We had the BEST experience with Maui Waveriders Kihei, and George completely made it unforgettable. 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. read more

This review is for the "Maui Waveriders Lahaina" location. We had an 11AM lesson on 04/24/2026 near Ukumehame Beach Park. Pros: 1. Instructor was at the location on time. 2. He brought rash guards. Cons: 1. Rocky beach with shallow wave break, your group will have to be careful to "fall shallow" off your board or you may get cut by the rocks/coral below. 2. Instructor was short on some needed gear (no water shoes for me in standard US Size 10). 3. Instructor was not the best at coaching/communicating, had a bad attitude at times (probably the biggest issue we had with this lesson). The Whole Picture: After signing up we received an automated email with the time and location of the surf lesson. Was surprised that it was actually 20 minutes south of Lahaina at a ROCKY ENTRY north of Ukumehame Beach Park. On 04/24/2026, the day of our 10AM surf lesson, we pulled off the highway next to the instructor's truck which had a cone on the hood of it. We did quick introductions and the instructor gave us rash guards and boards. He then asked us our shoe sizes as this location required water shoes given it was so rocky. Unfortunately, he only brought one pair of size 10 water shoes, and with two people in our group who wear size 10, I had to wear size 11 which was too big and made it hard to balance (not ideal when trying to surf). He then provided some basic surfing instructions on the beach and then had us follow him into the water. His vibe up until this point was just okay, not super positive, sort of just like he was just going through the motions, but at least he was calm - this changed once we started trying to catch our first waves. He didn't tell us to start to ride in any particular order, or for only one person to go at a time, so once we paddled out we all started trying to catch a wave the first time he said "here's a wave to go for" (we were about 20 feet apart from each other). We thought we did well when two of the three of us caught our first wave attempt and each had a nice safe ride, but the happy moment quickly ended when we paddled back out to have him yell at the two us "what are you guys doing?!? You can't take off so close to each other or close to me like that!!" He went on to say that we could potentially hit each other if we are too close, while this is potentially a fair critique to make as an instructor, its also something that he should have communicated to us before we even paddled out. The bad/tense situation could have been avoided if he had just instructed us properly in advance saying "now once we get out there I want you guys to only try a wave one at a time, or to be at least 50 feet apart", but he didn't. Also when we paddled back out he could have just coached us in a positive way saying "hey guys good job on your first wave, but next time go one at a time because you could potentially run into each other", but again he chose to yell and be snarky, not a great approach for an instructor. Basically in addition to more water shoes, our instructor needed a positive coaching reminder (remember your aloha brother)! read more

Great people! Super helpful very kind and gave us great recommendations! Loved surfing and learned a lot!

Absolutely awesome experience. My instructor Andrew had me up in no time. He was very patient with me and gave me great confidence to ride. His number one rule was safety. The man is the epitome of the Aloha spirit. If I'm fortunate enough to return to Maui I will take another lesson here! Mohalo Nui!!! read more

Highly, highly recommend learning to surf with MWR. They get you started with a quick lesson on land, then take you right across the street to a pretty shallow beach with other beginners. They'll have you up and riding waves in no time. My wife and I learned from Kazuma today and he was excellent. read more

WOW!! I am so glad I went with Maui Waveriders Kihei for our private surf lesson. The best, most informative, and fun lesson and surf session we've EVER had. I was convinced to book with them after reading 5-star review after 5-star review on any platform I could find them on. And boy was I glad I did. The entire process was incredibly easy and smooth, from online booking to when we showed up and received our rash guards and booties - they have the process down to a science and there is no friction or questions. George Orton was our instructor and he was the star of the show. With his engineer, and professional skate/surf background he provided detailed, specific instructions making sure our mechanics were correct and we understood what it took for us each to get up and catch a wave. From the beginning, we both had everything we needed to catch waves and with George's constant attention and tweaks both my husband and I caught and rode every wave right up to the shore. After our lesson with George and Maui Waveriders, we feel confident going back out on our own and riding the surf!! Thank you to both, for providing such exceptional instructions and making the most of our 2 hours. We will be recommending you to everyone we know! read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Our surfing instructors were fantastic! They were so patient with our 4 year old, and our 7 year old and I had an absolute blast. 10 out of 10, recommend! read more

