Ho'okipa Beach

Follow where the wind blows and you’ll find yourself at Ho’okipa Beach, where the world’s best windsurfing pros come to play. This beautiful beach, located near Pa'ia Town and Beach on the Hana Highway, beckons visitors to grab their cameras and capture the gorgeous views, sandy shores and reefs that extend out into the ocean. “Ho’okipa” means “hospitality” in Hawaiian. The beach is home to many windsurfing competitions, including the Aloha Classic Wave Championships and the Red Bull King of the Air windsurfing competition.

History

Modern surfing on Maui at Ho'okipa started in the early 1930s with the formation of the Ho'okipa Surf Club, but it wasn’t until the 1970s when a new trend arrive to Hawaii: windsurfing. By the 1980s, the international windsurfing community recognized Ho'okipa as one of the world’s best beaches for the sport. In 1946, a destructive tsunami changed the natural landscape of the beach park. Many hau trees and much of sandy beach areas were now gone. A seawall was built to prevent another incident like this from happening.

• How Long We're Here: 15-20 Minutes
• Location: The main beach of Pa’ia town on Maui’s northern coast.
• Amenities: Photo opportunity, restrooms where facilities exist.
• Insider Tip: Ho’okipa Lookout is the perfect spot to watch windsurfers hitting the waves.
• Fun Fact: Did we mention windsurfing? International windsurfing competitions are held here throughout the year.
• What To Expect: Windsurfers, Maui's Hana Highway, and spectacular views