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    Duke's Lagoon

    5.0 (62 reviews)

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    Surfer
    Erica C.

    The team made sure we were safe and caught waves. We had a.great time! It was the highlight of our trip.

    Handmade jewelry
    Michelle K.

    Updated 2nd post 2 years later Came here brought my son (good surfer) and husband with some girl friends This is a mom and Pop shop run by Chris and Misha They put their heart and soul into the shop. Have a very good selection of surfboards. fire wire torque walden Takayama NSP Stewart This time my husband took a lesson cannot beat the value that you get and care that you get for this lesson $120 hour and a half lesson and they take pictures. No extra cost. And if you rent a board from them the next day and they're doing a lessons he will snap pictures of you and send them to you. Yeah, no extra charge. They just like spreading the aloha spirit. we planned this trip and our location where we would stay based on Dukes Lagoon best choice . Chris and Misa are very knowledgeable about all the breaks. We are experienced surfers but first time in Waikiki. Chris explain the brakes, where it was safe to enter, where to watch out for coral reef. If you take lessons with them they automatically take pictures. we happen to be paddling out Chris also has recommendations for places to eat where the locals go you need to rent something full of knowledge and willing to share Also, Misa make jewelry and I bought some very cute earrings!

    Nicole P.

    Consider this spot if you want to get in the water, but don't like or need a break from the ocean. We visited when we were in a nearby hotel and needed a more relaxed location to visit with our two little ones. We rented some paddle boards which was a ton of fun! Still a great view of the ocean.

    JD H.

    Simply 'da best! Located in the lobby shop area of The Ilikai, this has become my fast favorite for all board activities at the Waikiki Beach because of the following: 1. Launch Site - Duke's Lagoon takes full advantage of the calm water produced by the breaker barrier adjacent to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon area. This, coupled with the connected parking lot (free from 4:30 am until late at night) makes this not only easy for novices but cost-effective as well. 2. Ocean Area - Based on the Launch Site above, a short paddle out between the markers puts you at the legendary "Kaisers" surf spot which is great for not only those learning to surf but also for those that are more independent. Additionally, adjacent to this is an underwater canyon that a large number of Sea Turtles call home so a well-timed paddle over this area can result in a lot of really great turtle sightseeing. 3. Service - Chris and Misa (the owners) bring on several qualified and fun people to assist with surf lessons, paddle-board turtle tours, etc. And when I say "assist", I mean they pretty much do everything for you such as transport your board to the launch site, help you get pointed in the right direction, wash your equipment off for you after and take it back to their shop. So while lessons or tours aren't bargain basement cheap, you definitely get what you pay for and it is worth it. I can honestly say that after spending a couple mornings with Chris, Misa and their colleagues, my family had fantastic ocean experiences. Those that took a surf lesson got up plenty of times during their 90 minutes and came back tired with big smiles on their faces. And for sure, the turtle tour was one of the best mornings I have ever spent on the water. Highly recommend these activities and for sure, do them with Duke's Lagoon. You will not be disappointed!

    Greg M.

    Chris and Misa at Duke's Lagoon are awesome and they are definitely the go to people for your surf lessons and rentals in Waikiki. I've been embarrassed to admit that I sucked at surfing and despite trying many times and taking lessons with other instructors I just couldn't get it. But then I went out surfing with Chris, he was unbelievably patient and skillful at showing me how to really surf. He's very passionate about what he does and is encouraging and makes learning to surf really fun! I highly recommend taking surf lessons with Chris and Misa at Duke's Lagoon!

    Paddle boarding
    Joey V.

    Chris was great!! I stopped by the shop to rent some paddle boards in the morning and was happily greeted by Chris and his wife. They were welcoming and helpful from the beginning till the end. This was my girlfriend's first time & Chris gave us a thorough explanation & gave us a couple of tips to make our experience memorable. The store has excellent quality boards and a great ambiance. Chris also took his time to recommend some viewpoints and local food places that were great. I Will be coming back; this is a five-start business ! I would recommend it to anyone in the area.

    Our first surfing experience in Hawaii was incredible. My two teenage boys and I had such a positive experience with the surfing lessons. Chris, our instructor, was exceptionally patient and kind, as was his wife. The instructors were excellent at teaching us techniques, and we all managed to catch a wave. My sons enjoyed it so much that one of them now considers surfing his favorite water sport. It was such a memorable experience, and I highly recommend it!

