KITEBOARDING THREATENED ON MAUI'S NORTH SHORE
MKA reminds members to encourage all north shore riders to stay out of Lower Kanaha above the canoe hale, upper Kanaha, and do not launch at Sprecks beach. Increasing violations of these "no fly" zones are putting everyone's access at risk!.

FAA SAFETY TRAINING,  March 2005
Annual Meeting,  For all kiteboarders, Scheduled,  March 2005, at Ka'a Point.
A stipulation of the FAA kiteboarding Waiver is that an annual safety meeting be held to inform the public and the FAA of the Safe kiteboarding practices of HKA members. FAA officials, Lifeguards, and Kiteboarders are encouraged to participate.  Contact: Dylan Grafmyer 276-4561.

IKO COURSE, MAY 2005 IKO Instructor Trainer Paul Franco ran an IKO Instructor Training Course, hosted by Action Sports Maui. There were 11 candidates. Whom undertook the 40 hour training over 7days. Most of the candidates were long time Kite beach riders and a few new faces. Although some candidates took the course to get a better understanding of kiteboarding, most of the graduates have already found part time work in one of the Maui based kiteboarding schools. Two of the candidates were too young to get the certification at the time of the course, but were allowed to do the training (minimum age is 18). These young guys will no doubt be an asset to the kiteboarding community and may one day be fully certified kiteboarding instructors. IKO courses generally happen once a year. however they can be organized on demand with a minimum of four candidates. People wanting to become a certified IKO instructor should check out the IKO website to get the requirements and other Info. http://www.ikorg.com

Excerpt from HKA email from Martin Kirk May 27, 2004

Today, May 27, 2004 Air Traffic Control Tower called HKA to report three kiteboarders riding at the end of the runway.  Any violation is not acceptable to FAA or HKA but this week is especially sensitive due to the fact that the airport tower is going through FAA evaluations.  The tower staff was polite and professional as always but spelled it out simply that we have to do a better job of educating the visitors who are coming here and aren't aware of the restrictions, especially in Spreckelsville.  A comment was made about restricting kite flying altogether to the Kanaha area or rescinding the waiver totally.    The job of enforcing the FAA waiver falls squarely on Dylan Grafmyre, the HKA representative who now holds the FAA waiver.  This doesn't mean that Dylan should be the only one out there getting riders out of the runway zone.  We all have to be responsible because ultimately we'll all be affected if the waiver is rescinded. Today for example, Dylan was in a bad area of the island and didn't have cell reception so the FAA contacted another HKA representative.    Riders in the area could have seen what was going on, possibly, and could have responded rather than wait for Dylan or another HKA representative to be contacted.  We are all representatives of HKA whether you're a member or not, if you indeed like to kiteoboard on Maui. So, please do your part and educate yourselves, your friends, and the visitors about the FAA guidelines. These guidelines are spelled out in the kiteboarding area map/flyers and are in all the windsurfing and kiteboarding shops in Kahului.   Thanks for your assistance and efforts.   Aloha, HKA

 

PASA is coming to Oahu, HI to hold a PASA Kiteboarding Instructor Certification course (ICP) April 12 – 16, 2005. Below is more information about the course: Information on the PASA Level I Kiteboarding Instructors Certification Course: This 5 Day certification course is designed for kiteboarders desiring to become Level 1 PASA certified kiteboarding instructors. Prerequisites for this course are the ability to kite upwind, perform advanced turns, maintain control in most wind conditions and perform simple jumps. This course takes an instructor candidate through kite and instruction theory, kite rigging and repair, a basic understanding of weather and it’s effects on kiting, school site evaluation, emergency recovery systems as well as effective teaching and communication tools. The mix of theory and hands on teaching gives the instructor candidate the skills necessary to become a safe, competent and communicative kiteboarding instructor. To receive your Level I PASA instructor certificate you must submit current CPR, First Aid (Approved Courses available through Red Cross and American Heart Assoc.) and Boat Safe (online at www.boatsafe.com) certificates. The cost of the PASA ICP course is $500.00 / $300.00 for IKO certified instructors (proof of certification required) (This fee does not include CPR, First Aid or the annual PASA professional membership dues) To register for an ICP; instructor candidates have to first be or become a current Professional member of PASA , the annual dues are $150.00, more info at http://www.pasakiteboarding.org/Login.aspx Then - To sign up for an ICP go to http://www.pasakiteboarding.org/EventCalendar.aspx, click on the month of the desired ICP date, then hit "select" on the ICP you would like to sign up for, then hit "sign up" to fill in the necessary info. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any other questions. Best Regards, Christopher E. Nygard Chairperson PASA Kiteboarding Division chrisn@pasakiteboarding.org (252) 207-9041

HKA ANNOUNCEMENT 3/10/04  From HKA email 3/10/04.