Very friendly staff and great about making sure we get lots of wave time. They take photos and videos of you too. Highly recommend!

100% recommend the Ohana Surf Project. These guys made my first time surfing a breeze. Maybe they're great teachers, maybe Waikiki is the best place to learn to surf. Whatever it was, I was standing up on the board in no time, got to catch a ton of waves and was given great pointers. Loved, loved, loved. Saw other classes where people weren't being getting nearly as much attention as our little crew. If you're thinking about surf lessons while you're here in Hawaii, these guys are awesome. read more

Couldn't ask for a better experience for my first time surfing. Staff was friendly and encouraging throughout the lesson. I didn't feel pressured and just really had a fun experience that really was the focus from the beginning. I would definitely recommend these folks for anyone looking to enjoy surfing for the first time. Great job guys! read more

We registered for semi private lessons which were part of a group. It was done really well. We had one instructor for the 2 of us, Hughes, who was incredibly patient with me. The whole staff was great and they work well together as a team, which makes this company really stand out in the service they provide customers from booking, to pre session questions, to transportation to the actual lessons. It was a great experience and glad to have done it with Ohana. read more

My 7 year old had a blast surfing for the first time! They are very attentive and professional.

We had a wonderful time learning how to surf from Ohana surf project. All of the teachers were very attentive and we learned so fast. My husband and I had an amazing time with them and enjoyed every second of it. Highly recommended them if you're on vacation or a local and wanting to learn how to surf. read more

I had my very first surf lesson with Taylor and she was great and so patient with me! I had an amazing 1 hour session and definitely applaud all the surf instructors for their awesome job & spirit. I was able to stand and rid e few waves and it was amazing and made me want to stay there longer and get more lessons. Mahalo! read more

Recommended by a friend Pancho. Tried it out the day of our flight, and I totally regret not coming for lessons earlier on. I got the hang of it in the beginning and started to fall after, but the instructors gave me specific tips on how to improve and I was eventually able to catch waves without falling into the water! Definitely go for the two-hour experience, it's great because the safety video takes around 15-20 minutes already. Now I'm ready to buy my own surf board and surf in Vancouver :) Great way to end my vacation in O'ahu. read more

Ohana Surf Project - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We had an absolute blast. Chelsea was patient, helpful, and full of enthusiasm. My two kids and I had a ton of fun, and felt like we learned and got better with the lesson. We were lucky: saw the vans and a tent by the beach, and were able to sign up and get in the water within 20 min. It felt very professional, well organized, yet personal. Did I mention, Chelsea was super awesome? Sean and Kevin were very helpful too. Highly recommended. BTW, the location right next to the Barefoot cafe proved a great find. Not crowded, like the Waikiki beach a few hundred yards away, with just the right waves to learn. read more

My girlfriend and I visited Hawaii for the first time and we knew we had to get a beginner surf lesson in. Every single person from the instructors to the private pick up person to/from the hotel were amazing. pure fun!!! and now I can say I can REALLY surf!!! read more

Awesome experience! Went with my sister and brother-in-law, first time surfing for all of us and we all got up and had some nice long rides. Our guides were really helpful with the basics and then giving us more and more tips to improve. Tim was a freakin legend as our main instructor as were the whole team. Really fun pics and videos from the water too read more

Best lesson ever! My only regret is not doing it earlier on in my trip. Chelsea, Nick, and Sean are amazing teachers and really encourage us learners in such a positive way. I don't know how to swim (like at all), and they all made sure I was okay to go so far out and made sure I was comfortable in the water. They really made the experience, lesson, and sport so fun! I am figuring out my next trip out to HI just so I can take a few more lessons with them!! BTW, not only are all 3 of them wonderful teachers, but they are super friendly and I loved getting to know them and talking to them whenever we passed by their school bus. read more

Really great experience. Went early one morning which was nice because I didnt have to wait long. David was a great instructor. I did a semi private tour which was nice got the attention I needed as I was nervous about being in the water. They recommend having water shoes in case you touch the floor of the ocean especially when you are further out. Luckily when I fell off i didn't touch the ground. Also I was able to catch a eace with help within 10 min!! Super fun! read more

I had a one on one lesson and the instructor was very attentive. All of the instructors were encouraging and patient. The energy of the whole experience was really good. I'd go back to them again. read more

I have so much to say about this surf school. They helped make our Hawaiin vacation so much more special with so many awesome memories(all captured on video and camera!). We booked a 2 hour lesson for our kids on our first day here, and I'm so glad because they loved it enough that we let them do two other lessons throughout the week. The instructors definitely live up to the name that the owner cleverly selected for this school- Ohana. They treated my kids like family, and for the first time ever I was completely comfortable with them being out in the ocean. I observed other schools in the same vicinity, but didn't see the same level of engagement that these instructors had. They all went out of their way to be friendly and welcoming from the moment you stepped onto the beach. The experience that they gave my kids was worth every penny, and the pictures and videos that they took will allow them to keep those memories forever. read more

