I'm sad to write this especially because I love surfing and want to support Maui's businesses, but feel responsible to warn others. This company is unreliable and dishonest. They canceled our surf lesson 30 minutes before while we were on our way. We were understanding that things happen and tried to reschedule, but it never worked out. However, the issue is what followed. They assured me that I would receive a refund, but despite that promise, no refund was ever issued. After waiting and receiving no communication, I had no choice but to dispute the charge with my credit card company. To make matters worse, the surf company responded to the bank claiming that I did receive the lesson--which is completely untrue. I have since reached out to try to resolve what I initially hoped was just a misunderstanding, but I have received zero response. The lack of honesty and accountability is a terrible representation of Maui. I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else, but judging from other reviews, it looks like it already has. What a shame. read more

Could not have asked for a better instructor for my first time on a board. I booked a private lesson to really "try surfing" and see if it's even for me. Zack has great attitude, knows surfing AND new surfers, and got me the best results for my time. He guided us to the best spots to catch waves, gets you going into the wave, and sends you off cheering. When you inevitably fall, his feedback is on point. He's chill, friendly with everyone, and is dialed-in on surfing. Zack is a professional - period. I'll be bringing him to Zack when it's my son's turn to surf. Website is super easy to use too. read more

My boyfriend and I wanted to try surfing for the first time while on vacation in Hawaii. Choosing Zach Howard Surf was an easy choice based on reviews. Our experience was even more phenomenal than expected. It only took my boyfriend one try and it only took me 3 times to fully stand up on the board and ride a wave! It was truly a surreal experience surfing in Hawaii! The two of us were lucky enough to have a fully private lesson with Zach himself. He was so helpful and informative and made us feel like pros! read more

My kids had a wonderful time surfing with Spencer! The price was very affordable and they were able to get going on several waves.

I hadn't surfed since a single lesson in Hawaii as a high school student, and Mark H. had tried surfing with a friend a few years back in Miami but had never been able to catch a wave or stand up on the board. In other words, we were complete beginners. During our semi-private 1.5 hour lesson (just the two of us with an instructor), we both caught multiple waves, and I was even able to pick a wave and ride it in at the end of the day without step-by-step instructions or a boost. We had an absolutely amazing time, the weather was gorgeous, our instructor Travis was awesome, and we would 100% do it again. If only we lived near a beach. When you're looking at booking a lesson, you might not think that 1.5 hours is enough time, but unless you're a surf stud already, you'll be ready for an acai bowl (or maybe a mai-tai or two) at the end of your lesson. This takes a LOT of arm work and strength. If you're considering trying surfing while you're in Maui, splurge a little and pay for a lesson - it's well worth it. read more

Sarah & Zach were phenomenal! First ever surf experience couldn't have been better. So great we booked another day to surf again!

Superior surf sesh with Sarah! She made the surf experience so fun and easy with clear instructions and built up our confidence to catch the waves. Highly recommend for any level of surf background read more

I'm a 51 year old fat man who has never surfed. Zack Howard got me up on the 3rd wave. He's very detailed and deliberate with his beach lesson. If you listen, he'll have you surfing in no time. This man knows his stuff and has the patience of Job. My wife and I did a semi-private lesson and it's the best money we spent the whole week we were on Maui. read more

Had Travis for my private lesson. It was windy at the first spot, but he knew where to go as a backup. Once there we got in the water quickly after a brief review of the essentials on land. Waves at the second spot were great - gentle, long rides. Safety with reef break was covered and never felt at risk. Travis had several board options ready, and I went out on a 9-6 longboard. Got many good tips and was up and riding quickly. Definitely improved my craft thanks to these guys! Would recommend. read more

A very fun experience, but... Pro: Scheduling and communication was good. Instructor Travis was early to the beach, very knowledgeable and helpful. I had a great experience with dry training and in the water! Con: The foam top board was quite worn (cover coming apart in some spots) and left my knees and toes shredded. Toes are bad enough to have limited activities during the rest of our Maui vacation. I've learned since that booties and knee protection are helpful on foam top boards. The website, zackhowardsurf.com says they provide booties for the lesson. They told me afterward they no longer use the booties because folks step on the reef in them. I understand that concern, but my shredded toes say there should be an alternative. Or at least better communication about the loss of skin. read more

Our 10 year old son had 5 lessons with Zack Howard Surf. Outstanding experience for him, he learned quickly to stand up and ride waves. The location they use is perfect for a beginning surfer. Prior to these lessons he had a fear of the ocean, part of the teaching is to understand the ocean and waves, he no longer fears the ocean. I highly recommend taking a lesson from Zack Howard Surf, a positive learning experience. His skills advanced quickly thanks to the knowledgeable instructors. read more

