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

The clever part of this three-day surf course is the pacing. Instead of trying to learn everything in one rushed morning, you return to Kalama Park for three two-hour sessions, giving you time to absorb the basics, sleep on them, and try again. The gentle break and semi-shallow water suit first-timers, children, and nervous adults.

I like two things right away: Eddie’s patient coaching and the practical instruction beyond simply standing on a board. You learn ocean awareness, etiquette, safety, and navigation, not just the pop-up. I also like the family setup, with parking, restrooms, showers, a playground, a walking path, and cafes across the street.

The main consideration is the price, listed at $502.62 per person, which is a serious spend for six hours of instruction. You also need to arrange the second and third dates after booking the first lesson, and all sessions take place in the morning from Monday through Saturday.

Key points before you book

• Three separate two-hour lessons: Space your sessions across three mornings of your choice, Monday through Saturday.
• Kalama Park’s beginner-friendly break: Gentle waves and semi-shallow water make Kihei a sensible place to learn.
• Instruction beyond the basics: Expect surfboard anatomy, etiquette, safety, paddling, pop-ups, wave reading, timing, turning, and navigation.
• Equipment is supplied: Boards, reef guards or rash guards, and reef shoes are included.
• A good family base: Onsite parking, outdoor showers, public restrooms, a playground, and nearby food make the setting easy to manage.
• A calm, patient teaching style: Eddie has worked with complete beginners, returning surfers, and children as young as seven.

Why three mornings at Kalama Park work better than one

Surfing has a steep first-day learning curve. You must handle the board, paddle, watch the water, judge timing, stand up, and stay aware of everyone around you. That is a lot to process while waves are moving beneath you.

This course spreads the work over three mornings, for about six hours of total instruction. The first session can focus on the building blocks: board anatomy, surf etiquette, ocean awareness, safety, paddling, and the pop-up. Later sessions give you room to work on timing, reading waves, turning, and navigation.

That spacing matters most for children and adults who feel tense in the ocean. You can finish one lesson with a few skills to practice mentally, then return with a clearer sense of what felt awkward. The format also helps families who want a shared activity without committing to an entire week of surf school.

You choose how to space the dates, within the Monday to Saturday morning schedule. You might book consecutive mornings for a concentrated progression, or leave a day between lessons for rest and other Maui plans. The supplied details do not promise a fixed lesson sequence, so contact Surf Yoga Maui after booking your first date to coordinate the remaining two.

What happens during the first two-hour lesson

Your first meeting point is Surf Yoga Maui at Kalama Park on South Kihei Road. The activity ends back at the same place, which keeps the morning simple. You do not need to arrange a separate beach transfer based on the information provided.

The opening lesson introduces the equipment and the basic rules of the water. Learning the anatomy of a surfboard may sound elementary, but it gives you useful language for handling the board and following instructions. You also cover surf etiquette, an essential part of learning to share the water safely and respectfully.

Next comes ocean awareness. This is one of the most valuable parts of the course because a beginner needs more than balance. You must notice wave direction, understand where you are in relation to other people, and avoid creating a hazard. The course also includes safety tips, paddling technique, and the pop-up.

The pop-up is the familiar movement from lying on the board to standing. In practice, it takes coordination and timing. A two-hour session gives the instructor time to explain the movement, let you try it, and correct the parts that are not working.

The gentle break at Kalama Park helps here. You are not being sent straight into a demanding surf zone, and the semi-shallow water gives beginners a more approachable place to work. Still, ocean conditions can change, and the course requires good weather. If conditions prevent the lesson, the provider offers another date or a full refund.

Days two and three build useful control

The second and third mornings move beyond simply getting upright. You work on reading waves, timing your start, turning, and navigating. These skills are what help transform a one-time stand-up into the beginnings of actual surfing.

Wave reading is especially important. A beginner can often stand briefly but still struggle to choose the right wave or know when to paddle. Learning timing helps you avoid wasting energy on waves that are not suitable and gives you a better chance of riding with control.

Turning and navigation add another layer of safety. You need to direct the board rather than simply hope it travels in a safe line. The course also returns to ocean awareness and etiquette, which is useful if you plan to keep surfing after Maui.

One returning student described Eddie as someone who keeps finding new things to teach, even after several sets of lessons. That detail matters because a three-day course should not feel like the same introductory talk repeated three times. The format has room for an instructor to adjust the work as your ability improves.

Another student specifically valued feeling ready to surf in low or negative tide conditions without putting other people in danger. That does not mean you should assume every condition is suitable for independent surfing. It does show the instruction aims to build judgment, not just a quick holiday photograph standing on a board.

Eddie’s teaching style suits nervous beginners

Taking a surf lesson can feel intimidating, particularly if you are an adult who has never been on a board or a parent watching a child try something unfamiliar. The strongest pattern in the available feedback is Eddie’s patience, humor, and ability to put people at ease.

