HANG TIME
The newsletter of the Maui Kiteboarding Association

The "Maui Kiteboarding Association" was created "To promote safe and responsible kiteboarding and protect the access of kiteboarders to public beaches and waters."

Written contributions to the News letter can be sent to,
"Hang-time Contributions"

FAA Update The MKA & Martin are working with the FAA to obtain a better waiver for kiteboarding in the "airport zone". The MKA supports his considerable efforts on behalf of all kiteboarders on Maui. Good luck Martin.

April 5 The HKA is having a cookout and meeting at Kanaha on April 5, 2003. Association issues will be discussed and MKA president will be there too. We suggest any kiteboarders interested in the protection and promotion of our sport should attend this and other meetings to stay abreast of continuing developments that affect us all. Rick Lof’s family will be attending the cookout so please be sure to pay your respects while your there.

MKA & HKA working together Martin Kirk president HKA and David Dorn president MKA, and other kiteboarding community representatives, met with the Mayor and County representatives on Monday March 24, 2003 and Tuesday March 25 2003, and resolved to co-operate in the interests of promoting the kiteboarding community as a single unified voice. The Mayor was strongly for unity among the Associations and Schools and said that the County would have an easier time dealing with kiteboarding issues particularly the ORAP's for schools, if the community spoke as a whole. The meeting was a landmark in the evolution of the two associations and all parties are optimistic for a better future for kiteboarding with their combined energies working constructively together.

March 2003 Notice to MKA members. The MKA is not accepting financial contributions at this time. We suggest that persons wanting to make financial contributions, can donate their money to the HKA, as they are carrying the costs of printing the Safe kiteboarding guidelines. This will benefit all Maui Kiteboarders. The MKA has donated money to the HKA to assist with their costs in the past, and will continue to support the positive efforts of the HKA. The MKA will continue to promote kiteboarding safety and maintain access, as always. The MKA may be asking for help with particular projects at a future date, stay posted. New members wanting to show their support for the MKA and its goals, can Join the MKA as supporters on the Join page. Associations wishing to link to the MKA can do so on the Join page on the website.

CPR & First Aid Training Instructors and other interested kiteboarders wanting to become trained and certified or re-certified in CPR/First Aid, should contact the American Red Cross on Maui. The Red Cross runs weekly evening courses in their Wailuku training center at, 1063 Lower Main Street, Second floor. Call first to make a booking. First Aid & CPR are run as separate courses and take about three hours each. The cost of the First Aid course is $26.00, Adult CPR is $30.00, or pay $39.00 for both courses. Infant/child CPR courses are available for $39.00. CPR certification is good for one year, and First Aid certification is good for 3 years, then should be renewed. To contact Maui Branch Office of the American Red Cross, send an email to, arcmaui@ccmaui.net, or phone: (808) 244-0051.

Kiteboarding Instructor Course The MKA has invited the IKO instructor trainer's to run an Instructor training course in May. We already have four candidates booked and we still have room for several more. If you want to participate, send us an email or letter. The dates are yet to be fixed. The course runs for five days. Candidates must have a high level riding ability and First aid training. Training equipment for the course is being supplied by Action Sports Maui, and powerboat rescue training craft is being supplied by the Maui Sailing Center.

Member's List updated We have updated the website's "Members Page" to include regular members and supporters. Members have paid at least a dollar to be a financial member, and supporters are either lapsed members or persons who have indicated their support (usually via email) for the MKA without making a financial contribution. If you would like to be added or removed from the list, Send an email or write to the MKA. Receipts for dues paid, or refunds can be obtained by writing to: Maui Kiteboarding Association, PMB 144, P.O. Box 959 Kihei, HI 96753 USA. For additional information on the MKA, go to the "MKA Story" page.

MKA looks ahead This is the MKA's fifth year of promoting safe kiteboarding. We have could not has predicted how far and how fast the sport has grown. We have carved out a niche in the Maui watersports community, and overcome many obstacles that present themselves to any newbie sport. With the support and encouragement of almost every kiteboarder I have met (always exceptions) I am confident that the next five years will be better still. The biggest satisfaction I have got is from the riding itself. I can't think of a better way to enjoy the wind and water. For those of you who are not yet kiteboarding, I say try it, it could become the biggest passion in your life. I am eagerly anticipating the yet unseen directions the sport will take me. I hope to get bigger and bigger jumps until landing becomes just an option. Kiteboarding has given me wings and I am learning to fly a little higher every day. Like me you should do your best to master the equipment of today so you will be ready for the equipment of tomorrow. Don't wait, it's going to be great. I hope to see you all there.
Happy kitedreams, David Dorn - president MKA

MKA Information The list of MKA office holders, and members is available on the "Members Page". Information on the association's financial policy is available on the "MKA History" page. Receipts for membership fees, or refunds can be obtained by writing to: Maui Kiteboarding Association, PMB 144, P.O. Box 959 Kihei, HI 96753 USA. The MKA keeps its financial records on file. No member or officer of the MKA is paid for their services.

