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      Coral Reef Protection E malama o ke kai (to care for the ocean) As an olelo noeau (Hawaiian proverb) states, “Malama i ke kai, a malama ke kai ia oe!” which means care for the ocean and the ocean will care for you. The Hawaiian word “Malama” (mah-lah-mah), means to take care of, tend, attend, care for, preserve, protect, beware, save, maintain. Malama is often heard in reference to taking care of Hawaii’s natural resources- Malama ka ‘āina. Coral Reef Protection and Ocean Etiquette When engaging in the marine environment we should remember that the ocean and near shore reefs are home to a multitude of species. The biology of the coral reef is an amazing interaction of elemental forces and the balance between all the species that visit and inhabit the reef. Humans have a role…

KITEBOARDING INSTRUCTOR COURSE Booking Procedures Booking Procedures. Each course is a special event. To see when courses are available you can check the training calendar, or check the schedule of the individual training center. Each Instructor Course requires extensive preparation and organization. Instructor courses are usually scheduled months in advance. The lead in time is used to prepare the course and the candidates. Many candidates will travel internationally or long distance to attend courses, so their travel arrangements and schedules need to be set in advance. Enrollment: To enroll in the course you should fill out the Application Form, and/or contact the organizer with your details email, phone number and dates. The organizer will send you the course requirements and information via email, or send you the links to the website info. The candidates should read the information thoroughly,…

  The IKO certification is accepted worldwide and is the most highly regarded qualification in the industry. Upon successful completion of the instructor’s requirements, the course graduates will receive the official IKO Instructor Certificate signed by their trainers, and they will be registered on the IKO’s International Instructor database.” width=”570″ height=”380″ border=”0″ /> Instructor Training Instructor Training Courses Maui Our kiteboarding Instructor Training Courses are recognized around the world. There are a limited number of places available in each course so bookings are essential. The AITC (Assistant Instructor Course)  The Assistant Course is where you will learn about becoming a professional instructor, this 5-day course is designed to give you real experience working with professional instructors in a school setting. The course is divided into practical, theoretical, and technical sections. The assistant instructor will become proficient in technical aspects…

HOW TO READ A WEATHER MAP by David Dorn “Weather Maps may seem confusing when you first see them. But you can learn the basics easily. The information they contain helps us to understand the current weather picture and to make future weather predictions. Just looking out your window only tells you the immediate weather in your local spot, but it cannot tell you what changes to expect like the coming of a storm, or the possibility of surf arriving in a few days. Weather Maps look at a large area and show the large weather systems that are moving toward your area. Come with me as we take a look at How to read a weather map”. Aloha, David Dorn Weather maps contain information about atmospheric pressure, fronts, storms, and wind speeds and wind direction. The areas of different…

    HOW TO FLY A KITE  “The basics of kite flying do not need to be complicated. With some basic equipment, some open space, and a little breeze you can master the fundamental flying skills in an afternoon. Using the trainer kite is a fun and relatively safe way to learn about the wind, and to learn the basic kite steering reflexes. Remember that mother nature is the boss out there, and you should always treat the elements and your environment with respect. Do not underestimate the power of the wind either. Even the small trainer kites can overwhelm kids and novices, so we recommend parental supervision for young kids. And remember that it is always more fun to fly with a buddy. Lets take a look at How to fly a Kite”. Aloha, David Dorn How-to use…

“Whether you are are a windsurfing addict or a weekend warrior, you have probably discovered that Maui is a windsurfer’s paradise. This magical island has something to offer windsurfers of all levels; Beginners, Kids, First timers. All will like the tranquil waters in Maui’s bays and coves, or the extreme athletes will hit the waves on the many reef breaks, Speed sailors will revel in the focused wind blasting over 40 knots in Ma’aleaa Bay’s Speed Beach. Maui has it all.”  Aloha, David Dorn WHAT MAKES MAUI SPECIAL OCEANIC CULTURE MAUI BEACHES KANAHA BEACH MAUI SEASONS MAUI GEOGRAPHY WINDSURFING KIDS CAMPS WINDSURF LESSONS WAVE SAILING WAVESAILING SPOTS BEGINNER WAVESAILING HOOKIPA BREAKS THE BONE YARD THE WEIRD WAVE WINDSURF RULES NORTH SHORE MAP 11…