Eddie has taught the same family across several Maui trips. Their son Alex began at age seven as a nervous child and later became more comfortable and confident in the water. That progression is a useful sign for families who want steady coaching instead of pressure to perform on the first morning.

Eddie is not the only instructor named in the supplied information. Epse has also taught children and families. One family described the equipment as professional and well maintained, and noted that communication with the school worked well.

You should still treat the instruction as personal coaching, not a guarantee that every participant will surf independently after three days. Surfing progress depends on comfort, balance, conditions, and how each person responds to the ocean. The course gives you structured practice and safety guidance, but it cannot remove the learning curve.

Kalama Park makes the morning easy for families

Kalama Park is not just a place to meet an instructor and leave. The surrounding facilities make it practical for a group with mixed interests and energy levels.

There is onsite parking, public restroom access, outdoor showers, a walking path, and a playground. Family members who do not want to surf can watch, walk, or take children to the play area. Cafes and restaurants across the street give you an easy option after the lesson.

That setting also helps with the practical mess of surfing. You can rinse off in an outdoor shower, change plans without a long drive, and regroup before lunch. If one person in your party is taking the lesson while others watch, Kalama Park offers more to do than a bare stretch of beach.

The meeting point is listed as Surf Yoga Maui at Kalama Park, S Kihei Road, Kihei. Check the exact meeting instructions with the provider when you arrange your dates, especially if you are coordinating several family members.

What you get for $502.62 per person

At $502.62 per person, this is not a casual add-on for a beach day. You are paying for three two-hour sessions, instruction, and the use of a board, reef shoes, and a rash guard or reef guard.

The value improves if you genuinely want to learn. A single lesson may give you a taste of surfing, but three sessions provide a better chance to work through the early stages of balance, paddling, timing, and turning. The private format also means only your group participates, which can be important if family members have different ages or confidence levels.

The price is harder to justify if your goal is simply to stand up once for a photograph. You may get more from a single introductory lesson in that case, though this specific experience is built around a three-day progression.

Group discounts are available, but the supplied information does not state the discount amount. Ask for the current total before committing, particularly if you are booking several family members. The listing price is per person, so calculate the full cost for your group rather than judging the price by one participant.

Equipment is included, which saves you from renting a board and protective gear separately. That also reduces the morning’s setup work. You arrive for instruction rather than spending time deciding what size board or type of reef footwear to use.

Who should choose this course

I would put this course high on the list for:

• Families with children who need patient, repeated instruction
• Adults who feel nervous about a first surf lesson
• Beginners who want to learn ocean manners and safety along with technique
• Returning students who want to keep working with an instructor
• Groups that value a private session over a mixed public class
• People staying in Kihei who want a local morning activity with nearby facilities

The course can also suit friends with different skill levels, provided everyone understands that the instruction is aimed at progression from beginner foundations. It may be less suitable for someone seeking large waves, advanced maneuvers, or an all-day surf camp.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The experience is near public transportation, though no specific transport route is provided. The information does not list a minimum age, so contact Surf Yoga Maui before booking if you have a very young child.

Booking the dates and planning the morning

You book the first lesson online, then contact the provider by phone, text, or email to arrange the other two dates. This extra step is easy to miss, so handle it soon after booking.

Lessons run in the morning from Monday through Saturday. Peak family periods, including spring, summer, and winter breaks, can fill weeks ahead. If your Maui dates are fixed, reserve early rather than assuming you can add three lessons after arrival.

Plan to keep the rest of each lesson morning flexible. The class itself lasts about two hours, but you may want time for changing, rinsing equipment, watching family members, and grabbing food across the street. Onsite parking helps, but early planning still makes sense during busy school holiday periods.

The activity requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you can take a different date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted and are not refunded.

Should you book the three-day progression?

Book it if you want more than a quick introduction and can commit to three mornings in Kihei. The combination of gentle conditions, supplied equipment, private instruction, and practical safety coaching gives beginners a sensible path into surfing.

I especially like it for families. Children can gain confidence at their own pace, parents can watch from a convenient park setting, and the nearby playground and food options reduce the usual beach-day friction. Eddie and Epse have experience helping young and nervous surfers progress, which is a real advantage.

Think twice if the $502.62 price per person stretches your budget or if you only want a one-off activity. For a serious first step into surfing, though, the three-day format offers more useful value than a single rushed lesson. Contact Surf Yoga Maui early, choose your three mornings carefully, and treat the course as an introduction to safe, respectful surfing rather than a promise of instant mastery.

FAQ

How long is each surf lesson?

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

On which days are lessons offered?

Lessons are offered Monday through Saturday in the morning. You can choose how to space the three dates.

Where does the experience meet?

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

Is equipment included?

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

Is this a private activity?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.