Just book with Mickey! There is a plethora of surf instructors and schools to choose from but Mickey is truly the best instructor ever! He is patient and kind when it comes to teaching. We took one lesson with him during our trip for our wedding and we had such a positive experience that we're making plans to take another lesson before we leave. My fiancé and I were both able to stand on our boards and catch some waves with his help and guidance. I was really nervous about surfing initially and I didn't even think I'd be able to stand up on the board let alone ride a wave! Mickey, thank you for being so genuine and bringing aloha to our day! This by far has been the highlight of our trip! Side note, he also keeps your belongings safe and takes amazing videos on his Go Pro to share with you at the end of your lesson! read more

Outstanding, simply outstanding! We signed my son (10yrs old) for a surf lesson today and suffice to say he finished the lesson bubbling over with excitement about how fun surfing was, how awesome Mickey was and when he could go back. Mickey is warm, genuine and a true educator. His patience and enthusiasm for teaching people how to surf is unmatched! It's hard to share a hidden gem with the world, but really Mickey is one of them. The GoPro footage he shared was the icing on the cake- and watching the footage afterwards was incredible, especially seeing the huge smile on my son's face when he was surfing! Thank you so much Mickey, you're amazing and if you want an amazing instructor- Mickey absolutely is your guy! read more

We spent 3 weeks in HI. Surfing with Micah was by far the #1 best thing we did on vacation. My daughter regularly surfs. She has taken many surf lessons by different instructors. Micah is amazing. He picked the perfect board and offered great tips. Additionally and most importantly my daughter had the best time surfing with him. He's goofy and made surfing so much fun. We stayed an hour away from Waikiki but drove back multiple times just to surf again with him. My daughter had a friend whom had never surfed. He was able to let both kids surf at the same time. It was amazing to see him in action. He was so great with both the kids. Both girls got so many waves. An added bonus was priceless photos he provided. Don't think twice and book with Mickey. He is the man! I will plan a vacation back just to surf again with him. Thank you Micah!!! read more

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I reached out to Mickey after reading all the glowing reviews, hoping for an awesome lesson.. Unfortunately, Mickey is extremely unprofessional. Friday: he confirmed a lesson over the phone but didn't send me a meet up location Friday and Saturday: I repeatedly texted him asking where to meet. Sunday afternoon: Mickey replied with "you didn't respond to my text so I gave canceled your appointment", with zero apology whatsoever. Are you serious? Forgetting is one thing, shamelessly blaming on the party is a whole other level of unprofessionalism. Luckily, I was smart enough not to pay him before receiving further instructions. Another review said the business owner pays to remove negative reviews. I believe him, because Mickey doesn't strike me as a stand-up guy. read more

Mickey is rated 5 stars for a reason. I am so glad Yelp steered me towards his surfing school and I booked my first surfing class with him. You can tell his passion for surfing and teaching. What impressed me the most, Mickey meets you at your level and adjusts his instructions to best suit your learning style. That's a hallmark of a great teacher. I can't stop watching the videos (highly recommend the video package!) and watching how much fun I had in the water. I left the session with great respect for surfing, an unforgettable experience, and great life lessons as well. Looking forward to booking my next session when I come back to Hawaii! Thank you Mickey! read more

We had lessons on Christmas Eve for our two boys (11 and 6). It was really busy on Waikiki beach, but Micah made it all work. Micah is not only a great surf instructor but also a really nice guy. He was great with the kids and taught the boys the right way to do it. He also takes videos of the lessons and provides them free of charge, which is a huge value and captures the memories. I would recommend Micah to anyone that wants to learn to surf and wants someone that will make them feel comfortable! read more

