Maui Wave Riders

We learned to surf today with Chad! He’s a great instructor: very patient, very encouraging, and most of all, we had FUN! Everyone in our group caught a wave! I can’t swim, and I wasn’t even concerned with that the whole time! Thanks Chad and MWR!

Did the standup paddle board lesson and it was fantastic. I had never tried it, but the instructor was patient and helpful. Everyone was great!

This is the place to learn to surf, fun and laid back, Patrick was patient and clear about the dynamics of learning to surf with my 8 year old granddaughter and 12 year old grandson, we watched from the sidelines and before we knew it COWABUNGA… SuRfINg!!! They had a blast and look forward to more surfing time!!!

My 8 and 12 year olds had Patrick as their instructor. Great with kids. Explained everything so that they understood what was going to happen in the water. Both of my kids had a blast and they both were surfing on their first wave! They want to go back again before we leave. They also had some great pictures taken which were available for sale. Thanks so much! The kids won’t forget today!

Rented SUPs here for a couple of hours, and wasn’t disappointed. They’re located about a ten-​minute walk from a beach with some small swells (think Waikiki), so you can rent from them without having to load up your boards and paddles and drive to another location. We didn’t know this til we arrived, but the very reasonable price included a rash guard and booties. They have cubbies inside the store where you can leave your personal items, so they don’t get stolen from your car. A couple in my group thought the clerk (Melissa?) was a little bitchy or else I’d be giving five stars. Mahalo, MWR.

Todd is the man!
On a whim, the bf and I decided at breakfast one morning that we should try surfing. I mean, we’re in Hawaii, the birth place of surfing! So, we looked up a few places and decided to go with Maui Wave Riders in Lahaina. Such a good choice.
Our lesson was at 1:30 in the afternoon. We got there a little earlier to fill out some paperwork and put on sunscreen — LAY IT ON THICK PEOPLE! That sun is no joke. We did the group lesson. That day there was only one other person in our group, so it was nice and small group. Todd introduced himself to us, he’s so nice and chill. We talked a little bit and then we got our shoes and rash guards and walked a few blocks over to where they keep their boards by the beach. Todd gave us a lesson on the beach on how to stand on the board. We practiced for a few minutes, and into the blue we went.
The conditions were perfect that day, we all rode a few waves. It felt so awesome and cool and ADDICTIVE to ride a wave. I couldn’t get enough! But alas, our two hours ended and we had to go back. We went back in the shop where we got our surf-​tificates (I love that) and our free MWR caps. They even offered us a free rental the next day, which we took at the Kihei location. This place was amazing!!!

We saved surfing lessons for the last day of our trip, and I honestly wish we had done it sooner! I can’t wait to come back and try it again! This was my first surfing lesson, and it was awesome. PJ gave really clear instructions, so I felt I knew what I was doing right off the bat. I was a bit nervous heading out into the waves, but PJ guides you really well and has a great eye for the ocean. My boyfriend tried surfing once before, and he said the instruction this time was way better. Both of us did awesome in our lesson and everyone at MWR was super friendly. We left with huge smiles and some great shots of us riding the waves. Really great value, would recommend!

We spent the morning with Todd from Maui Wave Riders. We had an amazing time! We were able to ride over 12 waves and Todd taught us well and helped us get up on the board. This is a must stop when in Maui.

Took my 10 year old this morning for the 7:30 lesson. We had Sonny and it was just awesome. He was surfing the whole time. It was fantastic

Sunny was a fantastic teacher who got me and my fiancé up and surfing the very first time we tried! A great lesson and wonderful experience learning to surf. If he could teach me to surf, he can teach anyone!

Our party of 2 signed up for a «group“SUP lesson, which ended up being «semi-​private» with just the 2 of us. They had sunscreen there and encouraged you to drink some water before heading out. Booties, rash guard shirts, board, and paddle are provided. You should bring a towel.
Todd was a great instructor – very knowledgeable and friendly. After showing us the technique on the beach, he came into the ocean with us and gave us more pointers. He was great about adjusting his teaching strategy to fit your level of comfort on the board. If you are up for it, you can rent the board for 2 more hours that same day for free.
Overall, it was an awesome experience!

After reading their guarantee that you WILL get up on the board or else you get your money back, I was prepared to get my money back. Because I am so terrible at anything athletic lol.
My fiancé and I had Sonny, and he was so so awesome. We went right into the lesson without wasting any time; he gave us the pointers, safety tips, and what you need to know to get on/​off the board safely.
It’s clear Sonny has tons of experience– while he was waiting for us to paddle out to him he would meet us in the middle by lying on his board on a wave, sitting while riding a wave… and it was so cool to see and also so funny! I knew that he wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. I never once felt like I couldn’t handle it, I knew Sonny had my back (literally. because he holds your board while you catch your first wave).
After I caught my most epic wave all the way to the beach, Sonny whistled the entire time and gave me a high five!!! After a few more waves, we all went in and he recommended a great spot for lunch.
I loved this place because they have everything you need– sunscreen, water, shoes, rash guards, boards… just bring your own towel! They even have a great photographer who caught some great shots of us– which was also impressive to see a guy surf and take pics at the same time. It’s probably not a big deal to them, but coming from the east coast we don’t see much of that lol!
Definitely take a lesson with Sonny!

