We had the best experience from the moment I called to book the lesson. The instructors were friendly and the pictures that the photographer captured were amazing. Everyone was successful in getting up and catching a wave!!! Kalama beach also had shade and benches overlooking the ocean and across the street is a small shopping area with restaurants. read more

Had a great time learning to surf in Kihei with these guys. They were able to take a last min reservation a couple days before, and it was really convenient and easy to meet up with the instructors at the park to get started in the morning. The guys were great about making everyone comfortable and getting everyone up and riding at least a couple good waves during the lesson. Also added to the experience that we managed to see some sea turtles during our lesson. read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Got up and riding on my own - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

See all

we introduced our two boys, 12 & 9, to surfing with this company - what an awesome experience! our instructor was knowledgeable, great with the kids, and fun! the whole operation was well organized and made sure we got plenty of waves (plus bonus sea turtle spotting!). we would definitely recommend Big Kahuna Adventures to new surfers! Additionally, their photography was taken by John & Leilani with Maui Dream Photography - excellent work and we have priceless photos to commemorate the day! Thank you! read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - 1st time getting up on a surfboard - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Our daughters had Jessie for the 10:00 lesson on Saturday. He was a calm and gentle instructor! Both of our girls caught many waves and we're extremely happy with the experience. Highly recommend it. read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Jessie with our girls - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Really nice guys who work behind the counter. Rented 2 long boards. It was really simple and quick. Reasonably priced as well with a convenient location. read more

FANTASTIC EXPERIENCE!! NOTE: They are open for business in the parking lot across from their old shop! Look for the Big Kahuna truck. Awesome folks and instruction! (They even furnish your rash guard - shirt - and sturdy water shoes.) I was nervous and am not a water-baby by any stretch. Our instructor, Jesse, and the owner, Jeff, were really awesome: friendly, encouraging, patient, super knowledgeable, and FUN! If you're new to surfing (or even experienced!) these are the folks for you! I noticed other surf schools didn't spend NEAR as much time with the land lesson first, and I KNOW that extra time and practice really set me up for success. I got up multiple times for a several seconds each, and Jesse was so encouraging. I am a raving fan! It might have been easy to give up, but he kept encouraging me and giving me some things to try, then WHAM! I had an AWESOME long ride to the end of the wave. It was so thrilling! I highly recommend this company to anyone visiting Maui. It was a great experience from start to finish! (AND they take lots of pictures! What an incredible memory and keepsake! Love these guys!!) read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - The Thrill of Victory!! :) - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We did surf lessons with our 6 & 9yr old kids... it was SO great, we went back to do it again a week later!! Jesse especially was such a patient, fun, no-stress instructor and gave our kids a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We all got up on the boards several times, and saw 6 huge turtles. A must-do with your whole family! read more

AWFUL EXPERIENCE! I made reservations for my family for a Sunday paddle boarding lesson. He told me we would get a 30 minute lesson on land and 2 hours on the water. He sounded pretty helpful on the phone so we were all excited to go. However, when we got there we were given a pathetic "lesson" inside the tiny shack which consisted of "This is how you paddle" and "This is where you should stand". We were also surprised to find out that we had to carry our own paddle boards from the shop to the beach... these things are super wide and at least 50 lbs. It took us about 10-15 minutes just to get to the water. We struggled a lot with no one there to teach us and eventually gave up after about 30 minutes. My little sister dropped her board on accident so he charged us for a dent that he found. But what do you expect when you give a 16 year a ginormous board and expect her to carry it herself?! I was very upset that he failed to tell us when I called the night before to make reservations that there'd be no one to take us to the beach and give us an actual lesson. Money wasted. Go somewhere else if you want to learn how to paddle board. Super disappointed. NOT RECOMMENDED! read more

Disappointed with service and overall poor experience with staff. Also Equipment seemed old and they had limited product assortment which was dirty in displays. (Not a big deal, review is for service and experience) My new hubby and I are on our honeymoon stumbled upon this place while up early checking out the beach areas. We did a 2 hour Kayak rental and then couldn't find our way back to the right beach and went 1.5 miles too far . We called for help but Jeffrey said he couldn't do a rescue pick up because he was the only one at the store. He seemed frustrated instead of concerned that we were 1.5 miles past the store, had no idea what to look for to get back, and the wind had picked up and water was rough. Instead of trying to help he said something to the effect that it's very easy to tell where to go in and he sounded frustrated that we hadn't seen it (Note: Jeffrey helped us get the boat to the grass across the street but then we were on our own - not an ideal set up for boats.) We realized (too late) that Jeffrey hadn't given us any instructions on landmarks for getting back to the right beach Then when we got back finally, a nice young kid came out to help get the boat back to the store - but only at the very end to cross the street. When we got in to the store again, there was a woman behind the counter who we hadn't met before. we said we needed our car key. She looked upset with us and said we were late and owed a $10 late fee. I asked if that could be waived because we got lost and had called for help but were told Jeffrey was the only one in the store and could not pick us up.' Before I could finish my sentence she literally started yelling at us that we were late and needed to pay a fee. Then she said, very loudly and angrily, 'fine don't pay but Leave and I never want to see you again!' We exchanged a few more things as I tried to calmly speak to her to have her clam down but she didnt Then we left and Anthony (my husband) paid the fee The kayaking was fun but this left a bad taste in our mouth. Too bad read more

