JAWS Snapping Shut?
North Shore Maui’s Maliko Gulch Launch Spot Threatened With Closure…
Pic courtesy realestatemauihawaii.com
On top of all the anti-windsurfing legislation being put before the State of Hawaii (see http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/bills/SB2091_.htm), Maui’s world-famous “Jaws”, or Peahi, break could be shut after storm damage and a lack of maintenance has taken its toll on the closest boat ramp to the action.
If the Maliko Gulch access is cut off, then windsurfers and other recreational users face an additional 9 miles upwind on their journeys from Kahului harbour to the west.
Additionally a local company has not had it’s right-of-use agreement with the State renewed since 1997, and so local community groups and users of the ramp facility are clubbing together to form an action plan that will allow the ramp to function on, and critically, be a vital access point for emergency services as Peahi grows in popularity amongst big-wave addicts worldwide.
Still, some users must be over the moon at the prospect of reduced crowds to their north shore gem, but as ever, safety will remain a priority even for the biggest daredevils such as PWA stars Jason Polakow (JP / NeilPryde) Levi Siver (Quatro /NeilPryde) and many more.
