James “Jimmy Mahalo” Tucker III

Age: 35 | From: Anahola, Kauai

James has been surfing his entire life and brings a deep love for the ocean into every lesson he teaches. What he enjoys most about teaching surf lessons is helping make the world a better place—one wave at a time—by sharing positivity, confidence, and aloha in the water.

When he’s not teaching, James is happiest spending time with his family, especially teaching his sons how to surf. His surf style is inspired by the people closest to him—his friends and family—and his island roots shape everything he does.

For first-time visitors to Kauai, James keeps it simple: don’t fall. To him, Kauai isn’t just home—it’s the world’s best-kept secret. With “Three Little Birds” often playing in his head while he surfs, James brings a calm, steady presence to the lineup and every lesson he leads.