We had a great experience surfing with Jessie. He is a great instructor and had us standing on the boards in minutes.

Jesse was our instructor and David took amazing photos of our group. The entire experience was super fun and very chill! Jesse is a great experienced instructor who explains everything really well (especially for us beginners) and takes care of everyone in and out of the water. David took super awesome photos and videos so we were able to focus more on the experience itself. They really understand the waves and techniques of surfing. Would definitely return to Big Kahuna and would highly recommend read more

This place rules!!! My husband needed a snorkeling filter for his GOPRO and not only did this place have it but they were incredibly helpful and even had him being his gopro in so that they could help him make sure he was getting the right product and knew how to put it on right. They had lots of enthusiasm as well as knowledge. This is exactly what all businesses should be. Surf and non-surf. Restores your faith in humanity. read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

My 8 yr old wanted to try surfing. We booked a private lesson because we felt it would be less down time. It was well worth the money. We booked a few days in advance. We couldn't have asked for a better experience! The lesson started on land then quickly moved to the water. I did notice the other school spent a long time to get organized on the land. Jesse my son's instructor was excellent! Jesse was patient and enthusiastic. My son was standing on the 1st wave they put him on! He was able to get up on the board on almost every single wave they put him on. We also purchased fantastic pictures from David. My son mentioned that David also gave him pointers. My son felt like he made 2 friends and was wanting to take more lessons with them! Great fun! David also gave us tips on things to do and places to eat...all were great suggestions! We would highly recommend them! read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Surfing Kihei - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Best time ever!!!!!! Thank you so much for the great memories They helped us with our go pro and were so knowledgeable about everything Mahalo read more

5 star for a great surfing lesson with Jesse 1 star for charging me 80% more than what was agreed when I booked the lesson read more

Booked two private surf lessons for my twin 11year old daughters. It is was their first time surfing. Upon arrival the girls got their booties and headed the the grass for a brief dry land primer on surfing. After they headed down to the water, carrying their boards like veteran surfers, and started riding the waves. Their instructors were Jeremy and Jeff--they were super patient and gave great feedback! The girls had an amazing lesson, learned a lot and had a blast. Thanks Jeremy and Jeff for being amazing instructors and awesome humans! read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Post surf lesson photo sesh - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Wonderful time. Jesse was a great teacher. Really nice environment for any beginner to learn and try something new

The whole experience was amazing! Lucy's was an excellent instructor and we were feeling like naturals in no time! Also the pictures that were captured were amazing! The cost for all the photos were extremely affordable and worth every cent! Now that we had a first lesson we are excited to go back and try the rentals! Thank you team! read more

Nice folks at first and good equipment. Price was right. Wind and swell conditions were not ideal however and waves were large. I feel they could have been more assertive and professional to suggest that my fiancé and I, first timers not go out. Instead we went out and were quickly sucked down current on our way to Molokini! We spent the entire 90 minutes fighting to get back to our start point. Not fun. Best to be safe and honest with your clientele rather than they struggle and find themselves in perilous conditions. Food for thought... read more

This review is for shortboard (surfboard) rentals. On my way to Lahaina, I stopped by Big Kahuna Adventures in Kihei to rent a surfboard. I figured it would be the most convenient place to rent. Hoping that they carried shorter non-foamies, I walked in to find a variety of shortboards and a 6' fish! I grabbed the fish and had an awesome time on it. They glued small rubber protection on the tail to keep the board in good shape. It was light, responsive and well taken care of. $39 is pretty good around here for an all-day rental, especially for a performance fish. The staff was friendly and helpful. They even gave me a free bar of wax! I told them that I was taking the board all the way over to Lahaina and they had no problems with that. read more

