There are hardly any kite-boarders coming to Pohnpei as there are no beaches to launch their kites. Most of the kiters that came in the past did boat launches. There is no kiteboarding at Palikir Pass (P-Pass) as that’s a surfing wave. If you are a good kiter you should know the rules of the road right? There are other passes where you can surf kites but you will need a boat to get there. The only tour operator or person on island who had a good understanding and knowledge of where and when to kite is Allois from the Pohnpei Surf and Dive Club (contact him through the various contacts we’ve listed on the Tour Operators & Local Guides page).
When to Visit
Pohnpei’s position in relation to the annual northeasterly trade winds results in exciting conditions off and on throughout the year, but the primary times for kiting around the island happen from October through May (for northern reef breaks) and September through December (for eastern breaks). The western and southern reefs are sheltered by the island and don’t get much in the way of wind.
Bringing a Kiteboard on the Airplane
Bringing a kiteboard to Pohnpei is relatively painless. If your kiteboard bag weighs less than 22.68 kg (50 lbs) and has total linear dimensions (length + width + height) of less than 157.5 cm (62 in), you won’t get charged for over-weight/over-sized baggage, though you’ll still have to pay an excess baggage fee (United only gives you one free piece of check-in luggage) which depends on your point of origin.
Anything larger or heavier than the specifications above will incur an over-weight/over-sized baggage fee each way. Maximum weight allowed is 45.3 kg (99.9 lbs). You can only bring one kiteboard per ticketed passenger. All your gear should be carefully packed and padded. There is no redress for equipment damaged in-flight. If the flight is extremely full, United has the right to send your kiteboard on a later flight.
Avoiding Aircraft
“Center Pass” and “Main Pass” lie within the flight path of aircraft taking off and landing at Pohnpei International Airport on Dekehtik. By law, kites must be out of the air during scheduled take-off and landing times. The FSM Division of Civil Aviation can provide you with schedule of all flights for a given week and advise you further.
- +691.320.2865
- FSM Division of Civil Aviation, P.O. Box PS-2, Pohnpei, FM 96941
- ncaa@mail.fm
- www.ict.fm/civilaviation