Ask for Kazuma and you'll be left "me ka mahalo nui loa"--with so much gratitude! Kazuma is the perfect instructor. It honestly felt like surfing with a SUPER supportive friend who just happens to be an expert. I joined a small family session on a Tuesday, and ended up booking a second solo session just hours before my flight home two days later. At 43, I had never even come close to touching a surfboard, but I left Maui feeling confident, comfortable, and inspired to keep going. Thanks to Kazuma's guidance, I feel well equipped to carry this momentum forward and take my surfing to the next level. I HIGHLY, and without reservation, recommend booking with him--whether it's private, semi-private, or both. You won't regret it! read more

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Awesome teachers, really friendly and easy going. Highly recommend, great for kids and teens!

Awesome experience learning to surf! Highly recommend a private lesson from Maui Waveriders as you'll obviously be the main focus from your instructor and get to ride many more waves and be provided with feedback and guidance throughout to get better each ride. read more

Had a private surf lesson with Trey. Check in was easy. Rash guard, water shoes, and board provided. He was amazing. My sons got up on their boards and were surfing in no time. The beach location in Kihei was great for beginners. Daily rentals are inexpensive. Highly recommend. Also, the Hi-Tech surf shop next door is great for shopping. read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

My son had an amazing time with his instructor Jude. Thanks for making his first time surfing so much fun.

Outstanding service and teaching. Learned both how to paddle board surf and just surf. Teacher's were phenomenal. George is a legend. Wave Daddy is da man! Highly recommend this to everyone. I am a surfer now thanks to Maui Wave riders. Thank you so much! read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

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My daughter and I took a semi private lesson from a local surfer in Wailea and he did a fabulous job! We had two hours to learn how to surf. He was super helpful! We also had a photographer that took some fun pictures! We took the 7:30 AM class and by 9 it was packed with other people trying to surf, that was the only bummer read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Surf lessons - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Our instructor George was THE Best! He is knowledgeable, experienced, fun, and passionate about teaching. My friend and I had so much fun learning! The staffs were so helpful as well. Definitely a highlight of our girls trip on this beautiful island. read more

Maui Wave Riders semi-private lessons were a fantastic experience! The instructor, Noah, had my boys standing the riding the waves within the first few minutes (less than 5 min!) in the water. Was very impressive. 7:30 am start also helps, as many other programs start at 8, so having that first half hour to ourselves was great to start out to have plenty of room. They stay in fairly shallow water, so very safe for 7 & 9 yo, and perfect conditions to learn to catch waves. I, unfortunately, sprained my ankle earlier on the trip, and could not participate. Even so, MWV were very accommodating. When we are on Maui next time, I will definitely be back to do my lesson too. Also with the lesson, board rental same day is included, to get more practice in. Thanks Maui Wave Riders (in Kihei)! read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Kids up and riding within first few minutes in water. Great instructors to get beginner surfers started. - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Highly recommend if you have kids that want to learn how to surf. Booked private lessons for our son two days in a row because he had so much fun on the first day we had to go back the very next day for more. Andrew was great with kids. He made it so fun and easy. The pricing was the best I found. Bonus- the professional photos they take were incredible. read more

Got lessons here for ourselves and all the kids last fall. Wave Daddy was great, took us out to exactly where we needed to be to catch waves and offered great instruction. Only rented this time around from them. Great experience read more

I had Jude as an instructor and he was great, he explained everything really well and pointed out specifics of what I was doing wrong and was able to correct them right away. He gave us lots of time in the water and was very personable while we were waiting for waves to come in. Plus we went out for food after based on his recommendation and the food was good too! read more

My son and I had a great time with MWR. Adolfo is a class act!! We will certainly be back read more

My son and I did a semi-private lesson with Andrew who made it very simple and more importantly, FUN!! We got up every time! Fabulous people to work with, a well oiled machine! Highly recommend! read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Andrew wanted us to be able to hold hands and we got it done!! - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

Great 1:1 lessons with George! Very clear and specific step by step feedback. Friendly vibe at the shop.