  How to Standup Paddle Surf – SUP by David Dorn. Standup PADDLE Surfing is a modern revival of an older surfing style from EARLY PART OF THE  last century. The original INSPIRATION for this sport may have come from fishermen standing in their canoes and catching waves. This skill has now evolved into the sport we now know as Standup paddle boarding. Boards: Standup Boards are wider than regular surfboards, and usually have more volume. This adds to their stability at slow speeds. This is known a static stability. The greater the static stability the easier the board is to learn on. This simply put means bigger is better. When learning How to SUP Standup Paddle Surf, larger riders will want larger boards. Longer is not always more stable. Mostly it is the width that aids initial…

How Waves are Made “Understanding the elemental forces that create our ocean waves, and the processes that deliver the surf to our beaches will help you to better appreciate the different surf conditions that exist, and to better participate in ocean surfing sports. Wind, weather, tides, and land-forms all have their effect on the types of wave that we experience at the shoreline. Lets take a look at the basics of How waves are Made”. Aloha, David Dorn. Ocean Waves Formation: Ocean waves are usually formed by a distant wind. Usually storms generate strong winds that act on the ocean’s surface for several days. The strength of the wind, and the duration it blows have a factor on how the resulting waves will be. The area which the wind affects the surface is called the fetch. The larger the fetch,…

  Beyond Basics Surfing Course for Intermediates Surfing 201 in the follow on course for surfers who have mastered the basics covered in Surfing 101. Surfing 201 takes a deeper look into understanding the forces that we use in surfing and the techniques we will use to catch more waves, and ride more waves. Before reading this section you should have already read Surfing 101 and the section of How waves are made. Reading the Waves: Understanding the surfing area is crucial to understanding how the waves work and distribute their power. Most beginners cannot get into position, because they lack the skills or knowledge. or they have failed to read the conditions correctly. This diagram illustrates the typical surf break scenarios. The waves are breaking away from shore on a shallow bottom, either a reef break or a…

    Maui Gear & Equipment Guide EQUIPMENT GUIDE RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR YOUR LESSONS   GEAR GUIDE RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR AFTER YOUR LESSONS     EQUIPMENT GUIDE RECOMMENDED GEAR FOR YOUR LESSONS The learning experience is challenging enough without having the wrong gear. We have found that using equipment specifically designed for learning or chosen for its user friendly characteristics, will enhance the learning process. We recommend using this Gear Guide. You will have greater success, more fun, and maintain a higher level of motivation. Use the equipment recommended in this Gear Guide.     Personal Gear and Supplies you should Bring for All Lessons: Wear Sturdy Swimwear (board shorts), this goes for men and women. Wear a rash-guard shirt; If you are buying one, get a long sleeved rash-guard. Bring your booties (reef shoes) if you have…

GENERAL INFORMATION Action Sports Maui is the center of Watersports Lessons and Ocean Sports Education, tours and adventures, and is Hawaii’s original kiteboarding center. For a quick overview of our school go to our “At a Glance” page. Our Instructors are full-time, well trained professionals that are dedicated to their sports; Surfing, Standup, Windsurfing, Kiteboarding. Take a look at our Action Calendar  for special events & Clinics. And don’t forget to check our Kite-van out at Kitebeach at Kanaha Beach Park, and our new Surf Center in Kihei. Hawaii is one of the best and easiest places to learn to surf. Being located in the center of the Pacific Ocean. Pure ocean swells combined with our off-shore reefs give us a variety of quality waves to ride. In the summer the south shore has the better surf, with a swell originating in the south…

WHAT IS KITESURFING Kitesurfing is the natural evolution of extreme wind-powered watersports. Combining traits of windsurf and wakeboard, the powerful air-foils and lightweight boards give the kiteboarder higher performance capabilities than ever before. In its short but exciting history kitesurfing has brought together the most exciting components of other extreme sports. The simplicity of the kite-board concept allows every rider the ability to create their own ride styles that reflect their creative imagination and personal expression. With every new move the definitions are changed and the sport continues to expand in possibility. Nobody knows what kiteboarding will look like in the future. But already at the present time kiteboarding has expanded into snow-kiteboarding and has taken new directions into foil-boarding and land-boarding. What makes a kitesurfer work: The kitesurfer flies the kite across the wind to provide traction…