Had an amazing experience at Ty Gurney Surf School! Special shoutout to Tyler, James, Kainalu, and…read morethe receptionists for making the experience enjoyable. I booked two-hour lessons, and each session left me with new insights and things to work on. All the instructors were engaged and observant throughout the lessons, providing continuous feedback, encouragement, and helpful tips. Whenever I had questions, they were attentive and took the time to give thorough, detailed answers. It was especially great learning from instructors who clearly enjoy what they do. Their passion and enthusiasm made the lessons even more enjoyable, and I left each session feeling like I had learned something new. Would definitely recommend Ty Gurney Surf School to anyone looking to learn, have fun, and/or make unforgettable memory :-)

This place had last minute booking options which was so convenient for us as we have a little girl…read moreand didn't think of lessons until the day before. They have easy online booking options and they sent you an email right away to sign a waiver. It's a little hard to find as it's between the Denny's and a parking lot, so just be vigilant while walking. They have a little shop with a receptionist and the instructors. There's a QR code for tipping your instructors which was convenient considering you're so tired after the lesson. I felt comfortable leaving all my stuff in the office (even shoes) as we walked across the street to the beach. My instructor, James, first practiced my footing, head placement, and movement. Then we paddled out, and he held my board the entire time. I got to enjoy the view prop my head on my board and give Ms. America waves even though no one was looking. That alone is worth all the money. James gave me tips and tricks each wave he pushed me in. Telling me to balance more on the right foot, etc. I felt like I had also paid to hang out with someone really cool. The vibes on the break were so chill. Everyone knew each other and were respectful with waves of hello and aloha. This is a must do in Waikiki. The waves were so soft on my beginner board and they have a 99.9% rate of success. James said he was able to help a 84 year old catch and stand up in a wave. Remarkable!!! I caught six waves and it felt incredible. I'm wiped out and exhausted, but so satisfied and excited for my next lesson. What a treat! I highly recommend Ty Gurney- ask for James!!

It was our first time surfing and we were comfortable and had so much fun…read more Coach and the entire team was amazing. I was the oldest in the group (including my kids) and Coach and Ryan were super attentive and ensured that I didn't get hurt and enjoyed myself. The team promoted connection that made the entire group of first time surfers and total strangers comfortable and supporting each other. From the time we checked in until the check out, every staff member was friendly and professional.

Excellent communication, rate quoting and responsiveness. Helped me with available times, getting…read morethe lesson booked and getting the payment paid, all in a time-sensitive way since I arrived in Oahu on Monday, was staying the week, but hadn't made advance bookings. Emily made sure all my questions were answered, advising what to wear (I asked), and what to bring to the beach, versus leave up at the shop. Amazing!! Some downsides: it's a BIG group! Even though we got semi-private lesson (1 instructor for the 2 of us), you're still taking the lesson amidst the rest of the "school"(...which for us, was 2 school buses filled with students. Maybe 25 people?) You're then all having your lesson in the same area of water, so imagine 30 beginners all on surf boards confined to a limited area on the water. I didn't love this part. You're assigned an instructor (and each of course has his/her own personality). The instructors were all great: coaching you through the positions, picking the waves for you, pushing you off into them to gather speed, and calling out when to "paddle" then "up". But each instructor inherently comes with a personality and if you get a less aggressive one, you might end up waiting for all the other students to get their turn before you get to go. Then (this part was unexpected)...you have to win all the way across, to get out of the "surf lane" of all 25 beginner surfers, before you can win back out to get in line for your next try. It was a lot of swimming for not a lot of surf trials which really tires you out. By 5 runs, I'd had enough. I have had one lesson before (which I absolutely LOVED!!) but it wasn't as part of a big school, it was just me, and one other student, and the instructor. And there was no 25-50 ft "surf lane" that you had to swim across after each attempt to get out of the way of the other students. this extra swimming ate into a lot of surfing time I think. Anyway, good experience, but I wouldn't do it again in this way. Actually, I'm not even sure I'd do it again at all. I ended up buying the photo footage because I'm so sure I'm off surfing now...so might as well buy the photos, as I'll probably never do it again. That's not how I felt after my 1st experience a few years ago in a different format.

Amazing start to our vacation! Although our day was a little windy, they have us the best…read moreopportunity to get some nice sets in! Looking to do it again before we leave the island! Thanks so much for the time and teaching us the basics despite the conditions. Still had an amazing time!

