I was able to take surf lessons for the first time with my son. Their staff, Maddie and Amy, were…read morevery kind and knowledgeable about the different lessons provided. We took a 2 hour lesson with Dakota who was very kind and encouraging to the both of us. If you have to question whether or not to get photos of yourself during the lesson - just get them . I was entirely pleased with the photos and film that Tyler took of my son and I which made the experience 1000% times better because we were able to take a piece of these memories home with us. Dakota and Tyler were true professionals at what they do and my son and I felt completely safe and comfortable with them. I suggest not even looking at another review and just sign up for lessons here You won't regret it!

Went for a 2-hour lesson with my twin boys age 10. Had the best surf ever! Totally epic. All the…read morestaff was fantastic. It was a special treat to get coached by founder Ty Gurney himself! After 1 hour, he had the kids doing tricks. I appreciate the push into small waves, which I could then ride 150+ yards - a lifetime high! Also the paddle out and back in help was terrific, since it's a loooong paddle out. Super super fun experience! Thank you, Ty and team!

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

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.

I've been wanting to take my kids surfing in Honolulu for quite a few years but I have never been…read moresurfing and felt I needed an expert to help. Nate was recommended to me by a coworker. I sent Nate a text message and he got right back to me about a month before I planned to be in Honolulu. He said to reach out to him closer to our arrival date so we could ensure good weather for our surfing lesson. My boys are 8 and 10. They have lots of experience swimming in the ocean in Kona so I was very excited to take them surfing in Honolulu for the first time. Nate gave them a brief explanation of what to do while on the shore then he "towed" them out and the two of them looked like pros on their very first wave. The loved it! It was an incredible experience made even more special by both Nate and Peter(the photographer but also an excellent surfer who helped a lot with the boys). Do not hesitate to take your kids. It is spectacular! Expect them to be exhausted after an hour, I know I was! Looking forward to going surfing with Nate again next summer!

From the owner: At Ocean Surf School, we’re not just teaching people how to surf—we’re igniting a passion for…read morethe ocean that lasts a lifetime. An Ocean of Possibilities. Our lessons are designed for anyone who wants to connect with the ocean, regardless of age or experience level. From little groms eager to catch their first wave to adults looking to try something new. We got you. With our mix of personalized lessons, surf safaris, and in-depth video content, you’re not just learning how to ride waves—you’re embracing the lifestyle, the energy, and the spirit of surfing. Let’s catch waves and grow past our limits. Live salty, stay stoked, and shred every swell.

One of the best memories!! (Making a yelp account just to post for this surf school.) I went to…read moreOahu this past October 2024 and this was by far my favorite experience. My dad and I took a lesson with Jimmy and two other pairs of students were with his kids Mauie and Kai in the water with us. They were super sweet and fun, the on shore lesson was only about two minutes. Everyone was supportive and Jimmy was incredible timing the waves to get us going. Both my dad and I had never surfed before and were both able to get up on the boards. Mauie gave me a shirt from their school and I treasure it so much! The family is really passionate about teaching and having fun-- cannot recommend enough!!!

I've taken 5+ lessons with Waikiki Surfing School and recommended at least 10 or more friends to…read moretake classes with them. Everyone had an absolute blast. They are a lovely family-owned surfing school that caters to people of all skill levels. Every single one of my friends were beginners like me and we all stood up within our first lesson. It was so fun we couldn't stop coming back! Booking classes was easy and the whole process was straightforward. They have the surfboards, rashguards, and shoes; all you need is to come in your swimsuit and bring a towel. You can store your things inside their car during the lesson so it's secure. The lessons were relaxing and enjoyable! If you're looking for a surfing class, definitely go with them!

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!!

This surf school is a must!! My child takes a couple of classes there each time we go to Hawaii…read more Their coaches are so kind and patient. My son has learned so much from the coaches he has worked with over the years. Special shout out to Elijah and Happy!

Wonderful surf school. The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. They made sure we knew what we…read morewere doing, and why. Made sure everyone in our group was doing well. We loved it so much we had to come back again! Our great instructors were Happi, Brandon, and Tyler. Great people! Thanks for the amazing time Management give these guys a raise!

We had a terrific first lesson with John! He was super helpful over the phone and gave us all the…read moreinformation we needed before we met up at the beach. I was worried that being out of shape and overweight would prevent me from getting up on the board successfully. John was patient and super encouraging and really boosted my confidence in the water. Not only did I make it up, but I managed to ride a ton of waves during our 2 hour session. Great lesson and terrific instruction!

John is the BOMB!! I have taken a couple of friend groups…read moreout for surf lessons. We even had a 10 year old with us in one group ( who proceeded to show out on us old folks). John is patient, attentive and kept us all safe. Most important we had BIG FUN while learning. Every time I have visitors who are brave enough to get on a board this is who I call.

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!!!

For the past two summers we have done surf camps in the summer with Coach Frank and his crew. Great…read moreway to improve our surfing and overall water skills, but also make new friends. Can't wait for next year's!

Great instructor and perfect location. Loved that we didn't have to deal with the crowds in…read moreWaikiki. Frank was super friendly and patient. He provided photos and videos without charging extra. He had rash guards and water shoes since we didn't have any. We can go back and rent boards from them if we want to go back out another day. Would highly recommend!!