Kapalua, United States
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About Kapalua
Known for kitesurfing and windsurfing, by the OpenStreetMap map of the area. The shore faces NW, so wind from the SE blows out to sea (our estimate from the coastline). Facts: verified.
Water about 27°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
A spot for kitesurfing and windsurfing, as OpenStreetMap maps it, on a shore facing NW. Wind from the NW blows onshore, wind from the SE blows out to sea, and wind from the NE or SW runs along the shore. It is sheltered to the open sea. The sea floor shelves moderately: 10 m deep about 300 m out (1 in 32). The sea is about 25°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 27°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For kitesurfing at expert level the best months are usually June, July and August, with about 5 good days in 7; in January, about 2. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Kapalua. Within 5 km we also list 7 surf spots.
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Book the trip
From Chicago: about 12 h 10 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to OGG, direct.
See flights ORD → OGG · Skyscanner from about £415 returnAdGetting there. 50 min from the airport to Kapalua.
Accommodation.
Stay in KapaluaAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Kapalua (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Kapalua 1 min by car · rooms from £100 a night
Places to stay in Kapalua · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Kitesurfing lessons in Kapalua · GetYourGuideAdKite and board hire in Kapalua · GetYourGuideAd
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Luxury Where it is
Kapalua on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Best on Tue 20: 16 kn gusting 36, cross-offshore. Water: chop.
The score for kite, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor
| Day | Score | Wind | Gusts | Shore | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 49, good | wind from the east-north-east, 16 knots | 35kn | cross-off | chop |
| Mon 19Oct | 49, good | wind from the east-north-east, 17 knots | 39kn | cross-off | chop |
| Tue 20Oct | 51, good | wind from the east-north-east, 16 knots | 36kn | cross-off | chop |
| Wed 21Oct | 35, poor | wind from the east-north-east, 13 knots | 32kn | cross-off | chop |
| Thu 22Oct | 0, poor | wind from the north-east, 3 knots | 8kn | side | chop |
| Fri 23Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-north-east, 3 knots | 9kn | cross-off | chop |
| Sat 24Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-north-east, 6 knots | 14kn | cross-off | chop |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east-north-east, 7 knots | 16kn | cross-off | chop |
| Mon 26Oct | 0, poor | wind from the east, 6 knots | 19kn | offnot safe | chop |
| Tue 27Oct | 0, poor | wind from the north-east, 2 knots | 6kn | cross-off | chop |
Day scores are the conditions out of 80. Wind is the day's best reading: the mean and the gusts in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); the arrow points where it blows to. Shore: "side" is side-shore, blowing along the beach, the safe way; "side-on" and "on" blow in towards it; "cross-off" and "off" blow out to sea, and offshore scores nothing for kite and windsurf. Water is the open sea's waves near the spot: flat under 0.3 m, chop to 0.8 m.
The season
Good kite days in a typical week, each month, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).
- Jan2of 7
- Feb3of 7
- Mar3of 7
- Apr4of 7
- May4of 7
- Jun5of 7
- Jul5of 7
- Aug5of 7
- Sep4of 7
- Oct3of 7
- Nov3of 7
- Dec3of 7
Typical, not a forecast. Reanalysis wind misses some local thermal winds, so a spot known for an afternoon breeze may do better than this.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for kite. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to OGG, then 50 min by road. About 12h 10 door to door
- Tue 20 OctKite Kapalua
16 kn gusting 36, cross-offshore. Water: chop.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 13 kn gusting 32, cross-offshore. Water: chop.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 3 kn gusting 8, side-shore. Water: chop.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 3 kn gusting 9, cross-offshore. Water: chop.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Not enough of the right wind: 6 kn gusting 14, cross-offshore. Water: chop.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to OGG, then 50 min by road. About 12h 10 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,025–£1,940 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Kit hire is not in it yet: we have no sourced price for it.
- Flights £415–£860
- To the UK airport £35–£65
- Taxi £45–£80
- Stay £270–£455
- Food £260–£480
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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