Meet Paisley, Maui Surf Instructor

Where are you from? 

 I was born in Washington and graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Southern California, where I grew up skateboarding throughout my life in both places!

Where did you learn how to surf? 

 I learned to surf on Maui! After moving here, I fell in love with surfing and the ocean and learned alongside some of my best friends.

How did you get to Maui? 

A work exchange brought me to Maui in July 2025! I was looking for community and travel experiences after graduation, and Hawaii had always called my name. What was supposed to be a one-month trip turned into my new home, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

What do you love about teaching surfing? 

My favorite part about teaching surfing is the stoke!!!! In the lineup, I’m always the loudest one, cheering my friends on. So, having a job where I get to cheer people on and witness them catch their first waves is the best thing ever! I love seeing the joy on people’s faces after learning to surf and simply being in the ocean.

What do you do when you are not working? 

When I’m not surfing, I’m adventuring to new spots with friends, crafting, or chilling in the Iao River. And I’m also probably watching surf videos at home 🙂

Read some recent reviews that Paisley’s received since joining us in the summer of 2026! 

Maui Surfer Girls did an awesome job! Paisley was my group instructor and she was very knowledgable about the waves. I learned so much from her and got up on the board for the first time! Thank you MSGs

We had an absolutely wonderful experience with Maui Surfer Girls! My two kids, ages 9 and 14, had very different comfort and skill levels, and their instructors did an amazing job meeting each of them exactly where they were.

Paisley worked with my 9-year-old daughter, who is a strong competitive swimmer but much more timid when it comes to the ocean. Paisley was incredibly patient and encouraging. She started out riding tandem with her until she felt comfortable, then transitioned her to her own board, helping her paddle and giving her a push to catch the waves. By the end, she was surfing on her own and having a blast! It was so much fun to watch her confidence grow.

Andrew worked with my 14-year-old son and had him up and riding waves almost immediately. Once he saw that my son was comfortable, he quickly progressed him to bigger waves and started giving him more advanced tips and instruction. My son loved every minute of it.

I really appreciated that this wasn’t a one-size-fits-all lesson. Paisley and Andrew adjusted their approach to each kid’s ability and confidence level, which made the experience fantastic for both of them. Highly recommend Maui Surfer Girls — and a huge thank you to Paisley and Andrew!

My son and I really enjoyed our surf lessons with Paisley! It was our first time so we were a little nervous. Paisley eased our nerves within the first moments out on the water with great tips and energy. My son was practically a surfing pro by the end of the lesson…me not so much (the latter not a reflection on Paisley but rather on my own user error 🤪). Watching my son crush surfing was the highlight of my trip. Thanks Maui Surfer Girls and Paisley!

Paisley Maui Surf Instructor