Absolutely awesome experience. Al was great at communicating, and confirmed our lesson the afternoon before. He was early to the meeting spot--a great location near the aquarium. We took a private surf lesson with our family of 4, including our 2 sons (ages 9 and 8). We weren't sure exactly what to expect, but Al blew away expectations. Al was patient with our sons, and showed us on land how we would get up on our surfboards once we got out into the ocean. He also stressed safety--how to fall, how to avoid each other, etc. Especially with 2 kids, we appreciated the safety-first aspect of his lesson--we were on Hawaii on vacation, and nothing would have ruined a vacation quicker than an injury! Once we got out onto the water, Al got all 4 of us standing on our surfboards within the first 2 or 3 waves that each of us rode. We each rode waves as far as they would take us without falling. As we progressed through the lesson, Al kept teaching each of us more and more as we were able to handle it--and, to his credit, he was teaching each of us different things depending on our strengths. For instance, I started trying to paddle to catch my own waves based on Al's instructions, and my 8-year-old son started "reading the waves" to identify and choose which waves would be best for him to surf--again, based on Al's coaching and teaching. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. If you're looking for a surf experience while on Oahu, look no further than Al--you'll get a patient, effective teacher who is focused on keeping you safe while you have fun. Next time we're in Hawaii...I'll probably call Al again! read more

We had a terrific experience with Alysha's Surf School (the school is named after Al's daughter Alysha - how sweet is that?). We were a group of three and we paid $43 pp for a two hour lesson with board, rash guard, and shoe rental. We started with a 20 minute lesson on land to learn the basics of paddling, turning, stopping, and getting up on the board. Then, we followed our instructor (forgot his name but he was nice!) into the water on our long boards. He found a good spot for us and pushed us into the waves. It was a blast! I highly recommend this for anyone on vacation in Honolulu. It is pretty inexpensive compared to other activities and other surf schools. Alysha's is the best. Our only regret is that we did this too late into our vacation and couldn't plan a second lesson :-) read more

You can't get a better surf coach than Al! He knows his stuff. I don't write reviews, but I just had a lesson with him and had to write one because he's so good! I've had some lessons before with different people and went out with friends but I couldn't stand up and left exhausted without riding any waves. I ended up joining some friends for a group lesson with Al and was blown away by first, being able to actually stand and ride a wave and second, his teaching style and how knowledgeable he is and open to teaching. He stresses safety and I felt super comfortable the entire time. He actually wants you to learn and gets excited when you catch a wave. GREAT TEACHER! I don't use caps often, but seriously he is a phenomenal teacher that wants to see you improve and is clearly passionate about surfing plus he's hella good. You can tell he's there to teach and he takes it seriously. He gave us tips for each wave, what to do each time that it actually seems easy (except the paddling part that's always hard). For each lesson he matches the location and boards with our skill level. He got me hooked on it that I even bought my own board now and some of my other friends are taking lessons. Totally amazing teacher, highly recommend!!!!! read more

We had a lesson this morning with Albert at Alysha Surf School. We are a family of four beginners. Me 43, DH 45, DS 12, and DD 9. We met early to avoid the crowds and were joined by a younger couple in their twenties. There were two instructors. One gave us a lesson and some practice on the sand, and then we were split up. Al took us (the family) into the gentler waves and the other instructor (Duane, I think) took the couple out into a little bit stronger surf. I really liked how the lessons were tailored to each age group. Al was amazing with the kids, towing my daughter part of the way and exhibiting great patience as he repeated instructions over and over until my kids processed them. They were both up and surfing in no time. So were we! The lessons were exactly what we wanted. Thorough, safe, inexpensive, and FUN!! Also, he suggested we bring a waterproof disposable, which we did and was just fine. He took some pics for us and we took some. That suited us much better than a high pressure end-of-lesson sale from a professional. We were there to learn, not pose! Highly recommend Al for families. He took every precaution, and has obviously been dealing with sunbaked, crispy, ignorant tourists like ourselves with great success for many years. Thank you, Al, for a wonderful morning. read more

Awesome Experience with Al,( who is a local). I had a semi-private lesson with my boyfriend for $70 PP. He was nice enough to recommend us to go to an ABC store to buy a waterproof disposable camera instead of charging us an extra $30 each for photos. He also taught us where to stand to take photos of the person riding the wave. He was He had good energy and a lot of patients and was very encouraging. He picked us up and dropped us off at our hotel as well. He taught everything step by step and made sure you felt comfortable throughout the lesson. Overall great first time experience surfing! read more

