Surfer's Appetite - Shave Ice Is Nice After Maui Surf Lessons

 

After finishing up a great Maui surf lesson and experiencing the exhilaration of riding the waves all the way to the beautiful Maui shoreline. What’s next?  Maybe about now, you need to find some refreshment – somewhere to relax and recharge before you get back out on the waves. To cool off and get a revitalizing treat, check out some of Maui’s best shave ice places.

Most people have had shave ice before, but maybe not Hawaiian shave ice. For example, have you ever had ice cream with your shave ice? Or topped with sweet cream? If not, you're going to have to try Hawaiian shave ice with all the unconventional extras!

There are quite a number of shave ice spots around the beaches we usually take our guests to for their Maui surf or SUP lessons. Here are a few of the best shave ice places in the area:


 Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

A short drive up the coast from your Maui surf lesson at Kalama Beach Park on Kihei Road will take you to Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, which by the way, is the top-rated shave ice store and restaurant in all of Kihei and Lahaina. Not only do they have a vast selection of delicious flavors, but you can also try their “favorite combinations” flavors like Haleakala or Sunset Beach and add macadamia nut ice cream or shredded toasted coconut for a real sweet treat you're sure to remember. Well known for their “extremely fine shave,” awesome flavors, and friendly Aloha service, Ululani’s is a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. They have two locations in Lahaina you could also check out if you want a cold dessert after your Maui surfing lesson at Ukuhame Beach Park.

S & Q’s Coffee and Shave Ice Shack

If you’ve worked up a little bit of more of an appetite after your Maui SUP lesson and would also like to get a bite to eat with your shave ice dessert, check out S & Q’s Coffee and Shave Ice Shack at the Rainbow Mall on South Kihei Road. S & Q’s provides a diverse flavor selection (people love the shark’s blood flavor combo with ice cream and haupia, or sweetened coconut cream, sauce on top). S & Q’s is also renowned for their smoothies, teas, espressos, and breakfast selection with waffles, bagels, and parfaits. They also serve a selection of delicious sandwiches for lunch. So you can stop by S & Q’s before you go to our Maui surf school in the morning and then pop in later for some tasty shave ice treats after you perfect your surfing skills.

 Surfing Monkey Shave Ice

Naturally, we would be partial to this shave ice stand for its name alone, but Surfing Monkey Shave Ice does offer some flavorsome Hawaiian shave ice as well. Also located on South Kihei Road in Kihei, Maui next to Foodland, the Surfing Monkey has a fantastic selection of shave ice flavors and offers complimentary extras like azuki beans, vanilla ice cream, and delicious sweet cream. All of their shave ice syrups are derived locally from raw sugar cane. How fitting it is to try the Surfing Monkey after your Maui surf lesson?!?






 Old Lahaina Shave Ice

Since you’re in the Lahaina area for your Maui surf lesson at Ukuhame Beach Park, stop by the Old Lahaina Shave Ice store for a refreshing and sweet treat. Try the mango,passion fruit, or pineapple flavors with ice cream. Then you can take a journey down Lahaina Town’s famous Front Street with its variety of other great shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Or you could get back in the waves to try out what you've learned during your Maui surf lesson with Hawaiian Style Surf!

Top Maui Surfing Spots

Surfers come to Hawaii to catch some impressive surf breaks. And naturally the pristine beaches of Maui are pretty famous for surf and stand-up paddleboard spots, excellent both for those who want to learn to surf in Maui and others who want to test to the full their surfing skills. So whether you’ve just had your first Maui surf lesson or you’re an experienced surfer, you’ll want to take note of these unforgettable Maui surfing beaches.

At Hawaiian Surf Style, we often take our beginning Maui surf or SUP guests either to Ukuhame Beach Park in West Maui or Kalama Beach Park in South Maui. These beaches both offer dependable, easy peaks of knee high to head high waves that are great for beginners and longboard Maui surfers. These Maui surfing spots are good for morning Maui surf lessons when the winds are generally calmer and the waves are nice and smooth. Kalama Beach Park also has a great well-landscaped park area that’s perfect for having a picnic after finishing your Maui surfing lessons.
 
While you’re in South Maui, you can also check out the great waves at Cove Beach Park. Just off of South Kihei Road, Cove Park is a hotspot for longboard surfers. It’s also a nice surfing beach for beginners and Maui stand-up paddle board enthusiasts with its calm waves rolling in. There’s also a nice park area here too for those who just like to admire the surfers and have a picnic.

