Windsurf Maui

On the North Shore of Maui, one of Hawaii’s eight bigger islands, you find one of the world’s best windsurfing spots, Ho’okipa. The trade winds from North East and the big swells from the Pacific Ocean is a perfect match. The volcanic islands are surrounded by several thousand meters deep sea which means the waves sustain the power as they hit the golden beaches.

I spent two winters there in ’95 and ’96 together with good friends. We rented an apartment 150 meters from the seafront, a few hundred meters West of Ho’okipa. The winter before that I windsurfed in Australia. Different climate, warmer, huge distances, less people, friendlier people, less power in the waves.

Maui mana

The air and water temperature is just perfect. And the same way you will see skis and snowboards in every garage in Norway, you will find either windsurf- og surfboards here. The small village Paia a couple kilometers from Ho’okipa has the best eco shop: Mana Foods.

Mana has several meanings, but they all refer to strength in one way or another. Waves have mana. People have mana.

Maui is not cheap. Even though I had saved a reasonable amount of money before I arrived, I had to find jobs. One of my friends and I worked at a restaurant that was under construction. I worked with a colour blind electrician (he needed a guy with colour sight), and as a gardener. The latter employer was a couple with whom I became good friends. Their house was just by the sea front. They gave me a room, coined “the slave’s quarter” and in return I worked for them. The cover photo is where I lived.

The ocean was clean when I was there. I didn’t see any plastics, and didn’t think about it either. This have changed. Hawaii Wildlife Fund collected 7.5 tons of plastics from the Kamilo Beach on the Big Island. The South Eastern part of the island is relatively close to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Legendary windsurfing competitions

Being one of the best spots in the world, the legendary Aloha Classic competition defined the best windsurfers for many years. As the sport lost some of its appeal in the mid 1990’s other places have taken over this position, like Pozo Izquierdo in Gran Canaria, Spain.