Maui kiteboarders agree to new rules
By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau
KAHULUI, Maui — Kiteboarding will continue on Maui's north shore, thanks to a compromise that imposes new restrictions on the sport.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Donn Walker confirmed yesterday that officials were rescinding an earlier decision to ban kiteboarding within five miles of Kahului Airport.
"We are definitely pleased," said Martin Kirk, president of the Maui chapter of the Hawai'i Kiteboarding Association. "Kiteboarding is an incredible sport that all ages are enjoying."
The restrictions include expanding the no-fly zone at the end of the airport's runway and lowering the kite-flying ceiling — the maximum height that kites may be flown — from 200 to 125 feet.
Walker said the association had agreed to station someone on shore near the end of the runway to respond more quickly to violators.
In addition, the group has agreed to undertake an aggressive campaign to educate kiteboarders about the restrictions and to post signs and markers about the no-fly zone.
Walker said kiteboarders were "very sincere" about improving safety near the runway, but officials would be watching to ensure that conditions improve.
"At the end of the day, safety is our No. 1 priority. Nothing else comes close," he said.
Kiteboarding was allowed on the north shore by a waiver issued to the Hawai'i Kiteboarding Association that allows kiteboarders to bypass FAA rules prohibiting flying kites within five miles of an airport.
The FAA threatened to rescind the waiver Oct. 15, saying too many kites were violating the no-fly zone, distracting airport controllers and compromising aircraft safety.
The news alarmed a growing legion of enthusiasts who said the ban would cripple a Maui industry worth $2 million to $3 million. Mayor Alan Arakawa joined the fray, arranging a meeting with state officials to brainstorm ways to block the prohibition.
A blend of surfing, wakeboarding and parasailing, kiteboarding is a relatively new sport that employs a wing of light fabric to harness the wind for aerial maneuvers and jumps several stories high. Maui's windy north shore has a reputation as one of kiteboarding's top playgrounds.
From Monday to Oct. 12, the 2003 Red Bull King of the Air will be held on the north shore for the fifth straight year. The competition at Ho'okipa Beach Park showcases some of the world's best kiteboarders and is regarded as the premier event of the professional season.
Kirk said the association had hired off-duty lifeguards to patrol north shore beaches on personal watercraft during the event.
Kiteboarders unaware of the no-fly zone who show up at "Euro Beach" near the runway will now find signs reading "Restricted Airspace."
Reach Timothy Hurley at (808) 244-4880, or thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com.