March 2003, On 3/11/03 MKA representatives and kiteboard school owners from Maui went to a meeting on Oahu with the SBRRB Small Business Regulatory Review Board. The SBRRB is the watchdog for small business within the Hawaii state/county government. The SBRRB is looking into the connection between the County permit process and the HKA association, and any overly burdensome regulations that may create problems for kiteboarding schools. The SBRRB will be reviewing the situation for the possibility of unfair competition and other problems. The board heard testimony from; David Dorn-president MKA/owner Action Sports Maui, Pattie Cadiz- owner HST, Kimo Harlacher-owner Aqua Sports, Martin Kirk-president of HKA and owner of KSM kiteboard school. The board will deliberate on the matter and contact the County and state agencies to make recommendations for any changes, and monitor the response of those agencies.

February 2003, Advisory committee meeting. The MKA is inviting its officers and kiteboard school operators to a series of meetings to discuss recent changes to County policy that affect the Kiteboard teaching industry on Maui. A draft proposal of school conduct and self regulation is being discussed. Including suggestions of approaches to the officials that are involved in the permitting process.

From the MKA President to all MKA members. The following historical references have not been worth mentioning until now. Unfortunately the need has arisen to make this information public. Certain challenges the kiteboarding community are now facing make it necessary to reveal the full story good and bad. I hope that MKA members will not think of this as negative propaganda. We have always tried to give the industry positive and constructive energy. It is with reluctance that I have to make theses situations public. I hope that each person reading this tries to get their information from as many sources as possible so that they can make their own judgments based on all the evidence.
Thanks, David Dorn - president MKA

ASSOCIATION OR DISASSOCIATION?
The MKA has always sought the cooperation of members of the kiteboarding community. In 2000 MKA representatives and members were at the initial meetings that preceded the formation of the HKA and HKA-Maui Chapter. In discussion with Martin Kirk, MKA president David Dorn discussed the advantages of a combined voice for the Islands. They discussed the inclusion of MKA to become the Maui chapter of the HKA to join the HKA Oahu chapter. Initial discussions were agreeable and amiable. A short time later Martin approached Mr. Dorn and offered this deal, "Give us the website and we will hold new elections". This statement sounded like an ultimatum. Mr. Dorn considered this and decided that the MKA had a responsibility to its members and couldn't in good conscience agree on those terms.
A next meeting was hastily organized by Mr. Kirk for the formation of the HKA-Maui chapter. The suggested list for officers was emailed or faxed to a number of interested kiteboarders. Mr. Dorn called Martin to be included on the list. Martin added Mr. Dorn to the list on the eve of the meeting and re-emailed and faxed it out. At the meeting, both Martin and Mr. Dorn were nominated for president and when votes were cast Martin was elected as President of the HKA-Maui chapter by a narrow margin over Mr. Dorn. When it came time to sign up members Mr. Dorn gave Martin two applications for business membership. One for Action Sports Maui, and another for the Maui Kiteboarding Association, each with a check from Mr. Dorn for $100.00. Martin said that the membership fees were to be used to print the "Kiteboarding Guidelines" leaflets for distribution to all kiteboarders (a worthy cause). In addition Martin said that business members would have their names printed on the "kiteboarding guidelines". After the HKA printed the Kiteboarding guidelines, Mr. Dorn noticed that the Maui Kiteboarding Association was excluded from mention in the leaflets. Martin said that he discussed it with the other directors and they thought that it would "cause confusion" having another association listed. Mr. Dorn was disappointed at the exclusion. The check Mr. Dorn paid for the MKA's listing and denied membership was later used to pay other HKA dues. In addition to these rejections, it appears that the HKA had copied the MKA guidelines, mission statement and large portions of the MKA website without getting permission from or giving credit to the MKA. Normally when any association asks to use the MKA content permission is freely given, and the recipient usually acknowledges the MKA as a courtesy. As the content of the HKA Guidelines was essentially the same as the MKA Guidelines (distributed since 1998), Mr. Dorn was happy to let the HKA takeover the responsibility and expense of distributing kiteboarding guidelines to the public. The MKA suspended printing and distributing its own guidelines but still made them available via the MKA website. To this day the HKA has never substantially acknowledged the contributions and achievements of the MKA. This is why there are now two kiteboarding associations on Maui at the present time. The MKA is briefly mentioned on the HKA website, quotes from which you will see below.