We got a GROUPON Deal for this excursion - and it is TOTALLY AMAZING. The description cannot do it…read morejustice, you just have to go! The Guide/Teacher and leader of the Canoe trip built the canoe and the paddles you will use. Other's CLAIM to be an expert, this guy is - additionally, one of the best Hawaiian Cultural -Geographical-Geological History lessons I have ever heard ANYWHERE on the island. Fun, interactive, mild to medium exercise - sea turtles came out, group was fun - because the instructor is GIFTED in story telling. Any "Walking Kiosk" can rattle off stats, figures, dates and trivia. You want to be engaged to the point of you lose track of time? GO HERE NOW!

When we were looking for surfing lessons on Oahu, Mickeys Surf School stood out to us. Lots of…read morepositive reviews of how he worked with families, and reasonable prices. We are so glad we went with Mickey. Mickey was really amazing with our kids. They tend to be shy, but he was so friendly and they had fun with him almost instantly. It was their first surf lesson, and they had a blast. It was one of the best highlights of our visit. Our kids love telling people about it. Great instructior, great lesson, and great experience for a good price! Thank you, Mickey! Can't wait to return someday.

Our experience with Mickey made our trip. He introduced my 4-year old to surfing in such a gentile…read moreand thoughtful way, ensuring a safe and positive experience. We scouted out all the options for instructors and Mickey is by far the best and highest quality. In our case, he also went out of his way to share his time early in the morning to allow for best possible conditions. My son came out of the experience with a new friend, asking when he gets to surf with Mickey again. He also had a creative Go Pro set up that documented the whole experience. Mickey is special and has a natural way with kids (and people). We are so thankful we met him, let alone surfed with him.

This is our second time using South Pacific Water Sports. When you get their ask for the Special!…read moreIt is also featured in their brochure where you get 3 activities for $99 + tax If you book online at https://www.southpacifichawaii.com it's only $89 + tax. This is a best deal in town. My son is 17 so we spent the entire day on the water. The skipper for bumper tubing was awesome and my son had an amazing time bumper boating and tubing. I was up next for Jet Skiing and I was able to hit maximum speed on the jet skis. I love to jet ski! I stay in Hawaii Kai when I visit Oahu so there are no issues with transportation getting to and from the Marina. If you are visiting, I recommended a car rental. There is plenty of free parking at the Marina. If you have to wait there are plenty of shops, Coconuts Shave Ice and Leonard's Malasadas at Koko marina. I highly recommend this place and plan on coming back again next year!

Jet ski rental is only 30 min in a closed course, "about the size of a football field" Its $59 per…read moreperson on a tandem and $84 per person if single person on a jet ski. If you do the 3 activities for $99 that includes a 30 min jet ski ride tandem.

Taking a lesson with Micah was a dream!!!! I surfed for a couple of years almost 18 years ago and…read morejust started getting back into it just over a month ago, and it is not like riding a bike. Micah made sure I had the right board according to my size and experience and went through all the safety measures. What I found really helpful was his tutorial on how to actually pop up and ride the waves in Waikiki as it is a different technique than California waves. What I found absolutely invaluable was the wealth of knowledge and intuition he had out in the water. He's like the 'Hawaiian Sea Whisperer.' He could read the waves and had me take off on the best sets. Also, what can be extremely dangerous are all the inexperienced people out on the water renting boards. Collisions happen, and people can, and do get hurt. Micah knew where to go, how to avoid that, where to paddle in, etc. This was very important. If it's your first, second, third, or even 10th time out there, I cannot recommend him enough. It'll just take your experience to a whole new level. The Moniz family have surfing in their blood. And YOU WILL HAVE THE BEST TIME. It was such a privilege to have that experience with him and I cannot wait to do it again. Aloha! ‍

Growing up in Hawaii you would think that one would know how or pick up surfing easily, well that…read morewasn't the case until I took a lesson from Micah. Micah was amazing and very patient. He broke down the basics yet the most important steps and safety about surfing and answered all of my questions. My friends and I did a group session and we were all successful at catching multiple waves. I had a blast and can't wait to get back on the board. Besides, you can't go wrong when your backdrop is the famous Waikiki and Diamond Head. Guaranteed a good time and worth every penny!

