Help Your Child Discover the Joy of Surfing
Improve your surfing with personalized surf coaching in Maui from Makai Surf Club. Whether you want to refine your technique, improve your wave selection, build confidence in the water, or simply become a more comfortable and capable surfer, each coaching session is designed around your individual experience and goals. From developing stronger fundamentals to working on specific areas of your surfing, you’ll receive personalized guidance while enjoying the ocean and learning at Ukumehame Beach on Maui’s West Side.
Personalized Surf Coaching in Maui
Every surfer has different strengths, challenges, and goals.
At Makai Surf Club, surf coaching is designed to help you understand your surfing and work on the areas that matter most to you. Whether you’re looking to improve your paddling, positioning, pop-up, balance, wave selection, or overall confidence, your instructor can adapt the session to your current ability and experience.
Rather than following a one-size-fits-all lesson, you’ll receive focused guidance throughout your time in the water. You’ll have the opportunity to practice your technique, ask questions, receive feedback, and develop a better understanding of how to approach the waves.
Located at Ukumehame Beach on Maui’s West Side, Makai Surf Club provides a relaxed setting for surfers who want to keep learning, improving, and enjoying the ocean.
Why Take Surf Coaching in Maui?
Surf coaching gives you the opportunity to focus on specific areas of your surfing instead of simply learning the basics. Your instructor can help identify areas to work on and provide practical guidance you can apply in the water.
With personalized instruction, you can work on the skills that matter most to your surfing while building greater consistency and confidence in the ocean.
Improve the Skills That Matter Most
Surf coaching gives you the opportunity to focus on specific areas of your surfing instead of simply learning the basics. Your instructor can help identify areas to work on and provide practical guidance you can apply in the water.
Personalized Feedback for Your Surfing
Everyone surfs differently. Your instructor can adapt coaching around your experience, comfort level, technique, and individual goals. Whether you’re working on fundamentals or trying to become more consistent in the water, personalized feedback can help you understand what to focus on during each session.
Build Confidence in the Ocean
Confidence comes from understanding the ocean, practicing good technique, and becoming more comfortable with your decisions in the water. Surf coaching gives you the opportunity to work on positioning, timing, wave awareness, and ocean awareness while receiving guidance from your instructor.
Take your surfing further with focused coaching and personalized guidance at Ukumehame Beach on Maui’s West Side.
Book Your Surf Coaching Session ↗
Choose the Surf Experience
That Fits You
Choose the surf experience that best fits your experience, group size, and goals. Whether you’re learning on your own, with someone you know, or with a larger group, Makai Surf Club offers personalized instruction designed to help you feel comfortable and confident in the water.
Private Surf Lessons
Personalized instruction
Enjoy a personalized one-on-one surf experience designed around your
individual experience, comfort level, and goals.
Whether you are learning the fundamentals or looking for more focused
guidance, your instructor can adapt the session around your needs and
help you become more comfortable and confident in the water.
Semi-Private Surf Lessons
Personalized support for two
Learn alongside a partner, friend, sibling, or family member while
receiving personalized guidance throughout your session.
This option gives two surfers the opportunity to work on their skills
together while receiving instruction based on their individual
experience, comfort level, and goals.
Private Group Surf Lessons
Made for your group
For larger groups, private group surf lessons provide a fun way to
learn and experience the ocean together.
Private group sessions can be arranged for friends, families, and
other groups visiting Maui together, with guidance provided throughout
the experience.
Your surf experience
starts here.
Choose the surf experience that fits you best and get ready to experience Maui from the water.
What to Expect From Your Surf Coaching Session
Your surf coaching session is designed around your current experience, surfing goals, and the areas you want to improve. At Makai Surf Club, you’ll receive practical guidance and personalized feedback to help you become more comfortable, confident, and consistent in the water.
Meet Your Instructor
Meet your experienced Maui surf instructor and talk about your current surfing experience, goals, and the areas you would like to improve. This gives your instructor a better understanding of what you want to work on and how to structure the coaching session around you.
