Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
out of the harbor area. Access can be a little tricky since you're asked to not walk in the
sand dune area that runs along the shoreline. If you're on a longboard and are up for a
paddle, you could always paddle from the far southern tip of Kamaole III Beach. It can get
crowded and have a local vibe, so if you're surfing on a “soft top” board, then don't paddle
out.
Shortboarding in Kihei can be found at
Sidewalks
on the south-central end of
Keawakapu Beach. This is a beach break that offers a fast wave, and the vibe here isn't
nearly as strong as at the boat ramp or farther south. Nevertheless, it's still an intermediate
wave that isn't suitable for longboards or beginners. Parking for Sidewalks is at the public
lot on the corner of Kilohana Drive and South Kihei Road, or all the way at the southern
end of South Kihei Road where it comes to a dead end in the parking lot.
Rental Shops and Schools
When it comes to surf lessons in Kihei, there's only one place to go, and that's The Cove.
This is the best place on the island for lessons because the water is just the right depth,
it's a gentle wave, and rarely is it completely flat. Although heading here for a lesson is
the obvious choice, finding out exactly
who
to go with is more of an undertaking. In the
area surrounding The Cove there are no fewer than five or six operators all crammed into
the same city block. Even with the wide selection, it's best to make a reservation as many
operations fill up. Nearly all lessons take place in the morning hours between 8am and
noon before the trade winds have filled in, and all operations offer a standard length of
two hours for every lesson. If you've moved past the phase of learning how to pop up and
ride straight, most operations also offer “surf safaris” where they will act as your personal
surf guides for the day and take you out to different breaks where the current conditions
suit your ability level. As you can imagine the rates for something like this are higher than
taking a two-hour lesson.
