I almost never write reviews, but this experience absolutely deserved one…read more I accidentally booked my 8-year-old daughter's private surf lesson for the wrong Friday. I called the day before the lesson I thought we had booked, expecting there was no chance they could fit us in. Ben, the co-owner, couldn't have been kinder. He immediately said, "No problem," rearranged things, and even taught her lesson himself. From the moment we arrived, I knew we were in great hands. The safety instruction was clear, thorough, hands-on, and incredibly well done. It was obvious that every instructor has years of experience and genuinely cares about keeping students safe while making sure they have an amazing time. The entire atmosphere was calm, welcoming, and laid back. As a parent, I felt completely comfortable watching my daughter head out into the water. Harlowe is naturally a little shy, and Ben met her exactly where she was. He built her confidence from the start, made her feel comfortable every step of the way, and somehow had her smiling, laughing, and catching wave after wave. She had an absolute blast. I've taken surf lessonsp over the years, and this was, without question, the best experience we've ever had. If you're looking for surf lessons on the Big Island, this is the place. Professional, patient, safety-first, and genuinely fun. Thank you, Ben, for making one of Harlowe's favorite memories of our trip. We can't wait to come back!

Ben was awesome with my 7 & 10 year old boys. His enthusiasm made them feel more comfortable and…read moreconfident. They caught a bunch of waves even on a small day

Well kept, attentive workers on arrival. Small venue shop, includes multiple…read moreLocal brands. Could use some strawberry sex wax though

Big shout out to this store for the friendly staff and great prices! The older woman folding shirts…read morein the men's section working on Tuesday mid-day with the different color hair wasn't that friendly but the young lady with the glasses was so sweet and helpful!! Also the girls who were doing the window display were very nice too. Keep up the great work and affordable prices!

Great selection of fins but guy who works there always acts a defensive and you feel like you're…read morebothering him when asking for a size or question. Not sure what that's about but great stuff in the store

always very helpful with helping me pick out boards and accessories. love how he supports local…read moresmall businesses also.

Oshima is a cool little shop we accidentally came across it going to the liquor store a few doors…read moredown. They have a good selection of nice clothes and gear that most other shops don't have. The service was very friendly as well.

Wrong customer service. Worker claimed tshirts were $10...Wrong....cashier charged $22. WTF!read more

Ok, I have to admit that I keep coming because my daughter shares the same name as this store…read more But every time I enter, I'm pleasantly surprised with their selection. Compared to the dozen other shops that sell a hundred souvenir "Hawaii" t-shirts on this street, Kailani Surf Co. sells locally-designed, sometimes handmade, surf apparel and other fun things. Now that they've moved across the street, it seems like they've changed their style slightly, less "Kailani" branded stuff and offer smoothies and snacks. Besides clothes, they also offer beautifully-made wooden skateboard decks, made by the owner's husband and stuffed ocean animals and beanies, hand knitted by the owner's college student daughter. I also spotted organic sunscreen, and these awfully cute Brazilian bikini pieces that are reversible and can be worn as a top or bottom. I can see myself coming back here at the end of my trip with whatever money I still have left and doing some damage before returning back to the mainland!

The service is spectacular, and their frozen desserts even better! A must if you're in Kona. Be…read moreprepared to make multiple visits in one day. Best of all, it's healthy!

Love the people who work here. Super helpful when I was looking for something specific and just the…read moremost kind. Great options in all price ranges.

I've had a few trips where I hired surf coaches. And Austin is the best surf coach I've ever had…read more With Austin this is the first time I truly learned something insightful and memorable. Austin is very friendly, communicative and detail oriented. Before the lesson he made sure that he could prepare for equipments based on my body type and measurements. He likes to keep his class (if group class) very small so everyone gets to have more time to learn directly from him. What's more, Austin likes to keep his class fun and relaxing. He knows when he should be pushing the students hard to practice more, and when to rest a little with stories and jokes so keeps the students motivated. Also most importantly, Austin likes to bring depth to his class. He's very knowledgeable of sharing different ways of standing up, paddling. And he likes to share his insights on the pros and cons and when to use which. I found it extremely helpful. I found with this trip I can come home not only knowing how to stand up, but how to truly surf. In all, Austin is the best surf coach I've ever had and I strongly recommend you book lessons with him.