    Here's where you'll surf!
    Dave G.

    What a great surf rental experience! Chris and Misa are the best! I just happened to catch Misa coming out of the water to ask where I could rent a board. What luck! Turns out she surfs there every morning. Often teaching lessons. Misa and Chris were both very friendly and eager help get me in the water. Got to ride a great board and they even watched my stuff while we was in the water. Thank you so much Chris and Misa! I will definitely be back. Dave

    And my 11 year old!
    Dennis L.

    Chris and Misa run a great outfit! Setting up our large group surfing lesson beforehand with Chris was a breeze and he is super responsive. We received great instruction and dry land practice in the shop (Ilikai Hotel) and then headed out to the ocean (which is right in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village). Chris and his team transported our boards to the water which was nice. Another lesson in Maui, we had to carry our own boards out and back which can be a lot for the kids. We ended up having 7 in our group total and there were 4 instructors with us. So we always felt super safe in the ocean and we were able to try to catch waves very consistently. The other times we went with other outfits, the ratio was 3 or 4 to 1 instructor so there is a lot of waiting around before it's your turn. This was not an issue with Duke's and in fact we had to ask Darren, Chris, and Thomas for breaks! Kudos to them and Misa for taking such great care of us and making sure we had a good time in spite of the windy conditions. Duke's came highly recommended and they didn't disappoint! We'll definitely be back to take lessons with them again next time we're in Waikiki. Don't waste your time booking with anyone else!

    my family surf squad
    Jazzzy J.

    Chris and Misa are amazing! Right from the start, Chris explained what types of adventures they offer and recommended we try outrigger canoe surfing at some point during our stay. My brothers family and mine, booked a 1.5 hour surf adventure with our teens. Prior to our lesson, Chris made sure we understood the surf basics and how to maneuver our board. He got us out there (all 7 of us) and took our families out on an awesome adventure. To top it off, Misa shared some wonder photos of our adventure. The kids and dads had the time of their lives on the water with Chris and his team. They are friendly, knowledgeable, fun and have tons of energy doing what they love. Highly highly recommend booking with Chris and Misa!

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    4 months ago

    Owner chris i think amazing super cool dude very nice lots of stuff to rent and super helpfull. Great spot to check out. Mahalo!!

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    Good friendly service. We rented snorkel gear for a week they gave good equipment and can accommodate men with big feet

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Duke's Lagoon

    Review Highlights - Duke's Lagoon

    Setting up our large group surfing lesson beforehand with Chris was a breeze and he is super responsive.

    Mentioned in 47 reviews

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    Ohana Surf Project - The birthday crew surf session!!

    Ohana Surf Project

    4.9(272 reviews)
    1.3 miWaikiki

    My kids decided they wanted surf lessons while we were in Oahu, and I didn't hear back from most…read moreplaces I reached out to since they can book out months in advance. Ohana Surf Project was the exception--they got back to me within an hour and were able to set up private 1:1 lessons for each of my kids the very next day! If you don't see availability online, definitely try calling--they are really accommodating. The whole experience itself was really organized. When we signed up, they collected shirt and shoe sizes - and when we arrived, rash guards and water shoes were already set out for the kids in a bin (you can also rent a wetsuit top for $10). After gearing up, they watched a short instructional video, then everyone hopped on a school bus to head to the beach. They take you away from the crowd to a more private area (which feels rare for Waikiki). It made the whole experience a lot more relaxed. Sean was an amazing instructor--super patient and great with the kids. Overall just a really smooth and fun experience. I highly recommend booking with them! Oh! We also prepaid to have photos taken. The kids had lessons on Wednesday afternoon and we received photos/videos the next day at 11am (about ~80 total between photos and videos).

    I signed up for a 2 hour group beginner lesson (with full photo package) on April Fool's and had…read morepersonal coaching from two instructors, Marco and Brady. Kevin signed me up, coached and videoed me surfing. I managed to pop up and surf down the line. I highly recommend a lesson from these experienced instructors.

