Faith Surf School

(435 reviews)

0.3 mi

My wife booked a private lesson for my son and I (18 and 52 yrs old). We both had a great time on…read morethe water with Marco and Kainalu. They were great at pointing out what we needed to work on before each wave. We both were able to ride some waves for our first time out. Mahalo!

We booked a two hour private lesson for each of my kids. Marco and James were patient, kind, and…read moremade the experience really fun. I felt the kids were safe and in good hands. They towed them pretty far out, where it was less crowded. They saw turtles! One tip - our kids wore wetsuits (which we brought) because they are skinny and get cold.

Paddling out

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Ohana Surf Project

(278 reviews)

0.4 mi

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.

Surfing in Waikiki

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Mickeys Surf School

(278 reviews)

0.0 mi

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

Sunset sessions available @Mickey surf school

Supporting while filming and coaching side-by-side always the theme @Mickey surf school

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Little ones have the most fun with Mickey

Moniz Family Surf

(78 reviews)

0.2 mi

Our family took 3 amazing surf lessons at Moniz Family Surf. The staff was so helpful…read more The instruction was perfect! My daughter, wife and I had not been on surf board in over 4 years. Our instructors, Micah, Josh & Sam, had us up on the board riding in waves in the first 20 mins. We had such a great time we came back the next day to Moniz Family Surf to rent boards and head back out. Amazing experience on Waikīkī Beach! 5 Stars.

Everyone we spoke to here was kind and gettin our boards was quick and painless. I thought they had…read morea good selection and so did my boyfriend who's the surfer. The prices are fair and easily accessible from Waikiki beach.

Josh winning the Volcom contest at Pipe. And his siblings just as happy.

Papa Tony and our grandson, Honouliwai at Baby Queens.

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Moku Hawaii

No more dragging boards on planes, car rentals and parking worries! Moku is right at Waikiki,…read moregreat board selection, price and OPEN past sunset so no panicking to hurry back! Good merch too!

I was put in an odd spot. Surely not in my comfort zone…read more You see, a friend from Japan came to Hawaii and when asked what he wanted to do, surfing came up. As a local boy born and raised in Oahu, I'm embarrassed by the fact that I cannot swim. Surfing clearly out of the picture. I used to work in the Japanese tour agency many blue moons ago where I recall a surfing school that offers surfing lessons. My friend already knows how to surf so I didn't think this was for him so I asked one of my physical therapists who surfs regularly. He introduced me to a surfing school that's at Ala Moana Beach where I was given their website, which is also available in Japanese. I forwarded the information to my friend prior to his arrival to Honolulu where he didn't jump at it and said he'd think about it. On his arrival I drove him to his hotel on Kalakaua Ave and upon check in we saw a rack of surfboards nearby where I asked if they were rentals. The staff advised the boards belong to the in-house guests who were keeping them as storage while not in use. When asked about rentals, the front desk staff advised us to inquire with Moku Hawaii (MH) as their rates are 1/2 to what the businesses are asking for across the street on the beach. MH has been in business since 1985 where they hail from Japan. They started off as a clothing company but transitioned over to a surf shop offering surf lesson and rental business. We walked over and soon found MH, which is on the 1F at the corner of Koa Ave and Uluniu Ave. We were greeted by a friendly, young female staff who welcomed us and answered our multiple questions. With its locality, reasonable rates and customer service, my friend liked MH and decided to look no further. While checking out their inventory, my friend noticed hard boards and was hoping for soft boards. The staff guided us to those soft boards where it's available in either long or short. You will need to complete their rental form which to our surprise is quite flexible. For example, you can initially request for a 2 hr package but in the event you go overcast, you just pay the difference of $5, which is the price difference between 2 hr course and the next course of up to 4 hrs. MH gives back to the community as they sponsor multiple local keiki surf contests. That's so awesome. So, if you should be in a bind where someone asks you for a surf school in Waikiki, look no further and guide them to MH. We were surprisingly impressed with their surf shop and their amazing customer service. They open from 6am and close at 8pm

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Sparky's Surf School

(110 reviews)