Booked a 2 hour surfing lesson with Al. The price was very reasonable at 65/person (don't forget the check in deal!), there were two people per instructor, and Al was patient, gave good instructions, and actively helped to improve my form and ability. I would definitely recommend booking with Al if you are interested in trying out surfing. read more

Everytime I visit Hawaii, my go-to surf instructor is Al Mahoe. He is the best!! He is knowledgeable, professional, and fun. He runs on time, offers great prices and teaches you a lot without rushing you. He always makes you feel comfortable, gives you great feedback and you definitely will learn how to surf with him. I will always recommend him to anyone looking for a surf lesson on Oahu, North OR South Shore. Maholo Al!! Ka read more

Albert (Al Mahoe) is an amazing person and instructor. His passion in life is surfing and when it comes to teaching, he is a natural. His lessons are thorough and affordable. He is patient and nice. I consider myself just average in sports. He had me up on a board my first try. All the equipment you need to surf is there when you arrive on location. As Al says, "Going to Hawaii and not surfing is like going to dinner and not eating" :) read more

We had an amazing morning with Al, Shelby and Pui! Our whole family took the lesson together, 2 adults, a 7 year old and a 9 year old. All of the instructors were amazingly patient and really good at explaining everything! We are all hooked! I would definitely recommend surf lessons here! We did the 7:15 am which was awesome because we were basically alone in the water! read more

Alysha Surf School - Surfing Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

My girlfriend recommended Al to me. He is the best!! I've taken surf lessons before and never been able to get up on the board. First wave with Al I got up. His step by step process is what works best and he takes it at your pace. He helps you catch the waves and weans you off his assistance. By the end of the lesson I had ridden a 5' wave for 30 seconds and it felt incredibly easy. I would recommend him to anyone!!! read more

The class was really fun, the instructor was nice and sooo patient (including with a woman who got all the way to the beach and then demanded a life jacket before getting into waist-deep water - ummm, if you can't swim, maybe surf lessons are a bad idea?) He actually dealt with her very patiently and gave the rest of us extra time to compensate. We loved it. Five stars for sure! read more

The most amazing experience EVER!!!!!!! Me and my friend are both first time surfers and we both got up on our first try! Our instructor was amazing. Al was patient and funny and really knew his stuff. He picked us up from the house we were staying at, provided all the gear (shirts, fins, boards), gave a great two hour+ lesson and drove us home for 35$! You can't beat that kind of service. We had so much fun, we decided to go again two days later. Who could pass that up for such a great price! By the end of it, we were catching our own waves. Al is phenomenal instructor read more

Dude. Al is super chill and hilarious. He is such a nice dude and a great surf instructor too! My boyfriend and I caught some sweet waves together and we had such a blast. Couldn't have made our experience any better. A+++++! read more

Excellent instruction, on time, professional great rates. We all had a really good time and a fun, safe, successful first surfing experience. We're going to book another lesson later in the week. Would definitely recommend. read more

Great place to get lessons for the first time surfer or if you need to brush up on technique. They really work on foot position on the board so you are able to stand up. Everyone in my session was staying on their first wave! read more

While vacationing in Hawaii, my husband got the urge for us to take surf lessons. We soon found that we could sign up for lessons just about anywhere, and the prices were all about the same. So, the real difference came down to the quality of the lesson. Looking on the Internet, we found Alysha's Surf School and are so glad we did. Now I know the questions I would ask before booking lessons. 1. Does your instructor emphasize safety and have a good record? Al taught us surfing etiquette, taught us how to safely fall, and provided us rash guards (surfing shirts) and protective booties for our feet. 2. Is your instructor experienced and prepared to help people of all abilities and ages? Our group consisted of two women and two men, ages 49-53. While we are moderately active people, none of us had prior surfing experience and none of us are snowboarders or skiers. Yet, Al had us all up and surfing within the first few tries. 3. How many will be in your "group" lesson? Because Al keeps his groups small, we got more attempts and thus more times to be successful. Al was also able to coach us and keep us safe. 4. Is your lesson long enough to provide proper instruction on land as well as ample time in the water? Our lesson was two hours, while many other lessons we investigated were only for 1 - 1/2 hours. Thanks again, Al and Robbie, for a great time! read more

