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Hip mainland cities like Portland or Austin may have their popular speed dating, but Maui has something cool and chic: speed humping.
Speed humps are basically extended versions road speed bumps ~ those annoying elongated blemishes on neighborhood streets where the county tries to slow speeds of motorists.
A little-known fact is that Maui has more speed humps than any other community in the United States.
“Which is why it’s thriving here on island,” said Greg Bowers, a Kihei resident who founded the Speed Humping Institute of Technology, an enthusiast’s group where speed humpers from around the world can communicate and share tips on the burgeoning exercise.
“It’s mostly a Maui thing right now because we haven’t found any speed humpers anywhere else yet,” Bowers said. “But we’re growing well here, because we say it feels good, so do it.”
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Speed humping involves trying to create the best video or image near a speed hump, whether one already installed by the county, or purchased and laid out. Believe it or not, buying speed humps is not unusual these days.
The hobby began on real asphalt speed humps because there are thousands on Maui, and humpers could easily find one to work with in a remote location where few cars might interrupt things.
“It’s easy to find a speed hump on Maui where you might not see a car all day,” said Steve Hedges of Paia, who has speed humped for 5 years. “We don’t know why some were installed where they are. Must have been a budget thing.”
However, in recent years humpers have trended toward using temporary speed humps, which can be purchased online in a variety of shapes, colors and designs.
“It just shows how much more serious you are about humping, and it provides more safety as well as options for background setting,” said Aaron Michael of Makawao. “You actually can stage something with a vehicle driven by a friend to casually roll over a temporary hump, so it’s all pre-staged and won’t piss off drivers. And do it with a cool well-known background like Iao Valley, or a road to Hana sign. Things like that can make or break a hump.”
Background setting is among several elements of creating good “humps,” as enthusiasts call their final work of a video or photo. Often, humps are staged mini videos, like a fake wedding, or drive-in movie screen. Done in front of something iconic, like the Kihei roundabout, and you can get thousands of votes, Bowers said.
Besides competing for views and likes on social media platforms, Maui humpers have set up the online Maui Speed Humpers Association to track points and keep standings. Ultimately, local humpers envision a professional league.
Hardcore expert speed humpers take on the speed bumps at Kahului Airport (OGG), Bowers said. “That’s our Mount Everest,” he said. “The Super Bowl.”