    Photos
    Ohana Surf Project - Surfing in Waikiki

    Surfing in Waikiki

    Ohana Surf Project
    Ohana Surf Project

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    Mickeys Surf School - these legends were so fun to teach

    Mickeys Surf School

    4.9(276 reviews)
    0.9 miWaikiki

    When our surf instructor became unavailable, we asked for recommendations and were referred to…read moreMickey's, which came highly recommended. We reached out via text, and Mickey responded promptly the same day. Although he was not available for our session, we had the opportunity to observe him teaching two children, likely around 8-9 years old, and were very impressed. Both kids were confidently riding their own surfboards, and Mickey filmed their entire session--creating what appeared to be incredible footage while still delivering an engaging and supportive lesson. Based on what we observed, he clearly provides a memorable and high-quality experience. We look forward to having our own children take lessons with him in the future.

    Found Mickey's surf school on Yelp. I texted him for availability after researching a bunch of…read moreother schools. I wanted my two kids to have semi private lessons but all the other schools required kids to be over 13 for semi private lessons. We texted back and forth a few times before we settled on a date and time that worked for everyone. It was a busy week since we were there Thanksgiving week. We paid via PayPal and met on Waikiki beach. He was a bit late since he had trouble finding parking. Mickey had the kids practice some moves on land and wax the boards before paddling out. 90 minutes for $100 each student plus $30 for videos. He paddled them forward with the waves and told them when to stand. The kids had a blast. The videos from his go pro were amazing! A totally rad experience that the kids will remember forever. Mickey was great with the kids. He is super friendly and sang a bunch of songs to them. We highly recommend him. Be sure your kid is comfortable in the water and knows how to swim well. You can find him right behind the famous Surfer statute on Waikiki beach with the colorful umbrella. Fun fact- he taught the k pop group Twice to surf and met Ronny Cheng and Simu. Super

    Photos
    Mickeys Surf School - Sunset sessions available @Mickey surf school

    Sunset sessions available @Mickey surf school

    Mickeys Surf School - Supporting while filming and coaching side-by-side always the theme @Mickey surf school

    Supporting while filming and coaching side-by-side always the theme @Mickey surf school

    Mickeys Surf School - Little ones have the most fun with Mickey

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    Little ones have the most fun with Mickey

    Moku Hawaii

    Moku Hawaii

    4.4(512 reviews)
    1.1 miWaikiki
    $

    We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Moku Hawaii! Our 14-year-old twins did the 90-minute…read moresemi-private lesson with Victor, and it was the perfect amount of time--long enough to really learn and have fun without feeling rushed or exhausted. The surf conditions that day weren't great (only about 1-2 ft), but you honestly would never have known it based on how much fun our kids had. Victor was an outstanding instructor--very friendly, incredibly patient, and amazing with kids. The twins kept saying he was "very fun," super supportive, and genuinely enthusiastic the entire lesson. He made them feel confident and excited, even with small waves. The pricing was also very reasonable for the quality of instruction and experience. Overall, this was one of the highlights of our trip, and we couldn't have asked for a better day of surfing for our teens. We would strongly recommend Moku Hawaii and Victor to anyone--especially families with kids or teens. We will absolutely book with them again!

    I was put in an odd spot. Surely not in my comfort zone…read more You see, a friend from Japan came to Hawaii and when asked what he wanted to do, surfing came up. As a local boy born and raised in Oahu, I'm embarrassed by the fact that I cannot swim. Surfing clearly out of the picture. I used to work in the Japanese tour agency many blue moons ago where I recall a surfing school that offers surfing lessons. My friend already knows how to surf so I didn't think this was for him so I asked one of my physical therapists who surfs regularly. He introduced me to a surfing school that's at Ala Moana Beach where I was given their website, which is also available in Japanese. I forwarded the information to my friend prior to his arrival to Honolulu where he didn't jump at it and said he'd think about it. On his arrival I drove him to his hotel on Kalakaua Ave and upon check in we saw a rack of surfboards nearby where I asked if they were rentals. The staff advised the boards belong to the in-house guests who were keeping them as storage while not in use. When asked about rentals, the front desk staff advised us to inquire with Moku Hawaii (MH) as their rates are 1/2 to what the businesses are asking for across the street on the beach. MH has been in business since 1985 where they hail from Japan. They started off as a clothing company but transitioned over to a surf shop offering surf lesson and rental business. We walked over and soon found MH, which is on the 1F at the corner of Koa Ave and Uluniu Ave. We were greeted by a friendly, young female staff who welcomed us and answered our multiple questions. With its locality, reasonable rates and customer service, my friend liked MH and decided to look no further. While checking out their inventory, my friend noticed hard boards and was hoping for soft boards. The staff guided us to those soft boards where it's available in either long or short. You will need to complete their rental form which to our surprise is quite flexible. For example, you can initially request for a 2 hr package but in the event you go overcast, you just pay the difference of $5, which is the price difference between 2 hr course and the next course of up to 4 hrs. MH gives back to the community as they sponsor multiple local keiki surf contests. That's so awesome. So, if you should be in a bind where someone asks you for a surf school in Waikiki, look no further and guide them to MH. We were surprisingly impressed with their surf shop and their amazing customer service. They open from 6am and close at 8pm