I can't imagine a better surf instructor than Al and have taken 4 lessons with him over the course of two trips in 3 months. Though I'd never surfed before, by the end of my first lesson, he had me popping up and even catching a few of my own waves. Al is patient, kind, and passionate about surfing and teaching surfing. He is very clear in his instruction and an excellent observer. He is also very generous with his advice and experience, and will happily answer any questions you have about surfing and the ocean, and help you learn how to catch waves on your own. Al definitely tailors his instruction to the individual and is happy to go at whatever pace you feel comfortable (though I booked private lessons, which I think are the most effective in terms of learning quickly, I also observed him in groups with a wide range of ages and fitness levels). He also places a lot of emphasis on safety, which I really appreciated and made me feel much more at ease and comfortable immediately. Also, he takes you out to breaks that are less crowded, which is much more enjoyable and safer (having gone surfing once in Waikiki since, I realize the tremendous value of this for beginners!). From lesson to lesson, Al and his team remembered me (even my shoe size!) and where we had last left off, and continued to introduce new skills and challenges. I felt immediately after our first lesson that I'd found an amazing teacher, and each lesson has only reinforced that. His team of instructors are also very kind, laid back, patient, observant and great teachers. I can't recommend Al highly enough or imagine a better introduction to surfing. Go willing to learn, and you will be rewarded with an amazing, supportive and enthusiastic teacher and surfing experience. I've found not only a new passion, but also a new mentor. Thank you for everything, Al! read more

Al was great! He helped us get up on every way, told us stories about the island, and gave us plenty of tips.

My husband, a friend and I took a 2 hour lesson from Al on January 31, 2012. We all had great time. All of us got up during our lesson. I would have been happy to at least have gotten the basics of balancing on the board on the first lesson. I was really surprised to actually be able to surf the first time out. We all agreed that we will definitely do this again. It was the most fun we had all week. Thanks for a great experience Al. Mike, Sandy & Tom read more

My daughter and I had a surf lesson with Al on August 7, 2012. The lesson was fantastic, as there were only three of us in the group and we all got to ride lots of waves. I would definitely have had more lessons if we weren't ending our vacation on the 9th of August. Next time we go to Oahu we are going to book a few more lessons with him for sure. read more

I reserved a private lesson with Al for my family this July. I was a little put off that he quoted me $5 more per person than was listed on the site. I was asked to call ahead a few days prior to our lesson to confirm. I left three messages on his voicemail leading up to the evening before our lesson but my call was never returned. I'm glad I didn't have to pay ahead of time. We were really disappointed with how flaky he was. I had read such good things about him on Yelp. We ended up booking last minute with North Shore Surf Girls and had a fantastic experience with excellent, professional, and punctual instructors. read more

Well, I would like to tell you that this surf school is good but I can't even reach them. I have tried for several days leaving messages and sent emails but can't get the dude to call me back. Apparently, Hawaiian surfer dudes aren't the best at following up, brah! I guess I'll search for another school. read more

My family of 5 had an amazing time and everyone got up on their boards. Awesome instructor and beautiful scenery!! Highly recommend!! Only wish I would have been able to get pictures or videos. read more

My family and I had a great time with Al and Robbie. They made sure we were safe and had fun. They met us at our hotel on time and we followed them in our rental car to the beach a few minutes away from our hotel. After a few quick safety lessons, we learned how to get up on our boards on land so that once we were in the water it would come much easier. Never having surfed before, all 4 of us paddled out and caught our first waves. My twin 10 year old daughters, my wife and I all got up within the first two waves. After surfing about 10 waves more, each of us were smiling wanting more. Al and Robbie were patient and encouraging and always making sure we had fun. I would highly recommend Alysha surf school and my daughter said she would give them 10 stars. What a great way to start our Hawaiian vacation read more

Awesome time-Albert is the best instructor out there!!! He makes you feel confident and comfortable-truly a natural at teaching! Great experience great price. read more

Al is actually continuing this school for his daughter who is currently in nursing school! The teachers were super chill, helpful, and accommodating. We had 6 people total. They made sure that we went surfing when there weren't too many people out in the water (it was about 10:30) and got everyone to stand up! They also mentioned for $25, we could go for a more advanced lesson at Ala Moana. A lot of fun, and highly recommended. read more

Shelby was a great instructor! Patient and friendly, she was attentive to the different experience levels of my girlfriend and me. It was my gf's first time studying, but with a little push she was catching waves in no time. Overall a great experience! read more

