Parasailing on Kāʻanapali Beach
Why Kāʻanapali
The best water on the island for it
Kāʻanapali sits in the lee of the West Maui Mountains, which is why the water here is glass most mornings while the rest of the island is working. That protection is what makes a 1,200-foot flight comfortable rather than sporty.
From altitude you get the full run of the coast: the resort strip and Black Rock below you, Lahaina down the shoreline, Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi across the channel, and the West Maui Mountains behind. In winter the same channel fills with humpback whales, which is why our season runs May 16 to December 14 and the boats come out after that.
Good to know
- Mornings are the calmest. Later departures are still flyable, they just have more texture.
- You launch and land on the deck. Nobody swims out to anything.
- Want a dip at the end? Tell the crew and they'll dunk your toes.
- Crew speaks English, Spanish and Japanese.
Flights
Fly alone or fly together
Solo
One flyer
The quietest version. Minimum 130 lb to fly alone, so most kids go tandem with an adult.
Most booked
Tandem
Two side by side, 125–560 lb combined. The one most couples and parent-child pairs pick.
Groups
Triple
Three under one canopy. Popular with families who don't want anyone sitting it out.
Private
Whole boat
Our two newest boats carry 12, so a family group or a celebration can take the whole trip.
Who runs it
Award-winning operator, Hawaiʻi raised
Dave Vogt grew up around watersports on the islands of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi, and has since flown more than 25,000 people across Florida, Catalina Island, Lake Tahoe, Belize, Mexico, Newport Beach and Santa Barbara — and now Maui.
He holds the Water Sports Industry Association's Award of Excellence for his contributions to the parasail industry — an award that weighs safety record, training and service rather than volume.
Every flight is run by USCG-certified captains on equipment inspected and maintained on schedule. If the wind isn't right, we reschedule or refund — we don't fly marginal conditions.
Locations
Where to meet us
Kāʻanapali Beach
Look for the yellow umbrellas
Right on the sand, a three-minute walk north of Whalers Village. Our shuttle boat takes 6 at a time from the beach out to the parasail boat — expect to get your feet wet, and watch for turtles on the way.
Getting there
Park at Whalers Village
The village structure is the closest parking and validation is available — ask the crew at check-in. Beach lots along Kāʻanapali Parkway fill early, so allow extra time.
Every departure leaves from Kāʻanapali Beach — we no longer run from Lahaina Harbor.
FAQ
Common questions
Anything else, call the beach line and select Option 1.
How high do you fly?
Up to 1,200 feet of flight line, which is the longest line flown on this stretch of coast. Air time runs 8 to 14 minutes depending on the weather; the whole boat trip is about an hour depending on how many flyers are aboard.
Do I need experience?
None. There's nothing to steer and nothing to learn. The crew fits your harness on the deck, the winch lets you out, and the winch brings you back in.
Will I get wet?
Only if you ask. Takeoff and landing both happen on the boat deck, so you stay dry unless you tell the crew you want a dip at the end.
What are the weight limits?
Solo flyers need to be at least 130 lb. Tandem flights run 125–560 lb combined. The crew pairs people up on the boat to make the numbers work.
Can kids fly?
Yes, from age five. Most children fly tandem with a parent since solo flights have a 130 lb minimum.
What if the weather turns?
We don't fly marginal conditions. If the wind or sea state isn't right, you're rescheduled at no charge or refunded in full.
