I'm coming home early from the Cook Islands. The main kiteboarding island of Aitutaki was destroyed by a hurricane a few weeks ago and they're still rebuilding everything. There's no wind here on Rarotonga, apparently I've completely missed the season. Thus, I cannot afford to sit around waiting for wind because I'll either go broke or crazy, if not both.

Thinking of maybe going to Hawai'i (Oahu, I've got family there I could possibly stay with) or back to the Dominican Republic for the third time. DR's been having shoddy wind all year though. Anybody have the DL on Oahu? It looks like their season doesn't pick up until mid to late summer but at the same time it looks like they've been having great wind lately?

What's the kite scene like? How're the locals? Anybody got any feedback?

As for the Cook Islands . . . well this place's actually really cool. The people are the friendliest I've ever met, the food's good (but expensive) and accommodation's cheap for backpackers. There's just fuck-all to do when there's no wind though.

fuck all sounds good to me

I would go hang out in Hood River until it's time to head to Brazil....

I know Maui isn't Oahu, but Maui has been rockin' lately.

haha, yeah. Try sitting around on a beach paying $5 for a bottle of beer and $20 per meal. It lost it's charm quickly. But maybe I just get stir-crazy. Who knows?

When's HR start getting windy? Isn't it expensive to stay around there?

HR is cheap compared to Oahu. I've lived in both.

Oahu can skunk you for months this time of year, you'll get wind for days in HR.. Find a place with somebody looking to rent a room..

You won't go stir crazy in HR. Portland, Mt. Hood, Deschutes River, all nearby for non-wind fun..

I've been in and out of DR for 11yrs, love the place, but can only take it in spurts now, when the wind is down in DR, I get nuts..

I've got a friend who lives in Portland now actually...been meaning to visit him. I could turn it into a pretty cool road trip opportunity. That's just about a diagonal cut across the country from where I live in Florida. How much longer are they gonna be wearing wetsuits on the river anyway?

suits are worn most of the time, i'm a cold water wimp, i wore something all the time.

It get's super windy, at 25kts, it's cold in almost all climates..

Promotion (www.wetsuit.com) is in HR. They will hook up a walk in customer with the right stuff.

I've worn their suits since 1996, and nothing else.

Also, if you are in the Panhandle.
You may consider:

North to the Outer Banks. Camping and kiting up the OBX.

Head west to Corpus for late spring early summer.
Hit HR for summer blast of fun,

Take I-10W. Stop in Corpus, then head to Cali, go Pismo north. Then head up the Oregon coast, lot's of killer wave spots.

Arrive to Portland and HR for summer...

Thanks for all the advice. I'd actually considered a road trip around the country. I think I'd have to convince one of me friends with a car a bit more spacious than my Subaru Legacy to come along though haha.

Somebody ought to come up with a web site here kiteboarders can arrange to be room mates or offer temporary lodging to other kiters (like a couchsurfing).

You reading this, Toby? Could be on to something here.