I had a surf guide with Surf Club Maui for my birthday and it was such a great experience! My…read morehusband set everything up and everyone was so nice and accommodating. I'm a little more experienced than a beginner so I wasn't looking for a full lesson. I wanted someone to paddle out with me and give me some guidance in the lineup. Sean quickly understood the assignment and made the session perfect. He also helped push my husband into some great waves while still giving me the support I wanted. We also did the photo package. Our photographer (also named Sean) got so many great shots. To top it off the woman owner gave me a hat for my birthday which I loved wearing for the rest of the trip. Thank you surf club Maui, the owner, and both Seans for making my birthday morning so special. We can't wait to come back!

My husband and I spontaneously booked this during our time in Maui as part of our honeymoon and it…read moredid not disappoint. Instruction was great, vibes were immaculate, and we had a really great time and caught a lot of waves for our first time ever on a surfboard. Our instructor Bryan was not only a good hang, but thorough and attentive in teaching us and did a great job making sure us newbies stayed safe. So glad we booked this! I see some negative comments about the photos on here and I just want to say I had a great experience with that. We did buy the album because the photos were pretty sick and it's our honeymoon. But if I didn't want to buy them it wouldn't have been a big deal as they didn't pressure us at all. In fact we approached the guy with the photos out of our own interest. No one was tryna get us to do anything. Anyways the whole experience was worth every penny!

We had the best time at waves Surf school! My 7 year old daughter surfed for the first time and…read morethey did such a great job making it fun and comfortable for her! They also have a photographer which captured so many great pictures and videos of her! We were so happy we went back a second day for more lessons! Highly recommend this surf school! Also, we loved her surf instructor Sochi!

This surf school is amazing! The instructors are so amazing and encouraging! They push you to your…read morehighest limits! They show you and explain all the stuff you need to know to surf! The waves are amazing and are perfects for kids (and parents!!)!There was also a photographer who got the best photos of me and my family! The boards are also rash free which is amazing and they were so comfortable!I recommend this surf school a lot! I am very happy to support this small family owned surf school! Val is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Outstanding! Steve and the team were so perfect - teaching our three (16, 16 and 14 yo) the basics…read moreand all were riding waves confidently in first lesson. So much fun, we booked again same trip. Make sure you connect with Ric for quality pictures, costs extra and totally worth it.

We booked surf lessons via our hotel in advance of our trip. The surf school reached out to us a…read moreday before and told us our afternoon slot was cancelled, but we could be rescheduled to a morning slot, or get a refund. We picked the morning slot, then received instructions to go to mile marker 19 on Lahaina highway and look for a white Tacoma. We had decided to skip the rental car and use Lyft/Uber on this trip, so that was concerning. We were able to instruct the driver about the approximate location. There was a a row of pickup trucks with surfboards near mile marker 19, so we got out and asked around for Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy. Eventually we found the right Tacoma, but I didn't have much confidence we'd found the right spot for a while. My daughter had to have a solo lesson with Kayla due to her age, while my son and I had a semi private lesson with Chad. Our instructors were great, and we were able to stand up with a couple of tries, and a few turns later the instructor had me try a smaller board so I could turn more easily. About 1 1/2 hour into our two hour lessons both my son and felt salt water stinging our knees and lower thighs from chafing against the board, so we ended the lesson early. We were also pretty tired at that point. The surf school gave us long sleeved water shirts, but knee long shorts in the same fabric would have made big difference too. Our instructor told us the chafing is because they use teaching surf boards with a material that has more friction to make it easier to stand on the board, but it also causes more chafing than boards with wax. In the hurry to catch our car ride, we forgot to bring water, but my daughter's instructor very kindly gave us one of her personal water bottles. Thank you Kayla! All in all, we had a great introduction to surfing with a lot of successful attempts to catch waves. Two hours felt long for an intro session. I wish my instructor had told me to paddle a bit more easy out to save strength for catching waves but I also tend to go max all the time until I run out of gas. Above all, I highly recommend wearing at least knee long water shorts to prevent chafing knees and lower thighs. The instructors were amazing. If Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy also were to provide pants and water given the remote location, if say they would stand way up and above the competition.

Maui Surf Clinics and Chad were incredible. My husband and daughter had a blast and both got up…read morealmost right away. Chad was a really great teacher and taught them a lot with pointers after each wave. My daughter has fallen in love with surfing and can't wait to do it again. Dad was exhausted and super glad he did it, but it sure helps when you're in better shape. ;) None the less, Chad made it doable for him! The lady at check in was lovely and super helpful and the pics we paid for were incredible! (Get the pics - worth it!) My daughter took a second lesson two days later with a different school on Kaanapali Beach... a sad experience and no where near as good as MSC. We'll be back for a multiple day surf clinic next time, hopefully with Chad! Highly recommend!