TL;DR: If you only have one chance to try surfing in Hawaii, Mickey is the one you're looking for. Stop searching and book now. Seriously. I tried other schools too, Mickey's lesson was beyond comparison. ----------- So, you've finally arrived in the paradise on earth, and you want to use this once in a lifetime chance to try out surfing. You need to leave your kid at the kids club, or you may have other activities planned, so 1.5 hour is all you have, no more than that. You don't know when you'll be back in Hawaii again, if ever. You're looking for the best shot, the one and only chance, the best surfing instructor to give you the best first-time surfing experience. Let me tell you: 【Look no further, Mickey is the one.】 What Mickey provides is not those ordinary "give surfing a try" type of lesson. It's a personalized surfing instruction curated to YOUR need. Mickey takes his time to get to know who *you* are, what *you* are hoping to achieve, and what *you* have already attempted. I am confident to say that every Mickey's student has had a different lesson, because that's what Mickey does. Confucius taught us that "因材施教" is the best way to give instructions, and that's exactly what Mickey is capable of doing. I have done and learned so much during my 60 minutes with Mickey that I couldn't believe I could achieve so many things in an hour. He taught me the tricks to stand up on the board, to balance, to stay stable. He showed me how to watch the waves, told me how to do things right, showed me who's doing things wrong. He told me what I did right and what I did wrong. He took videos for me which impressed all my friends and families. I don't even think I need to talk about the affordable rate, because how's the experience I had with Mickey? It was priceless. read more

I just had my first Quality Surf Lesson at the Waikiki beach. Mickey's very friendly, easy going, and detail oriented when it comes to teaching how to surf. Mickey gave me tips and tricks that no one taught me and what it actually matters on surfing. I had several lessons in my life, and by far, Mickey's lesson was the most valuable from all. I was lucky enough to learn from him and now I feel confident to surf at other places with his tips. Plus, he films you while he surfs along side with you, not everybody offer this, and yes, they look gorgeous. Highly recommended, Surf with Mickey! read more

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This was my first time ever surfing. I had a superb experience with Mickey as my surf instructor. I was late to my lesson but he made sure there wasn't a fuss and worked around it to make sure I had ample time. Mickey is fun, knowledgeable, informative, safe, entertaining, and made me feel comfortable from beginning to end. Going in, I thought it would be a one-time great experience. But afterward, he had me wanting more. My 1-hour lesson turned into a 2-hour session. Highly recommend this spot if you're in Waikiki and a beginner. Thanks again Mickey, will be back soon! read more

Amazing experience. Mickey was very friendly and helpful. I am a beginner and I learned so much in the 1.5 hours lesson. He was extremely caring and it shows how passionate Mickey was. I had a lot of fun and would definitely come back when in Oahu. Thanks Mickey! read more

Mickeys Surf School - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Micah was so patient and attentive with my boys. My boys had an amazing experience. Definitely the highlight of our vacation. Highly recommend Mickey's Surf School. read more

Mickeys Surf School - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Mickey was patient, down to earth and friendly and actually taught me some stuff about surfing, which hadn't really happened in the group lessons I'd taken before. As soon as I was done with my lesson I was figuring out when I could take another with him. Thanks Mickey! read more

If you want to take your first surfing lesson in Hawaii, no doubt that you wanna to find Mickey for that. Very experience, professional and patient instructor, learnt a lot from him. A+ experience and had the best time in the waters of Waikiki. He shared the video of me surfing on board at the end of the class. Love him so much, highly recommend him to everyone who wants to learn surfing read more

Micah is the best! He took my boys out and had them up on the first ride. Most importantly, the boys had a blast. Invited us back to hang out on the waves with him and even let my boys use his board when we weren't even there for a lesson. Very personable and we look forward to hanging out with Micah next summer again. read more

Our surf lesson with Mickey was the highlight of our trip! I've never surfed before and would only consider myself a survival swimmer (if you chucked me in the ocean I could float, but search and rescue would be needed to get me ashore). Prior to our surf lesson I was definitely nervous! The other surf instructors we saw in the water were simply standing in waist deep water yelling "up up up" to their students whenever a small wave came by, which definitely didn't involve much "instructing". Mickey, however, was an excellent teacher! He's very knowledgeable about how to paddle out while conserving your energy, picking out the best spot to wait for a wave, and giving helpful tips on how to improve your balance on the board, etc. Best of all, Mickey made me feel safe! My husband was already a good swimmer and had taken a surfing lesson in the past so Mickey was able to stick with me and help me catch a bunch of waves! To echo everyone else's reviews, this was definitely the most fun and educational surfing experience and we're sure to return for more lessons in the future! read more