Big Kahuna Adventures was an amazing experience. Both Rory and Jeremy were excellent instructors. Both were very friendly and it felt like we were all friends. Everyone in the party were able to catch multiple waves. I recommend doing this early on in trip so you can go back and rent surfboards. Jeffery took excellent high quality photos and managed to get us all riding the waves. Rash guards and booties included! read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Catching waves in Hawaii! - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Many thanks to Jeff and his team for 3 days of great surfing. The lessons were perfect - Jesse gave clear instructions and made sure we had a lot of fun out there! We could "surf" already a bit after the first lesson. It was awesome! I can only recommend it and we will definitely book some lessons again next time!!! Thanks Alex&Noemi read more

We had a great experience with Big Kahuna. We signed up for a group class but we were the only ones in the group so it was more of a private lesson. Jesse our instructor was awesome and knowledgeable. This was my first time to surf and I felt very confident after his instruction. What I really like about Big Kahuna is despite the name, it's a fairly smaller operation and there is more of a personal feel from the instructors. When we went out on the water there were a number of surf classes going on. One of them had a big group of 8 or more and what looked like just one instructor. I was very pleased with our very personal and private class. We were able to get more waves and we had a great time. Next time I am in Maui I will definitely be back to Big Kahuna. read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Just had our surf lesson with Jesse - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

This was my first time trying surfing and Jessie did a phenomenal job instructing me on land and then helping me in the water. So much fun! But a huge workout too! Haha. 10/10! read more

Had a good time with my first surf lesson. Instructor was super cool and had a good handle on things. Two hours went by super fast just doing wave after wave, fall after fall Only little thing is that there are a lot of corals and rocks in the sharp water. Got some cuts on my hands, but that is not the shops fault. read more

We have used this company multiple times over the past 10 years for our large group family surf lesson. We have always had a wonderful experience with the staff and location. We have had small kids (age 4+) to adults taking a group surfing lesson. We will continue to come back to them. read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Instructions before getting in the water - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

This my second year going to Big Kahuna! Jeffrey And Jessie are awesome! It is personalized service by team that truly love teaching people to surf and enjoy surf! It is not like the other cattle call surf spots. Jeffrey runs the show, takes awesome shots of you doing your tricks on the board. I appreciate how Jeffrey and his crew worked with kiddo who has autism. They are positive and got him to enjoy his time on the board. If you are looking for personalized and great surf instruction. Go with Big Kahuna! Btw I saw more turtle this week with them than on any of the snorkel tours! read more

While vacationing in Hawaii the one thing the grandchildren wanted to do was Surfing Lessons. I called the Chamber of Commerce in Kahului and they suggested Aloha Surf School. I booked lessons for 6 people from home not knowing we would be the only group with the two instructors (private lessons) what to expect. The Instructors were the "BEST" Very Informative, not only did they learn how to surf, but, they also learned to do some tricks. It was the "BIG HIGHLIGHT" of their trip. They LOVED the experience. Thanks Again Aloha Surf School read more

Great shop. Super friendly and had the best equipment. My first day on Maui I checked all the shops in the Kihei area and found BK had the best looking rental boards. I rented a Robert August long board for the week and surfed everyday. I saw Jeff, his wife and son in the line up every morning and they were friendly and helpful. They helped me find other spots, told me about local conditions, tides, swell etc. Jeff got some pictures of me on one of the bigger days and gave me a CD to take home. Really nice family and great Aloha. - Tom. read more

Jesse and Cassidy were great instructors. My son didn't even want to learn how to surf, but these guys made it enjoyable for him he left asking if we could do it again tomorrow. My wife and daughter also joined us along with additional people, and they were able to be attentive to everyone. They took us to a great spot that wasn't too deep and didn't have many rocks. It was nice to say the least. An exceptional experience. read more

Jesse was wonderful! Kids loved him and all 4 got up, including our 5 year old! Thanks for reaching our kids to surf!

Definitely recommend this place!!! Jeff and his crew are excellent, they help us in so many ways while we were on our vacation, first time ever on Hawaii First we want it to rent a board and have a lesson just to figure how that goes, Jeff was super nice, he scheduled us for lesson for next day. My husband was much better then me I had no balance what so ever but guys were great they had so much patience with me, I'm really grateful for that. Jessie and Rory thank you so much, you guys rock. So happy I had a chance to meet you both. They encourage me to try again and again and we had a ton of fun. After lesson we stayed a little bit more and start talk about this and that and guys gave us so many useful tips and suggestions where to go!!! We were back every morning for next 7 days on Maui. For trip to Hana Jeff told us so many spots to see, hidden diamonds to check and swim on some really amazing places, he rent us GoPro and we have some amazing pictures and videos We met Jeff's wife, she was working in shop and she is really nice lady willing to help and try to make your vacation better!!! They definitely succeeded with our vacation - they made it so much better!!! I will definitely be back and highly recommend this place to all new travelers on Maui!!! Shop has really decent prices and all crew is great One more time thank you guys for everything!!! Mahalo Aloha till next time!!! read more