This was my second time taking a lesson with Maui Waveriders and this time was as good as the last. I had a good time with Andrew last time so I called to request him again. He is super laid back and patient as an instructor. I also booked a first time lesson for my friend with Al. He also had a great time. I had met the shop owners Tom and Alisa(?) last year. They are extremely friendly and run a great business. If you find yourself in Kihei and want surf lessons (or standup paddle board lessons) be sure to check Maui Waveriders out. read more

So MUCH fun surfing! The shop is just across the st from the beach. Super convenient. Ke'Ola was our instructor - super chill. A lifelong surfer and father of four. Really put kiddos at ease - even got 4 yr old Stella on the board! He gave great instruction and got me on the board as well. 2hrs of FUN in the sun. Bring your own long sleeve rashguard and beach shoes. Don't worry if you forget, they will provide 'em. After the lesson you can stick around for and surf until 3pm. They'll also hook you up w some sweet beach hats that are perfect for blocking out the sun and dries quickly. read more

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Shout out to my awesome surf instructor Eddie at Maui Waveriders Kihei! I took a private lesson yesterday and had a blast! Would highly recommend booking with Maui Waveriders - very professional, friendly, great communication, and stood up on a ton of waves! One thing that stood out to me about Maui Waveriders was that they had a quality instructor-to-group ratio, from what I saw out there - really attentive instruction, with essentially one instructor per family that was taking a lesson. Really impressive since many "surf schools" just jam as many people into a lesson as they can. You could tell Maui Waveriders really made sure everyone was getting personalized attention, which is the best way to make sure you're getting the most out of your lesson and best chance of catching and standing up on waves. All the instructors were focused on making sure their group was having a good experience, as well as helping each other out and even giving tips to beginners who weren't taking lessons. Such a supportive and friendly atmosphere. As for my instructor, Eddie did a great job of explaining the break, getting me into the pocket to catch the waves, tips on body positioning and turning that were really helpful, and just really dedicated to making sure I had a great experience. I've been surfing for many years, but always like to take a lesson with an instructor for any new spot - there's always things to learn to improve your surfing as well as make sure you're following local etiquette and the ins and outs of the break. Eddie really made me feel comfortable and safe out there, and the tips he gave me were insightful and helped improve my surfing. More importantly, you could tell really loves not just teaching surfing but encouraging a love of the sport. Would highly recommend him as an instructor! Also quick shout out to the photographers (NoKaOi Photography)! Don't really have a lot of photos of myself surfing, so it was worth it to get some quality action pics. Photos were great and the package was a great value! Hiring a professional photographer just for myself would have been waaay more expensive, so this was a great service that NoKaOi and Maui Waveriders provided. Great way to capture your vacation! Plus, got the pics sent to me within a few hours and no issues downloading them. read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

As somebody who needed a surfing refreshers, I had a great time during my private surf lesson. Eddy was a fantastic instructor. He got me back up to speed and helped me with my technique. He also made sure that I had the opportunity to catch a lot of waves; I felt like my surfing really improved and that I had a lot of fun. read more

Maui Wave Riders is brilliant! We've surfed with them four times now and each time has been great. The Kihei spot is very beginner friendly not requiring you to paddle back out. There's also a great vibe around the office/shop where the instructors hang out. Everyone is super friendly and supportive - not only your 'own' instructor but everyone who's in the water is helpful and cheers you on. Can't recommend enough. read more

We had the best time with our new instructor Zoom! He had all of us up on a wave on our first attempt. The kids both rode the same way together on individual boards. The photos were amazing and a great value. We loved it so much we came back again the morning before we flew out. This time the kids rode a tandem board together and had a blast. Zoom taught us exactly what to do to make this a lifelong memory. read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - The boys riding a wave together. - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

