Hi all, heading to Maui on Hawaiian air on the 25th of this month & wanting to take my kit.
The brief from the airline is windsurfers cost US$150 each way, but you can take 2x surfboards for free.
just wondering if anyone has any intel on flying with equipment on Hawaiian airlines?
Thanks in advance - jamie

Its a lottery and solely depends on the check in agent. In SYD you could probably get away with telling them its a surfboard or even a kitesurfer as they really have no idea about windsurfers. You would then be up for a max of $35 to a min of nothing and there is every chance they will through check it to Maui although you will still need to grab it in HNL and drag it to the transfer area.

From Maui to HNL its $35US irrespective of whether its a surfboard or windsurfer. If you ask them to through check from Maui to AUS then they will hit you up for the $150US as they usually know its a windsurfer when you check in from Maui. When flying back from Maui I never through check as I like to make sure my gear has made it to HNL and then I re-check in HNL and hope for the best.

Because they now have this "two boards in one bag maximum" policy they usually ask you to open your bag. So if you're trying to bluff them thats it a surfboard just make sure you open the zip and only enough to show them there is one board in the bag.

I've done the trip over 25 times and it's always stressful as to what you're going to get charged - lying is the best policy, closely followed by crying, and if this doesnt appeal then renting gear is stress free

unless you staying more than 2 weeks or want to use slalom gear just rent it . will save you so much hassle
the gear will be mostly 2017 gear and occasionally you pick up a prototype for the following season.

this way you can also buy some cheap gear and bring it back with you :)

What Rob said... plus the difference between checkin staff in Hawaii and the rest of the world is they actually know the difference between a surf and windsurf board.

Select to expand quote

Roar said..
unless you staying more than 2 weeks or want to use slalom gear just rent it . will save you so much hassle
the gear will be mostly 2017 gear and occasionally you pick up a prototype for the following season.

this way you can also buy some cheap gear and bring it back with you :)

I think second wind rent slalom gear also?

This subject comes up a lot, and my response is the same as Roar's (but even for a one week stay), there really is no reason to take your own, chances are that you'd be renting better stuff than what you own anyway, so why not? It's not a money issue, may even be cheaper.
I've never taken anything more than my harness,,,,,,,,,,, no headaches, no worries. It's a vacation after all, you're supposed to be getting away from headaches and worries.

Flew Hawaiian out of Bris last year with the family. Had my gear and my sons. Total gear 3 boards, 1 sup and about 6 rigs, booms etc packed into 3 bags. Go the SUP / 2 surfboards in the bags policy. They didn't open it - so no problem. I was prepared to pay on the way home $150 per bag, because it still would have been cheaper (we were there 15 days - so $350/week for gear per person for 2 weeks rental - no brainer)

Now here is the cool bit - I used the airport porters at Kahului on the way out - had to drop the rental van back and all, so left the wife with all our gear and luggage and 2 children. They checked us in, tagged the luggage and transferred it to where it needed to be. Because of the bags we had we tipped the guy $70 - i think the going rate is like $2-$5 per bag. These guys are at the kerbside check in. You don't actually go up to the airline counter, so pretty sure they don't work for the airline, but not sure..

I personally like my gear - so whenever I can I take it.

Good luck - enjoy the trip.

Yes good point re the porters, forgot about that option

One more thing for anyone thinking about a stop over in Honolulu or side trip to another island. We did a couple of month in Hawaii a few years back and spend the first two weeks island hopping before basing ourselves on Maui.I left my gear with Dr Bob's Storage. Awesome service. They picked up the board bags from the terminal at the airport and dropped them back at the terminal at the arranged time. Price was reasonable and certainly a lot cheaper then what you'd pay in OZ.

Another tip is join Hawaiian airlines loyalty program as if you do get charged extra luggage fees it halves the cost from memory. Can do it online then just give them the number at the airport.

Fantastic advice, big thanks for all your tips. Much appreciated

Mate,

Just rent it, sooooooo much less stress and you get to try out some brand new kit.

Contact Kevin at Second Wind and ask him to reserve your preferred board, sails etc asking for the newest ones.

Kit is great and well looked after, you can change sails, boards etc etc grab SUP's instead. Best part is you don't get charged for days you don't sail. It costs a bit but worth it for the hassle it negates.

If you do take your own kit you'll max get away with 2 sails and one mast which can limit things.

The porter tip is a good one if you're hell bent on taking your own stuff. But as mentioned above, you cant get much past the checkin staff at Kahului. One year I arrived at Kanaha 1st day of the holiday only to find a series of holes in my board sustained on the flight from Aus.

Rent it.

Dave