Zack is phenomenal! I got up & rode and I'm a Gma that's been schleppin around for 6 months! I've had other surf lessons- No shade- but Zack made all the difference! I could tell It was next level b4 we even got in the water. Zack totally put me at ease, got us up and surfing and is an all around incredible human! Best day ever! Thanks Zack‍‍ read more

Zack Howard Surf - Surf dreams! - Specialty Schools Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

My family and I are grateful to have Zack, Sarah, Hana and Jack as our surf teachers for the past year. I trust his family with our daughters who were 7 years old and 9 years old when they first started with him. We even brought our friends' children to him. He made sure that they were safe and most importantly having fun surfing. The kids had so much fun that he even got me out. Thank you. read more

Best experience ever! My 6 and 8 year old took lessons! Sarah was phenomenal with them, she was so friendly and made it so fun. Zack was great when I spoke to him on phone. Gave recommendation to do early morning with the littles! Would recommend this to anyone! Mahalo Zack and Sarah! read more

No show after an hour of waiting. Called the number on google and got his voicemail when the lesson was supposed to begin. 30 minutes in I thought he's probably just on Island Time... "Zach drives a lifted silver truck, you can't miss it." I was told by the instructor from another school. I waited and watched everyone else take lessons, still no Zach. After an hour I gave up and left. Save your morning and book with Maui Surf School, they were here and their students were getting waves. Thanks for wasting my morning mate. read more

Zack Howard Surf - I started wandering the beach asking people if they were Zach... - Specialty Schools Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

Surfed with Travis! Knowledgeable and friendly guy. He understood my level of ability and made sure that I made the most of my private lesson. Would definitely recommend :) read more

Maui was amazing. There is no other destination like it in the world. I'm eager to share with you one of the best highlights of my trip ~ surf lessons with Zack Howard! I stumbled onto Zack completely by accident during my stay in Maui. My surfing instructor cancelled last minute, and he came highly recommended by some new friends I had met on the beach a day earlier. What luck I had that day! Years ago, I tried surfing, but after a bad accident that put me in the ER, I've been too scared to try it again. It's taken me years to build up enough confidence to even attempt another lesson. Zack helped me tackle my fears and was the most incredible teacher. His patience and positive feedback really put me at ease, not to mention he's been a lifeguard for 20 years. I felt so safe within his company, and he let me work at my own pace. One lesson turned into five... Just like that! I was never alone in the water because Zack would surf alongside me to make sure everything was okay. He could even tell when a wave was coming when no one else could see it! He would tell us, "this wave is for you, the next is for Bonnie." Only years of experience could teach you that. Zach also took me and three of my friends out on a paddle board lesson on Sunday, which is apparently a day that most locals won't teach lessons. The waves were pretty big so Zack helped tow each one of us out into the water separately to make sure that we got out safely. The lesson was great and so fun! If you are looking for an amazing private or group surf instructor in Maui, I guarantee you will not find anyone better than Zack Howard. Mahalo, Zack for breaking my fear of the waves. I can't wait to return to the island... I'm counting the days! read more

Zack Howard Surf - first day- surf lesson with zack howard - Specialty Schools Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

Zack was the best! He took 3 of us out for an amazing surfing experience! He was attentive, professional, and made sure we had a great time. Two of us were experienced surfers and one of us had never been on a board before and he made sure we all caught a bunch of waves. I would highly recommend him if you are going out in Maui, great for all levels. read more

Great day surfing with Zack. Up on the board surfing waves as a beginner in my 40s. Lots of waves! He's a knowledgeable instructor with a respect for the ocean and the island. My 16 year old has been working with him all summer, the confidence and skill he has acquired is amazing. Thanks Zack! read more

I had the opportunity to join a friend for a private lesson with Zack Howard Surf this past summer. Caleb was our instructor and he was excellent! His positive attitude kept us calm as we prepared to face some big-ish waves that morning. We had a blast and I would highly recommend Zack Howard Surf if you're looking for a more personal session. For more on my adventure with Zack Howard Surf: http://islandgypsyhawaii.com/2015/08/20/to-surf-is-to-live-a-private-surf-lesson-with-zack-howard-surf/ read more

Zack Howard Surf - Our instructor Caleb was awesome - he even did this while surfing in the water! - Specialty Schools Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

The ZacK Howard Crew is awesome. Very talented surfers and instructors that are great at helping first timers and old salty surfing dogs. They have chosen thoughtful surfing locations that are a refreshing change from the Kihei crowds. Can't wait to surf with them again on our next visit to Maui. Mahalo! read more

Wow what a great school! The instructors are so kind and knowledgeable! It was the first time for my kids and the rest of us had only been once YEARS ago but we were all up and catching waves by ourselves! Pay attention to where the instructions tell you to meet because there are several schools there - Look for the surfers with the nice smiles read more

