My daughter and I took a semi-private lesson with Mario. It was our first time surfing and we had…read morethe best time. Mario had amazing energy and was incredibly patient with me (a 40+ something gal who lacks strength and coordination) and my daughter (a bit of a scaredy cat). We both got up on our boards a few times and caught some waves! We're already looking forward to the next time we can try surfing.

I had my first surfing lesson on the day before my 40th birthday, and it was one to remember. My…read moreinstructor, Mario, was really friendly, answered all of my questions, and really went above and beyond to ensure I had a great experience. Definitely recommending to friends and family visiting Maui.

We had two families of five, with kids ranging from 10-15, along with four parents. Most of us were…read morefirst timers, and Steve, Lee, and Josh were fantastic teachers, great with kids and adults, patient, and super fun. Can't say enough good things about the experience, and highly recommend them to anyone!

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.

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!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!

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!

Professional, friendly, on time, great guys. Our hotel concierge recommended them and I'm glad he…read moredid. Steve was my instructor and I was impressed with how assertive he was. He noticed my stiff joints and was able to make recommendations that really helped. I had taken a lesson a couple years ago in California and really didn't make it up, but with Steve's instruction I was able to ride a handful of waves!

unforgettable experience! our instructor was super fun and informative. he encouraged us and also…read moremade us feel comfortable in the water (peep him supporting us in the back of the photos!). we caught a few waves and caught better vibes! big shoutout!!

My kids had a great instructor. He made it so fun for them. Gave them plenty of tips on the beach…read morebefore they got in the water. They caught their first wave within minutes. They had a blast. Will definitely do this again on our next trip to Maui. Thanks Talvi!!

My friend took a surf lesson and had a great time. He said the instructor was super helpful and…read moreencouraged him to level up as he was already quite comfortable in the ocean waves. He came back glowing and exhausted.

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

Surfing with Bully's surf school today was a truly magical experience. Bully's was highly…read morerecommended 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!

We can't say enough good things about Bully's Surf School! From start to finish, the team was…read morefriendly, 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!

As a PP on the mainland, I was excited to have the opportunity to not only see Maui from the air,…read morebut to log some SR22 time too. Just because I do have flight experience, if you don't, do not let that sway you away from this experience. The views of the island are stunning and it's something you wouldn't otherwise experience. For my GA friends who are looking to say they "flew in the islands" this is a must do. The landscape, the weather, and the overall experience absolutely worth it.

What an experience! Laurence is a pleasure to work with, my husband and I had SO much fun on a…read morebeautiful day OVER Maui, Molokai and Lanai! My husband flew to Lanai, our driver was there waiting to pick us up(arranged by Laurence of course!), drove us to the Four Seasons for lunch and I flew back to Maui. Hubby got his logbook and on his way to pursue his Private Pilot license! Thanks Laurence!