I've taken lessons with a few instructors in Oahu for kitesurfing so I can say with full confidence that this is by far the best one on the island. I'm dead serious - just go with Maui. Here are a few reasons why: 1. He has a boat. That means instead of losing your board in the water and spending precious time having to body drag and locate your board, he actually just brings it back to you. For me, it meant I was able to have "many shots on goal", giving me a lot of opportunity to try to get up on the board during the water start. Not to mention, you can get immediate feedback from him. Compare that to other instructors where you literally aren't getting any feedback (very few instructors have two-way radio headsets in Oahu) until you get back to the beach. 2. He takes you to a location where it's just you and the calm flat water. Most kitesurfing schools will have you at Kailua beach. However, it's a crowded beach with a small launch area and when the wind is good, the waves are choppy and there's a bunch of other kitersurfers, windsurfer out there. For a beginner like myself, that's stressful. 3. He's calm and patient. This is more of a personal learning style but there's already so much to think about when you are on the water (flying the kite, grabbing the board, getting your feet in situated correctly, starting to do the power stroke all while trying to incorporate the feedback you just got from a failed attempt) so it was made much easier for me when you didn't have someone who would just tense you up from his demeanor. read more

Maui is an excellent teacher and while we were only able to do one lesson I'm really glad I did it. Maui takes you to an amazing spot that is perfect for learning. We went over the basics and then got to flying the kite. Maui was quick to correct exactly what I was doing wrong and helped me fix it immediately. After I had gotten proficient enough we got in the water. Maui is able to follow you in the boat and get you right back to learning. I can't imagine trying to learn in a group setting or just off the ground like some other places. I was able to keep focused on getting better. I never felt frustrated and Maui's cool attitude helped keep it fun while still being challenging. It's definitely a lot to learn but Maui got me up and riding just before the first lesson ended. I booked three lessons but the wind was too strong for the last two. Maui kept in contact the night before and the morning of to let me know the conditions weren't good for a lesson and that we would try again the next day. Unfortunately that day had even stronger winds. I appreciated that Maui made sure I was going to get the most out of the lessons instead of just going forward and struggling instead of learning. read more

I did my first kiteboarding lesson with Maui last week and it exceeding my expectations. Maui brought me to a great spot where he taught me to launch and fly the kite, drag my body, and get used to the kite. From there, we worked on doing power strokes and getting up on the board. By using a boat in the lessons Maui could help me relaunch the kite, follow me, and give me live pointers. I can't imagine a better way to facilitate the learning process. Thanks, Maui! read more

Maui came recommended as the best kite teacher on the islands and after my lessons with him, I can see why he sends all of his students away as competent and happy kiters. His ability to translate your route of improvement into natural language cut my learning curve way down. He anticipated where I was going to be and was right there with a smile, backhanded compliment (to keep me humble), and a tip for the next run which helped me to progress after each run. Next time, I'll leave my sandwich at home and enjoy the full offering at the luau. Bring water socks, Maui wears size 11. read more

If you want to learn to kiteboard, this is the place to go! Maui (the instructor) is awesome. He's friendly, funny, and very well educated. The best part is he'll take you out with an escort boat so you don't have to waste time walking up the beach. You'll ride/body surf for miles then get in the boat and ride up to the sand bar again. I can't recommend this place enough, if you want to learn to kitesurf Maui gets my full recommendation! read more

I took 3 days of lessons with Maui. The price was fair, the equipment was solid, and he was a good instructor. Since he was on a boat, he was able to follow me around and help me out with re-launching the kite when I was out in the open water. His instructional style focused a lot on trying to make me self-sufficient, which gave me the confidence I needed to move forward with learning in a more independent way. By the 2nd day, I was able to water start and ride the board for a short time before falling. By the end of the 3rd day, I was able to go on rides of 30 seconds or more. I felt like I had some great progression and I'll be able to continue working towards being a better rider. Throughout the lessons, Maui was very friendly, encouraging, and nice to talk to. He also was flexible with our lesson dates and helped me pick days based on the wind forecast that were the most beneficial for having a good day of riding. I strongly recommend him! read more

Fantastic day on the water with Maui! He is a great teacher and I feel much more confident as a beginner. Having him follow in the boat and helping me relaunch the kite was reassuring and saved me from getting frustrated. I highly recommend lessons from Honolulu Kiteboarding. Also note that I'm pretty sore from the first day. So, I'd recommend having a rest day between lessons. read more

Very disappointed in Maui Owens and his poorly run company, weak teaching and garbage equipment. He was more expensive than other schools and there was nothing to show for it. Maui spend a good portion of the lesson time trying to get the tiny engine on his little boat to work. When it did work it was so slow that it took forever to get to the location he wanted to start at (this was all on the clock). That was a huge time waster, that I was paying for. He really gave minimal instruction and when advise was given, it was difficult or impossible to hear because he was in his slow moving boat so far away. If I got into trouble he would have been of no value. Finally, due to weather he cut the lesson short (understandable). I wanted to get the rest of the lesson from him the next day but he said he couldn't do it for 2 days due to expected weather (again, understandable). I was instructed to text him the day before so I could go finish the lesson. This is what really pissed me off - I texted as instructed, when I was instructed to do so and Maui had booked other lessons in my place (for the full price) instead of completing my lessons. That was just bad faith. In the end I booked another lesson with a different company and they turned out to be so much better than Honolulu Kite School. I will not be using this company again and I would recommend spending your money for lessons some where else. Pretty much anyone else will be cheaper and better. Also, his line about how much better learning from a boat is compared to other methods is wrong, he just needs the boat because his "secret" location is so poor and the shore line is so bad. read more