Had a fantastic private lesson with instructor Travis! Learned all the basics and was able to ride several waves. So beautiful too- swam with sea turtles and saw whales in the distance. read more

Best surfing lesson ever! Absolutely life changing! Surfing is so fun but can be intimidating- Zack is rly experienced though and helped a lot He's a great person overall. Thanks so much! read more

We had the best experience with Sarah and Jack! When our 13yo decided mid vacation that he wanted a surf lesson we didn't think it would be possible. But after inquiring with Zack Howard surf on a Wednesday night our Thursday morning surf lesson was confirmed immediately. Sarah was kind enough to text us and answer all of our questions even though it was almost 10pm. Less than 12 hours later, Sarah and Jack were waiting for us on the beach. We were able to have a private lesson for our group of 4, and Sarah didn't waste any time getting everyone ready to go, understanding the basics, and into the water. The kids loved learning from Sarah and Jack and all 4 got up on their boards and had so much fun!! The kids really wanted to take another lesson, but unfortunately we didn't have time. We will definitely be back to surf with Sarah and Jack again in the future! read more

Our family of four planned to do a single lesson to see what surfing was like, but we had so much fun with our instructor Luke that we ended up doing three days of lessons! Luke was a great teacher, especially important to us since the four of us (two high school girls and parents) had never surfed before. He gave us some on-land instruction first and then quickly got us out on the water. While we waited between waves he chatted with us about our lives and shared about his life growing up on Maui, surfing and competing. He's only 1 or 2 years older than our daughters so they could really relate to him. They were so excited to do additional lessons with him that they woke up at 6:30am while on vacation to get to 7am lessons! The beach location was only 10 minutes away from our base in Maalaea so it couldn't have been any more convenient to us, but it would be easy for Kihei and Lahaina as well. Next time we'll bring our GoPro to video the experience! read more

Look no further. You will have a great surfing experience with Zack. I wanted to try surfing for the first time during our visit to Maui. After looking at several websites including reviews here and on trip advisor I decided to go with Zack for surfing lessons. Booking online is so easy. I also emailed Zack with questions and he was quick to respond and even called me to answer questions and iron out the details. He is very organized, texted me the day before and then the morning of our lesson. I have to say that my husband, two daughters (ages 10 and 12 years old) and i were a bit nervous. Zack really made us feel comfortable, he was great with my girls, and they were standing riding the waves by their second try. We loved it!!! Unlike other lessons we saw around the island where there were tons of people in the water and it just seemed so crowded, Zack took us to a location that felt like our own private beach with no other surfers or paddle boarders out in the water. We felt safe, over came a bit of our fears, were comfortable out in the water and learned to love surfing. When we come back to Maui we will definitely take surf lessons through Zack Howard Surf! read more

My wife booked my 11yr old son and myself for beginner lessons here, easy online booking then texting communication to a nice uncrowded spot. Sarah (Zack's wife) was our instructor and she was great with my boy. His ocean confidence wasn't real high but she put him at ease and he was catching wave after wave. The conditions got a little choppy since a storm was coming but Sarah kept putting him in the right spot to catch more waves. I highly recommend Sarah and the Zack Howard Surf team, I couldn't be happier with our experience. Mahalo Sarah! read more

Zack Howard Surf - Sarah was an awesome teacher! - Specialty Schools Near Me - Paia, Hawaii

My husband and I took surf lessons with Brett (awesome guy originally from NJ), he works for Zack. Our hotel recommended the company and we were both very pleased and impressed with the lesson. We were both up and catching waves right away- and I was so scared before the lesson. Brett made me feel very comfortable and safe and his instructions and assistance were the perfect balance to help me- right from the very first wave I caught. We can't wait to return to Maui and take more lessons with Zack and his staff. Thank you so much for a memorable and amazing experience!! :) read more

Zack and his family took my entire family of 5 out for surf lessons, and got us all surfing!!!! I'm experienced but my kids and wife were not. They all had so much fun and are so stoked on surfing now and I have Zack and his awesome family/surf trainers to thank. It didn't feel like a lesson, it felt like going out and surfing with a group of friends. Also as a guy who has taught a lot of friends to surf, Zack brings expert techniques to the table to teach you quickly! So Stoked we went with Zack! read more