SURF LESSON: My group of 7 took the surf lesson that included getting a paddle board out on the sand to do on land practicing with the instructor in front of you demonstrating. He has you practice a bunch of times so you have it in your muscle memory.
Then he shows you where to wait in the water by a buoy to wait for the instructor to take you on a wave. They tell you when to paddle your arms and when to pop UP! They are behind you to give you an extra push into the wave which really helps. You’re in a paddle board so it’s wider and easier to balance on. Definite confident booster for beginners.
PHOTO: Photographer uses a good quality camera and takes photos and gets your attention to smile at him and do a hang loose sign. He also takes model shots close up of you.
GEAR: They have everything except for towels. Included are water shoes, surf long sleeve shirt (you’ll want to wear to protect yourself from the board and so the photographer knows you’re part of the group), water to keep you hydrated at the shop for before and after. Showers by the ocean and a shower back at the shop to rinse off.
END: Surf certificate makes you feel giddy like you got a gold star in kindergarten. Cool trucker style hat to help advertise for them and look stylish at the same time. The photographer shows the slideshow and you can’t help but want the photos so pay for them and enjoy. Bring a USB flash drive of your own to save $ 5 buying one.
OVERALL: I recommend this place. They also give you a code for free drink at the pizza place next door. They were professional and fun at the same time.

Just went today. Añu was there to greet me. She was very kind and helpful. It was just me and the instructor «Sonny» who is a GREAT teacher. My first time surfing ever and I had a blast. Get the photos too at a very reasonable price. Be sure you come here. These guys are awesome! Thank you Sonny, Añu, and also Ryan for the photos! I’ll be back again soon !
Went the next day to my first stand up paddle lesson. Chyna was also GREAT. Very kind and patient. She made it fun. Thanks Chyna ! Maui Wave Riders is the best place to come and take your lessons if you’re thinking about surfing or Standup Paddle!
I’ll be back !

We signed my boyfriend up for a last minute group lesson today but when we arrived we found out he was the only one signed up for that time slot, so he received a private lesson for the group lesson price… score! Todd was his instructor and was really encouraging, patient and clear with his instructions. We also opted for the photo cd and received a disc with about 20 terrific action shots — well worth the additional $ 25. We would highly recommend Todd as an instructor and Maui Wave Riders in general since everyone we dealt with today was friendly and helpful.

I was referred to them by Wayne O from Maui Surfboards in Kaanapali. Book through him and you get a great $ 10 discount off the group lesson.
Kevin Kennedy was my instructor and he did a great job to teach the basics of getting up on the board the right way. He is a former pro-​surfer so his tips really helped, as the rest of the week I was surfing on my own at Launiupoko.
Highly recommend Kevin and MWR!

I took the private 2 hour lesson and was really riding waves by the end of it. I had a great instructor who really coached me throughout each wave and when to do what to help me stay riding on the board longer. I was exhausted after — great work out!

We had such a blast! Super glad we had Todd for our first surfing instructor. He was pretty awesome!!!

Todd helped make our first surfing experience a pleasant one. He was patient and didn’t try to over complicate things. There were a few other schools with lessons going on at the same time, and it was obvious that our group was having more success. Maybe we were superior athletes, but I thought it was because of our superior instruction.
I recommend if you are going to «hang ten» for the first time– hang ten with Todd.

After reading other reviews, I am just surprised that we didn’t have as much of a good time. We had booked a group lesson but it almost turned out to be a semi private one since there was only three of us. We were given shoes and rash guard along with the boards needed for lesson.
We had Sunny as a instructor — who was super experienced Hawaiian native which made me excited. He did a good job in the sand while explaining but was not as great once I was in water. I didn’t do too well in the lesson to be honest and the way Sunny was trying to correct me didn’t work so well. (He was basically yelling from shore and that wasn’t helping when I was stressed in water). Finally he moved on with other students and an instructor/​paddler passing by said a few encouraging comments — which really helped me to relax and be more confident.
Over all lesson was good and I look it as a good experience but I really wish the way we were being corrected was different. May it was just a bad day for him but it was my only experience. In addition to that, I was told it will be a 90 minute lesson when I was booking but since I was in water I didn’t have a watch. When we stopped, carried our boards to van and walked back to the shop, I saw the time was around 8.40pm. We started to walk for our lesson at 7.25 from the shop. So we definitely did not get the full time. It could have been an off day but it was definitely not up to the standards that others are describing.