This was our 2nd time taking surf lessons and 1st time with MWR. The staff and especially our instructor were so chill, helpful, and enthusiastic. As a middle aged guy I really appreciated all the excellent instruction and encouragement. My 8 year was thrilled and conquered the waves much better than me. These guys are the best - highest recommendation! read more

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I signed up for surf lessons from trip advisor and there was only an option for adults. The lessons were for my two children so I messaged them separately and never heard back. It was not a problem day of the lesson as they were prepared for everything. They had shoes, rash guards, and boards in the appropriate sizes and my two girls had a private lesson with one instructor, who was great. They suited up, took some pictures (by their photographer), and began the lesson on dry land at the shop, which is located right across the street from where they would...spoiler alert...get up and surf some actual waves! The land part of the lesson was about 15 minutes and then we walked over and they instructor was in the water with them the whole time, helping launch them into the good waves. It only took them a couple of times and they were both up. He was good about pulling them back when needed and moving around to get the best waves. There was a nice viewing area at the public beach to watch them. Not a 5 star review as the lesson ended about 15 minutes before it was supposed to. I checked and my kids did not ask to get out early. The lesson came with a fun hat you get to keep. read more

"Wave Daddy" Boobie did not disappoint!!! Had a great experience safely learning to surf, despite the crowd & windy day. He had all 5 of us up & riding in waves within the first 30 minutes of our 2 hour class. He was also very patient with my youngest (9 yo) and always encouraging us all & telling us how to better adjust after each trial. Special memories for our family that will last a lifetime! read more

Maui Waveriders Kihei - Even Daddy had a blast! - Surfing Near Me - Kihei, Hawaii

We had such an amazing time with Kyle and our instructor Wai. It was my first time surfing and Wai made sure I knew everything I needed to know to have a safe and fun time surfing. I would 100% recommend Maui Waveriders to everyone looking for some fun time in the water. read more

Had my kids take a lesson w/Andrew; he was so patient and made it so fun for them. The team here is great!

Great experience with Maui Wave Riders and Kekoa! The private instruction was extremely informative and the service with all staff was great. Loved the photos I received. Would definitely come back for more instruction or renting another board for the morning. Very professional and easy to sign up. read more

First time surfing and the experience was great! Jude was an incredible instructor and clearly cares about his guest's overall experience and safety. I would highly recommend using them for surfing on Maui. Thanks for the great afternoon! read more

Highly recommend. I accidentally scheduled the wrong day for my daughters private lesson. They were already fully booked when we showed up and realized my mistake but they were able to call up an instructor on their day off to come in. Colin showed up within 10 minutes. My daughter had the best time learning to surf with him! read more

Maui Waveriders is awesome! Friendly and courteous our whole lesson, before and after. I had originally planned /paid for a different day for semi private lessons for my husband and I . We needed to change them to a different date and they easily changed the date with zero issues. The front desk check in ladies were extremely friendly and helpful. Our instructor, Ben, was so nice and helpful. I Definitely recommend this company if you need lessons or to rent something. Thanks, Maui Waveriders! read more

Boys trip, 3 generations. None of us have really been surfing before. Our instructor was very patient and knowledgeable. All of us got up and surfed. Definitely some great memories. Thank you all at Maui Wave Riders read more

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From the minute we got there until the minute we left, everything was perfect. Our family of 4 had a blast. Everyone got up several times because Ola is the best! We laughed and surfed for two hours. We learned so much! Thank you, MVK! When you get there, sign in with reception inside. Then just, listen to the directions carefully. They have lockers on site, as well as water, and rash guards. Enjoy! read more

Booked for our two 16 year old nephews. They got an instructor for the two of them, who did a great job of working with them and getting them going for their first ever surfing trip. They were up standing on the board and catchingwaves very quickly, and riding them all the way in in less than an hour, giving them plenty of time to practice and catch plenty of waves. A highlight of the trip. A lot of beginners at the same spot with different schools, so pretty crowded on the water. Was nice that waveriders started at 7:30 instead of 8 so was a little clearer when they first started and could build some confidence. read more