In March 2002, after 2 ? years of discussions and negotiations, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials granted Hawaii Kiteboarding Association (HKA) members a waiver to the 40 year-old regulations restricting kite flying within 5 miles of an airport and kites weighing over 5 pounds. The FAA waiver stipulates no kiteboarding at the end of runway #2 in Spreckelsville. Otherwise, there are few restrictions within this 5-mile airport zone as to where we can practice. We have voluntarily created a safety buffer zone between the different ocean users by primarily staying downwind of windsurfing and canoe paddling. The sport continues to grow here and worldwide, and Mauians stand to benefit from the increased numbers showing up to play with kites in our warm waters and steady winds.   

 

Since having obtained the FAA waiver, HKA has maintained the waiver and works closely with FAA and Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) at Kahului International Airport to enforce the waiver stipulations and thereby stay in good standing with these agencies. This waiver allows us to kiteboard on the north shore of Maui and must be renewed every two years. Both FAA and ATCT acknowledge the successful efforts by HKA to maintain the waiver during the past 18 months; nonetheless, these agencies have indicated they plan to rescind the waiver in about 30 days. 

 

Almost 4 years to the day, when FAA enforced its regulations and halted all kiteboarding along Mauis north shore in September 1999, we are now faced with FAA rescinding the waiver HKA worked so very hard to obtain and even harder to maintain. We are in negotiations with Maui County, FAA, and ATCT to see what can be done to keep the waiver so that recreational kiteboarding will not be affected. 

Also, please help us enforce the NO KITEBOARDING ZONE at the end of the runway in Spreckelsville & NO KITEBOARDING AFTER SUNSET anywhere on the North Shore of Maui.


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