This was our single most favorite experience on Maui. I have wanted to blow glass since I was a teenager, and at 35 and stoked that I finally got my chance. My gf and I booked a 1hr session and came out with an amazing fish that we made together. The process was informative and extremely hands on. You get a short lesson on the process before even touching any of the tools and quickly dive right in. In the instance of the fish, some relatively simple techniques were responsible for bringing this piece to life. It was everything that I ever wanted it to be and even encouraged me to look into it when Im back home in order to continue learning. I strongly encourage you to take some time away from the beach bum days, the snorkeling, and even the wonderful hiking available, and spend some time learning a new craft and creating a wonderful souvenir that reminds you of what very well might be your only trip to this beautiful island. Don't forget to wear closed-toed shoes and to tip your teacher.
Steven Voytac
What an amazing experience. You’re as popped up on FaceBook and we thought this would be fun for the family. We were not disappointed! We were warmly greeted by Eleaya, went over our waivers, and listened to the how our lesson would happen. Then we met Tyler and the fun started. He really gave us a great lesson with lots of information on technique and tools. My daughter really warmed up and was so excited to make her starfish. When we finished up, another lovely lady Elise (I believe) checked us out & we had a great time talking with her too. Then Mr. Staub came out to sign a piece we bought from the showroom as a gift. We returned the next day to pick up our pieces from the lesson, and Eleaya brought us right to them as they were ready to show off. We were thrilled with the final pieces! Everything was nicely bubble wrapped, ready for our flight home. Eleaya even indulged my daughter with a little bubble wrap for the road. Will do this again the next time we visit, wonderful!
Christina M.
One of the highlights of our stay on Maui. Gage was patient, knowledgable and super friendly. He made us feel ease standing next to a 2100 degree oven. Everyone was friendly and helpful. We loved learning the process and the hands on was fantastic! Add this to your plan when in Maui!
Michael T.
I really enjoyed my glass blowing experience. I made a blue and green fish with the assistance of Donovan. The process was fun and the finish product is so pretty – thank you Donovan. I look forward to making another piece of art my next time in Maui.
Lori D.
We loved our lesson from Luis at Moana Glass. They were very efficient in checking us in, picking out our items, and getting us all set to make our pieces. Luis was a delight and very patient with us as we learned this process. Safety was always top of mind with him and they provided safety glasses, and we wore the closed toe shoes as requested. We are very excited for the outcome which we will pick up in a couple days. I recommend this as a highlight of our trip to Maui this time.
Wendy B.
I have always been interested in art glass, vintage as well as contemporary. I live on Maui and this was a bucket list item for me to create a piece of beautiful glass that I will cherish forever. Mahalo to Donovan for helping me learn more about glass and helping me to create a beautiful objet d’art that I will cherish and always remind me of Maui regardless of wherever I may go in my life. Thank you so much Donovan and Moana Glass.
Susan B.
Had a great time. The instructors were patient, funny and made it a great time. We are looking forward to taking our souvenir home.
Matthew Wade
What an awesome experience and Louie was a phenomenal teacher, had so much fun!!!
Karen Olson Johnson
It was awesome! Something completely different and great for those of us who have been to Maui many times . Louie our instructor/ artist was a fantastic and fun to learn from. We made a two beautiful pieces that they will ship home as we do not want to break them carrying them all the way back to Florida.
Vicki Prato Rearick
We had a great time making fish at Moana Glass. Donavan was a great teacher and was super easy to work with. He’s a very skilled glassmaker. Everyone there is super friendly and it was a great experience. Highly recommend if you are in the area.
Jen Davalos
We were there today 2/19 and it was an amazing experience. Our son, 10, with the artists guidence made a beautiful piece of glass art. I would recommend this activity for anyone wanting to experience something off the beaten path of normal “to do’s” while on the island. Thank you Moana Glass for helping us create a wonderful vacation memory!
Garret Gerdes
My husband and I both did a glass blowing class a couple of days ago and absolutely loved it! Kevin was so nice, explained everything well, and helped us create pieces we absolutely love! If you are visiting Maui and are looking for a unique creative experience this is it!