I found Mickey through high recommendations by 2 of my friends that had their first surfing lesson with him. Not only is he a patient and experienced instructor, he also teaches you about the ocean, surfing etiquette, and how to be safe. Each lesson is tailored to the individual, and he also provides recording with a GoPro. I cant say enough good things about Mickey, and I'll be sure to return the next time I am in Hawaii and recommending him to all my friends as well! read more

Highly recommend!!! Mickey's surfing lessons were no doubt the highlight of my trip. He is extremely patient and goes above and beyond anything you can expect. He makes sure you are prepared by giving lessons on land and also provides you pointers and tips and paddles out with you to the waves. With his guidance, I was able to stand up and actually ride some waves, an unbelievable experience!! Mickey is super passionate about surfing and so cool to have him share his stories and teach us. He genuinely wants you to learn the correct techniques to surf and provides you the perfect sized board and gives you so many chances to catch a wave. The pictures and videos he took on his GoPro was an amazing add! Mickey is such a chill and down to earth guy, we even came back later in the day to hang out. This experience made me appreciate surfing a lot more and gave me the confidence to go out and try again :) read more

Don't waste time in the water without Mickey - he knows Waikiki like the back of his hand. What caught my eye was Mickey's great reviews and competitive hourly rate for group and individual lessons. Mickey accommodated me within 24 hours and we met up at 7am (a great time to avoid heavy sun and crowds). He provided video instruction the night before and graciously chased down a chair for my mother who got to spectate from the beach and umbrella chair. On the water, Mickey gave me all the tips and tricks that a novice needs, and within 15 minutes of entering the water I was successfully getting up on the majority of waves I was attempting. Because Mickey is born and raised in Honolulu, he has decades of surfing experience and could point out the exact spots for catching waves. As I got up on a wave, Mickey even brought out the GoPro to capture some sweet, side-by-side footage of me riding a wave in. I felt like a pro surfer with the close-ups! As is true in surfing (and in life), it's all about preparation and Mickey set me up for success. He is highly experienced, naturally warm and even conversant in Japanese, Korean and a bit of Chinese. I'll be sure to call him up next time in Waikiki to advance my surfing skills. read more

Bored of snorkeling? Tired of watching people surf from the shore and feeling FOMO? Look no further, Mickeys your dude. It was our first time getting on a surfboard and so glad we found Mickey. My gf worried she won't catch any waves, but ended up riding 90% of the waves with mickeys help. He's a good teacher, patient and has good attention to detail. I can tell he wants to share his love for surfing and not just teaching for the money. 10/10 would recommend! Almost forgot. He takes vids of you surfing and it's included with the lesson :) read more

While on our family vacation in Oahu (6/2019), I wanted to do something for myself and my son that I've always desired but never timed when I had the chance: Learn to surf! I went searching on Google for surf lessons in Waikiki and Mickeys Surf School was one of the top results. I read a bunch of positive reviews and decided I'd reach out while we were at dinner two days prior. Micah responded via text message within minutes and we worked everything out within a few text exchanges. He sent some pictures of himself and him giving a lesson so we would recognize him when we met him at the beach. Additionally, he sent some videos for us to watch with two different styles of popping up on the board, so we could try at home and each of us (my son and I) decide which style we'd prefer him to teach us. On lesson day, I was running late because I got a little lost trying to walk to the beach, and stressed out that I was wasting his time, but when we got there he was totally cool and reminded me immediately of the chill Hawaii approach to life, plus, well, you can't control the waves! We had to wait for them anyway. We helped him get the boards and learned a little about his history along the way. Great conversation. He showed us a little on-beach instruction to get the hang of how to get up on the board, where to stand for best balance, etc, and then it was time to pop in the water! The lesson was awesome. I spent years snow boarding so I only needed his help for the first few minutes to get the hang of it, and then started working on it alone, and Micah turned and focused on my son (11yo) much of the rest of the lesson, which was perfect. My son had an amazing time, laughing, surfing, and they even found and a freed a sea turtle stuck in a fishing line! Both of us were able to catch and stand for upwards of a dozen waves over about 90 minutes. Micah even brought his GoPro and took some videos during the lesson, which we uploaded to my phone at the end. Overall, it was an awesome experience, and as a resident of San Francisco, it makes me want to run out and buy a wet suit and a surf board to continue learning (the water is a *tad* bit colder here...). Micah was patient, fun, and totally positive. He also speaks both English and Japanese, and runs into a myriad of friends on the beach, some of which whose families he offered to relax in the shade under his umbrella while we were all off in the water. I absolutely recommend Mickeys Surf School and if I'm back in Oahu, I'll be calling him back for another lesson! read more