I found Honolulu Kite School on Google and went with them specifally for the spot where they train. I didn't want to be with a bunch of other people on Kailua Beach-- My first lesson with Maui was great. Took me out to thier secret spot & we were the only people there, in the water, not on the sand, which was good. Learning to fly the kite is somewhat easy, but you will bring it down hard a few times before you get the hang of it! I prefer to have that happen in open water & not on the beach where I could kill a dog or something. I chose a three lesson package, (great deal compared to others), and got up at the end of my first lesson. I am on the wrong side of forty and friggin' dyslexic, so if Maui can teach me he can teach anyone! On lesson # 2 you are on the big kite and just practicing your technique for 4 hours. It may have been unintentional, but I actually caught some air on lesson # 2! Going for lesson # 3 of the package next week and I'm stoked! Maui is a former professional kite boarder, a skydiver, and an all around adrenalyn junkie. Cool dude, goes at your pace, and comes and gets you with his boat so you have more time on the kite. I Highly recommend HKS~ Its the shit! read more

After taking a few lessons on the island of Maui, I wanted to continue my progression and googled for some more lessons on Oahu and found HKS and Maui (instructor) so I took that as a sign to call him up! Was able to get a lesson scheduled (4hrs) right away. Reading that Maui would be on a boat coaching me was exactly what I was looking for since I've only been taught by instructors who were always close by (followed me by boat, jetski, surfboard). Better than some of the other schools I've seen (radio in helmet, instructor on beach while you're out in water alone). Maui is super chill and really makes you feel comfortable. Even though I've taken lessons at other places, he would refresh and go over the basics to see where my skill level was and help me focus on learning the next stage. Finally got my water starts down and even got up riding on the board! It is a huge PLUS that he takes you to a sweet location where it's just you and the open water. I'd take all my lessons with him if I were here in Oahu longer. Mahalo and blue skies, Maui! read more

This guy is the REAL deal. He will take you out to the spot on his boat and teach you how to kite surf before you know it. This isn't one of those recreational companies that do everything from surf and kite lessons to kayak and snorkel rentals. The owner of this kite school will take you out himself and be right there with you for 4 hours. He's an expert kitesurfer and former world-class windsurfer. He's super experienced, knowledgeable, and a natural teacher. I found it most helpful when he gave me feedback and instructions while following me on his boat while I was in the water with the kite, always within ear distance. I got up first try! (granted I'd had some experience on snowboards and skateboards) but the instructor knew exactly what I needed to adjust in my kite flying and stance on the board to get maximum results. The location is ideal because the water is a lot calmer than the chop in Kailua making it a perfect location for learning how to kite surf. can't say enough about this guy and hope to take another lesson to touch up some skills soon. If you're looking for a kite surfing lesson, I highly recommend this guy no matter what age/strength you are. read more

I agree with all the other reviews. Maui's secret location has favorable steady winds, a shallow sand bar, and no surf. The lessons are more expensive but much more cost effective than the ones that launch from a beach. Since Maui followed me with his small boat, I could work on kite skills without worrying how far out in the bay I was getting. A kite will pull you far even without riding a board. I hope to ride the board on the next lesson. read more

I have been enjoying my lessons with Maui of Honolulu Kite School. The spot that he teaches is perfect and not crowded with other kiteboarders. I also feel very safe with him in a boat providing me with instructions vs. a walkie talkie system. He can quickly attend to my needs while I am in the water. He has also been very patient with me and has figured out various ways to help learn how to kiteboard. read more

After several years of not kitesurfing I wanted to get kickstarted back into the sport as effectively as possible. The session was perfect to do that and it felt awesome to be back on the board and hanging on the kite. The one on one with him following me on the boat and even throwing me the board when I had to let it go was super effective and I was just busy with the joyful part of surfing itself. read more

I had an amazing kiteboarding experience in Oahu. The location is beautiful and safe... a sandbar in the middle of a large bay so that you get the wind but not the chop. It is a light wind location (at least it was when I was there in August) - that is great for a beginner. The four hour lesson format is also very good... I've taken two hour lessons before in other locations and you just don't get enough time to develop muscle memory in the shorter duration lessons. Also, here you can head down-wind over a mile, which you do when you're learning - no hard objects in the way! This is a much better experience than trying to learn from a beach... you get much more kite and board time vs just body dragging and walking. Maui is a great instructor... he provides a good balance between giving you instruction and then letting you figure it out. For the first time I was able to get up and riding on a board - that was awesome - and I'm a big guy, so that's an extra challenge - he had a great kite and an excellent beginner board. Highly recommended if you're looking to get some kiteboarding under your belt in Oahu. read more