White Plains Beach is an out of the way beach mostly frequented by locals or military. It's not one…read moreof the famous beaches, like Waikiki or Kailua, or even one of the resorts like Aulani or Turtle Bay, so not as crowded. FPO and I went on a Friday afternoon. There's a good-sized parking lot. Given that it was a beautiful day, it wasn't that crowded. The beach is isolated enough that you'll often see seals in the area. Locals know to give them plenty of space. For the adventurous tourist who may find this beach, make sure to keep a clear distance if you encounter one. They like swimming in the small surf and dozing on the sand.

This was my first time here. I typically don't like to go to beaches that don't have parking spots…read moreso I really liked that there was plenty of parking here, which made visiting super convenient. There are also restrooms available, although I didn't get the chance to check the cleanliness or overall condition. The area feels very peaceful and relaxing, with lots of benches perfectly placed to enjoy the view of the water. I especially loved coming here early at 6 am in the morning to watch the sunrise and see the surfers out catching waves!

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!!

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!

After attending a 5 hour kid birthday party at Wai Kai the kids were exhausted, burnt and smiling…read moreear to ear. This place has rental cabanas, bentos for purchase, soft drinks, and just hours of play. The kids are equipped with life vests and there are lifeguards stationed everywhere. The floats are like huge bouncers anchored in an inlet. The water is not crystal clear but a bit murky. There are tons of tiny guppies and dragonflies. The kids just love the ability to climb, swing, and launch themselves from inflatable towers and bridges! Truly an adventure! Note though that kids should be chaperoned in the water with an adult and some play structures are not suitable for the little one. However, this is an interesting place to spend the day in the water!

I can't believe this is the first time I've come here. I had no idea. It offered more than the surf…read morewave machine. I will be coming back with my whole family. They offer the Water jungle Jam $60 per person for the whole day. They have different times per week so check on that before you come. They have a couple different restaurants and bars that you can sit at and watch your kids if you're not joining in. You can pay for lounge chairs and cabanas. I was just there for an hour for lunch and to watch some kiddos. But I will be back with my whole family.

Loved using this service while I stayed in Ko Olina! The board rentals are reasonably priced and…read morethe fact that they drop off and pickup from a ton of places is unbeatable. Mike also was super helpful with his tips on where to surf in west oahu and his communication pre drop off and pickup was chill and easy. 10/10 would use again and recommend to anyone needing to rent a board on this side of the island!

Rented SUP and surfboards for the week. Chris was awesome, picked out good rides for us, brought…read morethem to the house, provided wax. Definitely recommend.

So caring and supportive lessons! Highly recommended for all ages and abilities!! Much thanks to…read morethe team!

Straightforward and personable instruction for any first-timer. Precise directions were given so it…read morewas very easy to find the meetup location. And the beach had minimal crowds. I didn't prepay for a photo/video package but I'm glad they still took media of everyone and I was able to purchase on the back end. Mahalo Anthony and Luca

My family had a great time on a kayaking trip with Avery our guide. She explained everything well…read moreand was patient with our crew of 5. We did the trip to Moku Popoia which was perfect for getting to experience being out on the water as well as learning about the area. KBA had everything we needed for the trip from wet bags to a shop to snag any gear that we may have forgotten. The area is a great spot to experience a cool part of the island with solid food options close by and having beach access.

We book the guided Kayak excursion to The Mokes on every trip to Oahu. We enjoy the exercise,…read moreviews, and different experiences with the different guides on every trip. Even though we have done this excursion many times, there's always a twist. On our latest adventure, we got to see five monk seals, with two of them playing in the ocean like little puppies. We had a good group and had time to do extra things on this trip. Our guide, Tupre, made it a fun and interesting tour, throwing in historical and additional wildlife information. This experience solidified our decision to book Kailua Beach Adventures on our next trip to Oahu.

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.

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.

We were lucky enough to stumble on Kurt's surf lessons and I'm so glad we did! Kurt knows what he's…read moredoing, plus he truly embodies the aloha way of life. He was so encouraging with my 4 and 6 year old kids, giving them the confidence to ride alone and stand up! They were standing with Kurt (riding tandem) during the first lesson, and standing up on the board riding by themselves by the second lesson. As someone who surfs herself, but not well enough to teach my own kids, Kurt helped me share with the kids that awesome feeling of triumph with my kids when they stood up on the board the first time. His wife Misa also offers surf lessons and speaks fluent Japanese. It's clear she knows what she's doing too since she surfs tandem with her 6 month old! Also, I'm so glad to support a local small business that is just starting out! You'll find Kurt, his wife Misa and their 6 month old daughter in front of the Queens break in Waikiki every day and all day. Here's a video of the kiddos after 2 lessons with Kurt: https://youtu.be/e4NG82slyuE

My daughter and I decided to take a Surfing lesson from Shakattack 808 and it was the best…read moreexperience ever. Our instructor was amazing, my daughter got up on the board every time and I got up most of the time, lol. But it was the first time surfing for both of us. I would definitely recommend Shakattack to anyone that wants to have a blast in the water and stand up on the board!! Can't wait to come back and do it again!!