Maui - Lipoa Street Beach
États-Unis d'Amérique
Maui
The beach of Lipoa Street Beach, located in Kihei on the south coast of Maui, is a quiet spot favored for its peaceful sunsets. It's an uncrowded place where people mainly come to relax on the sand and enjoy the ocean view.
Not really a dedicated kitesurf spot, it offers windy conditions due to its south exposure, but access to the water is limited and the bottom quickly becomes rocky. Locals sometimes stop by for windsurfing when the wind picks up.
Close to nice restaurants like Nalu’s South Shore Grill, it's ideal for combining a session and a tasty break after an active day elsewhere on the island.
Les données de vent affichées ici proviennent d’ERA5 (via Open-Meteo) sur 4 ans, retraitées pour refléter des conditions réalistes.
👉 Le vent moyen a été calibré pour éviter la sous-estimation habituelle des modèles.
👉 Les rafales ont été corrigées par un ratio médian afin d’éviter des valeurs extrêmes irréalistes.
👉 Chaque jour est résumé par le vent médian (P50) observé pendant les heures utiles (8h–20h), puis classé dans des plages de vent.
👉 Le mode pondéré mélange vent moyen et rafales pour refléter au mieux le vent ressenti.
- 🟢 10–16 nds : vent faible mais navigable (notamment en foil).
- 🟡 16–22 nds : plage idéale, conditions confortables pour la majorité.
- 🔴 22–28 nds : vent fort, réservé aux riders expérimentés.
- 🟣 28+ nds : conditions extrêmes, navigation engagée.
Localisation & Points d'intérêt
Informations utiles
flat
chopThe wind often blows side-onshore or onshore from the northeast or east, typical of the trade winds in Maui, making launching possible but technical on this narrow beach. The riding area stays close to the shore due to the quick rocky bottom, with the water surface changing from chop to small waves depending on occasional south swell. To launch, aim for the sandy areas in the center of the beach, avoiding the rocks on the sides; landing requires precision to avoid ending up on the stones. Watch out for fishermen and walkers, as the beach is shared and narrow, with no dedicated kite area. Conditions are better in summer with consistent winds of 15-25 kts, but in winter, south swells can close the spot. Favor high tides for more depth when launching.
Ideal conditions are a NE to NNE wind of 18-25 kts, side-on for a smooth water surface and good power. Avoid winds that are too east and gusty or SW that close the beach.
The water is often choppy due to the constant wind, with small waves on the reef at low tide. The bottom quickly changes from sand to rocky, making the water unpredictable for beginners. In summer, it's more flat to chop near the shore.
Currents are generally weak near Lipoa Street Beach, but can strengthen with south swells or near rocky areas. Tides have little major impact, but high tide is preferable for navigating without hitting the bottom.
Opt for kite sizes of 9 to 11m² in classic trade wind of 15-20 kts, or 7 to 9m² when it picks up to 25 kts and more in winter.
The trade winds dominate from the NE or ENE, picking up around 9 AM and weakening after 6 PM. They are consistent in summer with strengths of 15-25 kts, stronger and more gusty if the wind is more east. In winter, kona winds from the southwest can kick in for powerful sessions.
The climate in Maui is subtropical with pleasant temperatures year-round, around 24-28°C on average. Summer (May-October) is dry and windy, perfect for kiting, while winter (November-April) brings more humidity and large north swells, but variable winds. The best months for this spot are January, February, March, April, May, June, August, November, December.
The depth is shallow at the shore with a sandy bottom that quickly turns to rocky. You can stand in the first few meters, then it drops off quickly.
The water remains warm year-round between 24-26°C, with no need for a wetsuit in summer, but a shorty is recommended in winter.