Press Release: Saturday Aug. 19, Maui, Hawai’i, USA

The Event: “The 2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic” 

Event location: Ho’okipa Beach Park

Event window: October 23 to Friday, November 3.

Crowning the 2023 Wave World Champions.

The 2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic is confirmed! This will be the Grand Final of the Unified PWA IWT Wave Tour. The Aloha Classic is the single most prestigious event title in the windsurfing world and signifies the culmination of a thrilling season running from Japan, Chile, Fiji, Spain, Peru, Germany and soon Maui, where we will crown the Wave World Champions.

With the biggest Wave Tour in the 50 year history of the sport, competitors will represent more than 40 countries as they head to Maui.Countries represented include Australia. New Zealand. Japan. Taiwan / China. Fiji. New Caledonia. Canada. USA. Hawai’i. Guadeloupe. Puerto Rico. Barbados. Dominican Republic. Aruba. Venezuela. Brazil. Argentina. Peru. Chile. South Africa. Cabo Verde. Morocco. Spain. Portugal. Britain. Wales. Scotland. Ireland. France. Netherlands. Germany. Austria. Switzerland.  Italy. Denmark. Sweden. Norway. Belgium. Poland. Greece. Israel. Lebanon. 

The first wave event that grew into the Aloha Classic took place in 1981, and quickly made Maui the epicenter of the windsurfing world. This event transformed Paia and the North Shore towns into a wonderfully diverse community.

The 2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic holds special significance, being a major international event following the devastating fires in Lahaina and surrounding areas. With an annual positive economic impact estimated to be over 1.5 million dollars, this event is needed now more than ever for the island’s recovery.

Organized by the IWT (International Wave Tour) in association with the PWA (Professional Windsurfing Association), this event unifies the windsurfing world to stand with Maui. The global community’s heartfelt efforts will raise funds for Maui through the event’s major global broadcast. Across the event, we will promote local aid local groups, Maui Strong and The Maui Food Bank.

The 2023 Maui Strong Aloha Classic Grand Final stands as a testament to the resilience and unity of both the windsurfing community and the people of Maui.

We will never be able to repair the damage in the hearts of the people and families of Lahaina, yet, it will be our purpose in everything we do during this Maui Strong Aloha Classic.