Rent A Body Board For Your Next Family Beach Trip

While surfing may be the most recognized water sport in Hawaii, body boarding is also a popular pastime in the islands. With its quick learning curve, straightforward equipment, and family-friendly feel, body boarding is one of the easiest ways to catch waves and enjoy the ocean on your next Hawaiian vacation. Read on to understand why you should rent a body board for your next family beach trip and the best beaches on Maui for body boarding.

What is Body Boarding?

Body boarding, like surfing, harnesses the power of the waves to move riders on a board through the ocean. But unlike surfing, body boarders remain prone or on their stomachs while catching waves. More experienced body boarders may use swim fins to help them catch larger and more powerful waves. Body boards are typically rectangular and made out of foam. The best part is that while learning to surf may take your entire vacation, you can be body boarding in no time.

A Hawaiian Tradition

Similar to surfing, body boarding has its roots in ancient Polynesia. While we often equate stand-up surfboards with Hawaii, there are actually four types of traditional Hawaiian wave riding boards (or “papa he’e nalu”). Of these, the shortest boards, generally under five feet long, were known as “papa li’ili’i” (small boards) and later “pa’e po’o.” Pae translates to “riding a wave” and po’o means “head” or “headfirst,” so essentially “surfing headfirst.” Pae po’o wave riders would lay on their bellies (or knees) and ride waves that broke close to the shore. This act of catching waves prone, or on your “belly,” laid the foundation for modern day “belly boarding” or “body boarding.” While closely related to stand up surfing, pae po’o or body boarding, was a distinct sport with its own equipment, style, and technique.

Modern Body Boarding

With the arrival of Westerners and missionaries to the Hawaiian islands, wave riding declined significantly for over a century. Wave sports in Hawaii experienced a welcome resurgence in the early 1900’s Waikiki. Their popularity eventually spread to North America and beyond. Fast forward to the 1970’s and a musician/surfer/engineer named Tom Morey. Morey, who at the time was living in Hawaii, had for years experimented with different surf board and fin designs. He developed the first “boogie board” from a nine foot piece of foam cut in half and named for his love of boogie-woogie music. Today the terms “body board” and “Boogie Board” are interchangeable, with “Boogie Board” simply referring to the trademark brand name.

5 Reasons to Rent A Body Board

Shorter learning curve – With body boarding, you don’t have to worry about jumping up quickly to your feet or balancing on a moving wave. Start by catching waves in the white water (the broken part of the waves) before attempting to ride unbroken waves.
Simpler equipment – Unlike surfboards that come in a wide variety of lengths, widths, and even shapes, beginner body boards follow a more uniform and standard design. Renting a body board on Maui is a straightforward and simple process. Their smaller size also makes it easier to transport a body board (or two) to and from the beach. As you progress, you can experiment with different sizes and styles of body boards.
Safer for the kids – Body boards do not have fins, nor are they encased in a hard polyurethane shell. Wiping out (or falling) on a wave is thus much safer, especially for beginners and kids. You don’t have to worry about getting cut by a fin or receiving a hard smack to the head from the board.
Fun for the whole family – Because of the shorter learning curve and ability to catch waves close to shore, body boarding can be fun for the whole family when the surf is too rough for paddle boarding or snorkeling. Instead of investing in many different types of boards and gear, everyone can use the same board and enjoy the thrill of catching waves.
Build the foundations for surfing and other ocean sports – To successfully catch a wave body boarding, you have to be able to read the waves, currents, and ocean conditions. You also learn how to match the speed of a wave and experience the feeling of “catching” a wave. These are all fundamentals of other ocean sports, like surfing.

Body Boarding Tips & Safety

Before body boarding in Hawaii, it’s important to keep a few tips in mind.

Know the ocean conditions – the ocean in Hawaii is inviting, but can also change quickly. Always check the local surf conditions and ocean advisories before venturing into the water.
Watch the waves – before getting in the water, take a few minutes to watch the waves. Notice where the waves are breaking and where the water is calmer, as well as any currents that may be moving in the water.
Wear a leash – body boards come equipped with a leash that is worn around your wrist. Always keep the leash on while you’re in the water.
Start in the whitewater – the “whitewater” refers to the part of the wave that is already “broken.” These waves are typically easier for beginners to catch and teach you how to position your body on the board. If you’re too far back on the board you will miss the wave. Similarly, if you are too far forward, you’ll go headfirst into the water. Wait to venture out to larger waves until you can successfully catch whitewater waves.
Stick to beginner friendly beaches – Kamaole III in South Maui is a great option to try body boarding. It is a lifeguarded, sandy beach that generally offers gentler waves than some of its nearby neighbors. Beginners and families should avoid more advanced body boarding spots like Big Beach, Baldwin Beach, and DT Fleming Beach Park.

Why You Should Rent A Body Board for Your Next Family Beach Trip

Benefit	Why It Matters
Short Learning Curve	Maximize your time catching and riding waves, instead of spending hours in lessons or struggling to catch waves.
Simpler Equipment	Simple to rent and transport to/from the beach. Less time spent researching the right size or shape board to rent.
Safer Wipeouts	There are no fins or a hard board to hit you after a wipeout. Safer than surfing for beginners and kids.
Family Friendly Sport	Everyone can enjoy catching waves on the same equipment and close to shore, even the youngest family members.
Builds the Foundation for Surfing and other Ocean Sports	Your time spent riding waves will also build important foundations for other ocean sports like surfing.

Best Body Boarding Beaches on Maui

Beach	Location	Best For
Kamaole III	South Maui	Beginners and families. Avoid if there are large waves during the summer.
Ka’anapali Beach	West Maui	Beginners when the waves are small. Waves can be dangerous when there is large surf
Baldwin Beach	North Maui	Beginners during the summer and shoulder seasons; advanced/expert during the winter months
DT Fleming Beach Park	West Maui	Beginners during the summer months; advanced/expert during winter months
Big Beach	South Maui	Advanced/Expert Only!

Body board rentals from Boss Frog’s are compliant with environmental policy that bans low quality, disposable boards in Hawaii. Rent a body board at any of the 9 Boss Frog’s locations on Maui, 3 locations on Kauai or at our shop in Kona on the Big Island for low daily and weekly rates the entire family will love.