Ho’okipa Beach on the North Shore just outside of Paia is recognized as the “windsurfing capital of the world” and is also a popular place for the experienced Maui surfer. This well-known surfing area boasts at times exceptionally large waves and strong winds, (especially in winter) causing it to attract world-class surfers, but due to this fact also, this location is not typically best for those just learning to surf. But you can sure enjoy watching pro surfers battle these commanding waves at a lookout point just above the popular surfing break known as “Pavilions,” which is the break furthest to the east.

Nearby Ho’okipa Beach lies another famous surfing location – Jaws – or Pe’ahi, Maui – about three miles east of Paia. This legendary Maui surfing break is where some of the best surfers in the world come to challenge, maybe not even each other, but some of the largest waves in the world. These massive waves can reach upwards of 4 stories during the winter. Often it becomes too dangerous for Maui surfers to paddle out to the break so they must use the “tow-in” surfing method where pro surfers are towed to the waves by water crafts and dropped off.

Several ‘Big Wave’ surfing competions have been held here including the Red Bull Jaws contest. Of course, these Maui surf waves are only attempted by professional surfers, and they can be very risky even for them. But there are nice lookout areas on the cliffs overlooking Jaws where photographers and other fans gather to watch these spectacular surfing breaks.

If you want a little less demanding surfing experience, Lahaina Harbor in West Maui is another a great spot for beginners and intermediate surfers with its steady waves. You can paddle out from the beach next to the marina and catch both left-handed and right-handed breaks.  After surfing you can shuffle over to historic Front Street in Lahaina and do some sightseeing or eat at one of the town’s tasty restaurants.

So after your Maui surf lesson with Hawaiian Style Surf, check out some of these awesome Maui surfing spots along the beautiful Valley Isle coasts, where novice and pro come out to perfect their Maui surfing techniques.

Delicious Places to Eat After Maui Surf Lessons in Lahaina

Great surfing is what Maui is known for, but many also appreciate Maui for having some great little places to eat. These sometimes hidden, culinary treasures of the islands are often best delighted in after Maui surf lessons. You’ve spent some exciting times in the surf and now may just want to unwind or maybe refuel for your next round of Maui surf or SUP. Whichever the case, you’ll need to know where you can find some tasty and reasonably-priced eateries throughout the island. So here are some delicious places you might try in Lahaina Town.

Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop

If your in the mood for something sweet or want a delicious sandwich, salad, or burger after your Maui surf lesson, swing by Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop. Located before you get into the town of Lahaina, Leoda’s offers great chocolate macadamia nut and apple crumb pies along with delicious seared ahi sandwiches and scrumptious pot pies.

Pizza Paradiso Mediterranean Grill

Sometimes surfing in Maui may leave you wanting a little Mediterranean, (cravings can be a wonderful thing). Try Pizza Paradiso in West Maui. Located north of Lahaina in the Honokowai Marketplace, Pizza Paradiso was voted “Best Pizza in Maui” three times by The Maui News readers. This laid-back dining restaurant offers some delicious Italian, Greek, and Mediterranean dishes including their signature pizzas, Big Fat Greek Gyros, cheesesteak sandwiches, and chicken, beef, and fish kabobs. So if your Maui SUP lessons leave you famished, stop in for a specialty pizza or fresh hummus at Pizza Paradiso.

Lahainaluna Café 

Going out to check out Old Lahaina Town after your Maui SUP or surfing lesson with Hawaiian Style? A great place to stop at along Lahaina’s famous Front Street is Lahainaluna Café. This local dining spot has delicious Hawaiian and Asian fusion cuisine amid a low-key outdoor atmosphere. Dine outside in a lovely Hawaiian courtyard while you savor their delicious fish tacos, grilled mahi mahi, Korean barbecue tacos, and crazy fries. Everything is delightful at this delicious Front Street café, voted second best restaurant in Lahaina just after the shaved ice.


 Ono Tacos

Another nice place with local flare is Ono Tacos. This little Mexican eatery serves delicious fish, chicken, pork, and beef tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other tasty authentic food. This small walk-up stand on the Lower Honoapiilani Road may not have much seating, but it’s well-known for having some of the best tacos on the whole island. So take a break from surfing or stand-up paddle board, and try Ono Tacos. But remember to bring cash.