Ohana Surf Project - Two of the most awesome surf instructors in Hawaii (Chelsea and Taylor not pictured but equally awesome) - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This was our first time surfing. My fiancé and I did a private lesson with Tiana and Eli, and they were so amazing. Really enjoyed our time and would highly recommend this company! Also if you aren't a good swimmer, they do provide life vests as well! read more

I am usually very tough to please. And these guys rocked. Troy was amazing and made me do very little work except stand. Chelsea gave me the best advice "chill! Relax! Just stand up" read more

Amazing surfing instruction. They are patient, encouraging, and supportive. K and Kai were very kind. They worked with my friends and I, even though we were all at different levels. The instructor in charge of taking pictures not only got some amazing shots but was also dedicated to giving instruction, encouragement, or helping us catch a wave. Highly recommend! read more

Ohana surf project is definatly the top of the line surf school. I booked my 9 years old a two hour day private lesson for two days. At first I was a bit over whelmed reading reviews from different schools in the area. Finally settling on Ohana. My son had a blast. The way he was looked after by his instructors was absolutely amazing. They are very attentive and very aware of their surrounding. I am very impressed by Ohana and their team. You will not go wrong with this establishment. read more

Teenage niece and nephew came to visit from CA and wanted to take a surf lesson. Originally planning to go with another company but didn't hear back and ran into Ohana Surf Project on the street so ended up making a reservation with them. Reservation procedure was streamlined, clean easy-to-navigate website, email confirmations timely...all the pre-lesson admin process was tight. We arrived for our scheduled lesson and the kids felt comfortable and excited. Had an awesome lesson...got some basics down and felt competent in the water. Instructors were encouraging, fun, and doing what they love. The kids are super fired up to surf more on their own. Ohana Surf Project got some great photos and videos that we had the option to purchase after...of course we did...they want to share their feats with their parents and friends :) Aloha spirit runs through the veins of the company and the staff. Highly recommend. Kama'aina rates apply. Thank you, Ohana Surf Project, for taking such good care of my people. Blessings upon your company, customers, and workers! read more

The staff at Ohana Surf project were really great. My kids learned a lot from the instructors. The experience was super fun and educational. Super good for beginner surfers. Would recommend 10/10. read more

Cannot say enough about this organization! Super organized, terrific response and follow ups to all questions and scheduling issues. Very personal and professional, put us at ease as we trusted Ohana Surf Project with our four young daughters. Taylor and Chelsea were wonderful and our girls raved about how much they learned in one short lesson (not short, actually two generous hours!). They provide boards and really good pre-lesson forms and info. Strongly encourage anyone considering surf lessons to join this Ohana. read more

Had a great first-time surf experience with Ohana. My two daughters, ages 8 and 13, and I had a 2 hour family lesson with Nick. Each of us were able to get up on the board and surf during our lesson. The girls had some trepidation during their first time in the waves, but Nick's calming demeanor and coaching turned them into enthusiastic participants who could stand up and ride a wave. After the lesson they wanted to surf with Ohana again but our vacation ran out of time. Best experience of our vacation on Oahu. read more

This was first time SUPing in the ocean. I knew it was going to be a different experience than the calm lakes and rivers I'm used to in Oregon. My husband and I signed up for a 2-hour group SUP lesson. It only ended up being the two of us so it was a nice private lesson. I ordered the photo package which I highly recommend so you can concentrate on your lesson. Chelsea is an amazing patient teacher. So chill and knowledgeable and encouraging. I just want to hang out with her!! Parking was easy and their location is perfect for easy entry and relatively calm waters to learn in. read more

I booked a one-on-one one hour stand up paddling lesson with Ohana Surf Project. They picked me up at my hotel, and had water shoes and rash guards available. They provided a quality board and paddle, and my instructor worked with me initially on land teaching me where and how to stand, and also how to get on the board if I fell off. Then we hit the water. She started me out in a relatively calm area, and after I showed some confidence she took me over to a deeper and slightly rougher area of water. I felt safe and well instructed the entire time, and she took some still photos and videos with a GoPro camera during the lesson. What I did not know at the time, until I spotted it, was they also had a drone out there being operated by another employee that was taking some very high quality video and stills. When I saw them after my lesson was over, I was more than happy to buy the package (which was optional) because it was so high quality. I will plan to book another lesson on my next trip to build on my new skills, maybe even surf a wave! The photo is one the drone took of me and my instructor, and the drone flies in very close and gets some great closeup shots. As you can see from the shot, the area we were in had plenty of room, even though it was right off Waikiki Beach. read more

Ohana Surf Project - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Myself and two friends did a 2-hour surf lesson with Ohana Surf Project in Honolulu during our vacation there and it was fantastic! I had never surfed before so I was a bit nervous, but they provide all the gear you need and Kevin was awesome -- he showed us everything we'd need to know when we got out on the water (to stay safe and have a good time) and the helped us catch a ton of waves (and when we got too tired from paddling, he helped tow us out lol). Taylor, the photographer, got a bunch of photos that we could share with friends and family to prove that we actually stood up :) 10/10 recommend! read more