After about 10 minutes with Zack I was able to say I surfed some waves in my lifetime! WHAT a great time!! Zack cut right to the basics of what I would need to know out there so that I could get up the very first wave and pretty much every wave after that. 5 minutes of lecture on the beach and we were on our way out to the waves. He picked an amazing beach where the waves aren't so big but the break for like a hundred yards or something crazy all the way to the beach. I got some amazing rides and totally stoked. It was SO much fun. Unfortunately, my three year old son was waiting for me on the beach with my husband CRYING HIS EYES OUT! Every time I sat down off the board after riding a wave I guess my son thought I was in great peril. Luckily I thought my sons screams were sirens for the first half of the lesson before I realized this was Maui and there weren't that many fire engines around. Zack was so nice telling me I could make up the second half of my lesson when we returned to Maui this summer! In 45 minutes I caught EIGHT, count em EIGHT amazing waves. I got the bug and purchased a board and signed up for more lessons when I got home. All of the advice I've gotten from other surfers has been way too complicated. Zack endowed me with some tricks that put me way ahead of the game. What an amazing sport! I'm hooked! read more

My brother and I scheduled an early morning surf lesson with Zach. We started at sunrise at Ukumehame beach. Zach was an excellent instructor and we were quickly riding some great waves! The sunrise views and watching the wales breaching were great bonuses! read more

Our group went out with Cody and Tyler. They were both fantastic. Tyler helped set me up perfectly on every wave and was very patient. Made my first time surfing a fun and memorable experience. Now I'm just wondering why I waited so darn long to try it since I was born in Cali and come to Hawaii at least once a year. Can't wait to get lessons again with my kids. Would highly recommend this school. read more

Maika'i Cadmen took my fiancé and I out for an unforgettable, amazing surf experience. We are beginners who have dabbled in surfing. After going through the basics, we went out to the water! Maika is very skilled; he helped me get some speed paddling by anchoring his foot to my board. We have never seen someone do that before! He was also very patient with me as I was scared to stand straight. With his encouragement, I did and caught me wave! Justin caught many. We had so much fun that we rented boards from him to hang in the waves for a couple more hours. read more

This is one of the favorite things I have done ever. All of the instructors are fabulous. Zack, Luke, and Travis helped us and they did an amazing job. All three of us were able to get up and surf with zero experience going into it. Anyone on the island should seriously invest in some lessons here!! read more

Such a bummer....several emails confirming a private lesson but this Team failed to confirm/provide the/a location. No follow up email or call cancelling (which I would've understood). I'll contact a couple other places before checking in here again. Wished we could've made this happen... read more

Cross taking a surfing lesson off my bucket list! I am 53 and Zack got me up and I was riding the waves. Woo Hoo! I was screaming in excitement and happiness. It felt good on top of the board and safe. I found surfing easier than SUP. I was worried before I went as I am not a strong swimmer. It turns out a I did not have to swim one stoke. The board was leashed to my ankle and when I fell in it was right there. I easily climbed on. I was not in deep water. My nephew is 22 and said the surfing lesson was the best thing he did on the entire trip. He was up and riding like a natural right away. Zack gave both of us input after each ride and it did not come across as criticism. That is a gift. A bonus - The pictures of Zack do not capture what an amazingly gifted surfer he is or how super cool, handsome and friendly he is. He could be a model or in films. The beach was idyllic with soft sand and gentle waves. Even the water felt soft. The hardest part for me was paddling out laying on the board as it was an arm workout. To give my arms a break Zack pulled me out to catch a wave several times by putting my surfboard between his feet. Zack gave me a new nickname - Auntie Shredder:) Love it! Thank you for making my dream come true. read more

I've been working with Zack for a while now and it has been none less than an awesome experience for me. I was surfing the web looking for a coach to help me improve my surfing, and I'm so glad I found Zack. Throughout our time together Zack has helped me master a completely new foot stance, he's gotten me surfing on shortboards, he's taught me about the waves to improve my knowledge of which ones to catch and how they break, and most importantly, Zack has been a great person to be out on the water with. Definitely choose Zack over anyone on island if you're looking for an experienced professional to teach you how to surf or to help you take your surfing to the next level! read more

If there was an option for 10 stars on Yelp, I would take it! With less than 24 hours notice, Zack kindly opened up a spot for my friend and I to do a semi-private lesson with him. It was both of our first time surfing and the experience couldn't be more fun, chill yet exhilarating, and awesome. Zack quickly taught us how to hold the board and what to do in the water. I loved his philosophy that there's nothing like being out in the water to get the feel for how to surf - it can't be done on the sand. Zack was patient, funny, sweet as can be, and a fantastic instructor. He's legitimately a surfing professional and my friend and I felt like we were getting the attention and support we needed to learn how to surf. With just a try or two, we were both standing on surf boards and killing it. Zack was so much fun and we couldn't think of a better way to learn how to surf than having Zack by our side. If you're lucky enough to get a spot, TAKE IT! This isn't touristy or fake - this is a genuine man sharing his love and skills of surfing to others. THANK YOU ZACK FOR THE BEST SURFING EXPERIENCE!!!!! read more

Maika'i was super nice. Super great location. This was my 10-year-old son's first time surfing larger waves and he was able to get up and surf a couple times which made him feel so great. Mai was so supportive and cool with him. read more