I am usually skeptical of all five star reviews of any business on Yelp- but I can tell you that all of the rave reviews for Mickey's are real. We had two sessions with Mickey (a mix of adults and kids). Everyone had a great experience. My daughter is not a swimmer and usually not quick to try new things, and she absolutely loved the lesson with Mickey. Mickey loves people and what he does. He is warm and genuine. He made everyone feel comfortable even through a language barrier. Aloha through and through. read more

I don't normally write reviews but I just had to because Mickey is awesome and instilled the love of surfing for my 2 boys (ages 10 and 5)! They had never surfed before but he had them up on boards and surfing in less than an hour! Not only was he great on teaching them technical form - he is SO encouraging during the learning process, and simply just SO MUCH fun! They were laughing and smiling the entire time - he is just fantastic! They ended up wanting to surf a few more days of our trip. We just came back to the islands and went to Maui this time. They asked to do surf lessons again, and they were great here in Maui, but both boys hands down said they loved surfing with coach Mickey because he was SO FUN and really made them love the surf and look forward to going back to Oahu to get more lessons with him! read more

Mickey is awesome. Period. He's honest, attentive, detailed-oriented and a local who knows how to teach YOU how to read waves and why they break the way they do. I took 4 lessons with him and enjoyed every one so much, I brought my kids for their own surf lesson. He helped them become ambassadors of the sea, learning about how pollution and careless human practices affect the wildlife nearby. He also provided free photography and video so that we would know how/where to improve. He is my 4th and only surf teacher with whom I'll engage with going forward. Highly recommend you make an appointment with him ASAP. read more

Micah is fun, friendly and a great instructor that will make learning surf easy peasy!

I communicated and set up the lessons for my hubby and 3 kids (11, 16, & 18). We set everything up via text. Micah was quick to respond and very thorough. The family surfed while I sat on the beach. They all came back with rave reviews if Micah and how much fun they had out in the water. Micah connected the GoPro to my phone and transferred the videos after the lesson. He came highly recommended by close friends who do a lot of surfing and he did not disappoint. Micah is genuine and his love for the water and people clearly shows. We walked away happy and the kids asking to surf with Micah again when we come back to the island. Mahalo Micah! read more

Mickey gave my family a life-long experience that we'll never forget. He encouraged us all to give it a try, believe in ourselves and, most of all, have fun! I can't believe what an impact he had on every one of us in such a short time. He was encouraging, SO we'll-versed in the techniques and unbelievable at coaching us to success beyond what we thought was possible. He connected instantly to our kids and made me and my wife feel very safe with our family in his hands. He taught us about surfing history, safety tips to keep us in the right place and ways for us to care for ourselves and other surfers. Mickey couldn't be more genuine, trustworthy, caring and fun. And I feel all of us are better having met him. read more

Mickeys Surf School - Mickey and my family after an amazing surf lesson. - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Wow! What a great experience for my 9 year old! She has never surfed before but with Micah, it was all fun and exhilaration! He stayed with her the whole time and eventually worked up to where she could stand and catch a wave on her own. He's super talented able to do so many things at once! On top of that he's goes above and beyond to make sure his students have the best experience possible. Thank you! read more

Mickeys Surf School - Micah filming my girl during the lesson! - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Mickey is the absolute best surf instructor you can find. He is absolutely incredible - I didn't worry for a second while my son was out there with him; I knew he'd be very safe. I highly, highly recommend Mickey - you won't be disappointed. I was born and raised on Oahu and never quite got to the point where I could stand up on a board; I bet if I had actually taken lessons with Mickey I would have. Ha! read more

