Maui Surf Lessons LLC — Attraction in Maui

If I could give more than five stars for our surf lesson with Ryan from Maui Surf, I absolutely would! Hands down, Ryan is the BEST instructor I have ever had, and I’ve had previous beginner lessons. This experience was on another level—one of those rare, unforgettable moments that stay with you forever.

I’ve surfed a bit before, so I went in thinking this would just be a refresher for me. My husband (age 64) had never surfed and was a bit apprehensive. But Ryan's skill, patience, and unparalleled ability to connect with his students completely transformed the experience for both of us. He took the time to understand our individual needs and tailored the lesson perfectly, blending just the right amount of technical guidance with encouragement and humor.

Before we even touched the water, Ryan gave us the most thorough and engaging on-land lesson I’ve ever experienced. He didn’t just teach us how to pop up on the board—he explained the mechanics of surfing, wave dynamics, and safety tips in a way that was clear, detailed, and easy to absorb. By the time we hit the waves, Mark (and I!) felt more confident than ever.

But Ryan didn’t stop there. He wove the spirit of Aloha into every moment of the lesson, teaching us about the Hawaiian language, culture, and the deep connection Hawaiians have with their land and ocean. His stories about the islands, the meanings of Hawaiian place names, care for the ocean, and his insights into the natural beauty around us elevated the experience to something truly profound. It wasn’t just a surf lesson; it was a cultural and ecological immersion.

And then came the magic. Not only did Mark manage to get up on the board (on his first try, no less!), but we were treated to the most breathtaking sights while surfing. Whales were breaching in the distance, and turtles swam gracefully by as if they were cheering us on. Ryan’s excitement and genuine joy made it all the more special—he celebrated every moment with us, making us feel like pros out there!

Ryan also had mounted GoPros on our boards (included in the price) and captured the most incredible action shots of us riding the waves! These weren’t your typical blurry or off-center photos—they were absolutely magazine-worthy. Ryan has an amazing eye for timing and composition, selecting those exhilarating moments when we were standing tall on the board, surrounded by the sparkling ocean. The photos were so vibrant and professional-looking that they’ll forever be a cherished keepsake of this unforgettable day. He truly went above and beyond to make sure every detail of our experience was exceptional!📸✨

Ryan’s energy and passion are infectious, and his dedication to his craft is unmatched. Whether you’re a complete beginner like Mark or someone who’s surfed before, like me, he has a way of making you feel like you can conquer anything. I’ve had good instructors in the past, but Ryan blew them all out of the water (pun intended!).

If you’re on Maui and even thinking about trying surfing, do yourself a favor and book a lesson with Ryan at Maui Surf. You’ll walk away not only with new skills but also with a heart full of Aloha and memories that will last a lifetime. Mahalo, Ryan—you’ve truly set the bar sky-high!...

I highly recommend Maui Surf Lessons LLC if you are hoping to learn how to surf while on Maui. Greg was our instructor and I could not have wished for a better experience for me and my two oldest sons (12 and 14 years old). Greg is an exceptional teacher. He explains and demonstrates all the techniques so well and ensured we could do each step as he went.

Once we were out in the water, it became clear why having private/small group lessons is worth every penny. Greg expertly selected incoming waves for each of us, would guide us into the surf, shout instructions, and voila! We were surfing! The boys both stood on their first attempts and I was up on my second try! After that, we each basically spent the rest of our time catching waves and surfing with Greg's support and guidance. (HUGE bonus, Maui Surf Lessons includes GoPro pictures as part of your lesson at no extra cost! I now have amazing pics of all three of us surfing and the quality is fantastic!)

If you're looking at prices and wondering whether you should splurge with private lessons or go with a large group, I cannot emphasize enough what a difference it made having that one-on-one attention from an instructor. I would think reading the waves and catching them on your own would be really tough for someone who's never surfed before and time is precious when you're on vacation. Having the three of us plus Greg was really perfect because as we took turns surfing and then paddling back, he'd help launch us into the next wave as soon as we were ready. I never felt like there was a wasted minute.

I also felt perfectly safe and confident with Greg. Maui Surf Lessons picks a fantastic location and is highly attentive to the winds and surf conditions. I also knew that with Greg watching out for us, he'd be there if we had an emergency. I'm only a fair swimmer (my boys are stronger swimmers than I am) and we had no issues whatsoever.

The only other tip I'd give is that if you are interested in booking lessons, be sure to do it early on during your vacation. Because of wind and surf issues, our lessons had to be rescheduled several times. If you wait until the last minute to schedule, you might end up unlucky with the conditions and miss out.

What else can I say? My boys have been asked multiple times what the highlight of their trip was and they both say, "Surfing!!" Thank you for the wonderful experience...

I booked a private surf lesson for my husband, 2 sons (age 14 and 21) and my 8 year old niece. Greg, our instructor gave us very detailed directions to our meeting point and was there waiting for us promptly at 7am. We had brought regular sunblock and because of the coral ecosystem of Maui, he had offered us reef safe/friendly sunscreen. The first 20-30 minutes of the lesson were spent on land going over the physical aspects of how to paddle out and then how to stand up on the board and stabilize while catching a wave. When it was time to finally go out into the water, Greg assisted everyone and stayed in close proximity to my niece, making sure she was ok at all times. I stayed on shore the entire time taking pics and videos of their entire lesson and could see how engaged he was with each individual as they took turns riding a wave. There were times it seemed like the waves were so much more bigger and appeared more advance for their capabilities, but surprisingly all of them did really well and each caught at least 3-4 waves. At the end of the lesson as they were all coming in, I could see how much they all enjoyed their time and how much Greg really enjoys teaching. I was even more delightfully surprised to find out that the pictures taken with the go pro while they were out there were also all included in the lesson as a entire package (we took lessons before on Oahu and had to pay and additional price for all the pictures). With that said, I totally would book with Maui Surf Lessons again and even request Greg to be...