Maui is a great place to visit for rest and relaxation, for soothing spa visits and luxury accommodations, but it’s also a great place for adventure. While hiking, horseback riding, scuba diving and other such outings can be exciting, nothing quite compares to exploring the island from the sky.If you haven’t tried hang gliding, and you’re comfortable with heights, this activity may be the most memorable experience of any vacation you’ve ever had. It’s a far cry from the contained feeling of flight in a plane or helicopter. You can feel the wind, and there’s no vehicle shell to interfere with your views. Hang Gliding Maui is a tour company that takes guests out in motorized hang gliders for extra safety, although they are designed to glide and land without needing that engine. This company provides lessons over the breathtaking jungles of Hana, where you can see the waterfalls from the air.
Operating out of Hana Airport, they’re quite a long drive away from our Kaanapali vacation rentals, but you’ll get the added enjoyment of sightseeing from the ground on your way to and from this destination. Make sure you’ve got a full tank, and drive slowly if you get carsick. Once you arrive, you’ll get a one-on-one tandem session with an experienced pilot on an Australian-made Airbourne trike. These hang gliders feature cutting edge technology from the safest manufacturer. Each one is specially fitted with three wheels, an engine with a silencer kit, two sets of controls, and even a backup ballistic parachute system. If you’re still concerned with safety, Hang Gliding Maui has a perfect safety record, and they’ve been in operation for many years.
Hana boasts 350 flyable days per year, thanks to the ideal weather conditions for this particular activity. You should book your lesson in advance, especially during the winter when you’re more likely to have days that aren’t suitable for flight. You can choose from lessons that are 30, 45 or 60 minutes in duration, with a price range of $170-280. Their wing-mounted camera can provide you with digital photos of your trip for $40, or video for $80. This isn’t the cheapest activity on Maui, but again, the exhilaration you’ll experience is unparalleled, especially considering the safety of your adventure. When you return home and talk about the fun things you did on your trip to Maui, you’re not likely to hear, “Been there, done that,” from your friends and family.
Mahalo for reading this week, and happy adventures!
KaanapaliBeachRentals.com – by Ken Rothman
