Our Story
Deeply rooted in our culture, Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy has been Hawaiian owned and operated since 1998 and is one of the oldest surf schools in Maui.
Our founder and “Ambassador of Aloha,” Kimo Kinimaka, and his wife Julie Kinimaka are the parents of five wonderful children who have been there every step of the way, helping the business grow since the very beginning. Kimo is also the proud nephew of infamous big wave surfer Titus Kinimaka, who helped establish this surf school, making Kimo’s dream to share his love for the ocean a reality. Kimo and his family all feel extraordinarily blessed and thankful for each opportunity they have to share their passion for surfing with their students through their talented, experienced, and compassionate instructors.
Our Students Are Our Family
Yes, surfing is an absolute blast! However, we are most fortunate to have the best students, some of which come back year after year to take our Maui surf lessons. It truly is the most rewarding feeling to have our students stop and show us how much they have grown. There is nothing quite like the amazing feeling of being out on the water with a friendly and familiar face!
Come create memories that will stay with you for years to come! We invite you to be a part of the Royal Hawaiian family!
Aloha,
See you out on the water!
A Brief History Of Surfing
In the 1800s, dating back to the original Hawaiian monarchy of King David Kalakaua, surfing was considered a prestigious sport of only the Ali’i (high ranking chiefs).
Kimo’s great-great-grandfather, David Laleo Kinimaka, was a close friend and bodyguard of King Kalakaua and had the privilege of partaking in this soulful sport, dating our history and love of surfing to a few centuries back.