Becky Van Pelt
We had a great experience creating our fish. We highly recommend this activity which is more hands on than we expected!
Cheryl Roberts
Yes, this is a totally fun and exciting experience! However, more importantly, the people who create the experience are amazing! I reached out weeks prior to my visit to find out if I would be able to have the full experience given the limited functions I have in my dominant hand and arm caused by an injury 7 months earlier. They were kind enough to call back, walk me through the process and recommended videos I could watch online to get an idea of what I’d be doing. They said if at any point I felt I couldn’t do something, the teacher could take over for me. I realized once there that I couldn’t spin the rod with liquid glass on it quickly enough. My instructor willingly took over. Due to Covid, we had to hand pump the air in; this wasn’t a point we discussed prior to my visit and not the norm in the videos I saw online (but it totally made sense given the situation). When he gave me the pump, I didn’t think I’d be able to do it and had to act quickly. To my surprise, I was able to pump the air in! My teacher could see the happy tears welling up in my eyes and he cheared me on. What was initially going to be an ornament ended up much larger because I kept pumping, lol. It turned out to be the most meaningful and beautiful piece of glass I’ve ever seen. The team that takes payments and wraps up your piece to take home were all so kind and encouraging as well. They are genuinely wonderful human beings!
Lisa Harpole
What a fantastic & fun family experience! Gage was a knowledgeable instructor and great to work with. Overall, we were happy with our projects. Only disappointed in that we paid “extra” for the large heart that really was not any larger than the less expensive smaller version and the shape was not great. Which, for one of the seemingly less difficult choices, it was not as satisfactory as the 3 fish and one larger bowl we made. Also, I wish it were a little more hands on for the customer…but we were beginners and certainly wanted our pieces to turn out correctly! So…next time!!! We got to meet the owner and inspiration behind Moana Glass, Ryan Staub. He even assisted on some of our projects and he agreed to a photo op with our family. Many friends were fascinated with this and have loved our pieces. I would definitely recommend doing this! It’s a great experience, so interesting, and the best souvenir! Mahalo Moana Glass!
Kimberly Moore
Louie was so much fun and a fantastic teacher. Glass blowing is always something I’ve wanted to do and he was there to guide me each step so not only did I have a great time, I came out with a great piece. Xoxox A must do if you ask me. ❤️
Kaydee Weida
Thank you Kevin for such a wonderful informative glass blowing lesson today. My husband and I really learned a lot and can’t wait to have our fish arrive in a few weeks. Kevin was a great teacher, very patient and guiding us through each step of glass blowing. It made for an enjoyable time.
Melinda Mathews
Everyone at Moana Glass is amazing. Special thank you to our glassblowing instructor Gage for helping us create an awesome bowl and for the exceptional experience!!! You are incredibly talented – thanks for sharing the time with us today!??
Amy Terry (DisasterAimiya)
This is an amazing experience. My wife and son attended a class with Louie making a fish and a Christmas ornament. The class lasted about two hours during which Louie taught the basics of glass blowing and providing them hands on opportunities to get the feel of shaping, blowing and coloring their projects. Highly recommend this experience at Moana Glass. A few notes – make a reservation, wear only cotton clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty, and closed toed shoes.
Nick Rusch
I had so much fun! I’ve made 2 other glass items at other shops but Moana Glass was BY FAR, the best experience. It was much more hands-on than I ever expected. I felt like I really had a big part in making the piece. And my instructor was super clear with instructions and very patient. Also, the pieces for sale (made by Ryan Staub and his team) are beautiful. I will definitely be back!
Karen Willis
Learn to make any of the following glass pieces!
Moana Glass by Ryan Staub is Lahaina’s only furnace glassblowing studio and a maker of the finest quality glass art in the world.