Had a great time kayaking through Kealakekua bay with Evan and Steve and then snorkeling near…read moreCaptain Cook's monument. This was our second time and it was just as fun, if not more! The early morning kayaking through the bay is soothing for the soul. We also got lucky and saw some dolphins. The snorkeling is out of this world with such clear water and variety of colorful fish of all sizes. Evan and Steve were both very attentive to all the kayakers and super knowledgeable as we learned a bunch about Hawaiian history, Captain Cook's arrival (and demise), and the lasting legacy of that episode on Hawaii's history. After all the snorkeling, the sandwich lunch hit the spot. It also came with a souvenir water bottle! I had a last minute dietary request and they graciously accommodated. Even though this was our second time, we still had fun and actually learned new details about the history and conservation efforts happening in the area! If you want a fun, yet respectful and ethical experience, this is it!

Fantastic experience with Kona Boys for the Morning Kealakekua Bay Kayak & Snorkel Tour. When we…read morearrived at the shop at 7 am for orientation, Frank was friendly and prompt with greeting us at the shop and giving the orientation talk, and Paul outfitted us with gear and made sure we knew how to get to the launch site. The shop dog and cat were also very friendly. Our guide for the morning was Grant, who was fantastic. He was engaging and extremely knowledgeable about the history, culture, language, geology, flora, fauna, and many other topics. He was also communicative, attentive, and helpful to other people. Overall, I liked that our early start meant that we arrived before the other large commercial boats did, so we got to enjoy paddling and snorkeling the bay with fewer people. I highly recommend Kona Boys as an eco-friendly option with top tier service.

It has been a long time since I've had such a terrible retail experience…read more.. I've been coming to this store for years and the product is fantastic. The selection is great, but year in and year out, the service gets worse and worse. This time was, the worst it has ever been... The doors were locked even though it was prime open hours (about 4pm). I saw half a dozen customers come to the store and be turned away because the doors were locked. I actually spoke with one the customers, and he said he had been checked the door several times in the past 15 minutes. I called the store, and only then did the girl materialize after about 15 minutes of waiting, and unlock the doors. While in the store, the sales girl made no attempt at helping us with finding product, selecting a size, etc. She made no attempt in any way to be helpful. It was truly amazing. My partner and I could not believe it. This girl was dead inside, and almost ruined a perfect day. I will say that Rip Curl really has to do better and their employee selection. Rip Curl makes wonderful items, and this store is a regular stop for me; they need to find better retail associates. Please! Be warned... Be careful... Parking is great. Store is generally clean, and this day it was full of boxes around the counter.

I was in for a treat when I walked into Rip Curl Surf Center. Right when I walked in I was greeted…read morewith a sweet young tall boy. He was kind enough to help me get to the top rack and search for something I needed for my son! I'll be back again! Thank you!

I walked in to buy some Crocs for my son since this seemed to be the closest store to me. I had…read moreparked outside so when I walked in, I asked if I could get my parking validated. Employee said she didnt validate parking. I inquired as to how I was able to purchase Crocs if I coulnt park. She said I could validate at ABC. I asked if I had to buy something over there and she said she didnt know. Again I said I didnt understand how I could buy crocs if I couldn't park. She stood up and started coming at me and asked why I was "escalating things"....I wasn't I was simply trying to figure out how I could buy crocs without getting my vehicle ticketed. Needless to say, I'll be buying crocs elsewhere! Do not recommend!

Not happy with experience as the Crocs my son purchased a week ago had the soles fall off from…read morenormal use and the merchant refused to attempt to help address the recently purchased merchandise they sold.

Horrible service. They don't mention that you can't return items and only give you a week to…read moreexchange. Would not recommend buying anything here. Very overpriced

Overpriced and extremely rude. They're a tourist trap and get away with their terrible service…read morebecause they don't care about repeat customers.