Stand up paddle boarding lessons now available at Napili Bay

Da Kine Stand Up Paddle has introduced stand up paddle boarding (SUP) lessons on Napili Bay — the only company to offer SUP lessons at Napili. The peaceful, reef-protected bay on Maui’s west side is the ideal site for SUP lessons, generally offering calm, safe waters for a great introduction to the popular sport, which has taken the world by storm. Stand up paddle boarding (or stand up paddle surfing, when done with waves) has its roots in Hawaii as an ancient form of surfing and has re-emerged in recent years as one of the fastest growing sports around the world. Da Kine offers two-hour lessons, including instruction on SUP equipment and correct board selection for individual needs, mounting the board, standing up, proper foot positioning, paddle stroking and steering. Within an hour a student can become very comfortable on the board. Instructors are certified in CPR, first aid, and water safety, and classes are limited to a maximum of four students per instructor. Minimum age is 12 years old, although younger students might be accepted, depending on their swimming skills. Rates are US$150 for a private lesson; US$125 p.p. for two people; $100 p.p. for a group lesson of three to four people. A group lesson (four people maximum) takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1 p.m. (http://www.DaKineSup.net)