Hawaii Scout

Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy vs Surf Club Maui

Surfing · Maui · Updated 2026

TLDR Verdict

It's essentially a tie — both score 4.9/5. Choose based on price, availability, or which island location suits you better.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy Surf Club Maui
Composite Score 4.9/5 5/5
TripAdvisor 4.9★★★★★ 5★★★★★
Google 4.9★★★★★ (649 reviews) 5★★★★★ (444 reviews)
Starting Price $125 $55
Price Range $125–$175 $55–$150
Islands Maui Maui
Book → Book Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy → Book Surf Club Maui

What Reviewers Say

Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy gave me and my two boys (ages 7 and 10) an unforgettable experience in Lahaina. From the moment we arrived, the team made us feel welcome and excited to…

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

The 2 hour private lessons was fantastic. Starting with basics and balance, to actually catching 🌊 waves. Sierra was awesome. Couldn’t have asked for a better instructor for 11 ye…

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

I was so happy to join this surf academy. The staff was amazing and we got great pictures. It can be a tough work out but totally worth when you catch a wave. They were great with …

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

We absolutely loved our surfing experience! They were great at communication on where to meet up and we absolutely loved Lee our instructor. Our boys are 11 and 15 and both loved i…

Surf Club Maui

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

What is a trip to Hawaii without surfing? I couldn’t tell you - because I made sure to try it. As it was my very first time on a surfboard, I booked a two-hour lesson, and I was fo…

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

PLEASE TAKE A LESSON HERE!! this is definitely the highlight of my trip. i went with 3 of my friends & we had David as our instructor and he was INCREDIBLE!! his instructions were …

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

It was definitely worth it, as someone with no prior experience surfing, it took me only a few tries to catch my first wave, and boy was that awesome!!! But It wouldn’t have been t…

TripAdvisor ★★★★★

The instructor and photographer were amazing! They split us into smaller groups, so you never felt overlooked. They always kept an eye on everyone, offering helpful tips and making…

Choose Surf Club Maui If...

  • Starting price of $55 fits your budget
  • You're visiting Maui
Book Surf Club Maui →

Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy

From $125 · Maui

4.9/5 composite

Read Full Review Book Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy →

Surf Club Maui

From $55 · Maui

5/5 composite

Read Full Review Book Surf Club Maui →