Go Fly a Kite

The Chinese are credited with using kites for propulsion in the 13th century.  In the 70's and 80's a German was using kites to power skateboards.  At the same time, two French brothers were experimenting with actual "kitesurfing."  Fast forward to 1996, and Laird Hamilton and Manu Bertin helped to make kitesurfing popular in Hawaii (on Maui, to be specific).  By 1998, kitesurfing had become a mainstream sport, and that September saw the first organized contest held here on Maui.

Kitesurfing is bigger than ever here, and on most windy afternoons, you can head over to "Kite Beach" behind the airport and watch dozens of aerial acrobats and speed demons continue to push their sport to new levels.