Hypr Nalu Hawai’i

We found this surf shop by accident and felt like we hit the jackpot of surf instructors. Ian uses both land instruction and video to demonstrate how to surf and surf paddle. He is passionate about the sport and teaching and strives to teach his students how to progress on their own even after the class is over. Afterwards he takes you to either the protected ocean area for the surf paddle lessons or a nearby beach for surfing which has several breaks suited for different levels. Also he makes his own boards which seem to be extremely light and well designed. The experience was super fun and relaxed. Classes are generally 2 people to one instructor-​definitely worth the experience.

Awesome! Ian and all the people at Hypr Nalu are great. They contact you the day before your session to confirm the conditions will be good. The instructional session was fun as Ian kept everyone laughing with his humorous comments. The use of the bosu balls to balance the boards on is brilliant. Short drive to the surfing spot and into the ocean. The guides with the group were very attentive and actively aided out new surfers in timing the waves. To top it off, Ian called later that day to ask if we had enjoyed ourselves and to thank us for our business. Enjoyable experience! Would recommend Hypr to everyone.

Hyper Nalu is the most knowledgeable and friendly surfing establishment that we have ever entered. I contacted them when I came to the big Island because US airways had damaged my surfboard in transit. The owner, Ian, was able to get the board repaired and returned to me within two days. The price was extremely reasonable and the quality of the repair was perfect. We ended up scheduling a day to get lessons with his team and our surfing ability elevated immensely. What I really enjoyed was the enthusiasm and excitement that Ian readily shows. He makes the experience better. His wife Lauren is also wonderful and a great asset to the team.
I highly recommend this shop if you are seeking surf lessons, potentially seeking to purchase a board or just looking to find the best surf shop in town.
Lastly, Hypr Nalu designs and builds the most beautiful and functional surf and paddle boards that I have ever seen. If I had the money I’d have them all in my quiver.

For surfing lessons, on land instruction was good, although it might have been too complicated for completely new surfers. The instructions to stand up as quickly as possible probably wasn’t the best either. It might be more helpful to stand up slowly on the first few tries.
Note that you are required to buy a rash guard shirt for your lesson… so it’s $ 25 more.
I have to say that I did not get much instruction or coaching in the water. The guys did a good job of helping us catch the waves, but they provided minimal instruction on how to surf. At one point, I got bad advice. I was told that I was too far back on my surf board when I was paddling. Well, I adjusted forward, and then whenever I stood up, the head of the surf-​board kept plunging into the water. After getting wiped out a couple times, I figured out my mistake and adjusted accordingly, but it would be nice if the instructor could have helped me trouble-​spot.

My husband and I wanted to try paddleboarding and we are so glad we choose Ian and Lauren at HYPR Surf. They are extremely patient and helpful and they really want you to learn how to paddleboard AND do it correctly.
My husband was a natural and was paddling circles around me almost immediately. Me? I fell in numerous times (picture a cat falling into the ocean many times and clinging to the side of a paddleboard). I vowed to accomplish at least a small tour of the bay and not fall in and finally I did it.
By the end of our lesson my legs were shaking – this is a workout and you only need to look at the physiques of the instructors to understand this. Listen to your body and stop before you are too sore – I had trouble walking down stairs the next day! We would absolutely go paddleboarding again and hope to figure out a way to bring this sport into our lives regularly.
If you want to learn to paddleboard correctly with patient, helpful instructors in a convenient and safe location I recommend Ian and Lauren at HYPER Surf.

an excellent experience right from walking in the door. their teaching techniques equal real results and so much fun. I was standing up and surfing from the first wave !!
No lie.
Thank You Hyper Nalu !!
I will return

I tried surfing in Florida once but couldn’t get the hang of it. I ended up doing a private lesson at Hypr and ended up being able to surf that day! It was incredible!
I love how they show you on dry land first, so you can practice and get a feel for how your form is supposed to look and feel. The location they take you to to practice is beautiful and safe.
I ended up going out a second day with the instructor and had a super easy time. I now can legit surf… I’m not a pro, but I can actually hold my own now. I cannot recommend Ian, Lauren and Christian from Hypr enough!

When in hawaii, take surf lessons!
I came here to take a private surf lesson!
Ian was super helpful when setting up the right time for the lesson, making sure tide was perfect and whether was good for your elsson.
Staff was super friendly, made sure to give me tips to get my techniques right.
I feel like i’ve learned about 3~4 lessons worth of surfing in one lesson.
I really want to go back and learn from here !

