I'll be in Maui for a week in August. Can anyone tell me how far in advance I need to book the surfing lessons? Or do you think I can find anyone just by 'walk in'?

I'll by staying by Kaanapali. Any surfing schools by the area?

thanks!

I heard the lessons were in Lahaina... not sure if there are more, but no one else has responded.

thanks pepsi66. anyone else??? Maui is such a popular place that someone's got to know something....

There is a surf school that uses the Launiupoko beach park for lessons. Check with your concierge as they probably have a courtesy pick up van to take you there since parking is limited at the park. There is also a surf school next to the banyan tree in Lahaina that uses the beach right there on the spot. This is the one made famous on MTV's Livin'Lahaina a few months ago. Kaanapali isn't a very good surfing beach, especially for beginners so I doubt if you will find any there.

I remember seeing people taking surfing lessons on Kaanapali Beach. I did a google search and found this, and there are two listed on this site:

http://www.mauisurf.com/Maui_surfing_instructors.html

There are several schools listed, so you can pick what works for you. It says pre-booking may be advised during summer and holidays.

Hope this helps. Have fun!

There is a surfing school in Lahaina that I heard great things about - Goofy Foot http://www.goofyfootsurfschool.com/goofyframeset.html

My husband made a reservation to learn to surf with them while in Maui but needed to cancel the day before. They were really nice on the phone - but that is really the only experience I had with them. You would probably want to call a couple days before you wanted to learn.

I also stayed in Kaanapali, and noticed that almost every resort on the beach had some sort of surfing school. I would think that you would be able to 'walk in' to those.

It's been a while since we took surfing lessons, but last time, we just arranged it through the hotel desk upon arrival. Maybe for the next day or 2 days later. It wasn't a problem at all.

And, we did take the lessons in Lahaina (nice calm little cove there with little 2' waves), rather than on Kaanapali Beach.

Thanks everyone for your replies! I'll stick with Lahaina's waves/surfing schools.

Just got back from Maui. We took surfing lessons from Royal Hawaiian surf academy in Lahaina. SO much fun! There were only 4students per instructor and we had a blast. Totally recommend them! There was also a profesisonal photographer who took pictures while you surf. Great to show your friends

We also just got back from Maui (Monday). We were on Kaanapali Beach, where you can sign up for surf lessons at all the beach shacks (in front of the Marriott, for example). However, there were ZERO surfing waves on Kaanapali at least from Thursday to Sunday of this past week (my daughter had taken a surfing lesson on Kauai and wanted to take anothre), and they had cancelled the lessons.