Second time with MWR Kihei for our kids. The first time was amazing; the second time not so much…read more The instructor was not as good. She kept holding them for "better waves" while other people were riding 2-3 waves before our kids did 1. They said she didn't do much instructing once in the water. We would recommend MWR, but the experience is completely instructor-dependent.

We had the BEST experience with Maui Waveriders Kihei, and George completely made it unforgettable…read more From the start, George went above and beyond to make our lesson feel personal and tailored to us. It honestly felt like a private lesson. He took the time to understand our different skill levels and customized everything so we both felt comfortable, challenged, and successful. What stood out just as much as his skill as an instructor was how genuinely kind and respectful he was. As an LGBTQIA couple, we felt completely welcomed and at ease, which meant a lot and made the experience even more special. George is not only an incredible instructor, but someone who truly cares about making sure you have a great time and get full value out of your experience. We both walked away feeling confident, accomplished, and so happy we chose this company. If you're booking, ask for George. You won't regret it.

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!

Such a fun first surfing and family bonding experience! Our coaches David and Jonny made the…read moreexperience positive and memorable. The group was small and the personalized instruction gave it an almost private lesson feel. I'd definitely recommend Surf Club Maui to anyone that is interested in giving surfing a try!

Great instructor experience…read more Only negative is completely out of their control. I had no idea there was so much scattered coral in the water in Maui.

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!

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.

Such a great an experience! Tavner and his team were amazing. I took my whole family including my 5…read moreyear old.

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!

Chad and Dante were amazing. Easy to work with and really made our experience memorable. Our kids…read moreare 10 and 11 who surfed today. Chad actually took them surfing in 2020 pre covid when they were 7 and 8. He is so amazing with kids. I highly recommend it

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!

"So glad I finally found you -- and so glad I didn't give up."…read more My last surf lesson in Maui was with Chyna, and it completely changed how I understood surfing. A little background about me: a middle-aged first time surfer, a basic swimmer and a big fan of basic snorkeling. Weekly workouts include gym weight lifting, kick boxing, yoga, and Lagree. And, I had a HUGE fear of wipeouts. Chyna and her friend Aina once ran a small water-sports business together, and they also volunteered teaching local kids to surf. They lost so much in the 2023 Lahaina fire, not to even mention that Aina is also a Maui firefighter. Thankfully, their families were safe. Knowing their story made Chyna's generosity, patience, and love for the ocean feel even more special. This was nothing like the two commercial surf lessons I had taken before: no photographer on shore, no rush to simply get me standing for a picture. In 2 hours, Chyna taught me how to respect and learn from the ocean: how to read the shoreline, reef and rocks, whitewater and green waves, wind, entry and exit points; how the board works; how to paddle, turn, control it, get through whitewater, and even use sound to judge an approaching wave. Most importantly, she corrected my popup technique and let ME decide whether to stand when each wave came. Once I stopped rushing and started learning the speed and timing of the wave, I was able to feel the freedom and pure energy from surfing. Even the whitewater that had scared me before stopped feeling intimidating: I didn't get knocked over ONCE! For the first time, I experienced what surfing can feel like when fear is no longer in control and I can actually listen to my body and the ocean. Chyna and Aina, I'm so grateful I found you. See you at the next wave!

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.

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!

What a great experience with Local Pros Maui! Kevin was very easy to communicate with and super…read moreflexible as our plans needed to change. Our surf instructor Palani was amazing with our kids! They had a super fun time and I always felt safe. Palani was good at coaching my husband and I while spending most of the time with the kids. Recommend very highly! Also got some great photos from Alyssasky who photographed from the beach, for additional fees. She captured some awesome shots!

My son did the lesson and it was great. Nick was our instructor and was able to help move my son…read morearound quickly so he wasn't constantly fighting the whit wash. We have been working on surfing for close to a year, and with Nicks patients he was able to get my son surfing for the first time. Can't say enough good things about this lesson. Highly recommend

I'm so grateful to QKC & The Beauty Backbar Academy:)…read more Today was kind of spur of the moment. Since I've been wanting to book a service. I just didn't know when I'd be able to find the time to pamper myself. Well that's if you consider waxing to be relaxing too. Except it's been a hot minute since my last wax. Cause I usually cave & just shave. However for that rare occasion that I do wax, I normally just DIY it at home. So this experience was a new an exciting opportunity to actually get to relax while someone else does all the work. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised on how smooth it went. Cause I don't know about you. But when I wax myself it almost feels more painful cause it's like you're torturing yourself. Pain is beauty I guess. However when someone else is doing it, the wax strip feels like packing tape being ripped off. It's so smooth & the after is much nicer. Plus the atmosphere is so zen, the calming music playing in the background. Plus I could hear the head spa waterfall nearby. Also if any of yall are The Adam's Family fans I almost felt like Wednesday falling asleep on the table. Lol

From the owner: The Beauty Backbar Academy is a premier esthetics school and student clinic located in Kahului,…read moreMaui. We provide comprehensive education for aspiring estheticians, combining foundational education with hands-on training in skincare, facials, waxing, lash and brow services, Japanese Head Spa, dermaplaning, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, microneedling and other advanced esthetic techniques. Our student clinic is also open to the public! Guests can enjoy a variety of beauty and esthetic services performed by students under instructor supervision at affordable student-clinic pricing. Services include facials, waxing, Japanese Head Spa, lash lifts, brow laminations, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and more. We also offer continuing education and advanced training for licensed beauty professionals. Whether you're looking to begin a career in esthetics or book a service with our students, we'd love to welcome you to The Beauty Backbar Academy.