Yay! I can surf! Well...kinda. I actually did much better than I thought I would thanks to the folks at the Ohana Surf Project. I've always wanted to learn how to surf and this was a great place to do it. After a brief tutorial of what to do and what not to do, we picked up our boards and hit the beach. One of the instructors had has practice our positions on the board a few times before we hit the water, then we hit the waves. Before my lesson, I was worried about two things, sharks and wiping out in deep water. Fortunately we didn't have issues with either. Even though we paddled out pretty far, the reef was high enough that we we're still able to stand up if we got knocked off of our boards. As for sharks, they must have been hanging out on the North Shore that day because I didn't see a single one. Whew! I now understand why surfers are in such good shape because surfing is 90% paddling. And paddling is HARD. Especially when you had the swells that we did that day. The good thing is that the instructors will help tow you out (or back in) if you are exhausted or otherwise run into trouble. (actually, it's more like "toe" you, as they literally paddle on their surfboards in front of you and put their toes on your board to drag you along). While we were surfing, one of the guides was surfing alongside us with a GoPro taking pictures and video which were available for purchase after the lessons are over. She got some really great shots too! For the most part, the instructors were patient and most of them offered lots of positive reinforcement and encouragement... however it wasn't all smooth sailing, unfortunately. As much as I wanted to give this experience five stars, I had to remove a star for a couple of reasons. First, I overheard one of the instructors making a snarky and sarcastic comment about the form of one of the girls in my group just before it was my turn in to surf. Mind you, none of us in my group had ever surfed before, so it made me wonder what other kind of comments he was making about me and the rest of the people in the group. Second, the other instructor repeatedly kept running his board into mine and smashing my finger in between our two surfboards. I made him aware of it, and he acted like it was no big deal (My finger is still sore and slightly swollen a week later). Third, as this same instructor and I are carrying our boards out of the water, I have trouble getting over the sandbar and out of the water while carrying the two boards. I let him know this and ask him to slow down, but he keeps dragging the board along and ultimately I ended up falling. Thank goodness I fell on the sand, but I could have been hurt,given that I had no hands or arms to catch myself because both of them were wrapped around the surfboards. He was completely nonchalant about the whole situation which was more than a little off-putting and ended my surf lesson on a sour note. In the future, I think the instructors should be more aware of the fact that some of the students they teach are novice surfers and what seemingly comes naturally to them (the instructors) may be a little bit more challenging for us. They should be a little more flexible, understanding and attentive to ensure that students have a (relatively) comfortable, safe and enjoyable surfing experience. read more

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Our instructor Elle was amazing and really knew where to put us in the waves. Everyone in our group was able to stand up and enjoy the feeling of riding waves in Waikiki. Can't wait to do it again and again and again. I'll definitely be using Ohana and requesting Elle if she has availability read more

Huge thanks to all of the crew. Chelsea, goddess of the ocean, your instruction won't soon be forgotten. Kevin, Matt, and Romeo... you guys all rock... especially you Matt! Thanks so much!!! read more

Ohana Surf Project - The birthday crew surf session!! - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

We had SUP lessons with Kevin. While the water was rougher than we are used to, we still had a great time. Kevin was patient and kind. Definitely a great team of people. read more

My husband and I signed up for a semi private class with Eli. After he gave us a quick safety briefing and lesson, we headed out to surf with the entire OSP team. Eli was a great coach, and we had an awesome time. We also felt very safe because it was very well planned, and everyone was looking out for us. Chelsea took photos and videos of us, and was so helpful and encouraging. They provided us with rash guards, shoes, and transportation to our hotel. Bring your own towel! read more

