Private Surf Lesson on Maui South Shore

Catch your first wave on Maui. This two-hour private lesson at Kalama Park gives you one-on-one coaching, supplied equipment, and a plan matched to your ability. I especially like the private format and the fact that surf shoes, a lycra shirt, and board are included. You are not left to figure out the break alone.

The main caution is the price: $299 per person is a serious spend for two hours, especially if several people in your group need separate bookings. You must also be able to swim and have the fitness and mobility needed for time in the ocean. Still, for a nervous beginner, a child, or anyone who wants focused instruction rather than a large class, the personal attention can make the cost easier to defend.

Key points at a glance

• Private coaching at Kalama Park: Your group has the instructor to itself, so the lesson can match your pace and ability.
• Equipment is supplied: A surfboard, surf shoes, and lycra shirt are included, reducing the amount you need to bring.
• Different breaks suit different levels: The instructor chooses waves and conditions that fit your skills.
• Safety gets close attention: Ebes is praised for staying patient, answering questions, and checking that a nervous beginner felt safe.
• The lesson begins and ends in Kihei: Meet at the Surf Club Maui van at 1900 S Kihei Road, with no transportation to or from the activity included.
• Book ahead if your schedule is fixed: The experience is booked about 83 days ahead on average, and cancellations are free only until 24 hours before the start time.

Why a private Maui surf lesson can be worth the cost

Surfing looks simple from the beach. In practice, timing your paddle, standing at the right moment, and keeping the board pointed in the correct direction all take clear instruction. A private lesson removes much of the guesswork because your instructor can focus on your position, timing, and comfort instead of splitting attention among a large class.

I like this setup for first-time surfers who do not want an audience. You can ask the same question twice, take a short pause, or admit that the ocean feels intimidating without slowing down a whole group. A stronger surfer can also get more advanced pointers instead of spending the session on basic explanations.

The price includes two hours of instruction plus the main gear. At $299 per person, this is not a budget beach activity, but it is easier to judge when you consider what private teaching offers. A couple or family paying for several individual places will spend much more than a group class, while one person who values direct coaching may find the added attention worthwhile.

The duration is also sensible for a first lesson. Two hours gives you time to get fitted out, talk through a plan, practice in the water, and try several waves without turning the session into an exhausting full-day commitment. Your actual time standing on the board will depend on conditions, your energy, and how quickly you learn.

Meeting the Surf Club Maui van in Kihei

You start at Surf Club Maui, located at 1900 S Kihei Road in Kihei, Hawaii. The activity ends at this same meeting point, so you should arrange your own way there and back. Transportation to other attractions is not included.

The van is the practical base for the session. You meet the instructor there, get your equipment, and discuss the plan before heading into the water. That first conversation matters because it lets the instructor understand your experience, your goals, and any nerves you may have.

Since the meeting point is near public transportation, you may have an alternative to driving. The supplied details do not specify routes, schedules, parking, or the exact time you should arrive, so confirm those points when booking. I would also allow enough time to find the van without rushing into a two-hour appointment.

The mobile ticket makes it easy to keep your booking on your phone. Confirmation is provided at booking, which is useful when you are organizing several Maui activities around one another. Keep the meeting address and start time handy, since the same-day cancellation terms are strict.

Kalama Park and the first steps toward standing up

The lesson takes place at Kalama Park on Maui’s South Shore. This is where the practical work begins, with your instructor helping you get ready and setting a surfing plan for your group.

You can expect the opening part to focus on equipment and basic technique before you paddle out. The instructor will guide you toward waves suited to your ability, which is especially useful if you have never judged a surf break before. Choosing the right wave is part of learning, not just a small detail before the fun begins.

The supplied information does not give a minute-by-minute schedule, so the exact order of land instruction and water practice can vary. That is a good reason to ask questions at the start. If you are a complete beginner, tell the instructor clearly. If you already surf, explain what you want to improve.

Kalama Park is also the setting for the lesson’s different skill levels. Kids and adults can take part, and the use of different breaks allows the instructor to adjust the challenge. You should not assume this means every participant will surf the same type of wave. The point of the private format is that your group’s plan can be shaped around its own ability.

How the two-hour lesson works on the water

Once you are geared up, you and your instructor head into the water to catch waves. The instructor’s role is active: guiding you to the better waves, giving pointers, and helping you build the basic skills needed to get up safely.

For a beginner, the first successful stand is only one part of the lesson. You also need to learn how to position yourself, when to paddle, and how to respond when a wave does not work out. A private instructor can give immediate corrections, which means you spend less time repeating a mistake.

The experience suits different levels, but the details of the advanced coaching are not specified. If you already surf, ask what the instructor can cover for your ability before you begin. The private arrangement should make it easier to spend more time on technique rather than basic orientation.

Safety is a major part of the value here. Ebes is praised for being patient with a nervous participant, answering questions in detail, and making sure the participant felt safe in the water. David is also praised for offering useful pointers across skill levels. Those details suggest a teaching style that values calm instruction instead of pushing you into waves before you are ready.

You must be able to swim. This is not a sightseeing outing beside the water, and the operator requires an appropriate level of health, fitness, and mobility. You should be comfortable with the physical demands of paddling, balancing, and repeatedly getting back onto the board.