We did a first time lesson with them the day we left and it was such a great experience and way to…read moreend the trip! They were patient, kind, and very skilled! I highly recommend and would book with them again!

So I'm 48 years old and have never surfed in my life. We did a family vacation (me, wife and 13…read moreyear old daughter and 11 year old son). Both of my kids can surf, but my wife and I have never attempted it until we met Nick and his lovely family. Communication was great, Nick is a *TRUE* local to Lana'i, and he took us to a spot that's a 45 min drive from Lana'i city to a remote beach on the north east end of the island. Nick had all of the equipment for us to try, and both my wife and I were able to get up with Nick's help. We really enjoyed our time with Nick and I would highly recommend this. They only reason I can't give this 5* is that it was a bit on the pricey side after seeing the cost of surf lessons on other islands, but we were anxious to surf and still had a great time!

Our 13 year old daughter has become obsessed with surfing. Knowing that Lana'i is not known as a…read morebig surfing island, we didn't think she'd get much if any surfing in during our trip. That is where Nick came to the rescue! We hired him to take my husband and daughter surfing and it was the best thing we did our entire time on Lana'i. We rented a jeep for the day at the Four Seasons where we were staying, met Nick and Kawai in Lana'i City, then caravanned to the other side of the island to Lopa Beach. It's a trek on an unpaved road, but it is beautiful and gives you the opportunity to see the north side of Lana'i and its stunning views. Surfing: Lopa Beach was empty and we were the only ones there. Incredible! The waves were absolutely perfect for beginners and were consistent. So many waves to catch over and over again that landed on a soft, sandy beach. Nick and Kawai brought the right boards, rash guards, and booties and gave all the right instructions to get my husband and daughter up and surfing on practically every wave they tried to catch. It is clear that Nick is an expert on not just surfing, but specifically surfing on Lana'i. The added bonus was having Kawai there, as my daughter absolutely loves surfing with and getting some surf tips from female surfers. The history lesson: Beyond just surfing, Nick and Kawai are absolute gems to talk to about the history of Lana'i and all of Hawai'i. As natives of Hawai'i, they have an incredible amount of information on the history of everything that's ever happened there. It's wonderful to not just learn so much about the state we love to vacation in, but to find people so passionate about Hawai'i culture and its history. Please listen and learn from them, not just about surfing, but about all of Hawai'i. You will leave a better person and will find yourself feeling like you can truly hang out with Nick and Kawai in another life...that life where you move to Lana'i. ;) Do not hesitate -- book a lesson with them!

My six-year-old son had a private surf lesson with Theo today, and the entire experience exceeded…read moreour expectations. From the initial communication and detailed information provided beforehand to the beautiful location and overall organization, everything was seamless and professional. Theo was an absolutely fantastic instructor. As a parent, I was nervous because my son had never surfed before, but Theo immediately put us at ease. He took the time to explain his approach, including why he wanted to start on smaller waves and ease my son into the experience rather than pushing too hard too fast. That thoughtful approach made all the difference. Theo was incredibly encouraging, motivating, and patient throughout the lesson. He paid close attention to my son's energy level and knew exactly when breaks were needed, which was especially important for a young child. He struck the perfect balance between building confidence and keeping the experience fun and positive. I was also extremely grateful for Theo's communication with us as parents. He kept us informed, answered our questions, and made us feel comfortable every step of the way. Overall, this was an outstanding experience, and I cannot recommend them enough!! If you're visiting and considering surf lessons, do it. In fact, I left wishing I had booked a lesson for myself as well! Thank you, Theo, for making my son's first surfing experience such a memorable and positive one.

Surf schools are as good as their instructors, they are the hands-on first-point of contact…read moreambassadors for the sport. LahAina Surf Shack has amazing instructors, and will get you into the right waves regardless of the conditions. Talvi and Gianna from LSS hosted me and my son at Guardrails last week. It was my son's first time surfing, and I asked him whether he wanted me to teach him myself or if he wanted to do a surf school. I have a whole life of experience in the ocean: swimming, surfing, diving. My son is not like that; I've never pressured him to swim or surf, and until the last year he hadn't been remotely interested. When he found out we were going to Maui he started asking relentlessly, albeit cautiously. He wanted to go with a surf school so he could learn from the pros. Okay let's go! I signed up several weeks in advance not knowing what the conditions would be like, and last Tuesday the waves were pretty small. I signed up for a time later in the day (midday, when it's usually windier). I explained to my son before we left our rental that morning that all of these different factors come into play in surfing: tide, wind, swell direction and interval, sea floor shape (bathymetry). When we got there, all of those things came into play, to create not ideal conditions. Several other surf schools had congregated around the general area of the break. Talvi and Gianna greeted us, and went over some practice catching a wave and standing up on the beach. In between moments Talvi, Gianna and I chatted about where we should head toward and we agreed that a little higher up the reef than others were sitting. Talvi helped my son get into the right spot over and over again, the few waves that came through he would line him up and get him onto the best waves, while the other camps were not in position to catch the few waves that were coming through. Gianna and I traded off the waves in between. Eventually the other camps went in and it was just the four of us. The tide swamped just about anything from breaking and we called it quits right on time. My son was fully exhausted, and Talvi had gotten him onto more than a handful of waves. My son was anxious and nervous to fall, so he didn't get up from his knees; but Talvi got him in the spot and he had the opportunity to stand up and helped guide him on the wave and kept him going the right direction and pulled him off the wave before he got washed up in the shore pound. To me, the most important part of the experience was to help curate a positive experience that doesn't push a new surfer into an experience that leaves them scared or afraid to do it again. That is what I wanted, and LahAina Surf Shop, Talvi and Gianna gave us that. It's the perfect spring board for him to go try more, just with me back home in California. That is a true gift! Thank you! It was genuinely wonderful to get to meet these two local surfers and amazing ambassadors of the sport. Would recommend to anyone.

