Bully's surf school is the best in Maui! I have booked with Bully 3 times and will continue to do so whenever I visit. My dad and I met Bully in 2012 and he was our first instructor. He was so knowledgeable and helped my dad and I have fun on the water. He taught me how to paddle out smarter and the mentality to charge waves. My wife and I booked with Bully in 2025 and had an amazing time with his two professional staff instructors, 1:1. We just wrapped up our third lesson with Bully today--my wife and I rode so many waves it was a blast, and Bully made sure my mother-in-law crushed it during her first time surfing as well. Unlike chaotic group lessons, Bully brings a 1:1 approach where I feel safe and empowered out on the water. If you're traveling to Lahaina or Kaanapali booking a lesson with Bully Surf School is a must! read more

Bully's Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Surfing with Bully's surf school today was a truly magical experience. Bully's was highly recommended as the best surf school in Maui by a family friend who lives on the island. I would not hesitate to say Bully's is the best surf school in the world, not just Maui. Bully is an incredible teacher who shares his passion for surfing and respect for the ocean. Bully and his team of coaches made us all feel confident and safe in the water. Our entire family caught waves, including not just the kids, but the out of shape older ones too! Bully and his entire team of coaches (shout-out to Theo, James, and Ashley) were positive throughout the entire lesson. The energy was infectious. It was easy to try when we knew every attempt would be met with joy. It was incredibly helpful that even with a group lesson, we each had our own surf coach; we could each learn at our own paces and our coaches were able to give us personalized instruction. The equipment was top-of-the-line and really helped novice surfers like ourselves. The boards were light and forgiving and much better than typical foam boards. We can't wait to come back to Maui to take more lessons with Bully and his team. We made memories today that will last a lifetime and learned lessons that will remain in our hearts and guide us through life's challenges. Just breathe.... The world needs more people like Bully; an expert in his field who teaches with humility, kindness, positivity, and generosity. Lahaina Strong, Bully's Surf School! read more

We can't say enough good things about Bully's Surf School! From start to finish, the team was friendly, professional, and just all-around awesome. Our group had three surfers--my husband and our two kids (16 and 13)--and they each had their own instructor. That 1:1 attention made a huge difference and was a major plus in our book. All three were able to get up on their boards and had a fantastic time out on the water. What really stood out, though, was the care and kindness we experienced beyond the lesson itself. At the end of our session, we learned that a nearby brush fire had shut down the road to our hotel. I was feeling a bit panicked, but Ashley went out of her way to help--immediately checking her phone for updates and even calling us later to see if we were okay and to offer assistance. This kind of genuine concern and support goes above and beyond. We're so grateful to the team at Bully's. Highly recommend them to anyone looking to learn to surf in a fun, safe, and supportive environment! read more

I can't say enough good things about Bully and his crew. I made a last minute decision to have a family of 5 get surf lessons. Ashley was more than accommodating and easy to deal with. She fit me into his schedule without an issue and made my kids very happy. they arrived on time and were well prepared. His instructions were clear and easy to follow and he was genuine about his love of the sport and Hawaii. His main concern was our safety and that we were successful. I felt completely safe and can say all 5 of us got up on the board and had the best experience. The waves were excellent for beginners and his instructors were so phenomenal. Thanks Bully. You really made this a memorable surfing experience. read more

Bully is awesome with newbies and second timers, and even more advanced surfers. The beach style class explaining the ocean, waves, reef, and the ride is so cool. He's great with all ages, and his team just follows his lead. We all had an incredible time. Surfs up bruh‍‍ read more

See all

This review is LONG overdue. My daughter was very lucky to have a 2 hour private with Bully himself in July (one month before the fire in Lahaina). He took time to explain what they were going to do before they got in the water, and she was up on the board solo within the first hour. She asked for more lessons, but our schedule would not allow it. We highly recommend Bully and hope to see him again soon! read more