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    Moku Hawaii
    Moku Hawaii
    Moku Hawaii - RENTAL MENU

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    RENTAL MENU

    Sparky's Surf School - Family surf lesson

    Sparky's Surf School

    5.0(111 reviews)
    1.1 miWaikiki

    Wow, Sparky is such an amazing instructor for the kids. He knows how to ensure the kids have fun…read moreand learn as they're having fun. Sparky taught my 6yo son (he had his own board - such a brave big boy!), and brought a female instructor for my 4yo daughter who happened to be a world champion surfer - what a pleasant surprise. She was so attentive to my daughter and surfed tandem with her. My kids want to go pro now! They love surfing and can't wait to surf with Sparky and Sophia again soon!

    Okay, Sparky hits different. Let me explain:…read more - He's been doing this for 20 years so he knows surfing inside out and is great at teaching it. Of course you can expect that from many surf schools around here, but his crew is definitely up there. - Sparky called when the surf was bad and suggested rescheduling. I wasn't in town for much longer and he considered a refund, but we ended up finding a new time that worked. Other places would have just taken the money and given a sub-par experience with lousy waves, but here it's all about providing a really good time and I appreciate that. - The pictures. That's really the big thing. We're not talking about a GoPro slapped on the board and just recording a boring video. The pictures are taken with a proper underwater camera with a long lens so that there's a narrow focus on foreground and the surfer actually filling out the image. The photos are carefully framed so that they're interesting - some with Diamond Head in the background, some with The Royal Hawaiian. Different poses - paddling, waiting, and of course riding waves. The pictures are properly graded in post-processing and reframed, so it takes a week. It's worth it. On that note, Sparky also suggested the best time for pictures to get optimal lighting when I booked. - Native islanders! Proud inhabitants of Hawai'i for generations. Those are the people who should get your business. Yeah, seriously. Go to Sparky's. There's nothing like it. It's a great experience start to finish, and the pictures are SO worth it.

    Photos
    Sparky's Surf School - Abe teaching them before they got in the ocean.

    Abe teaching them before they got in the ocean.

    Sparky's Surf School - Everybody's leaning how...

    Everybody's leaning how...

    Sparky's Surf School - Surfs up!

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    Surfs up!

    Surfer Girl Academy Surf School

    Surfer Girl Academy Surf School

    4.9(33 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I called the day before to ask for a lesson and they told me I could show up to the 10 AM lesson…read moreand said to pay onsite. The surf lesson was both amazing and scary. We were given a 2-minute safety and tips speech before both of us in the lesson were shown how to get up on the board. We each had one attempt to get up while the instructor held the board steady near the beach. Then we paddled out to the waves. We had to paddle far and it wasn't my hands/arms that were tired but my shoulders and neck because you have to keep your chin up to stay out of the surf on your way out. I was able to stand up on almost every wave except the one that was too small and the one I tried to do myself. I can imagine it being unsafe and not fun to try to just surf yourself without any prior experience because the one time I tried to judge when to get up myself, I immediately fell hard into the water and swallowed salt water. Highly recommend it if you are at all athletically inclined. Surfer Girl Academy was very laid back and I liked the instructor John.

    Really enjoyed myself. So much in fact that I returned a couple of days later to surf again. The…read morestaff, Yuko, Shuji, Inne & Jake took good care of everyone in the group. They were very friendly, helpful & service orientated. You will get your money's worth in the couple of hours you are in the water, and believe me, if an old, fat guy like me can get up on a surfboard, most anyone can. Yuko also took great photos & video that will provide some fantastic memories of this trip to Oahu. You'll need to look for the white van in the parking lot by the water. There is a small "SGA" on it.

    Photos
    Surfer Girl Academy Surf School
    Surfer Girl Academy Surf School
    Surfer Girl Academy Surf School

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    Duke's Lagoon - surfing - Updated May 2026

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