Aloha Mixed Plate

Winning multiple awards for “Best Plate Lunch” in The Maui News, this little restaurant is known for its great Hawaiian platters, jumbo portions, and beachside setting. Aloha Mixed Plate offers tasty poke, coconut prawns, hoaloha poi, and kalua pork in an open-air patio dining setting with an ocean view. So, if you want to try another great eatery on Front Street, stop by Aloha Mixed Plate

So if you venture over to Lahaina after your Maui surf lessons, stop in at one of these great restaurants and let us know what you think!

Maui Ocean Sports Top Gear - Surfboards and GoPro Cameras

Surfing and stand-up paddle claims some of the coolest gear of all the Maui ocean sports. Carrying these colorful and artistically-designed boards across Maui’s shorelines can immediately create a feeling of excitement and thrill as to what the day in the Maui surf might bring. They are the instrument of a surfer’s symphony on the water. They can enrich the skill of the surfer. Over the years, surfboards have stood out as a symbol of this cherished Maui ocean sport.

You might be interested to learn you may want to know what kinds of surf and SUP boards Maui surfers use most to develop their surf skills…Well, Hawaiian Style began their Maui surf lessons using a type of surfboard called a softop, made by Surftech, an innovative surfboard manufacturer 25 years. These surfboards are great for beginner surfers. Over the years, they’ve proven to be durable, very stable, as well as forgiving to new surfers. Surftech softop boards feature a soft EVA deck and rails for easy use and safety.

For our Maui surf lessons, we often recommend using 9 to 10 ft. boards for children and petite adults and 11 to 12 ft. boards for other surfers. This year we’re also using surfboards from the Maunalua board company for our Maui surf lessons. These surfboards that feature wide-bodied designs are also well-constructed, stable boards that are excellent for beginner surfers and those progressing to more difficult breaks.

For our Maui SUP lessons, we use paddleboards from Naish, which makes a good diversity of stand-up paddleboards for cruising, racing, wide-style waves, touring, and fitness as well as SUP paddles and gear. Naish also makes kiteboarding and windsurfing gear as well. Naish’s softop Mana series SUP boards have an excellent design and stability about them that works well both for beginners and experienced Maui stand-up paddleboarding enthusiasts.

Along with these amazing surfboards and SUP boards, we also offer GoPro cameras for our customers to record all of their Maui surfing adventures up close and personal. We use the GoPro HERO3+ Silver edition camera for both videos and still photography of our surfing lessons. The waterproof GoPro HERO3+ Silver features video resolutions up to 1080p60 and 10MP photos up to 10 frames per second with enhanced low-light performance and built-in WiFi.

These unbelievably handy video cameras can either be mounted on the surfboards or handheld. The quality of video these cameras take is really awesome, and our clients love the awesome footage this cameras takes of their personal Maui surf lesson. See how the GoPro camera captures the Hawaiian Style Surf adventure!


Those taking our Maui surf or SUP lessons can also use Hawaiian Style rash guards and booties o ensure they have a safe and fun surfing experience.

Our surfboards and surfing gear are all part of a tradition of Maui ocean sports that deliver an unforgettable experience to island explorers.

While we can say that learning to surf in Maui is epic and exhilarating, you’ll need to experience it first-hand to really see what makes Maui surfing so unforgettable.

Maui Surf Lessons - One of the Most Memorable Things to Do in Maui

Have a Maui vacation planned soon? If so, you’ve undoubtedly searched for the top things to do in Maui. Among the many exciting and memorable activities you can enjoy while on vacation here, there are two you indisputably can’t miss – Maui surf lessons and stand up paddleboard (SUP) lessons. No Maui vacation is complete without these two sports.

What makes us say that? For one reason, surfing is Hawaii. Surfing is believed to have started with Polynesians in the Pacific islands and really advanced more as they came to the Hawaiian Islands. Thus, surfing or “he’e nalu” became known as a Hawaiian sport. Captain James King in 1779 described this wave riding by locals on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was a sport of royal Hawaiian kings and queens.

Hawaii is thus known as the epicenter of the surfing world where it’s a central part of the culture and heritage of a society that loves the ocean. Surfing captures the spirit of Aloha and the actual lifestyle of the islands. So, to truly experience Hawaii, you have to experience surfing.