Group lesson by Javier. Great teacher with sense of humor…read more Do it even if you aren't a swimmer. It's safe. Ride the wave on knees or feet if you can. Great experience. Thank you.

I can't tell you how happy we felt after leaving our surf instructor. H was wonderful and very…read morefriendly. We will definitely be coming back and I hope we get him again. When they say you will definitely get up on the board, believe them. He was so patient and explained everything thoroughly. Great experience! Thank you!

TLDR; Nick, my instructor was great! Whole surfing experience I would do again. Do not recommend…read morethe photo package (poor communication, no photos and no refund). ---- I was solo and I had never surfed before! I booked a private lesson and I had a great time surfing with Nick, my instructor! Would absolutely recommend a private lesson for more attention and coaching. Surf conditions are a variable. We had some pretty big swells for beginner waves, according to Nick, but I think I did alright! A little longer and I think I could have gotten to standing. I would try this again for sure and refine my technique a little! The length of the lesson is great (1.5-2h). As much as I would have loved more time out there, you do get pretty gassed out by the end, so it's the right amount of time. Booking was easy online. I called to ask some questions and Kevin (Owner) was very informative. Meeting point was pretty easy to find. I received a picture of where to meet but given the recent washout rain, the landscape looks a little different. You can still match some of the trees though. It's across from where folks are parked all the time to go surfing. It's a pretty popular spot. I took a Lyft out to Mile Marker 19 which is pinned on the map, thankfully. The local drivers also just know where to go. There is not a nearby bus stop, but Lahaina Cannery Mall is probably the closest one and just over an hour's walk away. Nick easily found me waiting on the sand in the morning. He had everything I needed (12' board, shoes - both in great condition). They also provide rash guards but the suit I was wearing was already long sleeved. We started on land going through theory. When you book, there are videos in the confirmation email which are very helpful to review. Nick explained things very well, and helped make me aware of some beginner traps. Throughout the lesson he made sure I was safe as well as the surfers around me. There's a traffic flow to follow and knowing he was there supporting me with his experience allowed me to focus on learning to surf. I also appreciated his expert technique in paddling out and assisting me by towing a couple times, haha! I would have given 5 stars but there was issue with the photography package I purchased. Would not recommend, based on my experience. It's done through Aloha Maui Photography and you pay on site if you like the photos (you get a little preview on the tablet). The usual way seemed to be to Airdrop the photos, but I don't have an iPhone. Alyssa said she would email me a link later that day or the next day, but I didn't receive anything. After a few days, I went to the online webpage and submitted a form on the "Contact" page, asking to follow up. After a couple more days, I emailed directly. I got a response to my email after 2 days. It seemed that Alyssa thought that I was a different surfer (with a family and that my photos were already AirDropped to my mother) and that she no longer has the photos because they're cleared as she's constantly shooting. I explained that I was mixed up with who she thought I was since I was solo, and if the photos were indeed already cleared, if I could get a refund. It's now been two weeks, with another follow up, and still unresolved. I am disappointed because I was really hoping for some photos from my first surfing experience, which is why I splurged on the photo package. Just one more note - additional recommendation as a beginner, if you can do rash guard shorts, my inner thighs above the knee took a bit of a beating from straddling the board!

I would highly recommend Local Pros Maui for those looking to learn to surf while in Maui. Nick…read moreand his staff were knowledgable, patient, and skilled to instruct while keeping our group of 9 safe as we enjoyed our lesson. A rash guard shirt and surf shoes do come with the lesson. The lesson time of 11/2-2 hours is adequate as surfing does take a lot of energy. The meeting point parking is along a road which at first I was confused about, but found it easily. We paid for an added instructor as we had a large group. I think it was needed. We had an elder and 2 children in the group that took extra oversight. I would use Local Pros Maui again. Aloha!