3 Day Surf Progression for Families, Kids, and Beginners in Kihei at Kalama Park

The smart idea here is three lessons instead of one. At Kalama Park, you have time to get past the first-day wobble and work on real progress: paddling, wave timing, turning, and safe ocean habits. I especially like the gentle break and semi-shallow water, plus the chance to space lessons across three mornings from Monday through Saturday.

I also like the practical setting. Boards and protective gear are included, and family members can watch from the park, use the playground, or grab food across the street. The main drawback is the price, $502.62 per person, and the need to arrange your second and third dates after booking your first lesson.

Key points to know before you book

• Three separate 2-hour lessons: Build skills over several mornings rather than trying to learn everything at once.
• Kalama Park suits first-timers: The gentle break and semi-shallow water make the setting less intimidating for beginners.
• Eddie and Epse teach more than standing up: Expect surf etiquette, ocean awareness, safety, paddling, pop-ups, wave timing, turning, and navigation.
• Equipment is supplied: Boards, reef shoes, and rash guards or reef guards are included.
• Flexible scheduling: Choose three mornings from Monday through Saturday, with the additional dates arranged by phone, text, or email.
• Useful for returning surfers: The instruction can help you surf with more confidence and avoid putting yourself or others at risk.

Why three mornings at Kalama Park make sense

A single surf lesson can give you the thrill of standing on a board. It may not give you enough time to understand why you stood up, why the next wave passed you by, or how to turn without losing control. This program spreads instruction across three 2-hour sessions, giving your body and mind a chance to catch up.

The first morning is likely to feel like an introduction to a new language. You learn the parts of the surfboard, basic surf etiquette, ocean awareness, and safety tips before working through paddling and the pop-up. That groundwork matters. Surfing is not just a balance exercise. You need to know where to sit, how to read the water, and how to share a break safely.

The second and third mornings give you room to revisit those skills. The instruction covers reading waves, timing, turning, and navigation, so the goal is not simply to get you upright once. It is to help you make better choices in the water.

That progression is particularly useful for children and nervous beginners. A young surfer may need time to become comfortable lying on the board, paddling, and letting a wave carry them. One family returned for multiple sets of lessons, with their son Alex progressing from a nervous 7-year-old to a more confident and comfortable surfer. That kind of change is difficult to force in one session.

What your first morning covers

You meet at Surf Yoga Maui at Kalama Park on South Kihei Road. The lesson lasts about two hours, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point. Since the lessons take place in the morning, you will want to arrive ready for water time rather than trying to fit this into a rushed afternoon schedule.

The first part focuses on the board and the basics. Learning the anatomy of a surfboard may sound simple, but it helps you understand where to place your hands, chest, and feet. The pop-up also becomes easier when you know what the board is doing beneath you.

You then move into paddling, ocean awareness, and safety. This is one of the strongest parts of the program because good surfing begins before the wave reaches you. You need to notice the conditions, understand the movement of the water, and avoid creating trouble for the person beside you.

Surf etiquette is another useful lesson. You learn how to share the water and avoid putting yourself or others in danger. One returning student specifically valued being taught the etiquette that goes with surfing, along with the confidence to surf in low or negative tide conditions without feeling out of place.

The first session may feel busy, especially for a child or an adult who is nervous in the ocean. That is normal. The benefit of the three-day format is that the first morning does not have to carry the full burden of your learning.

The second lesson turns effort into timing

Surfing often feels less like strength and more like timing. You can paddle hard and still miss the wave if you begin too late, stop too soon, or face the wrong direction. The later lessons address wave reading and timing, which are the skills that help a beginner move beyond simply being pushed toward shore.

The gentle break at Kalama Park is helpful here. Beginner-friendly water gives you a calmer place to work on the sequence of events: watch the wave, decide when to paddle, keep your position, pop up, and stay balanced. The semi-shallow water can also make the first attempts feel less daunting.

You should not expect every wave to work. Even with good instruction, surfing includes plenty of missed starts and wobbly landings. The point of the second session is to give you enough attempts to recognize patterns and make small corrections.

For families, this is where different skill levels may become clear. One child may stand quickly, while another needs more time with paddling or balance. The private format lets the instruction focus on your group rather than moving at the pace of a large class. The supplied information describes the activity as private, with only your group participating.

The third lesson works on turning and independence

The final morning adds turning and navigation to the foundation built earlier. Turning is a major step because it lets you do more than ride straight toward the beach. It helps you control your direction and understand how the board responds to your weight and body position.

Navigation skills also have a practical purpose. You need to know where you are in relation to the beach, the break, and other people in the water. Those habits can make a beginner feel far less lost after the lesson ends.

The instructor’s role matters a lot here. Eddie is described as patient, friendly, and fun, with lessons that continue to offer new material even to someone returning for a third set of instruction. Another student said that Eddie helped make an intimidating activity feel manageable and saw more progress in one session than in several previous lessons.

