FAQ's

You should wear shoes/sneakers you can run in and bring a jacket since it can be cool in the air.  Wearing long sleeves and long pants will offer more protection from the sun.

The scheduled time for your flight is based on our evaluation of what we expect the weather to be that time of year.  In the summer the flight times are earlier than in the winter because the sun comes up earlier.  We only fly in the morning since the weather usually gives us a short window of opportunity.  So, it’s very important that you arrive on time.  We encourage you to plan to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out forms and get registered.

Estimated drive times

If you are coming from the Kapalua/Napili area plan on 2 hours.

If you are coming from the Kaanapali area plan on 1 hour and 45 minutes.

If you are coming from the Lahaina area plan on 1 hour and 30 minutes.

If you are coming from the Kihei/Wailea area plan on 1 hour.

If you are coming from the Wailuku/Kahului/Paia/Haiku area plan on 45 minutes.

If you are coming from the Haleakala Crater plan on 1 hour.

For the Full Experience adventure, from the time you arrive to the time you leave will be about an hour to an hour and a half.  For the single flight it will be about an hour or less.

It can be raining or windy in your area and still be a perfect day where we fly.  If the weather will not allow flying we will let you know as soon as we evaluate the conditions.  We don’t want you to make a wasted trip.  On the other hand, you should plan on coming to fly even if the weather where you are is bad unless we contact you.  We fly approximately 330 days a year so the chances are very high that we are going to fly.

If we have to cancel your flight, we will either reschedule you for another day or give you a complete refund.

Because of the weather protected area where our flight park is located, we are able to fly over 330 days a year.  So, the odds of us having to cancel due to weather is very slim.

Our general cancellation policy is that we will refund you in full if you cancel at least 48 hours in advance.  We do not refund cancellations made with less than 48 hours notice.  If you have unforeseen circumstances arise, please contact us as soon as you can to see what we can work out.  Call us at 808-874-5433.

We have been taking people for tandem instructional paragliding flights for close to 30 years and have done over 30,000 flights at our flight park.  Out of all those flights we have had just a handful of minor scrapes and bruises and sore ankles.  We have as close to a perfect safety record as humanly possible.

Not even close!  Over 30 years and 30,000+ tandem flights the worst that has happened is some scrapes, bruises and an occasional sprained ankle.  By ‘occasional’ we mean that according to our records over the past 30 years, there’s a 0.03% probability that you will sprain your ankle which means there’s a 99.97% chance you won’t.  Paraglide Maui has as close as possible to a perfect safety record.

If you are in reasonable physical health and can run for 7 seconds you can paraglide.

Parasailing is where you are attached to a wing and then a boat pulls you up into the air.  You are just along for the ride with no control.  Paragliding is you, your instructor, and the air.  No boat.  No noise.  It’s much more peaceful and smoother than parasailing.  One other difference is that parasailing doesn’t require you to do anything.  You are a passive participant.  One of the exciting things about paragliding is that you are an active participant and it’s a rewarding accomplishment when you help us get launched.  See the pre-briefing video on our home page for an example of what we need you to do.

A hang glider is a fixed wing while a paraglider is a lightweight fabric wing that inflates when launched.  Hang gliding has been around for longer than paragliding which is a more recent innovation.  Hang glider pilots fly in a prone “Superman” position while paraglider pilots fly in a seated position.  Paragliders fly at slower speeds and have the ability to land in smaller landing zones than hang gliders.  It takes about 30 minutes to assemble a hang glider on launch and another 30 minutes to disassemble it after landing.  It takes about 5 minutes to set up a paraglider and 5 minutes to pack it up after landing.  A typical hang glider set up weighs about 60 – 75 pounds while a typical paraglider set up weighs 20 – 30 pounds.  A lightweight paragliding setup can weight less than 8 pounds.  Due to the rigid structural pieces and weight of a hang glider, a car or truck is required to take it to launch and it’s difficult to travel with.  A paraglider is carried in a duffle bag sized backpack so is easy to travel with.

Skydiving is an adrenaline rush where you jump out of an airplane, free fall, and then open the parachute for landing.  Depending on how high the plane is when you jump out it’s all over in 5-10 thrilling minutes.  Paragliding is a much less intense experience with no free fall.  The ride is more of a smooth glide than the fast descent of a skydiver.  Paraglide pilots often try to ride thermals higher into the sky and can stay aloft for hours at a time.

There are situations where we can offer discounts.  Please contact us directly for details.  808-874-5433.

Flying is an unnatural feat for humans who were designed to stay on the ground so it’s normal to be scared or nervous before paragliding.  After completing more than 30,000 tandem flights at our Paraglide Maui flight park, the number one comment we hear after the flight is, “That was way more peaceful and way less scary than I thought it was going to be.”

Everybody is naturally afraid of heights but not many are truly afraid when sitting in an airplane 6 miles above the ground and looking out the window.  So, it’s not necessarily the height that someone is afraid of – it’s the fear of falling from that height.  There is no sensation of falling when paragliding just as there’s no sense of falling while sitting in an airplane.

It’s always a great idea to bring along some extra family members who can take photos and videos of you flying.  We will show them where best to position themselves next to our landing zone.

That’s a great combination.  It will take about an hour to drive back down to our flight park after sunrise is over which is perfect timing for our early tandem flights.

Our flight park is open to anyone of any age.  However, our insurance only allows us to fly with passengers age 14 and older.  If your group or family have kids under 14, we find that they serve as great photographers and videographers to preserve the memories.

There are several recommended restaurants within 15 minutes of our flight park.

– Kula Bistro                                     Best pancakes on Maui.

– Grandma’s Coffee House           A funky café.

– Kula Lodge                                    At 4000’ elevation the views are great.

– La Provence                                  A true French bakery and bistro with attitude and no website.          3158 Lower Kula Rd., Kula, Hawaii

– Upcountry Food Trucks             55 Kiopaa Place, Makawao, Hawaii