INTRO Friendly shop with fair prices, but board quality can…read morebe hit or miss - especially some of the soft tops, which may be waterlogged and very difficult to surf. Definitely inspect your board before heading out and if you get a bad board, simply head in and swap it out. They will be very cool about it and likely give you more time in the water for the inconvenience. THE STAFF Very, very friendly and welcoming. No issues here. THE BOARDS Beware: some of the soft-top boards may be waterlogged. Pick them up - if they're unusually heavy, they're likely full of water and will surf terribly. I raised this with the leadership team, and Ben said they're going to do a better job inspecting the rental quiver to ensure boards are ready to ride. When in doubt, opt for a solid 8-9' hard top. BOOTIES You may think you want them to get out past the ~10 feet of rocky bottom. Not the end of the world - smooth rocks and ZERO sea urchins. They'll tell you they're everywhere, but you're only touching bottom for a couple seconds as you enter the crystal-clear water. Bring your own or rent for $5. If I had to do it again, I'd skip the booties. THE WAVES Scout the waves first. This is not Waikiki. This spot is hit or miss. THE CROWD Perpetual surf school sitting in the best spot in the lineup. No issues with them personally, but it does make the area feel crowded. OVERALL You're surfing in Hawaii - it's always a good outing. This is the best rental option for this beach. The staff is great and the prices are fair. Just double-check the surf and your rental board before paddling out, and don't hesitate to return to the shop during your rental to swap boards. They're happy to help, and if you lose time due to a bad board, ask for extra time - their team will likely make it right.

Awesome! The place to go if you're looking to surf while on vacation! The guys here are great!…read moreHighly recommend STEVE! Surf lesson on ground and then hit the waves! Very detailed- great experience! Show up early and have lunch at tables on the beach or go snorkeling before or after surfing. Da Poke Shack is 5 minutes away on the same street Ali. Perfect spot/beach to spend the day! Tell Steve hello!

Well kept, attentive workers on arrival. Small venue shop, includes multiple…read moreLocal brands. Could use some strawberry sex wax though

I thought this was a very nice store; inventory was carefully stacked with sizes shown, lots of…read morevery cool t-shirt designs that you dont see elsewhere. Staff was friendly and greeted us as we walked in. Some good prices on board shorts too I was tempted but we were leaving the island that day. Since the store name was Hawaiian Island Creations I expected to see made in Hawaii on the labels, but the few shirts I checked were made in foreign countries. They didnt carry my shirt size - XLT so I couldnt buy anything (I'm 185lb 6'). XL shirts invariably shrink in the wrong direction despite claims of 'preshrunk' etc. I'll probably check in again next visit.

Great selection of fins but guy who works there always acts a defensive and you feel like you're…read morebothering him when asking for a size or question. Not sure what that's about but great stuff in the store

always very helpful with helping me pick out boards and accessories. love how he supports local…read moresmall businesses also.

Wrong customer service. Worker claimed tshirts were $10...Wrong....cashier charged $22. WTF!read more

I love this store!! Whenever I get to come to Kona, I make it a priority to shop here for my…read morefavorite souvenirs. Their selection of brands and customer service is amazing Unfortunately, one of our gift purchases did not workout for the recipient this year. Due to credit card merchant issues, the credit card refund was not an option, but the employee diligently work to give a cash refund. Thank you for being understanding and persistent to give a refund. . We hope to see you again next year and get some more amazing clothes!!

Ok, I have to admit that I keep coming because my daughter shares the same name as this store…read more But every time I enter, I'm pleasantly surprised with their selection. Compared to the dozen other shops that sell a hundred souvenir "Hawaii" t-shirts on this street, Kailani Surf Co. sells locally-designed, sometimes handmade, surf apparel and other fun things. Now that they've moved across the street, it seems like they've changed their style slightly, less "Kailani" branded stuff and offer smoothies and snacks. Besides clothes, they also offer beautifully-made wooden skateboard decks, made by the owner's husband and stuffed ocean animals and beanies, hand knitted by the owner's college student daughter. I also spotted organic sunscreen, and these awfully cute Brazilian bikini pieces that are reversible and can be worn as a top or bottom. I can see myself coming back here at the end of my trip with whatever money I still have left and doing some damage before returning back to the mainland!