0.2 mi

Our family had such an amazing experience! We booked a family surf lesson with our three kids (ages…read more4, 7, and 9), and they paired us with four instructors. I honestly can't say enough good things about the entire team. My two youngest stayed on their instructors' boards the entire lesson, which was perfect for their ages. Their instructors were incredibly patient, kind, encouraging, and so amazing with young children. My oldest had his own instructor who really took the time to teach him and build his confidence. My husband and I were with Sparky, who was absolutely fantastic. By the end of the lesson, every single one of us had stood up and ridden a wave more than once! The instructors made everyone feel safe, supported, and successful, no matter their age or experience. It also gave us peace of mind knowing everyone is lifeguard certified. We had so much fun that before we even got back to the car, my kids were already asking to book another lesson before we leave! If you're thinking about surfing, especially as a family with young kids, I can't recommend Sparky and his team enough.

I (9 year old) took an amazing surf lesson!…read more Sparky is the perfect guy for me, he was so patient! And he was always lifting my spirit with amazing positivity whenever I wiped out on a wave. I loved him so much I took another surf lesson the next day! Since I am a kid it is not too easy but with Sparky on my side the word hard never came my way! Surfing with Sparky is amazing and if you are looking for a successful surf lesson you should definitely go to Sparky's! Love Olivia to Sparky!!!!!

Abe teaching them before they got in the ocean.

Everybody's leaning how...

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Surfs up!

Gone Surfing Hawaii

(167 reviews)

0.3 mi

I signed up my 8 year old for his first surf lesson with Gone Surfing and the experience was…read moreamazing. I will totally recommened this company, they are very professional. They also got us some amazing photos and videos of him surfing. He had lot of fun and cant wait to go back again surfing with them.

Great instructors. Tommy and Dev were friendly, professional and so patient! It was great having a…read morephotographer there to catch my two daughters getting up during our first surfing lesson ever! We highly recommend this company!

Girls Surf Day Waikiki Beach Outrigger Reef on the Beach Hotel. Rent at Gone Surfing Hawaii:)

Headed out with Owen! We both got up on our first try!

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The surf stand

Hawaii Surf Guru

(143 reviews)

1.6 mi

Great communication leading up to the lesson. Very convenient location, especially if you are…read morewalking from the Hilton. Instructors are knowledgeable and friendly. Both my girls stood up and rode waves in a matter of minutes! Highly recommend.

Free parking lot for 6 hours and if you follow the lagoon, it'll lead straight to the Grand…read moreWaikikian Hotel. By 8/9 pm, the entire lagoon clears out and it's empty. Private beach to yourself with beautiful weather.

Lessons on the beach to learn the basics.

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Hans Hedemann Surf School-Waikiki

4.6

(173 reviews)

0.6 mi

5 I can't say enough about the gang at Hans Hedemann Surf School Waikiki! Our family of 6 ( kids…read moreages 11,13,15, and 17) from the Midwest had never been surfing before. These guys were so good at providing instructions, keeping everyone safe, and most importantly making it fun! The kids had an absolutely blast. This was after two weren't overly confident going into it! We opted to have them take photos during our session and man did they not disappoint! I can't say enough good things about Peter, Willie, and Kiva. Would recommend these guys and the surf school to anyone who is considering it! - Matt

Easy to understand instructions in the surf shop and on the beach. Pete is amazing with kids! Our…read more9 year old granddaughter made her last 10 rides standing up while giving us a thumbs up. We got pictures, video and memories for life. Thanks!

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Surfer Girl Academy Surf School

(33 reviews)

0.9 mi

I called the day before to ask for a lesson and they told me I could show up to the 10 AM lesson…read moreand said to pay onsite. The surf lesson was both amazing and scary. We were given a 2-minute safety and tips speech before both of us in the lesson were shown how to get up on the board. We each had one attempt to get up while the instructor held the board steady near the beach. Then we paddled out to the waves. We had to paddle far and it wasn't my hands/arms that were tired but my shoulders and neck because you have to keep your chin up to stay out of the surf on your way out. I was able to stand up on almost every wave except the one that was too small and the one I tried to do myself. I can imagine it being unsafe and not fun to try to just surf yourself without any prior experience because the one time I tried to judge when to get up myself, I immediately fell hard into the water and swallowed salt water. Highly recommend it if you are at all athletically inclined. Surfer Girl Academy was very laid back and I liked the instructor John.