**long review alert*** This is a super overdue review. I took a private lesson with Chelsea about half a year ago. I had some bad habits built prior to that lesson, so my goal was to get rid of them. Chelsea is very gifted at observing and figuring out what's causing certain issues and stopping you from improving and getting to the next level. My other goal was to learn how to make left turns (something that I struggled for a while) At the end of the lessons, I did not just accomplish those goals, but also fixed my pop-up(from "rushing" to standup and not being able to balance myself to popping up gracefully, still practicing it but I got the concept and logic behind it as Chelsea helped me to understand it in a very easy to understand way) and how to speed up and slow down. Half a year later, I asked Chelsea to create a two week learning plan for me. I think that's the best decision I made this year. I was lucky enough to take lessons with every single instructor during these two weeks. It was a great experience because different instructors get to observe and tell me where I could improve with specific technics (more like "secret sauce" to me because you wouldn't learn about it elsewhere) Back to my learning journey. I used to be one of those beginners who "waste" a lot energy paddling, but you don't see the boards moving much. Paddling is such a huge part of the game. At some point, I was so discouraged that I'd never catch waves on my own since my paddling was so bad. My paddling got 500% better after these two weeks credit to all the instructors espefially Chelsea, Danny and Sean. I could paddle out to catch bigger wave on my own now. The way they teach truly set you success to be self sufficient. I took lessons at different places in Hawaii and other places(The Bay Area, Byron Bay in Australia, Cape Town in South Africa), I think this is the BEST place to learn! What set them apart was that they put their heart into teaching with great pacience and technics. Most importantly, they treat you like old friends/family. You get to surf with a group of instructors with different personalities, they are like a family and also make you feel like part or the family. Since I mentioned that the whole group was like a family, I thought I'd share my thoughts about each instructor: Chelsea is like a girl boss/ big sister. Her attention to details and teaching technics are superb! All the debrief sessions we had were so on point, she made me understand what caused some results that I didn't want and helped me to correct effeciently. If you get to take a lesson with Chelsea, you are luck! Better pay 100% attention, so you get the full value. :) Kevin is like the little brother of this Ohana but definitely knows when to take care of you (thanks for all the free "bus services"!) and when to push you to go outside of your comfort zone. Danny brings so much energy to this Ohana and teaching. His positivity and energy can definitely cheer you up - I always found him cheering up students/strangers in the water! Oh and you are lucky if you have him take videos for you while surfing! He knows how to capture the great moments and most importantly, you will feel like a famous football player with him commenting next to you with humour, which definitely helps you to relax a little (see the photos that I uploaded) Sean is like the father of this Ohana. He is chill yet motivational. In the beginning of my lesson with him, he said" I've been watching you in the water and the videos of you surfing. I've noticed something, let's work on it before we get into the water." I mean, who doesn't love teachers who pay attention to you and are prepared?!? I had so many "a-ha" moments during the lesson. He always gives me free tips and cheer me up later when I took lessons with other instructors/on my own (Thanks, Sean!) Matt is the chillest. I think I ride on some of the biggest waves when I took lesson with him. I'm still learning about it, but Matt definitely helped me to understand how to position myself in the ocean and timing myself paddle to waves. Huge thanks! (Most of those photos that I posted were taken by Danny while Matt teaching me) They make me feel like part or this Ohana! I'll definitely come back and learn more whenever I'm in Oahu again. Highly recommend this place! If you are a beginner and never surf before, you will have so much fun and catch bunch of waves in the group lesson. If you want to get to your next level, I'd recommend a private lesson. If you have time, a three lesson package would be even better or a mix of rental and private lesson. read more

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I signed up as a 1st time surfer and was a bit nervous but the instructors were very attentive and made it a great experience . Very positive vibes and happy with the supervision and concern for safety . read more

Great school, great surf instructors. More lo key / less pretentious but delivers on a good reputation, professionalism & safety. Excellent for first timers & those wanting to step it up to the next level. read more

Amazing company! Great instructors that keep you safe and treat you like you are best friends. My husband loved everything about his experience. read more

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

Cole was amazing, he was very patient and skilled. I was able to stand up so many times. So glad I found this surf school, definitely recommend! read more

Great Surfing Lessons! Great teachers! I got up every time and it was my first time. I recommend watching a video the night before, and having a strong upper body and good balance. In other words, prep with push ups, and some yoga. You'll do great. read more

My husband booked us a semi-private lesson for Saturday at 11:45 and it was a great way to get started with surfing. We were picked up near our hotel in the Ohana Surf Project van and brought to the beach where we watched an instructional video and then carried our boards to the beach with Hughes, our instructor. The level of instruction is excellent. We practiced the process of standing many times before getting into the water. Hughes got us out to the waves and helped us step-by-step and I stood up! The team of instructors works together to make sure everyone is safe and has access to the waves. They also photograph and video the surf students. And they offer sun shirts and reef shoes. I definitely recommend both because of the constant sun and encounters with coral when you're getting in and out of the ocean. It's a beautiful beach location and an awesome adventure. We live here so we are planning to get out on the waves again soon using the board my brother left with us when he moved to the mainland. Next time, we'd like to take our kids along. read more

I am terrified of the ocean and can't swim but the Ohana Surf team did an awesome job and helped me feel comfortable in the water. I was able to stand on the board for a few seconds. It was an amazing experience. Can't wait to try again. Thank you to Matt, Chelsea, and Neigh (I'm sorry I am sure I spelled his name wrong) the whole team was so helpful and patient. The whole process was so well organized. The video and pictures were an awesome addition. Thank you! My whole family had a great time. The second time for my children ages 13 and 15 they went out with Max. Also a great experience and we were able to see Matt again and he remembered the kids. They wanted to go more times but we ran out of days. Trust me you will want to book this team more than once while you are on vacation so book early and often. You can tell they love to do what they do. Aloha! read more

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

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My wife and I were in Oahu on on honeymoon and worked with Chelsea and Keyola of Ohana Surf Project and we had a blast!! Such good instructors, knowledgeable and caring - both my wife and I who never surfed before were able to get up on our boards a couple of times!! I couldn't believe it! Never in a million years did I ever think I could ever surf - what an exhilarating feeling! I am totally hooked and plan to continue surfing lessons back in NYC (once the weather rises above 7 friggin' degrees). But all in all, I can't say enough nice things about our instructors Chelsea and Keyalo. So nice and encouraging. If you're in Oahu and looking for awesome and affordable surf instructors look no further than Ohana Surf Project AAAAA++++‍ read more

