PHOTOS: Sunny Session Keeps Ho’okipa’s Waters Packed

By Madeline Ziecker

Windsurfers crowd Ho'okipa waves. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.

After a week of spring showers and stormy waves, Ho’okipa surfers couldn’t resist the water on Sunday, March 25 when the sun finally returned to Maui’s north shore.

By 2 p.m. waves at Ho’okipa ranged from 5 to 8 feet high, promising a decent session for those who wanted to partake in any of the beach’s three popular water sports – surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.

Conditions were close to ideal for the island’s windsurfers, who primarily dominated ‘Lanes’ and ‘H’poko’ (on left side of Ho’okipa). No less than 25 windsurfers could be seen out in the water through the afternoon, flying over the waves on 27 mph trade winds.

Four kite surfers gracefully wove in and out of the midst of the windsurfers as they glided far out to sea and back again towards shore, spinning into breathtaking aerials along the way.

Surfers stayed primarily to the right of Ho’okipa, at ‘Pavils,’ ripping slightly smaller waves with less wind interference.

Three surfers share a Pavils wave. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.

One impatient Ho’okipa surfer (who wishes not to be named) sat in his truck with his friends and watched the windsurfers take over the beach as he complained,

“Windsurfers love these conditions. Surfers hate it. Most of the time we’re just out here drooling at the nice waves, waiting for the wind to die down so they’ll leave and we can go out safely.”

“It’s just the usual rivalry between Ho’okipa surfers and windsurfers.”

Sunday’s fair weather also brought beach-goers to Ho’okipa. Families gathered on the beach at Pavils with picnics and watched as local rising stars like Joao Marco Maffini tore into the small but fun waves.

About 12 surfers gathered together in one spot trying to catch the same sets, so it was not uncommon to see three or four surfers sharing what nearly classifies as a “party wave.”

Waves have diminished below the National Weather Service in Honolulu’s Surf ADVISORY standards and surf is expected to stay in the 6 to 7 foot range and below this week.

Ho'okipa's full parking lot. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.	Kite surfers and windsurfers share Lanes. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AD Photo by Madeline Ziecker.	Joao Marco Maffini (left) taking a small ride at Pavils. Photo by Madeline Ziecker.