Really enjoyed myself. So much in fact that I returned a couple of days later to surf again. The…read morestaff, Yuko, Shuji, Inne & Jake took good care of everyone in the group. They were very friendly, helpful & service orientated. You will get your money's worth in the couple of hours you are in the water, and believe me, if an old, fat guy like me can get up on a surfboard, most anyone can. Yuko also took great photos & video that will provide some fantastic memories of this trip to Oahu. You'll need to look for the white van in the parking lot by the water. There is a small "SGA" on it.

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Ewa Plains Enrichment Program

(26 reviews)

14.1 mi

I have no words to describe what this school has meant for our little ohana. Our child attended…read morefor two years and was provided with exceptional care and compassion, patience, and everything you could ask for in a preschool. Every teacher there felt like they were born to be a pre-school teacher! We feel incredibly grateful to have found Ewa Plains Enrichment in Ewa Beach for our son. From the very beginning, it felt personal. We were not just enrolling in a school but becoming part of a warm, loving community that felt like family. Miss Jessica and the entire team of teachers are everything you would hope for in a preschool. They are warm, kind, intelligent, and fully engaged with the children. Their sincerity and care were evident every single day. It was almost tangible how much they truly loved each child, including ours. The mission of Ewa Plains Enrichment feels centered in love. Every lesson, classroom moment, and interaction reflects that. Our son not only learned how to read here, but something lit up inside him. It was as if a light switched on, and now he reads his own bedtime stories with joy and confidence. This milestone was nurtured by the school's incredible literacy program and the encouragement of his teachers. The school's focus on literacy is truly outstanding. The dedication and joy the teachers bring to reading is something our family will never forget. We also deeply appreciated the school's commitment to Hawaiian culture. Field trips to the lo'i, the pumpkin patch, and the library helped connect learning to the land and the community. Through songs, stories, and hands-on experiences, the children developed a strong sense of place and respect. As a Buddhist family, we always felt completely welcomed and respected at this Christian school. The values of kindness, compassion, gratitude, and responsibility were shared in a loving and inclusive way that felt deeply aligned with our home life. Our son also had the opportunity to share his own heritage during Culture Week and to learn about the cultures of his classmates. Seeing his identity honored and celebrated was incredibly meaningful and helped him feel proud and connected. The school created beautiful memories throughout the year, from Christmas and Easter performances to a heartfelt Mother's Day celebration. Preschool graduation was one of the best graduation events I have ever attended. It was thoughtful, joyful, and full of love. You could see how much the staff cared about each and every child. During a year when our family needed to take extended international trips, the school was flexible, understanding, and supportive. They even prepared homework packets for our son to bring with him, so he could stay connected and continue learning while we traveled. That level of care and thoughtfulness meant so much to us. Ewa Plains Enrichment has been around for many years, and that experience shows in the most beautiful ways. The staff have worked with so many different types of children and family situations, and their understanding, flexibility, and wisdom come through in how they support each student. You can tell they have truly seen it all and are prepared to meet each child where they are, with love and confidence. Ewa Plains Enrichment consistently goes above and beyond what is expected. They are always thinking about the children and their future. This is not just a school. It is a place where children are truly seen, nurtured, and loved. We will be forever grateful to this school, which is a true gift to the community and island!

Our family is so fortunate and blessed to have found this school! We desired a school that was not…read morejust a "daycare" but one that would challenge our son and continue to foster his growth intellectually as well as be faith based. Our child has excelled and fluorished not only in academics but also socially and spiritually. His growth here has been astounding. The staff here are amazing and were able to create a lesson plan and curriculum based on his needs. They address all aspects of a child's development and offer different activities and experiences for them. He went through three different neighboring preschools before we found this one and we wished we had found it sooner.

Amazing language teachers Hawaiian, Tagalog, Philippines, Bisaya, Ilocano and Vietnamese languages used in class. This is not Seagulls .