Very disappointed... :( I was vacationing in Hawaii and I wanted to learn how to surf, so I did what the other five star reviewers did and looked on Yelp hoping for a wonderful experience. I called the number and someone (Al I believe) set me up for 9 AM the next morning. When I was talking to him, it seemed that he he does not have a set location/address for where to meet the instructor. Instead, he gave me directions to meet an instructor in a parking lot behind the Hilton Village. He also told me that someone would contact me at 8:30 AM the next day to confirm the appointment The next day I woke up excited, and managed my way to the parking lot with my brother, excited for an amazing experience. Or so we hoped. I woke up at 8 AM and grabbed some breakfast. 8:30 AM rolled around and no one contacted me. I figured I would wait until 9 AM for someone to contact me. 9 AM rolled around. Nothing. Around this time I started walking around the parking lot looking for someone that was an instructor. Nothing. Then I called back the number. No response. We waited until 9:30, and gave up. Eventually he called back at 11:00 AM and left a voice mail. But no mention of my earlier appointment, just asking if I wanted to set up one. Wow. This surf school nearly ruined my trip. I know there are many 5-star reviews, but I had a bad experience with their customer service. I hope I am the exception and everyone else continues to have a 5-star experience. My best advice: do not get your hopes up too high. read more

This was my first, second, and third surf lesson ever, and I have to say...it was WELL worth the price. Al was very patient and easy going, but made sure to underline the importance of surf safety. The class size was very small; there was never more than 4 people in any one lesson, which was great, because I got probably about 10-12 turns per 2-hour session. On the first lesson, Al spent the session breaking down the process of standing up on the board into multiple pieces, just to get used to the motions. He emphasized ways to maintain balance, and the proper stance on the surf board. The second lesson, he showed us the pop-up technique of standing on the board, while always staying vigilant of our stance during our turns. By the second lesson, I was able to easily stand up on the board and maintain good balance. Also, he gave us an opportunity to catch our own waves and provided good instruction on what to look for when I am out on my own. Finally, on the last lesson, Al had me catching BIG waves. It was a blast! On one run, I caught multiple waves, in what Al called was a mini tsunami. I had so much fun, and Al was an awesome instructor! When I make my next visit to Hawaii, I will absolutely take more lessons from him! EDIT: Just an FYI, if you want to sign up for Al's surf lessons, make sure you call and leave a voicemail if he doesn't answer. That was the easiest way I was able to set up my appointments with him. read more

This is our first day in Waikiki and we did the morning lesson at 7:30am. The time was great as there were less people on the beach and in the water. I was very nervous and originally not going to do it and just watch my husband learn to surf. But finally decided that I could give it a try too. The lesson was awesome. Albert was our instructor. He was patient, knowledgeable, funny, very observant and always offering tips on how to improve on my surfing technique. Although I was very nervous about surfing, Albert was able to make me feel comfortable in the water and on the board. I was able to go out and surf and stand on my first try. "surf" i say very loosely as I don't want to minimize the real surfers. I was able to go out and surf about 10 times. My husband also had a lot of fun learning to surf. This is the best deal you can find for a 2 hour lesson that includes about 10 surfs. We highly recommend Alysha Surf School and instructor Albert. Tips: - Bring a water bottle - Wear long sleeve rash guard - Wear sunscreen - Bring a waterproof camera with a floatie - Be on time for your lesson Thanks again Albert!! read more

Maybe Al was out during the weeks of August 5th through August 16th, but like Steve M, I too had a bad experience. I left 2 to 3 voicemails with no call back as well as sent an email looking to book a private lesson. I didn't receive an email either from Alysha's Surf School. I was disappointed as the reviews looked great and the prices were very affordable. In any case, I booked a 2 hour private with Gone Surfing Hawaii and my daughter loved it so much that we booked a 3 hour private with Gone Surfing Hawaii a few days later. read more

Albert is a great instructor all around! I've taken over four lessons with him now and have seen myself grow as a surfer so much from the beginning stages. Not only are you learning how to ride a wave but also how to pick and read the waves you are choosing to ride. In most basic lessons it is more about just getting up on the board but if you come here you will learn much more than just that. Albert has a positive spirit and is very encouraging to beginners. His lessons are usually early in the morning and your group will most likely be the only surfers out there and it is AWESOME! Totally worth the price and getting up early to do it. 10/10 would recommend to all surfers - beginner or intermediate. read more

We went out a day before the hurricane was to hit. Awesome, awesome experience. Al and Perry were great. All four of us were up and surfing in no time. Great price and great location. While you are definitely at a beginners break the rides are long and you definitely are challenged. Mahalo! read more

Great guidance and instruction. Fun morning of surf lessons for two fifty-somethings and a teenager. Highly recommend.

