Maui Surf Lesson Kihei: 2-Hour Beginner Group Class

You'll Actually Surf in Two Hours, or Your Next Lesson Is Free

You'll spend two hours in the water with a guide and five others maximum, learning to read waves and pop up on the board. The lesson includes all gear (board, rash guard, booties), and professional instruction in ocean safety and surf etiquette. If you don't ride a wave in that first session, your next lesson is free. You leave the beach knowing whether surfing is something you want to keep doing.

Step-by-step itinerary

Beginner group surf lesson in Kihei

• Arrive at Kihei surf location
• Learn surfing rules and etiquette
• Practice wave riding fundamentals
• Receive ocean awareness and water safety training
• Surf with personal attention in small group

The experience

The moment you paddle out in Kihei, you realize the guides aren't exaggerating about the guarantee. They keep groups to six people maximum, which means you're not standing on the beach watching someone else take all the instruction. The two-hour beginner surf lesson starts on the sand with the rules (where to sit on the board, how to read the water, what respect looks like in the lineup) before you even touch the ocean. It's the kind of detail that separates a real lesson from a tourist activity.

What catches most people off guard is how quickly the fundamentals click. The guides teach wave riding, ocean awareness, and water safety in a sequence that actually builds on itself, not just a jumble of tips shouted over the noise. You get a wetsuit rash guard, water booties, and a board that fits your size, which sounds basic until you realize how many places hand you gear that doesn't. The guarantee (you're surfing in one lesson or the next one costs nothing) isn't marketing. It's a statement about how the instructors approach teaching, and it changes how you feel about being a beginner.

Kihei's waves are forgiving for learning. The water is warm enough that you're not fighting the cold, and the beach breaks give you room to fall without drama. The lesson runs two hours straight, which is long enough to move past the panic of your first pop-up and actually feel the board respond under you. By the end, you've done the thing you came to do. You're not just certified or checked off a list. You've surfed.

What’s included

Your lesson includes professional instruction from guides trained to teach all ages, a surfboard sized for you, a rash guard and water booties, and the state ocean stewardship fee. You'll learn surfing fundamentals, ocean awareness, water safety, and surf etiquette in a two-hour session with no more than six students, ensuring you get the attention you need to actually stand up and ride.

Information

Lasts 2h, runs Monday to Saturday at 08:00 and 10:30, from US$ 98 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 6 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 08:00 and 10:30Another time? ›

GroupUp to 65 private ›

Live guideEnglishOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Under 9: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Surf Shack Maui

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to learn to surf without arranging gear, finding a qualified instructor, or wondering whether you'll actually manage to stand up: the small group size and the guarantee mean you're not paying to watch someone else learn.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Do I need experience to take this lesson?

No. The lesson is designed for beginners and first-time surfers of any age. The guides teach from the ground up.

What's included in the price?

Professional instruction, surfboard, rash guard, water booties, and the $1 state ocean stewardship fee and taxes.

How many people are in each group?

Maximum six students per lesson, so you get personal attention from the guide.

How long is the lesson?

Two hours total, including instruction on the beach and time in the water.

What if I don't surf in the first lesson?

The lesson is guaranteed. If you don't ride a wave, your next lesson is free.

Can children take this lesson?

Children 9 and older can join group lessons with an adult present. Ages 5 to 9 should book a private lesson instead for safety and better instruction.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel and leave personal valuables (rings, watches, necklaces) behind. Everything else is provided.

Is this lesson suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it's suitable for all fitness levels. The guides work with your pace and ability.