We had some pretty awesome days here at the surf cottage. Made a kanoeing tour and took some surf lessons. Shawn the guide and trainer did a fantastic job. He showed us some beautiful places and helped us very much to get a little more better with surfing. Highly recommended place to stay some nights or just do some good watersports.

Absolutely love this place!! It’s a must if you’re staying in Hilo, honestly the most relaxing stay in all of Hawaii ...you will love it...we did!

Shawn was the best teacher Ive ever met! He knew very well where the best waves were, and he took lessons there. If I visit Big Island again, I will go to Surf Cottage. Mahalo!!

With in hours of us leaving the island we spontaneously decided to try to surf. Our last minute decision was luckily accomidated by Shawn, who was amazing. He was personable and a great teacher! He took us to Hilo Bay, which was perfect for beginners and we had it to ourselves!

We had a 4 days stay at the surf cottage in Hilo. It is a beautifull apartment to stay in Hilo. The communication with Shawn before and during our trip was great. We did a kayak tour with Shawn at the wailuku river. It was such a fun day with climbing on the rocks and sliding from the waterfalls. Shawn showed us the best spots and took care of us. We also had a two hour surf lesson. We were beginners and had succes to stand on the board. It was a great experience. I can highly recommend a stay at the surf cottage and also doing a fun trip with Shawn. JUST DO IT!

The tour experience with The Surf Cottage was top of the line. Would highly recommend. Our experience was incredible.Shawn took us to Narnia, an unbelievably beautiful hike to stacks of waterfalls. We jumped in the ice cold waters at sunrise. On the short walk he showed us the tiny plantation home he lived in as a baby, now covered in vines and graffiti art. He showed us the trails him, his father and brother grew up riding dirt bikes on. Added a very personal touch to the overall experience.Shawn took us to adventure up the Honoli’i river on standup paddle boards. Shawn made the most out of a rainy day, we showered in the waterfalls, swam in the River, rode down the mini rapids, smiling from ear to ear.Lastly, we traveled to Kona, on the opposite side of the island. Shawn took us to swim the the Manta Rays fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. That was one of the most magical experiences of my life. He made us feel safe, and comfortable swimming in the dim lit night.One of my favorite island touches he added to the experience, were the fresh coconuts he opened for us. He climbed the tree, and opened them with his prized machete from Papúa New Guinea.Shawn has extensive knowledge of all things Hawai’i, and Big Island especially. He gives you history, and fun facts on the special places he takes you.Shawn is a true reflection of Hawai’i. An ambassador of Aloha. His Hawaiian roots run deep, and his love for his island is visible.If you’re lucky enough, Shawn will play you some music. His last name Pila, Hawaiian for musical instrument is a telling sign of his talent.

I had the best experience with this place. rooms where very nice and clean they had paddle boards and also provide surf lesson

Amazing experience! Right next to a world class wave, the farmers market, and a really awesome plate lunch spot (Kojis)!!! Whenever I come to Hilo this is the first place I go to!!! Really clean, right in the heart of down town Hilo, super friendly staff! Everything you need in one place!

Shawn is a very talented and encouraging instructor. He has helped me feel much more confident out there surfing Hilo side where beforehand I have been very intimated. Highly recommend!

“Catch a wave and you’re sitting on top of the world”For my 50th birthday, I resolved to get back in shape. I am a few pounds heavier than I should be and do not like the gym setting. I surfed a few times in my 20s but not with any real technique or ability. So I made a goal of learning how to surf. With Shawns coaching, I was up back up on the board and riding waves again. What an incredible feeling of accomplishment to hear Shawn yelling out, “You’re surfing!”. He is fantastic at motivating and supporting you all the way. Very personalized service and he is a natural at teaching. Highly recommended!!!!

Great Time and great teacher soo worth it. I recomend it

We’re a family of 4 (2 adults 2 kids) really enjoyed staying at the surf cottage. The location is absolutely unbeatable - walking distance to restaurants, shopping, farmers market and tsunami museum. Our older son (11 yrs-old) also took a couple of surf lessons with Shawn and absolutely loved it. We will definitely stay here again! Thank you, Shawn!!!