Identify Your Focus Areas
Before getting into the water, you’ll discuss the key areas of your surfing that you want to develop. Depending on your experience and goals, this may include board positioning, paddling, pop-up technique, balance, wave selection, timing, positioning, ocean awareness, or surf safety.
Practice in the Water
Take your skills into the ocean and put your coaching into practice. Your instructor will provide guidance and feedback while you work on technique, positioning, timing, and wave awareness. The goal is to help you understand how to make adjustments while actually surfing.
Refine Your Technique
Use the session to work on the details that can make your surfing more comfortable and consistent. Whether you are improving your fundamentals, developing better habits, or working toward a specific surfing goal, your instructor will help you focus on practical improvements you can continue using after your session.
Makai Surf Club provides quality longboards, UPF 50 rash guards, and booties. Towels, refreshments, a safety briefing, and in-water support are also included to help make your surf coaching experience comfortable from start to finish.
More Than a Surf Lesson An Elevated Maui Experience
At Makai Surf Club, every lesson is designed to feel like more than time in the water. From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, every detail is thoughtfully considered to create a personalized, comfortable, and elevated surf experience.
Enjoy quality surf equipment, personalized instruction, towels, refreshing drinks, snacks, and dedicated in-water support — all thoughtfully provided so you can focus on enjoying your time in the ocean.
It’s a more intentional way to experience surfing in Maui, with personal attention and thoughtful touches from start to finish.
Personalized Instruction
Coaching tailored to your experience level, comfort, and goals in the water.
Quality Surf Equipment
Quality longboards, rash guards, and booties are provided for a comfortable experience in the water.
Towels & Refreshments
Towels, refreshing drinks, and snacks are thoughtfully provided as part of your surf experience.
Dedicated In-Water Support
Friendly, attentive support in the water helps you feel comfortable, confident, and supported throughout your lesson.
Thoughtful From Start to Finish
Every detail is designed to make your time with Makai feel personal, effortless, and memorable.
Learn From a Maui Local Who Knows the Water
Local experience, water knowledge, and personalized coaching come together to help you improve your surfing and feel more confident in the ocean.
Local Experience Meets Personalized Coaching
Makai Surf Club was founded by Maui local Karlie Thoma, an experienced waterwoman with a lifelong connection to the ocean.
With experience in surfing, kiteboarding, winging, and foiling, Karlie brings extensive water knowledge and a genuine passion for helping others become more comfortable and confident in the ocean.
Whether you are working on your fundamentals, refining existing skills, or simply looking to become a more capable surfer, coaching is built around the individual rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Why Learn With Makai Surf Club?
Learn with guidance from someone who knows Maui and has extensive experience in the water.
Each session can be adapted around your current experience, comfort level, technique, and individual surfing goals.
Work on practical surfing skills including paddling, pop-up technique, balance, positioning, timing, and wave awareness.
Receive guidance while you are actually surfing so you can understand how to apply adjustments in real time.
Develop a better understanding of positioning, wave conditions, ocean awareness, and basic surf safety.
Quality longboards are provided so you can focus on your surfing and skill development.
Essential equipment is provided to help keep you comfortable during your session.
Enjoy added comforts throughout your surf coaching experience, including towels and refreshments.
Receive encouragement and guidance while practicing your skills and working toward your individual goals.
Choose an option that fits your needs, whether you want personalized one-on-one coaching or want to arrange a private session with friends or family.
Surf at Ukumehame Beach on Maui’s West Side while enjoying the surrounding ocean and mountain scenery.
Local experience meets personalized coaching — so you can improve your skills and enjoy more time in the water.
Surf Coaching Maui — FAQs
Everything you need to know about surf coaching with Makai Surf Club. From experience levels and personalized coaching to equipment, location, and what to expect during your session, we're here to make your Maui surf coaching experience simple, comfortable, and focused on your goals.