Not only do we sell our artwork, but we also offer the public the opportunity to have hands-on glassblowing experiences. Private lessons are available for individuals and small groups. Large groups are also welcome, and we can accommodate a number of different options for Corporate Events, Teambuilding, Wedding Parties, Birthday Parties, etc…
Moana Glass by Ryan Staub is Lahaina’s only furnace glassblowing studio
Moana Glass by Ryan Staub
1203 Keawe St, Lahaina, HI 96761, United States
Created from the inspiration of Maui’s immense beauty, Moana Glass is Ryan Staub’s outlet for sharing his love of glass and Glass Art with the world. Staub draws on his 24 years of glassblowing as well as his vast experience traveling and learning from the best Glassblowing Masters in the world to share the beauty of the Hawaiian islands with you. From masterfully made artwork to Private Lessons where you can make your perfect Maui souvenir, you are sure to love your experience at Moana Glass.
Q.What is Moana Glass?
Created from the inspiration of Maui’s immense beauty, Moana Glass is Ryan Staub’s outlet for sharing his love of glass and Glass Art with the world. Staub draws on his 24 years of glassblowing as well as his vast experience traveling and learning from the best Glassblowing Masters in the world to share the beauty of the Hawaiian islands with you. From masterfully made artwork to Private Lessons where you can make your perfect Maui souvenir, you are sure to love your experience at Moana Glass.
Q.Where is pricing information?
Pricing for lessons is in the Lessons Page. Pricing is by the piece.
Pricing for artwork is in the Online Gallery Page. Pieces with prices listed are for sale in the online gallery. Call for pricing of other items.
Q.Do you stock all designs?
All artwork is one of a kind, and while we usually have something available in every series, availability of artwork varies. If it is for sale in the Online Gallery, we have it available for you. Please call if there are any questions about a specific piece.
Q.What times & days are your classes?
Classes are by appointment, 9-5, 7 days per week.
Q.When can I pick up my piece?
Lesson pieces have to cool down slowly overnight. They are usually ready by 3pm the following day.
Q.Are there advanced levels for glass blowing?
We are constantly developing new lesson pieces, so you can come back again and again and still have new, fun pieces to make.
Q.Can I make a Wave, Whale Tail, Turtle or Whale?
Our lessons set you up for success and as such, we do not offer these items as lesson pieces. Any of these, plus other items for sale in the gallery require years of dedication and professional experience to be able to make. The pieces we offer are ones we know that we can pull off every time with first time beginners. If you are wanting a very island-themed sculpture, the Fish Sculpture is a great option.
Q.How long do the lessons take?
We book a half hour per piece, up to three pieces. Since orientation happens all at the same time, we can go a little quicker for 4 pieces or more.
Q.How many people can work on one piece?
One piece per person is ideal because each person gets the most experience and individual attention from the instructor that way. You can, however, work on one piece as a team of two and still have fun. In some cases, we have done lessons with three people working on one piece, but it is not recommended since each person does not get much time with the material that way.
Q.Can I make my own piece?
One piece per person bookings are also ideal because everyone gets their own piece to keep.
Q.How old is the minimum age for glassblowing lessons?
We work with kids 5 years old and up. We tailor the experience to every person/group however. For younger kids, we make it a little less hands-on to insure their safety.
Q."That fish looks really hard, are you sure I can make that?"
Our lessons are one-on-one with you and a seasoned professional. Your success is guaranteed! We will help you every step of the way and make sure your piece comes out GREAT!
Q.Do you make custom art pieces, lighting or glass sinks to order?
Yes we do! Ryan Staub has been making custom lighting, glass sinks and artwork for his whole career. If you have an idea of something you’d like made in glass, please contact us and we will be happy to help!
Q.Are Glass Sinks really tough enough to use?
Ryan Staub has been making Glass Sinks for over 15 years. No one has ever broken one. Normal use in a bathroom is fine for a glass sink. The sensitive parts, the bottom and the lip are usually the thickest part of the piece.
Q.How long does it take to make a piece?
That varies a lot depending on the complexity of the piece and on who is making it. Glassblowing is extremely difficult to master and even professionals with over 20 years of experience are constantly learning new things about the material. The longer someone blows glass, the more efficiently they can make their designs, but that efficiency comes at the expense of years of dedication. Many of Ryan Staub’s pieces are comprised of pre-made parts that take weeks, or sometimes longer, to prepare.
Q.Do you host events or demonstrations?
Yes. We typically do a free demo one night in the week; please check our operating hours for which day. We also host glass blowing parties and private group events by appointment.
