Hawaii, USA · Arranged by us
Maui
Tow foiling where it was invented, on the swells that started it all
The ski throttles up off Maui's north shore and the rope goes tight. You let go on a shoulder-high wall that has traveled three thousand miles of open Pacific, and the foil just keeps going. This is where tow foiling was born, and the water still feels like it knows.
Plan this tripSeason
Year-round, with two distinct swell seasons
Best months
November to March
Level
Intermediate to advanced. You should already be comfortable on the foil behind a ski; winter north shore days demand real open-ocean experience.
The water
Conditions
Winter brings consistent north Pacific groundswell to the north shore, from playful head-high days to serious open-ocean walls. Summer flips to smaller south swells, better for lighter setups and long glide sessions. The water is warm all year and the swell period is long, exactly what a foil wants. Trade winds fill in most afternoons, so mornings are the premium slot.
Who it's for
Is this your trip?
Foilers who want to ride the sport's home water with people who helped shape it. Best for riders chasing genuine open-ocean groundswell rather than a teaching venue, and for anyone who wants Kai Lenny's backyard in their logbook.
Trips
What we arrange here
Premium wave tow-in session
from $600 pp
2 hours
The taster. Two hours on the ski with a local crew, dialed to the day's best zone. Based on published local session rates.
3-day guided tow program
from $2,400 pp
3 days, half-day sessions
Three half-day tow blocks spread across a swell window, with rest days flexed around the forecast. We build the rest of the trip around it.
Full swell-chase week
from $6,400 pp
7 days, 4 full tow days
Four full days on the water across a week, timed to the incoming charts. Water time only; we arrange lodging, car, and the daily call.
Our take
Why we love it
- ◆ The birthplace of tow foiling — KT builds its tow boards here
- ◆ Long-period Pacific groundswell that a foil converts into pure glide
- ◆ Warm water and rideable swell twelve months a year
- ◆ Hawaii's DOBOR tow-in certification keeps the lineup professional
- ◆ Easy add-on: an Oahu North Shore tow session on the same trip
The standout operation here runs premium wave tow-ins out of Maui with published day rates, and a second active outfit tows on request; Oahu's North Shore adds a serious tow-surf and hydrofoil crew if you want to island-hop. Everything is session-based rather than packaged, so we stitch the trip together around your dates.
Logistics
Getting there
Airport
Kahului (OGG), direct flights from the US West Coast and connections worldwide
Stay
Base on the north shore — Paia or Haiku put you minutes from the launch and the morning call
The plan
Rent a car at OGG; the north shore is 15-30 minutes from the airport and you will want wheels for chasing swell angles