I highly recommend this surf school. It was a little tough to find at first, but Cody walked me…read morethrough all the directions and was very patient - even though we got lost and were late. The instructor (Liane?) was helpful and friendly and made my son feel very comfortable. Her patient encouragement helped him stand up within 20 minutes of getting in the water! He can't wait to do it again. If you're on O'ahu and on the fence about which school to go with, choose Surf HNL. You won't be disappointed.

We had a great experience at Surf HNL Kapolei. It was very easy to schedule and worth the price…read more Cody was very kind and professional, and he made sure my keiki felt comfortable and safe. We got so many cute pictures and videos and she was over the moon! Surfing has been her dream and we're so glad we started her out with this experience. Mahalo nui, Cody!

A huge thank you to the entire staff at Moku Surf Rentals. Every single person I interacted with…read moreover the last five days was beyond kind, friendly, helpful, and professional. Just a class-act group of people. I've been surfing for 18 years and have done around 15 international surf trips. I usually travel with my own boards, but I've also rented from plenty of surf shops over the years. I can genuinely say that my experience with every single employee here was absolutely epic. I rented your boards for 5 days & paddled out with the owner who is a splitting image of the operation staff. - friendly, knowledgeable, trusting, flexible, adds value. I also really appreciate the way you price your rentals. $25 for a quality surfboard when many other places are charging considerably more says a lot. You Molu guys clearly care about your customers, their experience, the ocean, Oahu, and the sport of surfing. And a special thank you for how you handled my little mishap! After 18 years of surfing and thousands of waves, I somehow managed to buckle my first surfboard. I caught my best wave of 2026 thought I had kicked out cleanly, and somehow the board came out of it buckled. I felt horrible like the time I was 16 years old & crashed my moms car. But you all treated me with grace and understanding. The staff couldn't have been nicer about it. Of course, I took responsibility and paid my fair share for the damage, but I really appreciated how professionally and reasonably you handled the situation. You represent Oahu and the surfing community incredibly well. You deserve a monopoly of Hawaii surf rentals. If you're reading this review and looking for a board--whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced surfer--this is an A+ operation. Great people, great boards, fair prices, and outstanding customer service. Give these guys your business. They deserve it. Mahalo to the entire Moku Surf Rentals team for making my five days of surfing in Waikiki that much better!

No more dragging boards on planes, car rentals and parking worries! Moku is right at Waikiki,…read moregreat board selection, price and OPEN past sunset so no panicking to hurry back! Good merch too!

I HIGHLY recommend a hike with Howie. I did this hike with my family with skills ranging from…read moreDivision I athletes to couch potato. Howie made this hike enjoyable for all ages and capabilities!! We are not a "hike" family, we were not expecting to love this so much, but we felt like we needed to do some site seeing (our typical vacation is sitting by the pool/beach). We ALL left Hawaii saying that this hike was the absolute best part of our trip!! The views on this trail were jaw dropping. We saw so many waterfalls and got to swim in springs. For the more athletic crew in our family, Howie took them up almost vertical trails with ropes! It was AMAZING! This truly felt like a once in a lifetime experience!

We took our first surf lesson with Howie and had an AMAZING time! We got some great photos and…read morelearned the basics! Howie's prices are very reasonable and we can't wait to get back in the water with him! Mahalo Howie for such an awesome time!!

Two of us took an early morning lesson with Al and it was worth every penny!…read more The lesson started out with a demo on positioning and how to get up on the board in a easy to follow sequence. We then worked on paddling and went down to the water soon after. Overall we had almost an hour and a half on the water. Al gave many great tips on how to improve and we got to ride many waves. Al is extremely knowledgeable. The lesson was in a nice secluded area and we were the only surfers on the water, which was perfect! By the time we ended the lesson all the other surf schools were unpacking and we were thankful for the lack of crowds. Al takes a personal interest in getting you the best experience possible. I would definitely book with Al over the other crowded lessons!

I took lessons with Al. He is amazing. Teaches safety and details with surfing for beginners like…read moreme. He is funny but serious when it deals with safety issues, getting up, and getting down from the wave. He took his time with me and made sure I was comfortable before getting out! I recommend these instructors. I did get up on 6 waves and felt confident during the experience. Thank you, Al you are amazing!!!