Epse is also named as an instructor, and one family credited lessons with Eddie and Epse for helping their son build skill and confidence over repeated visits. You should still understand that progress depends on weather, surf conditions, age, comfort in the water, and how quickly each person learns. Three lessons give you a better chance to improve, but they cannot guarantee a particular level of surfing.

What is included, and what should you bring

The price includes use of the surfboards, reef shoes, and rash guards or reef guards. That removes much of the usual guesswork for a first-time surfer. You do not need to arrange a board rental between sessions or decide which board is suitable for your level.

The equipment was described as professional and in good condition by one returning participant. That matters because an ill-fitting or worn board can make the first attempts harder than they need to be.

The provided information does not list every personal item you should pack, so you should confirm any remaining requirements with Surf Yoga Maui before heading out. The key equipment for the lesson itself is included, and the meeting point has outdoor showers and public restrooms.

Kalama Park also has onsite parking, a walking path, and a playground. Cafes and restaurants are across the street. That makes the location workable for a family group where not everyone wants to surf. Someone can watch from the park, walk nearby, or occupy younger children while another family member takes a lesson.

How to schedule the three lessons

You book the first lesson online. After that, you contact the provider by phone, text, or email to arrange the other two dates. Lessons take place Monday through Saturday in the morning, so you have some control over how tightly you group the sessions.

You might schedule three consecutive mornings if your Maui stay is short. That keeps the instructions fresh and lets you build from one session to the next. If your plans allow more time, spacing the lessons out may give you a chance to think about what you learned and return with a clearer sense of what needs work.

Peak family travel periods, including spring, summer, and winter breaks, can fill weeks ahead. I would book early if your dates are fixed. The flexible schedule is useful, but it does not mean every morning will remain open.

The activity lasts about two hours per lesson, not two hours total for all three days. That distinction is important when planning your holiday. You are committing to roughly six hours of instruction spread across three mornings.

The real value of the $502.62 price

At $502.62 per person, this is not a casual one-hour introduction. Spread across three 2-hour lessons, the listed price works out to about $167.54 per person per lesson. That is a sizable cost, but the value improves if you want structured progress rather than a single photo opportunity.

You are paying for repeated instruction, equipment, a private group setting, and coaching that covers both technique and responsible ocean use. Boards, reef shoes, and rash guards are included, so there are no separate equipment rental charges listed in the supplied details.

The private format may also matter more than the headline price suggests. If you are bringing a family or close group, you are not sharing the lesson with unrelated participants. That can make it easier for an instructor to slow down for a nervous child, repeat a movement, or give a more advanced surfer something new to work on.

Still, the price will not suit every budget. If you only want to try surfing once, a single lesson may be a better fit. This three-day program makes the most sense when you value confidence, safety, and continued practice.

Group discounts are available, though the specific discount amount is not provided. Ask about the current rate before booking if several people from your party plan to participate.

Who will get the most from this program

This is aimed at families, kids, and beginners, but the instruction can also suit adults who have tried surfing and want better fundamentals. The strongest match is someone who wants to understand the activity rather than simply stand up once.

You are a good fit if you:

• Want three mornings of structured instruction
• Prefer a private activity for your own group
• Are nervous about your first time in the ocean
• Want safety and surf etiquette explained clearly
• Are traveling with children who need patient coaching
• Have enough time in Maui to attend three morning sessions

It may be less suitable if your schedule allows only one morning, if the price is beyond your budget, or if you want a fully open-ended surfing session without a progression plan.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The experience is near public transportation, but the supplied details do not specify transport arrangements or a particular accessibility setup beyond those points.

Weather, cancellation, and small practical details

Surfing depends on the weather, so poor conditions can cancel the activity. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local Maui time.

A mobile ticket is available, and confirmation is provided when you book. Since the second and third dates are arranged separately, keep the provider’s contact details handy after your first booking.

Should you book the three-day progression?

Book it if you want a real introduction to surfing, not just a quick attempt at standing on a board. The gentle Kalama Park break, private group format, included equipment, and patient instruction from Eddie or Epse create a sensible setup for families and first-timers.

The best reason to choose this program is the progression. You learn safety and etiquette first, then work on paddling, wave timing, turning, and navigation over multiple mornings. That gives you a better chance to leave Maui with useful habits and more confidence in the water.

Skip it if you have only one free morning or are mainly looking for the cheapest way to try surfing. At $502.62 per person, this is a commitment. For a family ready to give surfing a fair chance, though, the extra days are the point.

FAQ

Where does the surf lesson meet?

You meet at Surf Yoga Maui at Kalama Park on South Kihei Road in Kihei, Hawaii. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How many lessons are included?

The experience includes three lessons. Each lesson lasts about two hours, for roughly six hours of instruction in total.

On which days are lessons available?

Lessons are offered Monday through Saturday in the morning. You choose the first date when booking, then arrange the other two dates by phone, text, or email.

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is equipment included?

Yes. Surfboards, reef shoes, and rash guards or reef guards are included.

Who teaches the lessons?

The instructors named for this experience are Eddie and Epse. Eddie is specifically associated with instruction in surf technique, safety, etiquette, and progression.

What happens if bad weather cancels the lesson?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund.