Looks like two weeks in Maui in September, is on the cards but want to make sure my girlfriend has a great sailing holiday as well, and I have never been to Maui. She is beginning to use the harness, and I would say a few good sessions with light winds and flat water would have her planning etc.

Is there somewhere like lancelin for example, where she could have a good time in sheltered waters in steady wind and we can both sail in etc? Google comes up with Kanaha, for those who have been, would this fit the bill?

If its likely to be too windy/crowded I would rather go somewhere else, and come back to maui another time.

Kanaha is the place to go. It's however a bit gusty the first 20 - 50m...so if she is not nailing waterstart properly, better go far away the first tack and not stay close to shore...but you will figure it out. Wave are very far away so no worries if a swell comes..september is not the prime time..but you can see the first N-W swell of the fall. Kihei is usually not wavy...and a bit chopy but less than the north shore. If the wind is N or NNE, it blows harder there...if it's a regular trade wind..it will be more offshore at kihei and gusty...so pick your day is my advice. So Kihei got shallow reef, so beware..I would not recommand Maui Sunset beach, very shallow but it's a good spot on South Swell...recommand the first beach on your way to Kihei, Memorial Park I think...good vibes, she will like it! Sun is direct in your face..bring sunscreen and water!

Snap on ejmack

I just returned from two and a half weeks in Maui and we sailed Kanaha every day.

My wife is an intermediate sailer that is in the harness and the front foot strap - she sailed nearly every day at Kanaha. The best idea is to be ready to be on the water at the 11am start time (this is a rule for anybody that is sailing a board without a dager board) before the wind gets up too strong.
My wife usually managed a couple of hours on the water before she was buggered or the wind got too strong for her.

Have fun