By Dave & Deb Bouskill, on March 26, 2014

Extreme adventures on Maui

Looking for some adventures to get your adrenaline pumping during your next vacation to Maui? We know that the beaches of Maui are great, and we all know that surfing is the Big Kahuna of sports in Hawaii, but if you want to try something a little different that still gets your heart pounding, we’ve got a number of options for you.

Kite Boarding

Kite boarding always scared us until we tried it. We’d watch uber-fit athletes leap and flip through the air on some very rough waves, and thought that we’d never be able to give it a try. While staying in the town of Paia we had the opportunity to take a course with Kiteboarding School Maui. It ended up being the best time we’ve ever had in the surf.

The instructors were skilled and patient, and they gave us a lot of practice before we even hit the water. While sitting on the safe and sandy beach, we learned how to read the wind, and move and control the kite. By the time we got in the water with our guide, we were feeling comfortable and ready to roll. I was worried we’d be sent out to sea all alone, but they stayed with us as we learned to tack our way back and forth using our arm as a rudder. It only takes a few days to learn, and by the time you are halfway through your vacation, you’ll be up and kite boarding all on your own!

Viewfinder Tip: Watch windsurfers strut their stuff on Ho’okipa Beach Park, alongside the Hana Highway.

Paragliding

Imagine the feeling of flying in silence through the air as you take in the tropical views below. That’s what paragliding is all about. The sport is the perfect way to experience the thrill of skydiving without having to jump out of a plane. It took me years to get up the nerve to go paragliding. My husband, Dave, always has been the thrill-seeker of the family, and several times I watched him from the safety of the ground. Once I finally got up the nerve, though, I wondered to myself, “What took me so long?” Paragliding is the thrill of a lifetime and when flying tandem with skilled instructors, you don’t have to do anything but simply enjoy the ride. On Maui, Proflyght Paragliding takes visitors on flights off the slopes of Mount Haleakala.

 

Canyoning

Canyoning is becoming the adventure of choice for adrenaline junkies. It mixes a bit of rock climbing with hiking and swimming. It not only is an exciting adventure, it keeps you cool in the tropical heat. On Maui, especially with Maui Waterfall Adventure, most trips involve rappelling over waterfalls and plunging into the pool below. The good news: You don’t have to have any climbing experience to go canyoning, and rappelling is easy to learn. Outfitters rig their rappels so that you can’t fall. And if you freak out, pass out, or forget everything, they will talk you through it.

Stand Up Paddleboarding

If you are looking for an adventure you also can try when you get home on just about any body of water, give stand up paddleboarding (or “SUP,” as it’s known) a try. This sport has become popular in beach destinations around the world but has existed in Hawaii for hundreds of years. It’s a bit like surfing mixed with a touch of canoeing. While standing on a large surf board, you grab a paddle and can either make your way across calm waters for a full body workout (it’s great for your core) or you can join the surfers and catch a wave. If you are like us and have never quite gotten the hang of surfing, SUP could be for you. On one of our recent trips to Maui, we hit the water in the calm waters of Napili Bay with Tikiman Stand Up Paddle. The waters were warm and inviting, and within a few minutes, we were up on our boards, feeling like pros! If you are up for something really extreme, you can enter the Maui to Molokai SUP race, which is held in July.

There are so many adventures to be had on Maui, you might need months to explore them all. Hopefully these ideas will help you plan the most active and exciting Hawaii vacation you’ll ever have.

What is your favorite extreme adventure?