After disembarking our cruise ship, my wife and I stopped in to check on paddle board rates. Ian approached us and invited us to watch a dry surfing lesson to see if it was appealing — as paddleboarding can be done anywhere.
Ian was a pro at instruction and making my wife and I feel comfortable. The dry land instruction was perfect for preparing us for the waves. Once on the water I got up and surfed the wave on my first attempt.
After the surfing Ian drove my wife and I to a fantastic Poke place for lunch called Umeke. I’m so glad Ian convinced us to try surfing and his instruction and demeanor made for an awesome experience. Tourist or local — i’d recommend this business.

Excellent, awesome! Wish there were more stars to give. Received a SUP lesson with Ian today. He is a very gifted and talented teacher. He had me using proper technique in no time. His explanations are clear and easy to follow. He is supportive and positive and very upbeat. He is a wonderful coach. I am 66 years old, a beginner, and if he can get me started, he can get you going too. Treat yourself, take a lesson.
Not to be missed.

Decided to give SUP a try while vacationing in Hawaii and chose Hypr because they are located right by Kailua Bay and within walking distance from our hotel. We dropped in as they were opening and they indicated they were just about to do a surfing lesson and to watch that before partaking in a SUP lesson immediately after. We waited and watched. To some degree, we were made to feel like we’d inconvenienced them though they weren’t incredibly busy and we’d opted to wait as they’d suggested.
After about an hour, the surfing family had cleared out and it was time for the SUP lesson. Lauren, the instructor, was incredibly helpful. She gave the group a thorough and thoughtful lesson. It was clear she knew what she was doing and knew what needed to be communicated to us. I can’t applaud her efforts enough.
We hit the water and she insisted in putting us in one at a time. There were 6 of us so this took a minute, but it was absolutely worth it. It allowed for personalized instruction. Once we were all SUPing, she’d shout to call you in when she had tips for you. And her tips were incredibly valuable. Following her instruction allowed for novices to become good in no time.
The package we purchased allowed for a second block of SUPing so we called the following morning at 8:30 am to give them a heads up that we’d be coming in shortly. Ian indicated they had a family lesson planned and asked us to show up an hour later. We did. And were, for the second time, made to feel like we’d inconvenienced them. We sat patiently for roughly 45 minutes, getting a coffee next door even, before being given boards.
We spent a few hours on the water and had a great time. When we came back in, Ian gave us a spiel about not using the beginner board as it was made for stability and we were more than ready for a smaller, faster board. A great idea… why was it being pitched after the fact? We would have appreciated having the option a couple of hours earlier. When I asked about that, Ian replied with the comment that we should have called first. The thing is, we did call. And we also showed up later as he suggested we do.
Let me be clear, this husband-​wife team run a great shop. You won’t get the level of care you get here anywhere else. That said, Lauren and Ian have to focus on improving the staffing, communication, and coordinating of activities. Maybe they’ve grown to the point that it’s difficult. I hope they find the balance, because their love of the sport makes them phenomenal instructors.

Great guys. Very patient & knowledgeable of the local area. Giant boards helped. We went on a day where the swells & wind made it one of the worst days to learn. But all went as well as it could have for the conditions. I think one term I heard was «like a toilet bowl out there». But my wife & I would like to thank Ian & the guys for their honest hard work with us. Wore us out!

What a great group of people. We visited them three days in a row with varying group sizes from 4 to 12 people. They provided personal on-​on-​one instruction which was simple and EFFECTIVE.
Their in the water instructors were committed to helping each individual achieve the goal of surfing and paddle boarding (we did both). It was clear that HYPR’s level of service and instruction was far better than other surf and boarding companies which had larger groups and fewer instructors.
I can’t wait to come back to Hawaii and surf/​paddle board with them again!

What?! They teach you how to surf? Yeah. They super do– the lesson on land was extremely informative. I felt so prepared for my first time surfing. They made me feel so competent both at the shop and on the waves.
The waves were modest but our hs aged instructors taught us how to make the best of them and told us about the fish, the beach and any other questions we had. But we caught some lovely waves too!
Such good, kind people and excellent teachers!
They advised us on when to head out, challenged me to try harder techniques and even let my sister surf with us even though she didn’t need a lesson. These guys are the best.