Learning to surf offers a thrill quite unlike any other sport. As you learn to work embrace the ocean waves, you sense the exhilaration and power that the waves carry, and at the same time an exceptional feeling of serenity. Many find in surfing a way to lessen stress and anxiety. This is part of the spirit of Aloha that engulfs you with excitement while giving you a soothing sense of peace. Thus, this incomparable Maui watersport offers an amazing experience that is truly Hawaiian. 

And to be able to say that you took surfing lessons in Maui…this is a remarkable place to learn to surf and a cherished part of your trip! Nowhere else can you surf amidst the beauty that is Maui. With striking views of the volcanic crater known as Molokini and the island of Lanai as your backdrop, you can take Maui surf lessons in the flawless ocean waters with palm trees lining the coast. True, there are other places around the world to surf, but there’s no other place quite like Maui.

Because surfing is linked so much to Hawaii and the people of these islands, there’s no better people to teach you to surf. For many locals, surfing is where we feel most at home, and is really second nature, so of course we love helping people experience this exhilarating sport first-hand. As people characterized by the Aloha spirit, we’re laid back and are just excited to be a part of your surfing experience, so our Maui surf lessons are similarly relaxed and fun. Having native Hawaiians who love the ocean and surfing teach you surfing or SUP is another exceptional aspect of Maui surf lessons that you won’t find anywhere else.

SUP or “hoe he’e nalu” is an additional watersport with a Hawaiian heritage that provides an unforgettable Maui experience. SUP is an easy-to-learn sport and offers a great full body workout. It can also be done by people of all ages and skill levels. This popular Hawaiian sport offers amazing views of the islands and sea life that you can only see in Maui.

So when you visit the islands, be sure to put Maui surf lessons or SUP lessons on the top of your list of things to do! There’s truly no other sports quite like surfing or stand up paddling, and no other place to learn quite like Maui.

Maui SUP Lessons: Beginner's Tips

When they want to try a new sport on vacation, many typically search for Maui surf lessons, but another watersport is gaining considerable popularity these days and that’s stand up paddle boarding (or SUP). Actually, stand up paddle is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. This growing trend in Maui stand up paddle board has exploded in popularity because it’s simple to learn, provides a great full body workout, and can be done by people of all ages and skill levels. Many athletes use stand up paddleboard as a cross training exercise, and it really strengthens your core muscles. Maui SUP also offers paddlers awesome views into the clear ocean waters as well as majestic views of the surrounding islands. On a calm day and with the right paddleboard, stand up paddling isn’t too hard, but here are some tips as you embark on your preliminary Maui SUP lesson.

The right paddleboard and gear. Especially for a beginner, a thicker, longer, and wider paddleboard will be better. These will be more stable than smaller boards, allowing you to learn to SUP much easier. Starting out on too small of a paddleboard is a common SUP mistake and makes it difficult to gain your balance.

When picking your paddle as a beginner, you’ll want to get one that is longer (for flat water use). Generally, paddles should be around 8-10 inches taller than you for flat water touring. Adjustable paddles can be perfect, especially when you’re just starting out, to get a better indication of which length is best for you. These paddleboard and paddle lengths will differ depending on your height and weight as well as experience. Different boards are used for different types of paddling including those for surfing and racing, so you may want a different size and type of board as you learn what kind of paddling you like most. You will also need a personal flotation device, a leash to fasten from your board to your ankle, and perhaps a rash guard for sun protection or a wet suit for colder weather.

Standing on your Maui paddleboard. Find a protected area where the water is calm and take the board out to where the fin isn’t striking anything, about knee high water. Just behind the center of the board, get into a kneeling position on the board. Have the paddle laying across the width of your paddleboard in front of you. While gripping the rails or sides of the board, slowly stand up one foot at a time, staying in the center of the board, with your feet parallel about shoulder width apart. You’ll want to keep your knees slight bent and your core centered on the board to help keep you balanced. Your eyes should look forward and your head and shoulders should stay upright. As soon as you stand up, put your paddle in the water and begin paddling to make the board more stable.

The basic strokes of Maui SUP. When you’re paddling, you’ll have one hand on the top of the paddle as a guide, and the other hand gripping the middle of the paddle shaft or about a shoulder width apart from your other hand. Extend the blade of the paddle beside your board as far forward as you can comfortably, typically about 4 feet in front of your feet. Immerse the blade fully in the water and move the blade straight back to the area of your feet through the water. Do 3 or 4 strokes on one side and then change your paddle to the opposite side, reversing your hand positions. Start out with shorter strokes as a beginner.  Keep your back and arms straight, shoulders level, while somewhat bending at the knees and elbow.