A gift for an amazing school year, thank you.

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Graduation ceremony has been done for 20 years.

Keiki O Ka 'aina Family Learning Centers

(16 reviews)

5.9 mi

I love seeing the family ho'ike form each community ! The Kumu work so creatively and lovingly with…read morethe keiki, makua and community partners !! Mahalo Keiki O Ka Aina!

Amazing group of nice people!! I was introduced to this nonprofit through a Telon on TV in Hawaii…read more They seem to be very sincere in their drive, and I decided to join in. Although getting to this place was quite an adventure it is very high up on a hill, but nevertheless, it was worth being introduced to such nice people!would definitely donate to their cause again this time being total support of rebuilding and helping out the children in Maui and their families!

Keiki O Ka Aina Graduation ~ Mahalo Kumu Jessica

Keiki O Ka Aina Field Trip Fun Day at Discovery Center

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Keiki O Ka Aina Field Trip Fun Day at Discovery Center

Kiddie Academy of Honolulu

(9 reviews)

3.1 mi

Our daughter started at KA at 10 weeks old, very shortly after KA first opened, and (a blink…read morelater!) is now soon to graduate and head to preschool. KA has been spectacular through and through. The school is loving, nurturing, supportive, clean and full of fun activities. My daughter has thrived, with so many great friends and teachers, and so many fun things each day. She loves the play nook, book corner and circle time. Meals are all coordinated from a neighboring restaurant, so the kids eat well and with a healthy variety. They have a "book library" you can borrow from. AND They have parent-accessible cameras so you can check in on your kiddo through the day! We feel so lucky to have been a part of the KA 'Ohana and are so thankful. When I was dropping off my baby so I could head to work, I always knew that she would be loved, well fed, clean and cared for. After over 2.5yrs, they have done and been so much more. In addition to the amazing teachers, the management at KA are incredible. They are hands-on, friendly and accommodating, and truly care about the daycare and the children. When a child is hurt or sick or having a tough day, they will often be found on the laps of Ronna (the owner) or Keesha (the manager), so they can get some extra attention to help ease whatever the issue. We cannot recommend KA enough for your little one! Ps. Tell Keesha I say hi!!

We loved Kiddie Academy and sent both of our children there. The teachers and management are…read morecaring, professional, and helpful. They were all amazing and we especially loved Ms Kimmie and Ms Caitlyn, as well as Ms Keesha and the owner Ronna. My son was quite young when he began and I like that they kept the tiniest babies in their own room which (I think) helped reduce the number of times he got sick! We also had some behavioral challenges and greatly appreciated the level of communication, empathy, and willingness to try various approaches and solutions.

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Rainbow Learning Academy

(5 reviews)

18.4 mi

Highly recommend!! I fully trust the staff with my daughter. She has gone here for almost 2 years…read moreand she loves it. The staff is friendly, gentle, caring, and so supportive. They communicate well and also throw cute events for family to partake in. My daughter gets disappointed when I come in to pick her up - she tells me she doesn't wanna go home yet. I think that's a great sign she's having fun and loving her time there!

We enrolled our son at 6 months old and have been really happy with his care. The infant teachers…read moreare all wonderful and caring. You can see how much they love the kids. As he's gotten older he's continued to love going to RLA. He's always happy to see his teachers and is all smiles when we drop him off. I really appreciate that they provide meals (breakfast and lunch / snacks). The lunches are impressive (IMO) and expose my son to a lot of foods we don't have at home. On another note, we liked RLA so much that we enrolled my daughter for the summer before she started kindergarten. The class size was small (which has both plusses and minuses, depending on what is important to you). Mainly we liked the curriculum and the amount of hands on activities they were able to do with a small class size. The teacher incorporated some pre-k activities since I wanted to make sure my daughter was prepared for Kindergarten.

Our infant/toddler classroom. Lots of space to explore and play!

Our preschool classroom. Fun centers to explore!

