Regulations

FAA KITEBOARDING RULES

  • All kitesurfing participants must be responsible for seeing and avoiding aircraft.
  • No kiteboarding in the 2 nautical mile long by one nautical mile wide corridor. The corridor’s length starts at the end of the OGG airport runway. The corridor’s width is comprised of one half a nautical mile on each side of the runway, from the runway’s end to sea. Please refer to the Map below.
  • The waiver is applicable and only valid between the hours of official sunrise and sunset
  • All kiteboarders shall be responsible for seeing and avoiding non-participants
  • The rope or attaching cables must not exceed 125 feet in length and no kite shall be operated more than 125 feet above sea level.
  • Kiteboarding safety meetings will be conducted within every 12 month period

Ho’okipa  RULES

Hookipa Rules
  • Board leashes are recommended
  • A downed kite will present a danger to those on the inside, so keep kite in control
  • CHECK IN WITH THE LIFEGUARDS BEFORE KITING HO‘OKIPA ! The lifeguards want to know everyone who kites here and want to share their safety concerns
  • Surfers always have right-of-way. Stay at least one kite length away from surfers, and off any wave they catch
  • Windsurfers and kiters have equal priority when catching waves. The rider who catches the wave first has right-of-way. If a wave is caught simultaneously, the upwind rider has right-of-way
  • Sharing a wave is common in both windsurfing and kiting, IF BOTH RIDERS AGREE. However, because of a kiter’s lines, it is recommended that the kiter surf downwind of the windsurfer
  • Be aware that windsurfers do not catch as many waves in light and fluky conditions, so show some aloha and give them the waves they can catch
  • If a lifeguard sounds one blast during your transition it is a warning: you did something unsafe. Two blasts means you must leave. Talk to the lifeguards later and ask them to explain their concerns. Three blasts means all kiters must leave. A siren means keep the channel clear, so lifeguards can launch their rescue craft
  • CONSIDER YOUR ABILITIES BEFORE KITING HO‘OKIPA. If you are not experienced in extreme conditions do not ride Ho‘okipa and chance endangering someone else or yourself. Remember, you are kiting with some of the best windsurfers and kiters in the world. Please show them and the lifeguards the respect they deserve and we will all have a great time
  • Finally, Ho‘okipa means hospitality and our ability to kite there depends on mutual respect of all ocean users

For more info visit: https://mauikitesurf.org/