To turn your paddleboard using a sidestroke, just paddle on one side of the board until the nose turns, paddling on the left to turn right and vice versa. Also, to turn direction swiftly, just reverse the direction you stroke, paddling backwards. Stepping toward the tail with a low stance and shifting and twisting your torso to the direction you want to go will also help you turn more easily.

Falling off your paddleboard. If you feel like you’re going to fall, aim to the side and shove away from the board as your fall to avoid falling on the board. If you lose your board and paddle, try to get to your board first and then your paddle. But always be careful and on the lookout for anything around you as you’re paddling whether other paddlers, watercraft, or objects in the water.

These are just a few tips to get you on your way to Maui stand up paddling. SUP or as we say, “hoe he’e nalu” is a relaxing and fun way to enjoy the ocean or really any body of water from oceans to lakes to rivers. Hawaiian Style Surf offers regular Maui SUP lessons to all who want to experience this remarkable and ever-popular watersport.

Companies Enjoy Maui Surf Lessons With Hawaiian Style Surf

Last month several different corporations visited Maui to celebrate great achievements in their organizations. As part of their vacation, they joined us for Maui surf lessons. We always really enjoy having these corporations and their families join us for Maui surfing and stand-up paddle lessons. We are a family-owned business ourselves, and so we love to see entire families learn to surf together. It’s a perfect bonding time for families as well as employees. Everyone can join together for Maui surf lessons. And you can really see the culture of the organization begin to strengthen as they all experience these voyages together.

State Farm Insurance families came out to Maui to surf with us all month long, doing three to four days of surfing and SUP lessons each week. Many were celebrating being a part of the State Farm Ambassador’s Club and enjoyed a week of surfing excitement while they were here. Hawaiian Style instructors Rick Leong, Cameo Ka’ahanui, Kaimana Leong, and Cheyne McDonald helped the State Farm families to increase their surfing and SUP skills. As part of the Maui surfing lessons package, video footage of their adventures was taken by GoPro cameras. You can see some of this great footage our Google+ and Facebook pages. Everyone did really awesome at surfing and most importantly had fun in the process!

The Morgan Stanley group joined us one afternoon for surfing lessons at Maui’s Ukumehame Beach Park. Although it was a little windy, that didn’t discourage this eager team of Maui surfers. Many of these great surfers got up quickly and rode the waves all the way to the beach! Check out these amazing videos on our Facebook and Google+ pages. These surfers were part of the Morgan Stanley Chairman’s Club, the top group of financial advisors.

The Eli Lilly and Company group came out to Kalama Beach Park for their Maui surfing lessons. Great surfing conditions welcomed the group that morning as the Eli Lilly President’s Club members and their families ventured out on the waves. Everyone learned how to surf very quickly and were up and going strong on the Maui waves that day. We also got some great videos of these Maui surfers using the GoPro. Eli Lilly and Company is an American-based global pharmaceutical company.

We also had an awesome time with our friends from Combined Insurance who joined us at Kalama Park early in the month of April. They were a fun group of surfers, and we got to capture some cool surfing footage on the GoPro cameras.

Logicalis Us also joined us at Kalama Park and discovered their love of surfing and stand-up paddle. These Logiscalis President’s Club members and their families had a great time as they found their own unique surfing styles in Maui’s gentle waters. We also have some cool videos of these Logicalis team members as they took on the waves. Logiscalis is an international IT and managed services provider.

Members of Zoetis, a global animal health company, joined us for some amazing Maui surfing and SUP lessons. There were a ton of good waves and light wind that day which made for a perfect group surfing event.

And our friends from Charles Schwab came out to Maui again and enjoyed a great day of surfing and stand-up paddleboarding. Many from the Charles Schwab group had been surfing with us before, but once again had a blast as they tackled the ocean waves.

As each group paddled out and everyone caught that first wave, we could see the thrill of adventure and excitement to learn to surf on their faces. Everyone had an awesome time and we were just happy to be along for the ride. We host a variety of corporate surfing and SUP lessons throughout the year as companies bring their families and employees to the islands for some often much needed fun and relaxation. Keep us in mind for your next corporate Maui event!