Olu Kai Ho'olaulea: North Shore Maui's Downwind Paddling Event Kicks Off This Weekend

April and May are the kick off for Maui and Hawai’i’s world-famous downwind paddling festivities. We just completed the Maui to Moloka’i M2M race on April 17, 2016 with epic conditions and wind all the way from Kapalua through the Pailolo Channel to Kaunakakai. Next up is the Olu Kai Ho’olaulea on April 30th and May 1st, 2016: SUP on Saturday, One Man Canoe on Sunday.

Kapalua looking toward Lana’i and Moloka’i

Maui’s North Shore: A SUP Downwinder’s Paradise

This course starts from the epicenter of downwinders, Maliko Gulch. From here, we (yes, I am racing again, #293 below) will turn down, skirting the surf of Ho’okipa Beach Park, Lanes, and Noriegas outside of Mama’s Fish House in Kuau. Passing Tavares Bay, Montokuji Mission Bay, Paia Town and Bay, then pass Baldwin Beach and Spreckelsville.

Start of Maliko Race | PC: Jimmy Hepp

This straight downwind leg is wide open surfing (ideally with the wind forecast and some windswell), allowing for quick burst sprints, long rides, giddy laughs, and ear-to-ear grins.

After outer Sprecks, potentially dodging some outer reef sneaker, late swell bombs, and heading toward Stable Road, decisions are made on where to cut through the reef. Depending on surf conditions at the “Pyramids,” off of the Airport Tower, and outer Kanaha breaks, the race can be won or lost in this area. Big gains are made catching 200 yard waves correctly on a perfect lumpy roller over the reef.

From the inside, it is usually a sprint to the finish of this 7 miler (give or take). Beach spectators get a great view of the finish antics:

SUPs finish with a sprint run down the beach. OC-1s have a 180 degree buoy turn with a short uphill sprint that makes for great entertainment as many place finishes are exchanged in this final minute of an individuals’ effort.

In the end, it is a great day had by all. Competitors, spectators, and volunteers are all enjoying a great day listening to live music, comparing stories of a day on the water. Friends from all over the world congregate to celebrate our time on the ocean.

Successful finish for M2M

Good luck to all and I hope to see you next week.

Keep Up with Other Maui County Events

• BlueSmiths Paddle Imua on May 7, 2016
• Moloka’i to O’ahu OC1 World Championships on May 14, 2016
• Maui Jim Ocean Fest: June 4 & 5, 2016

Waterfront “Course” Homes

What properties are available that allow you to see this course, you ask? Great question…I will follow up with all of the properties currently available on the North Shore’s waterfront. We love our paddlers, SUP, kite, windsurf, surf, tow in, free diver’s wonderland on Maui.

Got any real estate questions or Maliko Course comments, bring them on. We all see our Maliko runs from a different set of eyes.

Thank you to Hawaiian Paddle Sports, Jimmie Hepp and Maui Paddling Hui for the photos.

Aloha