Stand-Up Paddling in West Maui

Stand-up paddling in West Maui ranges from perfectly laid-back to vastly more challenging, depending on the area. Either way, there’s plenty of opportunity to get in the water, and there are a decent number of rental shops for gear and a few schools for lessons and guided excursions.

Kapalua, Napili, and Honokowai

One of the best stretches of coast for paddling is the section between Kapalua Bay and Hawea Point. The sandy entry at Kapalua Bay makes it easy to launch a board into the water. Napili Bay is another popular spot for morning paddles. But never bring a stand-up paddleboard into Honolua Bay.

Rental Shops

In Napili, Boss Frog’s (5095 Napilihau St., 808/669-4949, 8am-6pm daily) has paddleboard rentals for $40/day. You can find the same rates down the road at the store in the Kahana Manor (4310 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Rd., 808/669-6700, 8am-5pm daily).

For the cheapest boards on this side of the island, go to A&B Ocean Rentals (3481 Lower Honoapi‘ilani Rd., 808/669-0027, 9am-4pm daily) in Da Rose mall in Honokowai. It has paddleboards for $35/day or $140 for the whole week.


Ka‘anapali

Sandy Ka‘anapali is the perfect spot for stand-up paddling, but only during the morning hours before the wind picks up. On winter days, the water can be as smooth as glass with dozens of whales breaching around you. While being out on the water during whale season can be an exciting adventure, the same laws apply to stand-up paddlers as to boats: Paddlers are required to maintain a 100-yard distance from humpback whales—unless, of course, they swim over to you.

Rental Shops

Almost every hotel along the main strip has activity huts offering paddleboard rentals. At Trilogy Ocean Sports (808/661-7789) in front of the Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel, boards are $25 for the first hour and $15/hour after that. In front of the Westin Maui on the south side of Whalers Village, boards are $30 for the first hour and $10 for each additional hour. The cheapest rate is offered by the Maui Dive and Surf (808/270-9846) kiosk just south of Leilani’s restaurant in Whalers Village, where board rentals are $26 for the first hour or $41 for a four-hour rental.


Lahaina

Lahaina is ringed by a barrier reef, which can make it shallow and dangerous for paddling. The trained instructors, however, know all of the pukas (holes) in the reef, and by allowing them to lead the way, you’ll be awarded with sweeping views of the island’s West Side. When you are over the Shark Pit, there’s a decent chance you’ll encounter an endangered Hawaiian monk seal or a harmless whitetip reef shark. While the 505 area can be a little difficult to navigate, it has the added benefit of being protected from the wind and will usually have calm, flat conditions when Ka‘anapali is rough and blustery. If you’ve rented your own board, the best place in the immediate area for stand-up paddling is the stretch of shoreline between Puamana and Launiupoko Beach Parks, where the water isn’t nearly as shallow and it’s still protected from the afternoon trade winds.

A paddleboarder sets off from Lahaina.
A paddleboarder sets off from Lahaina. Photo © belindah, licensed Creative Commons Attribution.

Rental Shops and Schools

Stand-up paddling lessons are offered in the Lahaina Breakwall area by Royal Hawaiian (117 Prison St., 808/276-7873, 7am-7pm Mon.-Fri., 7am-3:30pm weekends), Goofy Foot (505 Front St., 808/244-9283, 7am-9pm daily, no lessons Sun.), and Maui Wave Riders (133 Prison St., 808/875-4761, 7am-9pm daily). Rather than mingling with all the surf school students, the stand-up paddling tours go the other direction from the Lahaina Breakwall down to the section of beach known as Shark Pit. Also in front of the 505 Front Street area, Maui Paddle Sports (808/283-9344, 8am and 10am) offers lessons for $95/person and has personalized ratios of three paddlers per instructor. For rentals, expect to pay in the $35 range for three hours to $45 for all day.

For more personalized service in an area that isn’t as crowded, Maria Souza Stand Up Paddle School (808/579-9231) and Hawaiian Paddle Sports (808/660-4228) both offer lessons on beaches south of Lahaina. These operations are run by instructors who have a deep-rooted respect for the island, the environment, and Hawaiian cultural history. While they’re more expensive, these tours will leave you with a deeper appreciation for all things surrounding the ocean. Lessons with Maria Souza’s are $159/person and are offered Monday to Friday at 9 and 11am, and lessons with Hawaiian Paddle Sports are $159 for a private lesson or $109/person for private groups of five or more.

South of Lahaina

Rental Shops

For a laid-back rental experience in a unique location, Kayak Olowalu (808/661-0606) has stand-up boards available from a campground location for either $20/hr or $30 for a three-hour session. To reach the campground, turn toward the water at Olowalu General Store and follow the signs for Camp Olowalu for half a mile until you reach the shoreline.


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