′alaea (Click here), where the winds are usually strong and blow offshore toward Kaho′olawe, conditions are ripe for advanced speed sailing. In winter, on those occasions when kona (leeward) winds blow, the Ma′alaea-Kihei area is often the only place windy enough to sail.
Get the inside scoop on the windsurfing scene at Maui Windsurfing (www.mauiwindsurfing.net). Most windsurfing shops are based in Kahului (Click here) and handle rentals, give lessons, sell windsurfing gear and even book package tours that include gear, accommodations and car.
On Land
CYCLING & MOUNTAIN BIKING
If you want to ride into the wilderness on a mountain bike, head to the Upcountry. Experienced downhill riders will encounter the ultimate adrenaline-stoked thrill on the Skyline Trail (Click here), which follows the mountain’s spine from Haleakalā National Park into Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area.
GOLF
Golfers will find lots of pretty places to knock that little white ball around. The most prestigious of Maui’s courses is the Plantation Course at Kapalua (Click here), which kicks off the annual PGA tour. Only slightly less elite are the championship greens at Wailea (Click here) and Ka′anapali (Click here).
At the other end of the spectrum, you can enjoy a fun round at the friendly Waiehu Municipal Golf Course (Click here) and at lesser-known country clubs elsewhere around the island. Pick up the free tourist magazine Maui Golf Review for in-depth course profiles and tips on playing specific holes. Another good resource is Golf Maui (www.golf-maui.com).
HIKING
Hikers on Maui get to pick from an amazing diversity of trails that traverse coastal deserts, bamboo forests and lush green jungles. Hands down the most extraordinary trails are in Haleakalā National Park (Click here) where hikes ranging from half-day walks to quad-busting multiday treks meander across the moonscape of Haleakalā Crater. In the Kipahulu section (Click here) of the national park, a trail leads you beside terraced pools ideal for a dip and on to the towering waterfalls that feed them.
In Maui’s Upcountry, Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area (Click here) has an extensive trail system in a nice quiet cloud forest. North of Wailuku is the lofty Waihe′e Ridge Trail (Click here), which penetrates deep into the misty West Maui Mountains. Near Ma′alaea Bay, the challenging Lahaina Pali Trail (Click here) follows an old footpath on the drier western slope of the same mountain mass.
Several pull-offs along the Hana Hwy offer short nature walks that lead to hidden waterfalls and unspoiled coastal views, including the Waikamoi Nature Trail (Click here). A longer coastal trail between Wai′anapanapa State Park (Click here) and Hana Bay follows an ancient Hawaiian footpath past historic sights, as does the Hoapili (King’s Hwy) Trail (Click here) from La Pérouse Bay on the other side of the island.
Share the trails with other eco-minded hikers by joining one of the Sierra Club’s ( 573-4147; www.hi.sierraclub.org/maui) guided