Mickeys Surf School - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

First things first, Mickey is just a cool dude who loves what he does and it shows. My boy was not going to take surf lessons with me but Mickey made him feel comfortable enough to out there and stood up on his first wave. My boy and I had such a bonding experience thanks to Mickey. Till next time my friend! read more

Mickeys Surf School - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Amazing amazing experience. Mickey was super nice and a really great teacher. This was all our first time surfing, and he took 3 of us out for a couple hours and we all caught a bunch of waves. He was very helpful and willing to put in effort to make sure we had a good time. Definitely would reccommend! read more

If you want to surf, Mickey is your guy! He is kind, encouraging and a pro at what he does. Mickey takes his time and helps you learn the basics of surfing while always remaining professional. My daughter has never surfed and yet through his mastery of the sport, he was able to guide her through the basics. She was able to surf multiple waves all the while feeling safe and secure because Mickey was by her side. Mickey has a shady spot on the beach for parents to hang out while he gives his lesson. Mickey provided us with a fantastic video of my daughters lesson on the board. Mahalo to Mickey for making wonderful memories on the island. read more

Mickeys Surf School - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

BEST SURF LESSONS EVER! My 6 year old loves surfing now. Micah is a child whisper and really is at ease in the ocean and has the ability to teach my daughter how to love it as much as he does. He is the real deal. He is so kind and good natured and a great communicator. We will come back for more lessons on our next visit. read more

My boyfriend and I had such a wonderful experience with Mickey! Mickey was an informative, helpful, friendly, and overall great instructor. It's clear he's been doing this for a while - his instructions were easy to follow and understand, even for a first time surfer like me. I had no idea surfing would be so fun, but Mickey's kindness and patience made the experience so great. We got some really cool photos and videos from it, too. I would HIGHLY recommend booking with Mickey!! read more

Mickey is such a great surfer and teacher (and pro photographer)! It was my last day in Waikiki and this class made my Hawaii experience so memorable! I had a private session with Mickey for an hour in the afternoon of Dec 11. Mickey showed me the moves at first on the beach and we headed to the waves. It was my very first time of surfing and Mickey made this experience very fun, interactive and not tiring (with the magical paddle), so I got to become more interested in this sport. Thank you so much Mickey! read more

Mickeys Surf School - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Outstanding experience! Mickey has a welcoming energy and knowledgeable. He built my confidence and took me step by step. I was on the board my first lesson. Learned so much. The community you find in the water to catch a wave is memorable. The video keepsake is a wonderful keepsake. Highly recommend Mickey! read more

Mickeys Surf School - Catching a wave in my first lesson! - Paddleboarding Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Mickey is very professional and is easily reached via text. He's flexible and very accommodating. If you're in the area you shouldn't hesitate to book your surf lesson from him! read more

As all the other reviewers have shared, Mickey is an excellent surf instructor and an overall cool human! My 8 year daughter and I wanted to learn how to surf for the first time while on a quick trip to Waikiki. After searching for surf schools, I determined that Mickey's school sounded like the most approachable for newbies like us. We had so much fun during our 90-minute session with Mickey! He was funny, calming, and attentive to me and my daughter. I highly recommend him and plan to come back and take another lesson with him. read more

I am lucky to find Mickey from Yelp. Indeed, he is the best in Hawaii for his in depth knowledge about the ocean, waterman skills and care for learners. Mickey is fun and intuitive who is also capable of taking a video footage during a session. One of a kind! read more

Mickey is very patient and works to build confidence in his students in teaching them how to surf. He's hard-working and great with kids. This is exactly what we wanted for a Waikiki surf lesson. read more

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Mickey took me surfing yesterday and the only reason I gave him 5 stars is Yelp won't let me give him more. I went with him because of the good reviews and the reasonable prices, and I had an excellent experience. He sends you videos ahead of time so you can have an understanding of the proper technique, and then works with you on the beach before taking you out in the water. What sets him apart is that he goes out in the water with you and tailors the lesson to your ability and how quickly you catch on (in my case, not very quickly). He also keeps the lesson fun and upbeat. As a bonus, he brings a Go Pro with him and gives you video of your lesson for free. I had never been surfing before, but had a great time. Highly recommend. read more