Hawaiian Activities — island tours, luaus, and adventures across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.
South Maui is the dry side. Kihei and Wailea sit in the rain shadow of Haleakala, which is why the resorts are here, why the snorkeling is reliable, and why almost every Maui surf school teaches at the same park in Kihei. Nineteen of the experiences we sell on Maui start within this stretch of coast.
Quick Answer: In South Maui, the cheapest surf lesson is $99 for two hours at Kalama Park in Kihei, and toddler tandem sessions run $225. Snorkeling at Turtle Town is $129 for beginners, $149 with sea scooters and $199 private. A kayak and snorkel at Makena is $109. The Aloha Wailea Luau is $159.99 general admission or $199.99 VIP. A private transfer from Kihei or Wailea to Kahului Airport is $80.
TL;DR
- Cheapest lesson: $99 group surf lesson, Kalama Park, two hours
- Best snorkel: $129 Turtle Town for beginners, $149 with sea scooters
- Best paddle: $109 kayak and snorkel at Makena
- Evening: Aloha Wailea Luau from $159.99, open bar included
- Airport: $80 private transfer from Kihei or Wailea to Kahului
South Maui, by price
| Experience | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Group surf lesson, Waves Hawaii | Kalama Park, Kihei | $99 pp |
| Kayak and snorkel at Makena | Makena | $109 |
| Group surf lesson, from age five | Kalama Beach Park | $120 pp |
| Turtle Town snorkel for beginners | South shore | $129 |
| Turtle Town with sea scooters | South shore | $149 |
| Private or semi-private surf lesson | Kihei | $150 pp |
| Private or semi-private SUP lesson | Kihei | $150 pp |
| Aloha Wailea Luau, general admission | Wailea | $159.99 |
| Semi-private surf lesson | Kalama Park | $165 pp |
| Private Turtle Town snorkel | South shore | $199 pp |
| Aloha Wailea Luau, VIP | Wailea | $199.99 |
| Baby Surf Experience, ages one to six | Kalama Park | $225 per child |
| Private surf lesson | Kalama Park | $225 pp |
| Three-day surf camp | Kalama Park | $480 pp |
Kalama Park: where Maui learns to surf
Three schools teach on the same stretch of Kihei sand, and the differences are in ratio and age. Waves Hawaii run a $99 group lesson from age ten, a $165 semi-private and a $225 private. Action Sports Maui take children from five in a $120 group lesson, which is unusually young for a group format.
The outlier is the Baby Surf Experience: ages one to six, one hour, $225, with a CPR-certified guide riding the board with your child. Every school’s minimum age is compared in minimum ages for kids surf lessons.
Staying a while? The three-day camp at $480 per person works out cheaper per day than repeat private lessons — see surf camps and coaching and learning to surf on Maui.
Turtle Town and the Makena reefs
Turtle Town is the lava-rock reef off Maluaka, and how you reach it sets the price. The beginner snorkel tour is $129, the sea scooter version $149, and the private tour with scooters $199 per person. Our full comparison is in boat, kayak or sea scooter.
The cheapest way in is the kayak and snorkel at Makena at $109: you paddle out, which is the saving. Morning is the rule here — wind builds through the day and visibility drops with it. More on the island’s snorkeling in Molokini and Turtle Town.
Evenings in Wailea
The Aloha Wailea Luau is the value pick on this coast: $159.99 general admission or $199.99 VIP, two hours from 5:30pm, with an open bar throughout and children five and under free. Up the road, the Feast at Mokapu at the Andaz is $299.98 with plated courses and reserved seating, and the Lu’au at Grand Wailea runs $300 to $360.
All six Maui shows are compared in the Maui luau guide. If you have never been to one, what happens at a Hawaiian luau explains the running order.
Practicalities: airport, weather and whales
A private transfer from Kihei or Wailea to Kahului Airport is $80 with flight monitoring, which beats the maths on a rental car for a short stay. See the airport transfer guide.
South Maui is the dry side, so when the windward coast is grey this is where to drive — the logic is in what to book on a rainy day. From December to April the humpbacks are offshore, and boats leave from Maalaea and Kaanapali; timing is in the whale watching season guide.
Building a week? A first-timer’s week on Maui puts these days in order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do in Kihei?
Surf lessons at Kalama Park from $99, stand-up paddle lessons at $150, Turtle Town snorkel tours from $129, a kayak and snorkel at Makena for $109, and an escape room and luaus a short drive away in Wailea and Kaanapali.
How much is a surf lesson in Kihei?
$99 for a two-hour group lesson with Waves Hawaii, $120 for a group lesson that takes children from age five, $165 semi-private and $225 private. A three-day camp is $480 per person.
Where is Turtle Town on Maui?
It is the lava-rock reef off Maluaka Beach in South Maui. Tours reach it by boat, kayak or sea scooter, from $109 for the kayak and snorkel at Makena to $199 for a private sea scooter tour.
Which luau is best in Wailea?
The Aloha Wailea Luau is the best value at $159.99 with an open bar. For a plated dinner, the Feast at Mokapu at the Andaz is $299.98, and the Grand Wailea runs $300 to $360.
Is Kihei or Wailea better to stay in?
Kihei is cheaper and closer to the surf schools and the cheapest luau. Wailea is the resort end, with the plated luaus and quieter beaches. Both sit on the same dry, sheltered coast.
Do you need a car in South Maui?
Not for the activities in this guide, which are clustered along one coast, but a private airport transfer at $80 covers arrival and departure if you skip the rental car.
Prices checked against operator listings, September 2026. Availability and rates are set by the operator and can change.
Book your South Maui days
Surf lessons from $99, Turtle Town from $109, and a Wailea luau from $159.99.
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