Kanaha Beach Park is on Maui's north shore, right next to Kahului airport. It is world-famous for windsurfing, and today it is just as busy with wings. The northeast trade winds blow across the island most of the year, the water is warm, and outside the reef there are open-ocean swells to ride.
What makes it special
- Trade winds. The northeast trades are steady and blow on most days from spring to autumn, usually strongest in the afternoon.
- Warm water all year. Our data shows 25–27°C in every month, so boardshorts or a thin top are enough.
- Two kinds of water in one place. Chop on the inside, open-ocean swell over the reef outside. You can practise close in and go looking for bumps when you're ready.
- Easy logistics. Parking, rigging space, showers and toilets in the park, and the airport a few minutes away.
Best time to go, month by month
The known season, and the one Best Time to Ride shows, is April to October. Our numbers (ECMWF model, 2022–2026) agree: windy days rise from about 15 in April to 28 in July, and stay above 20 from May to September.
Windy days: days with at least 2 hours of 15+ knots between 9:00 and 18:00, averaged over recent years. Averages over recent years from weather data; tap a spot for daily detail.
A few things stand out:
- June to August is the heart of the season: the most windy days, the strongest average wind and almost no rain.
- November looks as windy as October in our numbers, but winter brings bigger swells (around 2 m on average from November to February), more rain and more days when the trades break down. It can be good, just less reliable.
- Wave heights are open-ocean figures from the model, not the size of the waves breaking on the reef. They show the trend: smaller in summer, bigger in winter.
A "windy day" means at least two daytime hours of 15 knots or more. More in how we count windy days.
The wind and the water
The trades blow from the northeast to east, side-shore to side-onshore along Kanaha's beach. They are usually lighter in the morning and fill in through the late morning, and wing foiling on Maui's north shore is mostly an afternoon activity. On the inside you get wind chop over sand. Further out, swell breaks on the reef and rolls through the channel areas, which is where experienced wingers go to ride bumps and waves.
Riders warn that a short mast gets knocked around by the Kanaha chop. A longer mast rides better, but then you need to know where the reef is shallow.
Where wingers launch
Kanaha is a long park with separate areas for different sports, and the zones matter here more than at most spots.
- The windsurf and wing area. A widely shared local guide for Maui wingers says the main area shared by windsurfers and wing foilers is at the far end of Amala Place, the road through the park. That's where most visiting wingers rig.
- Kite Beach is at the downwind end of the park. It is for kites, and there are extra rules for kiting because of the airport next door, including a long-standing rule against kiting before 11 a.m. and a no-kite zone near the runway. You're on a wing, not a kite, but keep out of the kite launch and give kiters room.
- Swimming zones. Hawaii's state ocean rules set out swimming-only zones at Kanaha, marked with buoys near the east end of the park. No boards or sails are allowed in them.
Further east along the north shore is Ho'okipa, the famous wave-sailing break. It is for experts only, with powerful waves over lava reef and strict local etiquette.
Level and who it suits
Kanaha suits intermediate and advanced wingers. The same local guide calls it the place for your first open-ocean riding, and says you should already be able to ride on foil consistently and get back upwind. It is not a place to learn from zero on your own. If you're a beginner, take lessons with a school; there are several in Kahului.
Hazards and etiquette
- Reef. The bottom is sand near shore and reef further out. Coral is sharp, and a foil hitting it at speed hurts you and your gear.
- Currents. The ocean here moves. If you fall off foil outside, the current and waves can carry you a long way down the coast.
- Swimmers and families. Kanaha is a popular family beach. Launch and land slowly, and never ride through the swim zones.
- Crowds. Weekends are busy with windsurfers, wingers and kiters on the same water. Keep your wing high when passing, and keep a good distance from the rider downwind of you.
- Right of way. Local guides remind wingers that paddlers, canoes, surfers and fishermen have the right of way.
- Kahului Harbor. If you drift west towards the harbour, stay well clear of ships and out of the turning area.
- Sun. In the summer months nearly every day is sunny in our data. Use a rash vest and reef-safe sunscreen.
Water temperature and what to wear
Our data shows the sea at about 25°C in winter and spring and 26–27°C from June to December. Boardshorts and a rash vest are enough. Many riders add a thin top on windy days, and a helmet and impact vest are a good idea near the reef. See which wetsuit for which water temperature for how this compares with other spots.
Getting there and where to stay
You fly into Kahului (OGG), the main airport on Maui, which is right next to the beach park. A rental car is the easy way to get around and carry gear. Kahului is the practical base for Kanaha, with windsports shops, schools and rental centres nearby. Summer is the busy season, so book early.
Tips from riders
- Rig in the afternoon. The trades are often light first thing and build towards midday.
- Get there early on weekends for parking and space on the grass.
- Watch the outside for a while before going out: where the swell breaks tells you where the reef is.
- Ride with someone. If you break gear outside, a buddy makes a long swim much shorter.
FAQ
What is the best month to wing foil at Kanaha? July. In our data it has the most windy days (about 28) and an average wind around 17 knots. June to August is the most reliable stretch, and the season runs April to October.
Can beginners wing foil at Kanaha? Kanaha is best for riders who can already foil and go upwind. Beginners should learn with a school first.
Do I need a wetsuit on Maui? No. The water is around 25–27°C all year in our data. Boardshorts and a rash vest are enough.
Can I kite and wing at the same place at Kanaha? No. Kites have their own area at Kite Beach with extra rules because of the airport. Wingers launch in the area they share with windsurfers.
You can see every month for Kanaha, with wind, waves, water and rain, on its spot page on Best Time to Ride.