The service is spectacular, and their frozen desserts even better! A must if you're in Kona. Be…read moreprepared to make multiple visits in one day. Best of all, it's healthy!

Love the people who work here. Super helpful when I was looking for something specific and just the…read moremost kind. Great options in all price ranges.

I've had a few trips where I hired surf coaches. And Austin is the best surf coach I've ever had…read more With Austin this is the first time I truly learned something insightful and memorable. Austin is very friendly, communicative and detail oriented. Before the lesson he made sure that he could prepare for equipments based on my body type and measurements. He likes to keep his class (if group class) very small so everyone gets to have more time to learn directly from him. What's more, Austin likes to keep his class fun and relaxing. He knows when he should be pushing the students hard to practice more, and when to rest a little with stories and jokes so keeps the students motivated. Also most importantly, Austin likes to bring depth to his class. He's very knowledgeable of sharing different ways of standing up, paddling. And he likes to share his insights on the pros and cons and when to use which. I found it extremely helpful. I found with this trip I can come home not only knowing how to stand up, but how to truly surf. In all, Austin is the best surf coach I've ever had and I strongly recommend you book lessons with him.

Had a great time kayaking through Kealakekua bay with Evan and Steve and then snorkeling near…read moreCaptain Cook's monument. This was our second time and it was just as fun, if not more! The early morning kayaking through the bay is soothing for the soul. We also got lucky and saw some dolphins. The snorkeling is out of this world with such clear water and variety of colorful fish of all sizes. Evan and Steve were both very attentive to all the kayakers and super knowledgeable as we learned a bunch about Hawaiian history, Captain Cook's arrival (and demise), and the lasting legacy of that episode on Hawaii's history. After all the snorkeling, the sandwich lunch hit the spot. It also came with a souvenir water bottle! I had a last minute dietary request and they graciously accommodated. Even though this was our second time, we still had fun and actually learned new details about the history and conservation efforts happening in the area! If you want a fun, yet respectful and ethical experience, this is it!

Grant was an awesome guide. Led the process from getting outrigger canoe from the beach into the…read morewater, explaining the proper technique, providing information about the location and directing the paddle experience. Saw a large pod of dolphins that swam right by us - we stopped to keep our distance, but the dolphins didn't follow the rules so we got an amazing show from them. Added bonus was the paddling workout.

It has been a long time since I've had such a terrible retail experience…read more.. I've been coming to this store for years and the product is fantastic. The selection is great, but year in and year out, the service gets worse and worse. This time was, the worst it has ever been... The doors were locked even though it was prime open hours (about 4pm). I saw half a dozen customers come to the store and be turned away because the doors were locked. I actually spoke with one the customers, and he said he had been checked the door several times in the past 15 minutes. I called the store, and only then did the girl materialize after about 15 minutes of waiting, and unlock the doors. While in the store, the sales girl made no attempt at helping us with finding product, selecting a size, etc. She made no attempt in any way to be helpful. It was truly amazing. My partner and I could not believe it. This girl was dead inside, and almost ruined a perfect day. I will say that Rip Curl really has to do better and their employee selection. Rip Curl makes wonderful items, and this store is a regular stop for me; they need to find better retail associates. Please! Be warned... Be careful... Parking is great. Store is generally clean, and this day it was full of boxes around the counter.

I was in for a treat when I walked into Rip Curl Surf Center. Right when I walked in I was greeted…read morewith a sweet young tall boy. He was kind enough to help me get to the top rack and search for something I needed for my son! I'll be back again! Thank you!