Max outside the shop located in Surina off of Malcolm in Friday Harbor.

Looking for something to do that doesn’t involve a screen? How about something that gets you out of the house, let’s you zone out and provides a joyful and meditative experience. How about kite flying.

Kite enthusiasts Max Gilbertson and Katherine Hales opened Quite Alright Kites (QUARK) in Friday Harbor June 1, 2026.  Their mission is spreading joy through the love of flying kites.

The store, located in Surina Business and Retail Park at 50 Malcolm Street in Friday Harbor,  is packed with kites and  all the supplies needed to create your own. Juggling sticks, kendamas, frisbees,  and glitter are  among other items available in the store.

Max showing two young customers a kite at Quite Alright Kites in Friday Harbor.

Kites offered include among others cellular kites, two-handed sport kites, delta kites, diamond kites. The shop offers kite-making workshops and have offered kite gatherings at Jacksons Beach.

Some of the many kites available at Quite Alright

Katherine Hales, center, helps a participant build a kite at Jacksons Beach.

QUARK (Quite Alright Kites) will be at the Lavender Festival July 18 and 19 at 45 Hawthorne Lane on San Juan Island and at the San Juan County Fair August 13-16, 2026.

Max is versed in the history of kites which can be traced back more than 2,000 years to China and Asia. They have been used in religious ceremonies, military signaling, and recreational activities. During World War I,  the British, French, Italian, and Russian armies utilized kites for enemy observation and signaling. Inventors Samuel Langley, Lawrence Hargrave, and Alexander Graham Bell   used kites to advance the field of aviation.  Buddhist monks introduced kites in Japan in the 7th century  to ward off evil spirits and ensure prosperous harvests. Internationally, kites are linked to numerous traditions and holidays

“Kites symbolize freedom and liberation in multiple cultures. The act of flying a kite allows you to break free from earthly constraints, capturing the essence of soaring into the sky. For example, in many regions, the upward movement of kites mirrors the human desire for personal freedom and the pursuit of one’s dreams. In ancient Chinese traditions, it was believed that flying kites could help release worries and connect individuals with spiritual realms. This idea extends to modern kite festivals, where people gather to celebrate their freedom in a collective spirit.”  – Brainwisemind.com.

Visit Quite Alright Kites shop and start or restart your own kite traditions.