Quotes taken from The HKA Website (taken without permission);
"Prior to the formation of The Hawaii Kiteboarding Association riders on Maui and Oahu were working through independent associations. On Maui, the Maui Kiteboarding Association had formed in response to challenges with the FAA. On Oahu, the Oahu Kiteboarding Association was formed in response to concerns about safety from local residents and beach goers. Shortly after initial contact between riders from the two islands we recognized the value of joining our efforts and forming an island wide non profit association. The idea quickly caught on and prominent industry leaders and professional riders rallied with recreational riders to form the HKA: Maui Chapter and the HKA: Oahu Chapter."
"While the efforts of both the MKA and the OKA were recognized, members from both associations realized that it was time to move on and form a collective voice.
Shortly after Maui and Oahu Chapters were formed riders from the Big Island joined in by forming the HKA: Big Island Chapter."
Quotes taken from The HKA Website (taken without permission);
"The Hawaii Kiteboarding Association is the voice for recreational and professional kiteboarders in Hawaii.
(Please note that the MKA, another organization on Maui, is not associated with the HKA Maui Chapter or the Hawaii Kiteboarding Association.)"

Getting a good start in kiteboarding. The earliest kiteboarders were for the most part, self-taught. Teaching yourself is inherently difficult and fraught with unpleasant surprises, unforeseen challenges , and is very time consuming. This gave rise to the "Kitemare", a tale of a scary kiteboarding ordeal. Learning to kiteboard is semi-difficult, somewhere between learning to wake-board and learning to ride a short-board in windsurfing. The difficulty of the process can deter many would be kiteboarders from making it through the early learning stages. In recent years there has been a huge increase in the number of good qualified instructors and schools available that it is a good idea to take a few professional lessons whether you are a beginner rider or intermediate. There are now several recognized teaching systems that certify schools and instructors. The main ones seen in the US are; the Hawaiian Based KISS System, The east-coast based PASA system, the French based Wipika system, the US based KBC system and the Dominican republic based IKO system. Contact them for a list of schools in your area. NB. there are a small number of non-certified schools around, that may or may not give a good lesson, we cannot recommend them. The certified schools will be more likely to hire the quality instructors and have adequate insurance, and provide good equipment. We recommend that you ask any instructor about their experience, qualification and riding ability, before you take a lesson. Good kiteboarding schools will offer longer courses to beginners, and the average person will need about three days to get the basics and about a week to get riding, depending on wind. The cost of a lesson is money well spent because of the inherent risks involved with kiteboarding. Go to the MKA links page to check out the different school systems and find a school,or schools in your area. Many schools offer travel packages so you can combine your kiteboarding course with a vacation in a good kiteboarding destination.

New Kiteboarding Book Well known Maui Kiteboarder/Instructor John Holzhall has just released his book on kiteboarding. "Kiteboardings Simple Plan" is a great resource for kiteboarders of all levels, especially beginners. The book tells you ; How to ride, what to ride and where to ride. Its straight forward approach and easy style make the learning experience more understandable and enjoyable. The book is available in good kiteboard shops or can be ordered online at: Kiteboardcenter.com

FAA Waivers In January 2003 MKA has applied to the FAA for its own waiver to several CFR regulations affecting kiteboard operation on Maui's north shore. After an initial rejection by the FAA office in Honolulu, In March, Jim Fosbinder-attorney contacted the FAA on our behalf to persuade them to reconsider our application. The existing waivers in effect have restricted coverage because they have been used for private purposes by individuals. At this time the application is pending. We will keep you updated as we know more. Please note that Jim Fosbinder is not paid for his work on behalf of the MKA, but generously donates his valuable time when needed.

The MKA would like to thank its financial members for their support. Click here for the "MKA Members List".

For more information on the sport of kitesurfing Click here, "Kiteboarding Info Page".
Contributions to the News letter can be sent to, "Hang-time Contributions"

mauikiteboardingassociation.com
Copyright © MKA all rights reserved