Surf: This area is home to some of the best wavesailing in the world, so expect strong cross-shore trade winds on most days after 11am. Hookipa is the centre of kite/windsurfing activity in Hawai'i, but on windless mornings, this clutch of quality reefbreaks is always rammed. Furthest west is Lanes lefts, then there's shallow rights and lefts at the Point, just next to the main peak of Middles. The sailors are usually forced downwind on the rights, leaving plenty of long, roping lefts for packs of surfers to fight over. Hookipa is super-consistent, year-round, evidenced by the constantly jammed car parks of the Hookipa Beach Park off the Hana Hwy. Environment: Rips, rocks and windy-rigs falling from a great height are all part of the deal. Surf: General: Wind/kitesurfers and paddle surfers actually play quite well together at Ho'okipa Beach Park, on Maui's north-central coast. With a mostly unobstructed window to the North Pacific, Ho'okipa can pump out some serious surf in the winter months -- usually best for surfers in the early-morning hours when the predominant E-NE trade wind has yet to flair up. Ho'okipa consists of four different spots:

1. Pavilions is the most easterly spot, just below the Ho'okipa Lookout. Pavilions is predominantly a righthander;

2. Heading west from Pavilions is Middles, the main spot for surfers. The wave breaks both right and left, though the lefts handle the wind better;

3. H'Poko, or Point, is located on the west end of Ho'okipa Beach. Point offers up fun righthanders in the morning but becomes the sole domain of the wind/kitesurfers in the afternoon;

4. Just west of Ho'okipa Beach is Wana Beach, where Lane is located. You can pick off both rights and lefts at Lane, but like the Point, Wana gets blown to bits in the afternoon. Tides: Medium to high Size: Head high-3X overhead+ Wind: Calm or offshore from the ESE to SSW, which happens in winter with passing fronts. ENE-E trades are OK, but often too strong. Swell: Anything from the NW to N to NE Bottom: Reef Paddling: Depends on the spot and size, but usually about average. Spot Rating: Very consistent spot with easterly tradeswell, but usually accompanied by onshore easterly trade winds as well. Best days are with a N to NE swell and an approaching front bringing S to SW wind, which is not very often. Access: Easy. Parking lots at the break. Then enter the water from various locations on the Ho'okipa Beach Park. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Usually always crowded with locals and tourists, especially if the winds are offshore. Local Vibe: Humility and respect appreciated. Environment: Pristine. Hazards: Outside clean-up sets, the reef, drop-ins, and currents. Season: Winter is best. Tradeswell in summer can be OK, at least rideable, but usually with strong sideshore wind.