I too was scheduled with Al for a two hour surf lesson with my son-in-law (Dec 29, 2010) We met at Fisherman's Warf (few minutes after 8am) and followed him to Wiakiki beach. After he searched (and searched) for shoes and rash guards, we got started about 8:30am. They were good lessons and we had a good time except for one thing....It didn't last long enough. When I finally did stand up on the board for the first time, Al says, "Ok, we should go in, I like to end the lesson on a positive note". I asked, has it been two hours already? What time is it? He said it was 9:45. I did not press the issue as I thought we would get more instruction back on the beach. As it turned out, we washed off the boards, the shoes, the rash guards, and helped carry the boards back to his mini van. Did I get what I paid for? NOT! (only 1hr and 15 min) Would I do a second lesson with him? No thank you! Advice? If you go with this company, find out if you can pay at the end of the lesson. Although we did initially have a good time, the ride home was a bitter one. read more

I am giving 4 stars because I don't want to judge the quality of their classes because I did not take it! Alisha's dad, the guy that answers the phone is rude and they quoted me totally different amounts for the surf class. Their website says 115 for private lesson/semi private... but on the phone the guys wanted to charge me 150...then 125.. I was like dude...that is not the price I saw on the website. He also told me the 115 is discounted amount because I had to take the class at 7am! Nowhere on the website that was written! I wanted to surf so I was still ok .. then the guy texts me for my name and yelp code( when I explicit told him I had not bought the yelp thing) After reading more about ... decided to forgo the private lesson for a group on... quoted 99 but the website says 55...you see the problem here ??? Trying to take advantage of tourists... I cancelled everything and went with Dave's surf lesson ... which I paid the group price but still had almost a private class! I was surfing in no time ... so don't go here ! Don't give your money to people that try to rip others off! read more

Mark and Al were great! Mark was super patient and kind with us first timers. Both me and my husband were able to ride some waves with the great instruction provided. I was also super nervous about being far into the ocean and getting hurt, but Mark quickly eased my fears. Be prepared for your arms and shoulders to be super sore the next day from all the paddling! Lol read more

Our first surf lesson with Alysha's Surf School was as good as it gets. Albert was our instructor. Not only did he respond to my message quickly, he fit us in for a 2 hr lesson with only 3 other people for a very good price without much notice. This meant a lot to my boyfriend and I since we had to leave Waikiki that very day and hadn't gotten to try to surf yet. The experience of the students that day was mixed, but everyone got the attention they needed and Al had personalized tips every time he started us in the line up to help us do our best. Al even let each of us get two extra waves which made my day and probably my month since I only got up on a wave my very last try. Also, he tried to "launch" my BF and I on the same wave which was sweet. : ) I highly recommend Alysha's and Al if you're lucky enough to get him. read more

The best time of my life!!I had sooo much fun! I highly recommend taking surf lessons from Al. It was my first time and I must say, I left with more than what I expected! I really really wanted to learn how to surf but I'm not a good swimmer and was nervous about learning a new sport in deep water but thanks to Al, he made me feel very comfortable and assured me that the water was no deeper than 5 ft. He picked us up from our hotel in the Waikiki area and took us to the beach near the Ilikai Hotel. He was very thorough while going over the basics of paddling, turning, stopping and getting on and off the board safely, and techniques for getting up and standing on the board. We went over that on land and then followed him into the water. Al's helper, Kenny and Ryan, were very helpful. Ryan gathered us together and made sure we all stuck close to eachother before we paddled out to Al to catch the waves. It made me feel very safe knowing all three are life guards. Kenny was posted in the middle between Al and Ryan and took awesome pics. Kenny also coached and gave pointers as we surfed right past him...or when he had to give us the second wave! Haha! Awesome team work! I would have paid more for the lesson! I will definitely take lessons from Al when I visit again! If you're wondering, there were four of us..$40 each for 2 hrs, includes transportation from Waikiki area, wetsuit top, shoes, and of course the board..and...a hot surfer guy helping out with the lesson *wink*wink* ;) ** And Don't forget to buy pictures from Kenny. Best of all...we all got up on the board for first timers! read more

called on a Friday night and was surfing with Al the next morning. got private instruction for me and my girlfriend at Ala Moana. super friendly, helpful, chill, got us surfing and feeling confident. by the end of our two hours we were working on turns which was pretty cool because we are beginners. definitely recommend! read more