ABOUT US
It all started with a dream, a board, and the ocean…
The meaning
PONO means being in perfect balance and harmony with all things in life
The name PONO is originally from Hawaï and was not chosen by chance. Words like balance, harmony and the idea of rigour behind righteousness felt immediately right when Ana, a friend, shared the meaning with Muzam. The connection with surfing was obvious. It just made sense.
Among many name ideas, this one stood out, not just a word, but a direction. It became part of who we are. First came PONO Café (for Muzam), then PONO Surf Camp. A natural evolution.
The concept
A blend between a boutique hotel and a surf camp with a touch of well-being
PONO Surf Camp is the perfect fusion of a boutique hotel’s charm and comfort with the vibrant energy of a surf camp, all enriched by a focus on well-being.
It’s a place where you can ride the waves by day and chill in style by night, surrounded by thoughtfully designed spaces and an atmosphere that nurtures both body and mind.
Whether you seek adventure, relaxation, or a bit of both, this is your corner of paradise.
“PONO is more than a place : it’s a state of mind shaped by waves, dreams and human connections.”
The story
Two humans, two cultures, with common values
Muzam from Sri Lanka and Jessica from Belgium met in 2022 and immediately found they had a lot of points in common. They are both entrepreneurs, and their big mission in life is to make their dreams come true. They had already proven, each on their own, that they were capable of creating meaningful projects. With complementary skills and life stories, they carried multiple talents and one ambition : build something together.
Muzam’s Journey
Muzam dreamed from an early age of becoming a chef and opening his own restaurant. So he did everything he could to achieve this, and studied the profession.
At the age of 18, he was offered a professional opportunity abroad. He left Sri Lanka and moved to Qatar. The company he worked for quickly saw they could trust him, thanks to his personality. He was given a position of responsibility, which he held for two and a half years.
He came out of this experience more mature, capable of making decisions at the right time, and ready to manage any situation.
In 2023, he realised his first dream by opening PONO Café.
But Muzam has also had a passion for surfing since he was very young. One day, he met an Australian who gave him his surfboard as a gift. A gift that was worth its weight in gold, and that sparked something bigger.
In his spare time, he went to the beach almost every day to teach himself how to surf. A few years later, he became a professional surfer, took part in national competitions, and built a reputation as one of Sri Lanka’s best surfing instructors.
He has now been running his surf school for eight years.
His second dream? To open his own surf camp.
Jessica’s Path
Jessica studied finance in Europe, and her dream was to hold a position of high responsibility, which she achieved at a very young age and held for over ten years.
During that period, she met someone who passed on something different: not a job, but a story through travel. That story planted a seed : the idea that she, too, could go and explore the world.
One day, she decided to swap her suitcase for a backpack and began discovering new countries, visiting one or two each year.
In the Philippines, in 2019, she came back with something more: the desire to open something abroad.
Eventually, she left her job to take a break, and a dream she had put aside resurfaced : to go on a round-the-world trip.
In 2021, she made it happen. She spent 14 months travelling from Latin America to Asia, embracing different cultures, people, and landscapes.
Among those places, one stood out.
She visited Sri Lanka and fell in love with it. A year after returning to Belgium, she left everything behind to come back.
The dream of opening something abroad had never left her.
And more than ever, she could see it clearly now: a boutique hotel, somewhere near the waves.
How they came together
After many months of discussions, they decided to pool their skills: he with his background as chef, surfer and management, she with her background in finance, management, business administration, human resources and, above all, as an adventurer. And to create their own concept, combining the idea of a boutique hotel with the vibe of a surf camp.
“When two paths with the same values cross, something powerful can begin.”
Our values
AUTHENTICITY | QUALITY | PASSION
At PONO Surf Camp, these aren’t just words. They shape everything we do, from the first “hello” to the last wave you ride.
Authenticity means showing up as we are : humans before hosts. It’s about honest exchanges, real smiles, and surf sessions that go beyond technique.
Quality is found in the details: the care we put into your coaching, the energy of our team, the atmosphere we create to help you feel safe, seen and supported.
And passion? It's what drives us to paddle out every day. To share what we love, to teach with heart, and to celebrate every small victory with you.
At PONO, we don’t just teach surfing. We live it and we share it with all our heart.
Our mission
Make your experience unforgettable
At PONO Surf Camp, our mission is simple: to offer you more than just a surf lesson, we want to create an experience that stays with you long after you leave.
Whether it’s your first wave, a conversation that shifts something in you, the calm of an early morning paddle, or a laugh shared around a group dinner, we want you to leave with more than you expected.
A stay that’s not just about surfing, but about growth, connection, and those little moments that can’t always be explained, only felt.
And we believe you’re not here by chance.