Everyone was super nice and made it really fun first time surfing! Definitely gonna get back asap

I booked a place on a group surfing lesson via their website. Shawn was very prompt in replying and responding to my questions. He provided all the necessary gear. It was my first time surfing. He was patient and made the basic steps simple. In the water, I had a lot of fun. There was a quiet spot right in the middle of hilo. We had it to ourselves save for a canoeist. This made it easier for a lesson as you didnt need to worry about other surfers or people nearby. The waves were great for beginners and the water not deep. Shawn was a good , giving enthusiasm and useful tips. The lesson was 2 hours long which is actually a long time when you get out there. After an hour and a bit, I was knackered and ended the lesson early. Id recommend this to others.

My first time on a board couldn’t have been a better experience! Shawn was an awesome instructor and gave very helpful tips, insight, and assistance in actually riding a wave on the first day. Highly recommend to anyone thinking of getting started surfing or simply want to get better!

GREAT surf instructor around! Shawn is down to earth and very knowledgeable! My son and I both take lessons from him and hes the BEST!

Shawn is super fun and knowledgeable. I highly reccomend lessons from the surf cottage!

Shawn was super nice and very helpful! The cottage was also very nice and we really enjoyed our stay. We also rented boards and lessons from Shawn and the surfing was a lot of fun. He was super helpful in teaching me how to surf and giving us more tips to go out on our own.

Shawn and his co-workers were so nice! They provided everything we needed for surf lessons from boards to shoes, even umbrellas!They provided a great experience for my 10 and 7 year old and took great care of them. Also took great care of mom who was towed when her arms got tired!

We stayed at Shawn’s cottage during our stay in Hilo. It was the perfect location to serve as our base for many activities on the big island. The cottage has the best lanai to enjoy morning coffee! We also saw Shawn’s great reviews and chose to book a waterfall kayak tour with him. It was a fantastic experience! Shawn took great care to ensure we were safe and had a great time. We all had a chance to try something new- rope swings, kayaking under a waterfall and under a banyan tree where we could swing on the vines. Awesome experience. We highly recommend a tour with Shawn!

First and foremost Shawn is one of the nicest people I have met. He is incredibly courteous, attentive, and efficient with time. His knowledge of the island is incredible and we were able to see so many hidden local spots that I would have never been able to find on my own. I couldn’t have been happier with my experience. If you are going to big island make sure you experience like a local.

The surf cottage is a great place for visitors and also locals. Great location, amenities, vibe and awesome gear to explore what Hawaii has to offer! Try the kayak tours if surfing isn’t for you . You’ll enjoy yourself no matter what!

Want to Thank Shawn and all the Pilas for a awesome stay at the Surf Cottage! We are visitors from California and feel like home at the cottage. Beds and stay is super comfy. It’s super close to beaches and the downtown location makes it fun for nightlife. Definitely going to plan on staying at the cottage on our next stay!

Our family of 4 sTayed at the Shawn’s surf cottage this summer and it was perfect. His place was clean and located next to everything. Parking was easy. We even saw sea turtles at the nearby local beach he recommended. Our teens enjoyed having their surf lessons with him too.

I had an awesome private lesson from the surf cottage! I had tried learning to surf all on my own before and was too scared to try to stand up... But in my lesson they really guided me through the process and got me catching enough waves that I stood up a FEW times (!!) and felt confident enough to start going out on my own afterwards! I even saw one of the instructors out a couple weeks later at another surfing spot, and they remembered me and we chatted for a bit about the conditions. They really know what they’re doing and made it so fun to learn. Thank you!

We took a kayak tour with Shawn and it was the highlight of summer! It was some of our first time ever being in a kayak and he took his time to make sure everyone was comfortable and safe on the water. His knowledge of the Hilo area and Hawaiian culture made it an amazing learning experience, and we had the adventure of a lifetime kayaking up river to hidden waterfalls and cliff jumping spots. Thank you Shawn for an epic day on the water! We can’t recommend The Surf Cottage enough to make all your wildest vacation dreams come true.

Shawn is an incredible surf instructor. Have only had the best experiences with the Surf Cottage. Was able to catch 3 waves on my first lesson! Super encouraging.

Our family (with kids 11 and 15 years old) had three lovely days with Shawn this August. We have seen amazing hidden places. Shown was always punctual, prepared, protective, accommodating. I look forward to having more trips with Shawn!