if you found Bully's online, consider yourself lucky and just do it! Hands down, the best. I live here on Maui, and I've seen all the schools... I met Bully and the crew during Covid when they were kind enough to teach the local kids how to surf that year when we were shut down And there was nothing social for these kids. my daughter was 5 and she was very scared on the first day. But after hanging out with Bully, they learned to surf on her own! now I recommend everyone I know to them. what makes Bully's different is ..They really teach you to surf, not just push on you out in a giant foam board and let you catch a wave and then tell you to stand and snap the picture. they teach you how to read the waves, where to go, surfing etiquette, then the pop up, then how to ride the wave. It's all done one and one and you really feel safe and you're learning so much More! my Neice and nephew (10 and 8 years old) took a 2 hour private lesson with them, and by the end of it, they were begging me to take them back out. They were confident and knew exactly where they should go and started practicing on their own after their lesson. It took them some time to practice on their own but eventually they were able to catch their own waves at the end of day #2. they really did see the difference between having a professional like Bully's team vs.. auntie who's just pushing the board ! (Apparently not very well either cause they ditched me after a few attempts ) they decided that they were confident enough to go on the outside and catch their own waves. Bear and Slater were their coaches and I can't thank them enough! The kids really took everything you guys taught them and built on their surfing skills in the short time they were here. It's a life lesson they'll never forget. I have a feeling these kids will be back in the water! Thanks for providing them the during surfing foundation they needed for a lifetime of fun! Mahalo!!! read more

See all

Bully is a true soul surfer! He not only got my kids up surfing waves, but he also taught them life lessons they'll never forget. Respecting the ocean, breathing, following your intuition, and facing your fears are only a few of the timeless takeaways my kids will remember. From the first moment we met, Bully was inspiring, motivational, authentic, energetic, and knowledgeable. Both Bully, and his son Bear, were right there in the water every moment cheering my kids on as they caught almost every wave! This experience was the highlight of our entire trip. Thank you! read more

See all

We were looking for surf lessons for our 12yr old daughter and our friend who lives on Maui recommended we send her to Bully's. She had a fabulous time and wanted to go back every day. It was wonderful she was able to learn on a real short board (rather than the giant foam long boards the other companies use) and her instructor Angelo was patient, enthusiastic, and informative (our friend mentioned that Bully and his son are also great instructors). In all she had 4 private lessons and felt incredibly confident when she left. Since we have been back home she has been asking to go back to Maui just so she can take more lessons! read more

Our 4 California kids had a blast!!! 3 x 6 year olds and an 8 year old and these guys had these kids up and riding the waves the first try! Us parents were super impressed with the 3 instructors patience and enthusiasm to keep our kids motivated and riding waves! The surf spot and waves were perfect for these beginners! We will definitely be back, most likely another time this trip!! read more

See all

My 8 and 10 year old had a lesson with Bear and Angelo, and let me just say we are absolutely AMAZED. Their father surfs and has tried to teach them and they never wanted anything to do with it. But we thought, "one last try while we're in Hawaii!" Both Bear and Angelo spent so much time explaining everything and taking their time with our boys. The boys had the greatest time, and we're up surfing taking waves all the way into the sand from the first wave they took with their instructor. These instructors are absolutely unbelievable and never though that they would have that much fun. This school is so much more personal than any other school with 20+ kids or more. Thank you guys so much for creating an everlasting memory in our boys that they will never forget!!! We are forever grateful!!! read more

Bully is amazing!!! Such a unique, one of a kind guy with the best energy. Went surfing with him this am and not only did he give me an awesome intro/map of the waters but he even stayed a little overtime with me since the waves were slow at one point during the lesson. He taught me a lot, not just about surf and surf "politics" but about the ocean, Hawaii and it's history, vibrations... So interesting! Would highlyyyy recommend Bully if you want to advance your surf and actually learn it the RIGHT way. Mahalo Bull! Keep on vibrating high and see you again soon read more

See all

This week, Bully has been teaching my 12 year old how to surf. Im so grateful for his knowledge and patience in working with children (and everyone) After only a couple lessons, my son can carve! He is confident and able to do tricks. He has the biggest smile on his face and cannot wait to hit the water again and again for his 7am lessons. Bully is the only man who can motivate a 12 year old boy to sleep early, eat well so he can perform at 7am during a holiday! read more

My wife signed up us, my twin daughters (7) and my son (5) for surf lessons with Bully and his son Bear. I am not a good surfer at all. My daughters on the other hand are really good. Bully really broke down the biomechanics of surfing to us in a way no one else did before. We drilled them on the sand to make sure we were good. Then went out. After a few times I was actually riding waves and toward the end I was even maneuvering through them. My daughters who are already good we're taking Bully's coaching and we're just surfing unbelievably well. Even my 5 year old was crushing it. Now my enjoyment for surfing is matched to my kids and I'm so excited to hit the beach. If I lived on the island I wouldn't hesitate or even think twice in having Bully's school be my daughters surf coach. His coaching is a game changer! Thank you read more