What the supplied gear means for your packing list

A surfboard, surf shoes, and lycra shirt are provided. That is helpful if you are fitting a lesson into a wider Maui trip and do not want to rent or carry bulky equipment separately.

The surf shoes offer foot protection while you work with the board and move through the water. The lycra shirt provides a layer between you and the board during the lesson. The information does not state what clothing or personal items you should bring, so ask the operator about swimwear, towels, sunscreen, and changing arrangements before you go.

The board is part of the lesson rather than an item you need to select on your own. That removes one common beginner problem: trying to decide which board matches your weight, balance, and skill. Your instructor can direct you toward the equipment and waves that fit the plan.

Do not read the included equipment as a promise that every personal need is covered. Transportation is not included, and no photography package is listed as part of the tour. One participant appreciated help from Lalani with pictures in the ocean, but you should confirm whether photography is available for your booking rather than count on it.

The value of one-on-one instruction for families and mixed abilities

The lesson is open to children and adults, with different breaks for different levels. That makes it more flexible than a one-size-fits-all class, especially when one person in a family is eager to try surfing and another is cautious.

A private booking can also help when people in the same group have uneven experience. One person may need patient help with balance while another wants to improve wave selection. The instructor can adapt the pace instead of asking everyone to follow the same drills.

That said, private does not mean effortless. Surfing demands coordination and physical work, and the two-hour session may feel tiring for someone with limited fitness. The operator specifically advises that participants should have moderate physical fitness and suitable health, fitness, and mobility.

I would choose this lesson for a child or adult who wants close guidance and may feel uneasy in a large group. I would be more cautious about booking it for someone who cannot swim, has major mobility limits, or expects a relaxed boat-style outing. The ocean remains an active environment, even with a careful instructor.

What the strongest praise tells you about the teaching

The clearest strength is patience. Ebes helped a nervous beginner feel safe, answered questions in detail, and taught the basic skills without rushing. That combination matters more than flashy coaching when you are trying to stand on a moving board for the first time.

David’s coaching is also praised for serving different skill levels. This supports the idea that the lesson is not only for people starting from zero. If you have surfed before, you can use the private setting to ask for specific pointers instead of hearing a standard introduction meant for everyone.

The wider team also receives credit for making the process easy, from booking support to help with pictures. The overall rating is 5 from the two available ratings, so the score is encouraging but based on a small sample. I would treat the praise as a useful sign of friendly service, not a guarantee that every session will have the same instructor or conditions.

Instructor assignments are not specified in advance. You may want to ask who will teach your lesson if a particular coaching style matters to you. The named instructors connected with the experience are David and Ebes, while Suzie is praised for being helpful during the arrangements.

Timing, weather, and the limits of the promise

The lesson lasts about two hours, but the available information does not state the start-time choices, surf forecast process, or weather policy. Surfing depends on ocean conditions, so your session may not feel identical from one day to the next.

The instructor guides you to the best waves available for your ability. That wording is important. It does not promise large waves, a certain number of rides, or a guaranteed stand-up moment. Your result will depend on conditions, balance, confidence, and instruction.

I like the fact that the plan is based on your ability rather than on a fixed challenge. A beginner needs a manageable wave and clear direction. A more experienced surfer needs a different goal. The instructor’s flexibility is likely to matter more than chasing a dramatic wave.

Because the activity is booked 83 days ahead on average, I would reserve early if your Maui dates are fixed. The booking confirmation arrives at the time of reservation, and the experience is offered in English. Confirm any questions about timing before the cancellation deadline arrives.

Cancellation and practical planning

You can cancel for a full refund until at least 24 hours before the local start time. Inside that 24-hour window, you receive no refund, and changes made then are not accepted.

That policy makes early planning sensible but leaves less room for last-minute changes. If your Maui schedule is uncertain, avoid placing the lesson at the end of a packed day. Give yourself enough flexibility to reach the Kihei meeting point on time.

Service animals are allowed, and the meeting area is near public transportation. The activity is private, meaning only your own group participates. Those details make the experience easier to fit into a family or couple’s schedule, but they do not remove the swimming and fitness requirements.

Should you book this private surf lesson?

I would book it if you want personal coaching at Kalama Park, prefer a private group, and value an instructor who can respond to nerves or different ability levels. The included board, surf shoes, and lycra shirt also keep the packing simple.

I would skip it if $299 per person feels too high for a two-hour activity, if you cannot swim, or if you are looking for transportation around Maui. You should also ask about the instructor, meeting time, and conditions before finalizing the booking.

For a first surf lesson, the best reason to choose this experience is not the promise of perfect waves. It is the chance to learn with direct guidance, patient safety support, and a plan built around your group. If that is what you want from a South Shore outing, this is a strong, focused choice.

FAQ

Where does the private surf lesson begin?

It begins at the Surf Club Maui van at 1900 S Kihei Road, Kihei, Hawaii 96753, USA.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Surf Club Maui.

How long is the surf lesson?

The lesson lasts approximately two hours.

How much does the lesson cost?

The listed price is $299 per person.

Is the lesson private?

Yes. Only your group participates in the private activity.

What equipment is included?

A surfboard, surf shoes, and a lycra shirt are provided.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation to and from attractions is not included.

Do I need to know how to swim?

Yes. All participants must be able to swim.

Is the lesson available in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted and are not refunded.