Paddle board today semi private with my family. It was an amazing experience. Shawn was a great instructor and patient with us being the first time. Highly recommend!

Shawn has his pulse on action sports in Hawaii. Whether you want to learn to surf, kayak, or hit the hidden gems of the Big Island the Surf Cottage can accommodate. My time with Shawn on the Big Island was money well spent. Everything about his service was top notch!

Great location and great stylish cozy place right in the middle of kona with a short walk to everything. Very clean and filled with everything you need. Great friendly host and quick response

Awesome help for me and my two kids to learn how to surf. Thanks guys!

That was the best vacation we have ever had! From the food at the farmers market to the coconut opening demonstrations by owner shawn to meeting his pet pig to waterfall chasing it was unreal! The surf cottage was the perfect place for us to explore Hilo and the big Island! Thank you so much for teaching us the way of aloha. Would definitely stay here again the next time we come around! much love.

My daughter and I took a lesson from Shawn and Jay while on the big island. They were both great! Very kind, very patient, and very knowledgeable. Plus, Hilo Bay wasn’t crowded like Kahalu’u. In fact, we were the only 4 out there for over half the time. It was nice not to worry about bumping into anyone else. Not to mention the waves in that bay role on for almost 300 yards. I highly recommend the surf cottage! Mahalo, Shawna and Jay!

We loved The Surf Cottage. The location can’t be beat. It is Within walking distance of a grocery store, many restaurants, the beach and of course a Starbucks! Shawn was such a gracious host and very communicative and available when needed. He gave us surfing lessons and we were all able to stand up! The cottage is conveniently located close to rainbow Falls and the boiling pots and is a very short drive to Akaka Falls State Park. If you were staying in Hilo I would highly recommend this cottage. There were four of us. Two adults and two 15 -year-old girls and it was a great match for us.

The surf cottage was awesome, right in downtown Hilo and super close to the open market which was great. Clean and comfortable also able to book killer surf lessons with Shawn who was our instructor. Stood up on my first try!! Highly recommend staying at the Surf Cottage in Hilo whole your here!

Fun surf lessons and custom tours! A personalized and authentic experience you won’t really find with the canned spam larger outfits

Amazing experience. Had such a fun time. Mahalo!!

Awesome location and accommodations right in beautiful downtown Hilo. Super close to the farmers market, restaurants, beaches and parks. Take a tour or lesson with Shawn, you won’t regret it!

Had a blast w Shawn and Jason, both great instructors, Best surf school in hilo!

Shawn is a great, responsive host. Our family enjoyed staying at The Surf Cottage while in Hilo. His apartment is well stocked with amenities to make our stay comfortable. We recommend Shawns place for Hilo visitors!

Very well located, great host, super stay. Clean and comfortable. Would definitely return!!

Great spot to stay at while visiting Hilo! Clean, convenient, great host, great value.

Shawns Surf Cottage is realy a great place to stay on Big Island. The house is nice and it is close to one of the best surf spots on Big Island. Shawn is a cool host. He organised some surf boards for my boys very quickly and answers every question we had after a few minutes and always friendly. Thank you Shawn, we had a great time at your place. I can highly recommend your place.

Looking for some last minute hiking and paddling to a stunning close-by waterfall? Shawn has a plan for that. Seeking an adrenaline shot and a jetski session with lifeguard legends? He has a plan for that too. A traditional surf-board shaper, a local fashion designer, a wild painting session set up? His ressources to meet your needs are limitless and hell handle it all in a snap.There might just be one problem with spending some time around Shawn. Once you’re entranced by the beauty of his Island, contaminated with his Aloha spirit and his smile from ear to ear, you may never want to leave again.

Great guys and a great experience

Aloha my name is Jessica Tolar :)I wanted to Thank Shawn Pila and The Surf Cottage for the wonderful stay and awesome hospitality!We upgraded our stay and had Shawn and his surf school take us out and get some tasty waves!We got to surf at Honolii and Bayfront in Hilo.Best and only Surf School in Hilo!!Mahalo Shawn and The Surf Cottage!

Good service and beautiful location. Had the most funnest times while kayaking and surfin.

Amazing place and great hospitality.

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