Big Kahuna Adventures Maui - Maui 2017 - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

See all

I reserved my Fiance and I a surfing lesson with B.K.A. I sent Jeff a message and he responded quickly and was very helpful. He emailed over the agreement and I had it signed and faxed back to him. Easy as 1 2 3 :) When the day for our surf lesson arrived 5/18/12 we got there 15min before just like they said (our appt was bright and early at 8am) I forgot the names of the people that helped us but they were super nice and super informative during the 20min of lesson that they give you before you head out to the water. They gave us a rash guard and booties for our feet. I didn't have as much fun as my Fiance did but it wasn't anything that B.K.A did or didn't do. I unfortunately don't know how to swim and I had to take off my glasses (which i am blind without) The area they take you isn't deep but once my anxiety kicked in, I freaked out. Sure, I could have probably just stood up but the mix of anxiety and not being able to see and being out in the ocean for the first time didn't leave me time to calmly think about how shallow the water probably was :) Surfing wasn't for me but I'm glad I tried it with B.K.A. My fiance caught a couple of waves and it was fun watching him and all the other students. If you want to try surfing definitely try it with B.K.A p.s great prices! read more

First time surfers and got surfing equivalent of the white glove service with Jesse. Patient and encouraging and created an amazing experience. No better place to learn. We will be back! read more

Jeff & his crew are really awesome, caring people that want to see everyone having safe fun out on the water. The small shop has a lot packed into it. Good buys, good prices. During lessons, Jeff will be in the water going photo crazy with his GoPro while offering encouragement and extra pointers on correct form. Clearly, he loves his shop and surfing! There's an option to purchase ALL of your photos after your lesson. He's got good photography skills and the navy blue rash guard they give you really worked with my complexion in making me look pro on that board. Haha. Lessons are pretty straight forward. You only get better with practice - don't give up! Also, I noticed Big Kahuna teaches the correct way to pop-up onto your feet vs a few of the other schools which demonstrate knee slide & step up. That could hurt after a short while if you slide too much. May as well avoid rashes and do it right....POP UP with Big Kahuna!! \\---// read more

We rented paddle boards from Big Kahuna and had a great experience. We went in, signed some paperwork and within 5 minutes were out in the sand learning the basics. There were 4 people in our group and all were out in the water and standing on our boards within the first 10 minutes of our rental. The boards seemed good, and the price was very competitive (2 hours for $30). This place is great for people who don't need too much instruction. If you are the type to grab a board, listen to the basics for 5 minutes then get on your way then this place is for you. I'm sure they do full lessons, but from what I saw on the water, I don't think you need it. This also meant we had to carry the boards across the street and to the water. No big deal, but boards probably weigh about 10-15 lbs. Overall really fun experience, and be sure to go out early in the morning before the Kihei winds pick up. (usually around noon, so you want to be on the water around 9-10am) read more

Had a great time. Booked before we arrived on the island and where we got there (there are lots of surf rental places) we were wondering if we have chosen the right place. We had no concerns after our lesson. Jeff did a fantastic job (with me, my wife and our three boys). The surf instructors Jeremy and Rory were extremely knowledgable, and made sure all of us got a lot of great rides. The break right there by the shop is a great beginner spot - long, not too big or fast so we all had no problem standing up. I was not sold on the photos until I saw them - they are the best photos we have from our vacation. Great composition, lots of them of us riding. Great use of the backgrounds as well. Jeff was probably out there for an hour taking them. Well worth the extra dollars (you obviously don't have to buy them). Highly recommend. We ended up going back and renting just the boards from him. Very convenient - he looked after our car keys. read more

My family took surfing lessons today and had a great time. The staff was helpful, patient and fun to work with. We all were able to ride a few waves after a few tries. For us the 2 hours went very fast, we would have liked to stay out a little longer. Cant wait to see the pictures they took for us. read more

Came here for snorkeling gear, and the prices seemed right. Jack will hook you up with what you want and send you to great locations. I can't say how surfing lessons are here, but the shop does boast a great selection of water accessories and gear. read more

I highly recommend this outfit for surf lessons. I took a private with Rory, who was fantastic. Another bigger group of about 7 went out at the same time. We all got up and rode waves the entire time. Everyone had a blast. read more