Blog 3 - Hawaiian Surfing Adventures – Our Story

Hawaiian Surfing Adventures was dreamed up by Lynn and Mitchell Alapa in 2000. At the time, Hanalei didn’t have any other surf schools, and they saw a need. Mitchell loved teaching, sharing his knowledge of the ocean, and meeting new people. Lynn had the organization and grit to get the business off the ground. Together, they made a great team! Over the years, their three kids have all played key roles in the business — and now, many years later, their grandkids have also joined in the family-run operation. Here’s an account of how it all happened from Lynn Alapa herself.

From Lynn

Almost everyday people ask “how and why did you start a surf lesson business”

Mitch was born on Oahu and raised in Kauai, and I moved to Kauai in 1973 from Canada, we met in 1983. Sometime around 2000, Mitch mentioned that Chava Greenlee had started a surf lesson business on the South Shore. Not long after, rental shop owner Josh Kamalani of Play Dirty in Kapa‘a had four brand-new soft-top surfboards for sale.

We bought them — along with Mitch’s 12-foot Clark Basa board, “Big Red” — and just like that, we were on our way. We didn’t have a plan yet, but we had boards, a dream, and a love for the ocean.

*Mitch heading out with “big red” and one of our youngest students at the time*

We wanted to operate legitimately, but quickly learned there were no available surf school permits. (The permitting process wouldn’t be completed for another 15+ years.) Mitch’s childhood friend had once run a surf school at Wailua Beach, but his permit had long expired.

So, we began at Hanalei Bay’s Black Pot Beach Park, setting up under the shade of the Kamani tree at the upper left of the park.

*The board on top of the buggie is “Big Red”*

In those first years, surf lessons weren’t yet in high demand. But local concierges told guests, “If you call, they answer, and they show up.” They also joked that we “made the local boys look good.”

Mitch took to teaching like a fish to water. His years as a construction foreman gave him a gift for spotting each person’s strengths and tailoring lessons to fit.

Our early mottos were simple:

• “We are not a cookie-cutter operation.”

• “Meet people at their level.”

*Mitch used to drive students to the beach in a “Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer”*

Then there was my department:

Boards, leashes, rash guards, waivers, CPR and water safety certifications, insurance, bank accounts, credit card machines, rack cards, advertising, the website, and answering the phone (the baby) when it rings we run

With 17 years in hospitality at the Princeville Hotel, customer service was second nature.

Our motto became: Do our best every single day.

*Lynn at Kahili Beach preparing a Surf party for a wedding*

Back then, the road ran alongside the pier, with beach parking stacked three rows deep. We first met guests right beside the pier, until a nearby landowner with a commercial permit invited us to set up on the grass by the river mouth.

That spot became our second location for several years — until the State clarified it was public land. We then moved to space the landowner did own.

For about two years, we were the only surf school on the North Shore. Word spread quickly: “Go see Mitch down at the pier.”’

After a few more moves, we found our current home on Hanalei’s main road in 2011.

Today, “Uncle Mitch” and “Aunty Lynn” — joined by their kids and grandkids — continue to share the joy of surfing, helping shape the North Shore’s surf and stand-up paddle lesson industry into what it is today.

- Aunty Lynn Alapa

If you’ve ever walked along Hanalei Bay and seen the sparkle in someone’s eyes after catching their first wave, there’s a good chance you’ve witnessed a piece of our story. Hawaiian Surfing Adventures isn’t just a surf school — it’s a family passion that started with four boards, a big dream, and a whole lot of aloha.

Instructor Highlight

Some people tell long stories. Others, like Luca , let their surfing do the talking. A surf instructor in Hanalei Bay with Hawaiian Surfing Adventures, Luca is from right here on Kauai and has been surfing “since I was a baby.” That lifetime of wave riding shows in every lesson he teaches.

Meet Luca:

Age: 24
From: Kauai
Surfing Since: Day one (literally)
Spirit Animal: Flying fish
Vibe in One Word: Mellow

Why He Loves Teaching Surf Lessons in Kauai

For Luca, the best part of a lesson is being able to “See someone really enjoy there first ever wave” he says. And if you’ve booked with Hawaiian Surfing Adventures, you might just get to share that moment with him.

When He’s Not Teaching…

You’ll probably still find him near the water—either surfing or fishing along the Kauai coast.

Local Tip from Luca

If it’s your first time visiting beautiful Kauai: “Watch the ocean.” It’s short, but trust us—it’s solid advice from someone who knows the island and knows how important safety is.

Inspiration & Kauai Life

Luca’s surf style is influenced by “everyone from Kauai,” a nod to the community of surfers who shaped his approach to the sport. What he loves most about living here?

“The slow pace lifestyle.”

Want to surf with Luca? Book your next lesson with us by visiting the surf lessons page or click book a lesson at the top of your screen!

With Love From Hanalei