Surf coaching is suitable for surfers with some previous experience who want to improve specific skills, technique, confidence, or overall comfort in the water. If you are completely new to surfing, a beginner surf lesson may be a better starting point before moving into coaching.
You can work on areas such as board positioning, paddling, pop-up technique, balance, wave selection, timing, positioning, wave awareness, ocean awareness, and basic surf safety. Your instructor can adapt the session around the areas you want to improve.
Yes. Surf coaching is designed around your current experience, comfort level, surfing ability, and individual goals. Your instructor can focus the session on the specific skills you want to develop and provide guidance throughout the session.
Surf coaching sessions are 2 hours long, giving you time to work on your technique, practice specific skills, and receive personalized guidance from your instructor throughout the session.
Yes. If you would like to surf with a friend, partner, sibling, or family member, semi-private surf lessons are available for two surfers. Each surfer can receive guidance based on their individual experience and goals while sharing the session together.
Yes. Your instructor can adjust guidance around each surfer's individual ability, comfort level, and goals. This allows surfers with different levels of experience to learn together while still receiving personalized instruction.
Makai Surf Club provides quality longboards, UPF 50 rash guards, and booties. Towels and refreshments are also provided, along with a safety briefing and in-water support throughout your session.
Surf coaching takes place at Ukumehame Beach on Maui's West Side. The location provides a relaxed ocean setting where you can focus on developing your surfing skills with your instructor.
Yes. Ukumehame Beach is approximately 20–25 minutes south of Lahaina and the Kaanapali Resorts. Lahaina and Kaanapali are both located on Maui's West Side, making Ukumehame Beach a convenient option for visitors staying in those areas.
Yes. Kihei is about 15 minutes away, approximately 10–12 miles, while Wailea is about 20 minutes away, approximately 14–16 miles. Both Kihei and Wailea are located on Maui's South Side.
Yes. Semi-private surf lessons are available for two surfers, while private group lessons can be arranged for larger groups. This allows friends, couples, families, and other groups to enjoy the ocean experience together.
Yes. Private group surf lessons can be arranged for families, friends, and other groups traveling together. This gives your group the opportunity to enjoy the surfing experience together with personalized instruction.
Yes. Photo and video can be arranged in advance for an additional fee. Please email makaisurfclub@gmail.com prior to your session to arrange photo or video coverage.
Take Your Surfing Further.
Develop your technique, build confidence, and work toward your surfing goals with personalized coaching at Ukumehame Beach.
Use these exact views to help you identify the Makai Surf Club West Maui meeting point when you arrive.
Conveniently Located in West Maui
Makai Surf Club is based at Ukumehame Beach in West Maui, offering a convenient and relaxed surf lesson location for visitors throughout Maui.
Our West Maui surf location is easy to reach from nearby West Maui areas, South Maui communities, and the North Shore.
Whether you are staying in West Maui or visiting from another part of the island, Ukumehame Beach provides a convenient setting to meet your instructor, get comfortable in the water, and enjoy a personalized surf lesson.
Our surf lessons take place at Ukumehame Beach in west Maui — a relaxed West Side setting with space to learn, practice, and enjoy the ocean.
Permitted and Insured
Makai Surf Club is permitted and insured to run surf lessons at Ukumehame, meeting the requirements set by the State of Hawaii. We take your safety and experience seriously, which is why we’re proud to operate with the proper permits and insurance for our surf lessons.
We’re also locally owned and women-owned, bringing genuine Maui knowledge, personal attention, and a love for surfing to every lesson.
State Permitted & Insured
Meeting Hawaii’s requirements for providing surf lessons.
Locally Owned & Women-Owned
Proudly rooted in Maui and locally operated.
Take Your Surfing Further
Take your surfing further with personalized coaching from Makai Surf Club. Whether you’re working on your technique, building confidence, improving your wave awareness, or simply looking for more focused guidance in the water, your next step starts at Ukumehame Beach.