So impressed!!! I had tried another company in Lahaina and expected surf lessons to be done on a big floating barge.. but Bullys actually hand selected a REAL board, based on my size specifically and my coach, Bear, was AMAZING!!! Now when anyone asks, I also recommend them because I learned so much! read more

Amazing is all I can say !! If I can give them 10 stars I would !! Bully was so kind and sweet with my 9 year old. My son felt so comfortable and loved every second of it. Book with Bully your surf lesson you won't regret it my son was able to stand up and ride the wave multiple times. Just wow read more

Bully's Surf School - Surf lesson - Surfing Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Bully's is the best! My nephew had lessons with Bear and loved it! He has surfed before but not gotten the kind of detailed instruction he got from Bear on reading the water, being water safe and having fun. He can't wait to come back and surf with Bear! read more

Beyond amazing experience!!! We were in Maui this past weekend with our twin 6 y.o. Twin daughters and signed up for private surf lessons with bully's. We all had an absolute blast. Me and my wife are physicians (wife is a pediatric intensive care physician) so safety is number one for us. Uncle Bull, his son Bear and their cousin Kets take safety and fun to a new level. They were much more safe, educational, fun and complete, compared to the other folks teaching out there at the same time. The kids had a blast and were standing up and surfing on their own after the first hour. We had one on one instruction and never felt in harms way. We highly recommend them! read more

The best of the best. We had no idea how lucky we were (or how much it would change our lives) when we signed our kids up for lessons with Bully. They were 4 & 6 years old at the time, and somehow, within a few minutes I felt comfortable letting this total stranger take my children into the ocean. He was caring, thoughtful and assured me that as long as my kids were with him, they were safe. Within moments he had them both up and surfing their first waves and they had the greatest day ever. My kids are now 13 and 15 surf. Our son continues to surf recreationally and our daughter is a nationally ranked competitive surfer. And it all started with Bully. Brody & Zoe = proud members of Bully's ohana. Thanks for changing our lives. read more

Bully's Surf School - Day 1 with Bully (ages 6 & 4) - Surfing Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

See all

Had the BEST time with Bully today- such an awesome and wholesome experience!! Only amazing vibes and great results!!! Highly recommended, surely the best surf teacher on Maui...cannot wait till my lesson on Saturday!! Mahalo Bully!! read more

Safe and Supportive Learning for All Surfing Levels! Went out on our second (yes we were back for more!) lesson with Bully, Bonae, and Bear- WONDERFUL experience. Bully teaches you not just how to surf, but how to safely read the water and avoid all those beginner errors that could end in injury. Bully and his crew are supportive, challenge each person to push themselves to reach their surfing potential, and provide a truly local Hawaiian experience. Don't go anywhere else, this place is true Ohana!! read more

Bully's Surf School - (L to R) Bear, Family, and Bully - Surfing Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Bully it's a polite, positive and skilled person, who generously share his knowledge. He helps me a lot with advices and make my surfing morning in the last day on Maui much more productive and positive! Best surfing teacher I ever met! Special thanks for your board and turtles you showed me! read more

Bully's Surf School - Bully's surfing school. Lahaina. Maui. - Surfing Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Bear and Thomas were awesome with my two teenagers!!! They made them feel comfortable even though it was their first time surfing. Both kids got up on their first wave and didn't stop having fun! They were riding down the line and even learning to make turns thanks to the awesome instructors. They created a passion for surfing in our kids. Highly recommend Bully's Surf School!!! read more

Super nice crew. My sister and I signed up and got two instructors. They gave really useful explanations of some of the more advanced steps like when you want to lean forward/back (we both fell into the "we kind of learned as kids" category) before we got in the water, and once we did I got loads of helpful feedback to help me improve my foot placement etc. I made far more improvement than I was expecting which was awesome. Both instructors were so kind and friendly, they made the experience really fun and not stressful. Bring cheap sunglasses and rash guards though, those UV rays are killer. This beach has a really nice feature where on the left it's deep enough where it's easy to paddle out, but just next to it there are great waves to surf out on. Make sure you wear reef safe sunscreen though, which means zinc oxide/titanium oxide that you should spread on thick and either reapply or go early in day if you burn easily. There's coral a foot or two down that you can cut yourself on, but the instructors gave us plenty of tips to keep us safe there, and it wasn't at all scary concussion level danger. read more

Bullly is the BEST. If you are looking for an island pro- look no further. Mahalo for everything. Hope to see you before another 11 years pass us by! read more

How did so much knowledge get dropped in two hours??? Technique, form, philosophy, safety, etiquette, science, spirit, love. I never wanted to get out of the water. I'm hooked. Do yourself a favor and book several sessions. I'll be back for more, Bully. read more