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Recent review

The Growing Patch 24-Hour Children Academy

4.3

(12 reviews)

9.8 mi

We love the Growing Patch!…read more So we initially found the Growing Patch on Patch Hawaii where they list all certified childcare providers on the island. I only used 2 months of maternity leave so I needed to find a daycare that would take my baby as young as she was. We were lucky to find the Growing Patch since they take babies as young as 3 weeks old. We also learned that the owner was prior military and we were proud to go with them since we are military ourselves. We live on the west side and work closer to town so they were right in the middle and convenient for dropping off and picking up baby. Their location is a bit hidden in the back parking lot of Aiea Square area, near Queen Street Cafe but it's easy to get to since it's at the cutoff for Aiea if you're coming from either direction. This makes getting back on the freeway just as easy if you're heading town side. If you're going west, you'll either have to back track to Halawa or drive further down towards Pearl City. To start off, although this facility is a bit hidden, the front doors art covered in bright red posters showing that it's a daycare that provides 24-hour service. Yes! They will watch your child overnight if you need it. We visited the place for the first time during family tour day which was scheduled in advanced for those interested in learning about the facility, their staff and how they do things at the Growing Patch. We were the 1st ones to sign up after the orientation was completed and they offered an "observation day" before my baby officially started daycare with them. This was where they watched her for a few hours to see how she does around the care givers, being in a new place and around other children. She did great her 1st time there and the longer she went, the more she would learn to love being there. They provide you a list with the items they'll need to take care of your baby and anything else you would recommend to keep them comfortable when they're away from you. Each child has a storage cubby for their belongings. At the front door, you have to ring the doorbell to be let in and you check in on the tablet at the front desk. The facility itself is organized and separated into areas for different age groups since they take infants and up to pre-k age. My baby was enrolled into the infants area and they have a lot of things to keep the children busy from walkers, toys, beds and more! They do art work too like a regular school would and send it home with the parents. I love my baby's footprint art! The place smells clean every time I walk in and they sanitize everything at the end of each day. They have a calendar at the front that you can view to see what your child is scheduled to do that day. You can ask the front desk assistants for a curriculum to take home with you too. They even have scheduled field trips for the kids and notify parents via email and the app for permission. Their last field trip was to the Pumpkin Patch back in October 2024. They use an app called Child Pilot to help you keep track of what you're child is doing during the day and to contact you if needed. If you don't bring lunch for your child, they provide meals specially made by the Queen Street Cafe but this is for the toddler ages. The staff here if so friendly and they love the kids very because it shows. When I drop my baby off in the morning, she already knows where she is and loves to smile at all the caregivers. She's even excited to see all the other children and does not cry when I leave. After only a couple months here, my baby is the most friendliest and social child and I love how her smile can brighten up anyone's day when they see her. They hold parent teacher conference to talk about your child's progress here at the Growing Patch. They even ask about the milestones you expect your baby to reach and they'll help them work on that. These meetings are nice and as a first time parent, it's funny to see things from this aspect because I remember my parent teacher conferences with my parents and most of them weren't good since I was naughty lol. I love the relationships they build here otherwise and I haven't had any bad experiences with the Growing Patch so far. We recommend their services to all parents with toddlers or younger and we hope they open more facilities on island in the future. I also wanted to mention that they have a Facebook and Instagram page to see updates and events on your social media. Please see the photos I posted for more info. Thank you to the Growing Patch Ohana and their owner, Mrs. Dominica for all you do!

This rating is based on the customer service received before care was given…read more Domonica, founder of this establishment, called my family to offer us a spot. Over the phone, she specified when the soonest date available is and we gladly accepted. From then, we took the next steps and made an appointment to tour the day care. After touring, Domonica proceeds to tell us that the soonest available date is now 2 months later than the original date she offered and confirmed with us. We were very upset as we already confirmed that we wanted this spot over the phone. She apologized and said she talks to many families and assumed that we were going to back out. She offered the same spot that we accepted to MANY families even after we confirmed. This alone is very unprofessional, especially coming from the founder of this operation. She then offered a hug to cure all of her mistakes. The extreme lack of professionalism and customer service that came directly from the founder is just unacceptable. I do not feel comfortable and would not recommend bringing your family to a place that does not truly care for your family as they only seek to secure the money bag. Please take your child to a place where you know they will be valued.