Born from a lifelong quest for perfect waves, Soul Surfing Maui is Brian DeCook’s invitation to share the magic of riding your first—or finest—wave. Since 1994, his boutique school has welcomed families, beginners, and seasoned ri...
Brian clearly knows what he's doing when it comes to teaching surfing. With over 30 years of experience, he has the rare ability to get complete beginners up and riding waves within their first lesson, often on the very first attempt. Families consistently praise his talent for reading different skill levels and ages, adjusting instruction on the fly whether he's working with a 7-year-old or someone in their 60s. He takes time before lessons to assess athletic backgrounds and personalities, which helps him customize the experience. Guests also rave about his photography skills, capturing action shots during lessons that become treasured vacation memories. The instructor team, including Dane, Shaun, and Kainalu, all seem to share Brian's patient, encouraging approach. Multiple families mention their kids asking to come back for second or third lessons, which speaks volumes. The equipment is well-maintained, rash guards and water shoes are provided, and the beach locations are described as beautiful and perfect for beginners with shallow water. Communication and flexibility with scheduling get frequent mentions too. This feels like a family-run operation where people genuinely care about creating memorable experiences, not just running through the motions of teaching tourists to surf.
We had a private lesson with Brian on Christmas morning, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. He had our entire family of four, ages 15 to 54, up on our very first try, and after that we were catching wave after wave. Brian was incredibly professional and friendly, making everyone feel at ease right away. He was patient and reassuring with those of us who needed extra guidance, while encouraging those who caught on quickly to try new things. We were the only surf school in the water, and the location was perfect. To top it all off, the photos he captured during our session were incredible. If you’re on the fence between Soul Surfing Maui and another school, book this one, you won’t regret it! And while some schools boast about two-hour lessons, Brian had us in the water within 15 minutes, and we were happily exhausted by the end of the 1.5 hours. It was the perfect amount of time.
Lori G
January 5, 2026
We had a private lesson with Brian on Christmas morning, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. He had our entire family of four, ages 15 to 54, up on our very first try, and after that we were catching wave after wave. Brian was incredibly professional and friendly, making everyone feel at ease right away. He was patient and reassuring with those of us who needed extra guidance, while encouraging those who caught on quickly to try new things. We were the only surf school in the water, and the location was perfect. To top it all off, the photos he captured during our session were incredible. If you’re on the fence between Soul Surfing Maui and another school, book this one, you won’t regret it! And while some schools boast about two-hour lessons, Brian had us in the water within 15 minutes, and we were happily exhausted by the end of the 1.5 hours. It was the perfect amount of time.
Lori G
January 5, 2026