By far the best on Maui! Bully and his son Bear gave us our 1st surf lessons. By the end of it we felt like part of the family. They are amazing instructors, and even better people. We met on the beach with the other schools and we knew right away our lesson would be different. They brought us real boards, not the long foam things the other schools had. Then they sketched in the sand how the waves were breaking, where the reef was, and talked about reef safety and reef preservation- old school style. When we got out in the water they were extremely knowledgeable and encouraging. We were up and ripping in no time! They also took the time to teach us about line-up etiquette, how to read the waves, the different types of waves, and how to get the most out of them. I felt like our lessons were in a different league compared to the other schools I saw out there. If you want a true surf experience, Bully's is where you have to go. read more

My kids had an absolute blast with Uncle Bully and Bear. You could see the passion they had for helping these kids have a great time while teaching them to surf. They were so patient and good with all 3 kids, including our 5 year old who was very nervous at first, but ended up having a great experience. I felt extremely safe with my kids out on the waves with them. Highly recommend them to anyone looking for surf lessons, big or small. read more

As a west Maui local, I see Bull several times a week. He is a great guy with a sincere passion to get people into the water and enjoy surfing. He is a genuine guy and a great instructor. I've recommend my Ohana to Bully's surf school. read more

My oldest daughter and husband loved their lesson! I can't say enough good things about the experience. After the lesson my daughter immediately asked when she could go again, but sadly the day we had available was booked. He was able to engage my 9 year old daughter ( who has problems with attention) and even made the safety information entertaining to listen to. You can tell they have a lot of respect for the ocean and Love teaching. My 7 year old was terrified to try surfing this time around but after watching her sister go and her experience she is ready to try it the next time. read more

This is a great surf school in Maui. The instructors (dad and son, reap Bully and Bear) were great and energetic. We had lessons for our 6 and 11 years old kids. They loved it. Definitely recommended if you want to surf safe in Maui. read more

Really great teachers who help teach all levels. Very personalized and feels like family. Knowledgeable and kind, and even got our 81 year old grand mother riding some waves with us. Pauli, Bear, and Bully are all amazing people who you will love to get to know and will make you want to stay read more

We had the absolute BEST experiences with Bullys Surf School! I couldn't recommend them more and I tell everyone going to Maui about them. Our 5-year-old daughter had the BEST time surfing with Bear. She got up on one of her first waves and was surfing solo!!!! We found their lessons to be BY FAR the best ones on the water. While numerous other surf schools allow their students to figure out technique and getting up strategies on their own after quick shore instruction and then pushing them into a wave, Bear was right with our daughter coaching her every step of the way. There is a HUGE difference in their coaching style and it is VERY obvious in the results. Our daughter was a strong swimmer already but after one lesson her confidence in the waves increased significantly and she was so proud of herself for her new found surfing abilities. We had as many lessons as we could for the two weeks we were on Maui! We can't wait to go back for more soon! read more

I would highly recommend Bully's without reservation. He and Pauli couldn't have been nicer and the instruction was fantastic. Taught the entire family and everyone caught their first wave and many more. Is was way better than my expectations. Please consider them as they are hard working people making a go of it on their own. Real family business. No 3rd party contractors and you get what you see. Mahalo & Namaste. read more

Bully's Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Lahaina, Hawaii

Bully and Bear are the absolute best instructors you can find. We've traveled and taken surf lessons in Costa Rica, Bali and Australia and they are by far the most knowledgeable an intuitive instructors. We did a semi-private since we've got some surf experience and they fit our needs exactly. They even accommodated my physical needs (I'm 2 months post knee surgery) so they gave tips for how to work within my knee rehab. I'd highly recommend them. They not only fill your knowledge base up but they also fuel your soul. Next time we're here they are the only choice for us. Book in advance because they do fill up; they're a small, family fun business. read more

Absolutely fabulous!. Had 4 kids 10 years and under fully engaged and learning not just how to surf but also about the importance of caring for the ocean. Bully doesn't just have one teaching style - he almost immediately picked up on which kids were excited, confident, and scared. Then he tailored his interactions based on each kid. Water safety was 100% solid. Without naming other outfits "teaching" in the same area it was crystal clear that Bully, Bear and Cameron were on the same page communicating and always focused on safety. My kids and nieces had so much fun we ended up taking a bunch of lessons this trip. Bully doesn't advertise like many other shops because he doesn't need to as referrals keep him busy. Great experience in every regard. read more