Matt and Chelsea are the best. I took a 2-hour lesson and Matt got me up on the board on my first try. Honestly I was a little timid about trying surfing for the first time because I'm no kid but I had a great time and it was wonderful to be out on the water. Do it!!! It's fun to have the option of buying photos and short videos of your time on the water. read more

Great team and great location. My second time with this company and they are fantastic. My group had many returning customers, it's got to a testament of the great service. Can't wait to come back again with the family. They also do a photo package at the end as they snap photos and GoPro video you and your group for the whole time. Extremely fair price especially if it's for a group. The price is at least 50-100% cheaper than the surf companies on the beach. read more

I had the best experience in my lesson with Kevin. He was patient and gave great tips as well as get me using a smaller board. I want to learn to surf but am self-conscious about my size and fitness level. There aren't a lot of people I see surfing that are plus-sized. I expressed this when I was booking and was assured all staff had experience with people of all sizes. I felt very comfortable with all the instructors there. Never out of place or like a challenge. I will definitely be back! read more

Our instructors were awesome. They made sure we were safe at all times and let us go at our own pace. They were friendly, patient, informative, and all around just nice people. They didn't push us to buy anything after the lesson. I'm glad I went with Ohana Surf Project to learn how to surf. If you are looking to learn how to surf, I highly recommend them. read more

The whole team was great! My instructor Max was patient and great at teaching I was able to get up on my second attempt! Would definitely recommend and will be back for more! Also the photos I got were awesome! And weren't over proverb I can't remember the girls name but she was great! read more

All I want to do is surf now! Thanks so much to my instructor for recognizing that some of us are not in great shape and need to pace ourselves. Oh and for booking a "group lessen" for me even though nobody else came so I basically got a private lessen for $30 less. The rest of the year is gonna suck now because i'll be back in Oregon wishing I could go surfing again. p.s I stood up MULTIPLE times. If Chelsea can get me to stand up pretty much anyone can do it with her coaching them. read more

Such a great experience. They took really good care of both adults and the kids - made sure we all got some waves. Also took FANTASTIC photos. Do yourself a favor and book with them. read more

My son is starting school at UOH, and along with getting his dorm room ready, he needed to get his Aloha kick started....bring on surfing. The team at Ohana Surf were amazingly chill yet at the same time extremely attentive. By the end my son was catching waves without any assistance. Jayden was our guide and he was a lot of fun and super helpful. Chelsea was out there and quick to step in and add just the right advice if she saw a technique adjustment was needed. Thank you to the entire team! read more

I did not take surfing lessons, just my two sons aged 9 and 7. It is indirect review. My two sons must have had a blast during the past two days surfing with Ohana Surf Project. They begged me to extend our vacation for two more days to take additional surfing lessons. I had to extend everything from hotels airtickets and rental cars but, I did not hesitate since I have not seen them so excited about outdoor activities like this. Two instructors and all the staff were very friendly. I believe their names were Kevin and Matt.( Not too sure about the names). It was the best $ I spent for my two Ipad addicted sons. Will definitely comeback next year and look for them again. Thank You. read more

Ohana Surf Project - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Nick provided an answer to all my questions succinctly and converted a (former) land animal into one that understands the sea a lot more. Patient, sincere, and tons of fun. Kainoa was like the papa bear giving me much needed motivation and discipline and honestly, I was straight up starstruck! Chelsea made it so simple for me to book my lesson and it was effortless. Just remember that these guys work hard at their craft and much respect goes out to them. I had my lesson on MLK Day, so Waikiki proper was undoubtedly packed, and as a beginner, you don't want snorkelers or tourists surrounding you while you're trying to do something totally new. Nick picked me up in the OSP Mobile from the meetup spot and we headed over to Diamondhead. Full service! Mahalo to OSP and until we meet again, Aloha! read more

First time in Hawaii and first time surfing. Booked a one hour private lesson and it is perfect. Please request Kahi as your instructor. Kahi is such a very friendly and patient young guy and always does his best to help you stand on the surfboard. The lesson is so fun. Good job Kahi! read more

Amazing place to take surf lessons! Our 14 year old granddaughters had a private lesson with Mark who was very, very good with them. He was a very patient and great teacher. I highly recommend Ohana Surfing Project especially the private lessons. read more

Condescending coaches, out of a van on the street operation, my son taught himself despite the negative attitudes of instructors. YouTube is a better coach! read more

Super chill and relaxed. I jumped on as a last-minute solo addition to a group 2-hour lesson. They run a tight ship and give you as many waves as you're able to paddle out for. Would recommend for anyone trying to get their surfing on during their vacation. It's easy to forget how tiring it is to paddle out, but Danny and the crew will help keep you moving. The photo/videos for sale afterwards are decently priced too. read more