I spent 2 weeks in Hawaii split across Oahu, Kauai, and Big Island. I am a beginner surfer and wanted to try learning as much as possible, so I took a lesson at each island. HYPR was by far the best for many reasons:
1) Great Instructors /​Instruction
— Ian does a great job explaining the necessary fundamentals and takes the time to ensure you understand why you are doing certain things. I took both a paddle board and surf lesson, but will focus this review mainly on surfing…
This is not a «just jump and stand» lesson. You start at the shop and practice on a board and bosu board which help simulate what it’s like riding on a wave. It will help you anticipate what to expect and how to handle different situations. They also teach you how to turn! like i said, it’s not just standing and riding straight… it’s learning the right technique, repeating to enforce muscle memory, and much more. By far the best lesson i’ve had and most i’ve learned!

2) Accomodating
— During one of the first days on my trip, i walked over the the shop and expressed my interest in surfing. I was told the waves were not great that day and the forecast showed improvement in a day /​two. I took their number and called them the next day. It was after store hours, yet Ian still tried to give me updates on conditions and that he would check conditions in the morning. I was impressed that he still was communicating after /​before business hours.
3) Will not waste your time with poor conditions
— As mentioned, they will not take you out unless conditions are good. They will do their best to reschedule for a day that is good. I’ve been out surfing where waves were nonexistent and felt like it was a waste of time and money. Ian even told me waves were not looking great in the morning, but two hours later when i went for a paddle boarding lesson, he told me waves were improving and wanted to get me surfing since i wanted to go so badly.
4) Size you up for an appropriate board
— The benefit to practicing on the board and bosu is that Ian is able to see your technique and give you an appropriate board. Based on my technique, Ian had given me a shorter board (i forgot the exact size, but ~9−10 feet). I was used to the huge 12 foot boards from prior lessons that I was a bit intimidated. Let me tell you, I have never had so much fun. I was able to get a better feel of the board, able to turn, and even felt more comfortable walking forward to get more speed. Ian trusted my skills, and I am happy he did. Another lesson on a 12 foot board would have probably bored me out of surfing and I needed that extra push to try something more advanced.
Overall, I cannot recommend a better place to go to. If you are even slightly interested in learning or want to work on your skills, use HYPR and do it the right way! My only regret is not doing it earlier in my trip and surfing multiple days. Next time i’m in town, there is no doubt i will be paying them another visit!

I had a great time learning how to surf :)Tai and the other instructors were fantastic! Thanks guys for all the patience!!! I’m so glad they take the time to teach you how to get up on the board before you hit the waves. It made me feel that much more secure.
Ian was so great corresponding with me to schedule a time for my surf lesson! Everything went smoothly and I couldn’t ask for a better experience. Thanks again!!!

We were all first-​timers for surfing and we are so glad we picked Ian and HYPR Nalu for our first surfing lesson. We were a group of 7 and we can all agree that this experience was the best of our whole trip.
Ian and his wife own HYPR and they were both really welcoming and chill (island life hospitality). I first called Ian the day before to ask for scheduling and timing. I could sense his genuineness, good attitude, and passion for surfing. When we got there late to our appointment but they were totally chill about it. Before going into the water, Ian showed us the basics on how to get up, turn, balance and some great great tips. We all had the chance to try it on their surfboard simulator at their shop. Ian was a jokester with all of us and we had a great time with him learning the basics before hitting the water.
In the water, we had three instructors (I believe their names are: Kai, Kainalu, and Nalu) for the 7 of us. They were all very professional, encouraging, knowledgeable, and most importantly, fun attitude! If you are not a good swimming, do not let it discourage you. There is always one of them with you, guiding you on what to do and when to do it. We all were able to get up on the board many times and hit the waves multiple times.
We all had an awesome experience with HYPR Nalu, and I would 100% recommend this place to anyone! I loved it so much I am planning on buying my own beginner surf board and going out on my own or with friends.

Amazing surf lessons. I’ve taken around 5 surf lessons before and this was by far the best. Ian is patient in explaining and practicing technique with you before you get in the water. The guides are also very experienced and helpful in the water when you’re first learning to get up. I was having such a good time I kept them out on the water for around 3 hours and they were enthusiastic the whole time. I’ll definitely stop by again when I’m back on the big island.