Live wind
Water & wetsuit
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About this spot
Motu Martin in Mahina, about 20 minutes from Papeete, is the most popular kitesurf spot on Tahiti: a black-sand beach at Hitimahana with flat water sheltered by the Motu 'Au islet.
Two schools — Tahiti Kitesurf Center and Tahiti Kite School — teach complete beginners from this beach.
The Mara'amu, a steady south-easterly trade of 12–25 knots, blows May to October; the lighter variable season from November to April suits big kites and foiling.
Westerly and southerly winds are offshore here and push riders towards the open ocean — schools brief this on land before sessions.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 12–25 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- flat, choppy
- Depth
- Shallow lagoon flat behind Motu 'Au — coral heads further out
- Seabed
- sand, reef
- Skill
- beginner, intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Beginner friendly
- Wind range
- 12 kn – 25 kn
Access & parking
Hitimahana beach in Mahina, about 20 minutes from Papeete.
Parking: Beside the beach — arrive early on windy weekends.
Amenities
- Two kitesurf schools on the beach (Tahiti Kitesurf Center, Tahiti Kite School)
Needs local verification: Sources: https://www.airtahitinui.com/en/kitesurfing-french-polynesia-best-spots-islands (Air Tahiti Nui: Motu Martin the most popular spot on Tahiti, black-sand beach, flat water protected by Motu 'Au, W/S winds offshore at Mahina, pass currents), https://anoe-tahiti.com/en/2025/04/polynesian-surfing-where-to-kite-in-tahiti-and-moorea/ (Motu Martin in Mahina, about 20 min from Papeete), https://www.tahitikitesurfcenter.com/en and http://www.tahitikiteschool.com (two schools teaching beginners at Hitimahana/Mahina), https://getnomadr.com/cities/tahiti/wind_kite_surfing (Mara'amu SE trade 12-25 kt May-Oct, light NE variable season Nov-Apr). Coordinates are estimates. Water table: seatemperature.org Papeete averages. Windy links are searches/maps, not verified local webcams.
Local hazards
- Offshore W/S winds push towards the open ocean
- Coral heads in the lagoon — booties recommended
- Currents near the reef pass
- Keep clear of marked swimming zones