Kiters on Kailua Bay with the Mokulua islands behind

Kailua Beach Park and the turquoise water of Kailua Bay, Oʻahu

Clear water and small waves on the Kailua Beach shore

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Ride Kailua, keep it open

Kailua is where the trade winds meet the windward side of Oʻahu: warm, clear water, a long white beach, and a launch so tight that riders take turns.

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21 riders call this homeKite, WingKailua

Everything you need to know about Kailua

Live conditions

Why riders love it

What brings people here, from the people who manage it and the people who ride it.

Northeast is the main and best direction, blowing side-onshore. Trade winds are usually light but steady at about 10 to 16 mph; storm-driven wind runs about 12 to 25 mph.
April to September is the best season. The water is warm, choppy and very clear. There are reefs in parts of the bay, and small rolling swells at the spot called Jump City.

Sources: Kiteforum

See the wind right now

Access and rules

Each site sets its own rules. The chapter publishes confirmed rules as each site answers in writing, and points riders to the official page before they go.

There is no city ordinance written specifically for kiteboarders. The state's ocean recreation signage puts kiteboarding under the windsurfing area, and the beach above the waterline is controlled by the city.
Riders launch only from the designated area, give beachgoers priority, use a safety leash, and stay out of the swim area. No flying kites over the beach and no beach jumping.
In 2006 the Kailua Neighborhood Board recommended banning most commercial activity at the beach park and voted 10 to 6 against recommending a kiteboarding ban.

Sources: Surfertoday; Kiteforum; Honolulu Star-Bulletin

Help hold the launch

Ecology and habitat

Stewardship rotates across the city's spots, so riders are known as the people who look after them.

Popoia (Flat Island) sits off Kailua Beach. Landing there has been closed under state restrictions on Oʻahu's offshore islets, and kayakers who landed have been issued warnings.
The state has reported recovering an injured wedge-tailed shearwater from the islet.

Sources: Hawaii DLNR

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Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

Kailua is on the windward (east) side of Oʻahu, across the Koʻolau mountains from Honolulu.
Kiters launch from a designated area at the far east end of Kailua Beach Park, at the east end of Kailua Bay.
Space is the limit. Kiteboarders have reported only about 43 yards of beach at best for setting up, so riders take turns launching.
Hazards on land include trees, concrete and bystanders; kites have caught in trees and yards and hit people in the past.

Sources: Honolulu Advertiser; Kiteforum; Kiteforum; Surfertoday

Meet the riders

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Kailua

Northeast trade winds blow a steady 10–16 mph, side-onshore.

Source: Kiteforum

Know the spot

Kailua

The best months run April to September.

Source: Kiteforum

Know the spot

Kailua

Kiters set up in 43 yards of beach at best, so launching takes turns.

Source: Honolulu Advertiser

Know the spot

Why Kailua needs a chapter

Hawaii

The trade winds blow onto Oʻahu's windward coast from the northeast, and Kailua Bay catches them side-onshore over warm, clear water. It has been a home spot for windsurfers and kiters for decades.

21riders call this home

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Kailua chapter, World Wind Sports

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Hawaii

It is also one of the most contested beaches in the islands. Swimmers, kayakers, windsurfers and kiters all share the same stretch at the east end of the beach park, and riders have only a narrow strip of sand to lay out their lines. Residents have complained, the neighborhood board has debated bans, and kiting here has been at risk of being banned.

21riders call this home

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Kailua chapter, World Wind Sports

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Hawaii

A chapter gives Kailua's riders one voice with the city and the state, a code of conduct that every visiting kiter can learn, and a record of riders who give the beach back more than they take.

21riders call this home

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Kailua chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Kailua

Riders from Kailua, Waimanalo, Kaneohe, Kāneʻohe, Honolulu, Honolulu County and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board

WWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.WWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.

Norma Jean VasquezLevel 3N, Kailua

Angela CollardLevel 3L, honolulu

Cyrille CollardLevel 3M, Honolulu

Freddy BermondLevel 3N, Kailua

Bradley ColerLevel 2I, Kailua

Gareth ReesLevel 3K, Kailua

Joshua HostetlerLevel 3L, Honolulu

Jerome ChiaroLevel 3K, Kailua

James LeeLevel 3K, Honolulu

Kelly MeinhardtLevel 2I, Honolulu

Paul WhitmoreLevel 4W, Waimanalo

david whitmore DaviLevel 4W, Honolulu County

Edward ChowLevel 3J, Honolulu

Ross Chadderdon Ross ChadderdonLevel 2I, Kailua

Elena KovacevicCertified rider, HonoluluTTammy TootellLevel 3L, KailuaRRicardo HernandezLevel 3K, KailuaBBrunhild HalmLevel 3J, HonoluluJJames jonesLevel 3K, honoluluPPaula LeBlancLevel 4Y, HonoluluTTaylor TheisenLevel 2H, Honolulu

Norma Jean VasquezLevel 3N, Kailua

Angela CollardLevel 3L, honolulu

Cyrille CollardLevel 3M, Honolulu

Freddy BermondLevel 3N, Kailua

Bradley ColerLevel 2I, Kailua

Gareth ReesLevel 3K, Kailua

Joshua HostetlerLevel 3L, Honolulu

Jerome ChiaroLevel 3K, Kailua

James LeeLevel 3K, Honolulu

Kelly MeinhardtLevel 2I, Honolulu

Paul WhitmoreLevel 4W, Waimanalo

david whitmore DaviLevel 4W, Honolulu County

Edward ChowLevel 3J, Honolulu

Ross Chadderdon Ross ChadderdonLevel 2I, Kailua

iSportsKite, WingiWind spotKailuaiKnow thisKailua Beach Park, on the windward (east) coast of Oʻahu, Hawaii.iKnow thisNortheast trade winds, best April to September; warm, clear, choppy water with reefs.iKnow thisLaunch only from the designated area at the east end of the beach; kiting here has been at risk before.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotKailuaiKnow thisKailua Beach Park, on the windward (east) coast of Oʻahu, Hawaii.iKnow thisNortheast trade winds, best April to September; warm, clear, choppy water with reefs.iKnow thisLaunch only from the designated area at the east end of the beach; kiting here has been at risk before.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Kailua

Full forecast

Fund this chapter. You can too.

Your gift keeps the chapter running and the beach cared for: cleanup supplies, signage, certification weekends and the costs of being the group the park can call.

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Nearby chapters

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Open, 1 of 1 remaining

Kanaha, Maui

Trade winds, warm water and an airport next door. Kanaha has drawn windsurfers and kiters for decades, and it stays open because riders keep to a tight set of rules.