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Kai was GREAT. He treated my 7-year old daughter very well. He kept us safe. An instructor had eyes on my girl at all times. We probably got in 10-12 rides. I want to raise my girl to love the water and I think this was definitely a step in that direction. read more

5 star surfing lessons!! Both my daughter and her boyfriend were so excited to visit Honolulu and learn to surf! They could not be more pleased with the lesson they had with Nick Morelli!! (And it's not easy to please a 15 and 17 year old). Nick was so friendly, helpful and knowledgeable! Highly recommend if you're looking for an excellent surfing experience!! read more

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

Visited Oahu in early June . Booked at the very last minute on our last day and they had availability. From the time they picked us up to the very end, they treated us like family. The instructors were awesome and very friendly. This was the highlight of my trip. I highly recommend Ohana surf project. read more

Staff fantastic. All 4 of us in family were able to do it and got great pictures! It is $90 to buy all the pictures though read more

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

They were amazing! Super helpful and great with my two teenage sons. I will recommend them to anyone I know that's going to be visiting Waikiki. read more

Wow!! What an amazing experience. I've never been surfing before so I didn't know what to expect. I was super nervous but surfing with Mark and Kevin made me feel so comfortable and cared for. They were both really patient and kind. Mark rode along side me and guided me every step of the way. Kevin boosted my self confidence and helped me feel at ease. Such a great time. Thanks guys. read more

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

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My boys and myself have wanted to get surfing lessons for quite a while. We seen some great reviews on Ohana Surf Project and decided to pull the trigger and get some lessons. OSP did not disappoint. This crew is awesome. We had Hugh as our instructor. Great teacher. He paid attention to so many small details to help all three of us to the point of being able to ride a wave. Their crew included individuals that would ride the same waves to take photos and video. I could not be happier with our experience. Hope we are able to get an additional lesson in before we leave. read more

Staff were all super friendly and nice. Everything from arranging the pick up to looking through the photos after was a great experience. The paddle boarding lesson itself was amazing, we were a bit nervous heading out but Kevin and guys are such good instructors we're standing in the open ocean on no time, mahalo! read more

I'd never surfed before and am scared of the ocean. This was me making an effort to overcome that fear. My teacher Eli and the whole team at Ohana Surf were patient, kind and so supportive. I was able to stand up a couple times and I had a blast. I don't feel so afraid of the ocean and can't wait to surf again. read more

My wife booked me a 2-hour private surfing lesson during our trip to Waikiki and I have to say, the Ohana Surf Project is where it's at! Kai was a great instructor, and I couldn't have asked for a better way to learn how to surf; first trip to Hawai'i and learning to surf. Thank you OSP! read more

Surf lessons were a bucket list item for me. So, I signed up my family as well, haha! We had fun and felt well taken care of by the Ohana Surf Project team. The entire team were professional, kind and seemed genuinely invested in seeing us get up and ride the waves. Thanks so much! read more

My husband and kid's 7 and 12 took lessons during Summer 2020 pandemic when there were zero tourists. We had Waikiki all to ourselves. They took multiple classes, learned and loved it. Instructors are all awesome and so kind. They took videos and photos while in the water. Their set up is pretty cool. Find their van and school bus off the sidewalk and off you go! 100% recommend them. read more

Excellent introduction to surfing! We didn't know what to expect, but it wasn't hopping right in and riding waves pretty much right away. There's only a quick land lesson on how to stand up, and then into the water you go! The instructors do all the hard work of identifying the right waves and give a nice good *push* to get going, so all you have to do is focus on standing up and riding it out! With so much time actually in the water, we got to get the feel of surfing right away -- and are now hooked. The instructors give personalized recommendations even in the group setting, often surfing right beside you with pointers. Do it!!!! read more

I had a private 1-hour lesson this past weekend that I had been gifted for my birthday. Mark was my instructor and he was great. I have mobility issues and Mark was very encouraging and helpful. Everyone from the office clerk, the photographer and instructor were all very welcoming and encouraging. I had a fantastic time! Mahalo! read more

Loved our instructor and the whole experience. I never felt unsafe for a split second. Wish I put more sunblock on my face but other than that, I would highly recommend this place! read more

I booked a surfing lesson for my husbands bday. The staff and instructors here are fantastic!! They're very well deserving of a full 5-star review. We had pretty bad luck and ended up with a very cold day in Hawaii - I know. It's rare. I originally booked a 2 hour class but half way through I really couldn't last any longer in the cold water. My instructor as well as the other one on the water tried to give me as many opportunities as possible to catch a last wave on my way back. They were extremely accommodating to my needs despite poor weather conditions. I may not have had the best surfing lesson, but I had the best teachers :) I'm also really glad they provide you with foot gear and a long sleeve shirt! The two accessories saved the day. I would have been even more cold and covered with hundreds of cuts without them. When I researched surfing classes, this one was a tad bit more expensive. Don't worry! Your money is well worth it! Some of the cheaper options don't include the foot gear so you'll end up with bloody feet for days. Don't take that risk. read more

Wonderful Surf School and Community! During my 2-month stay in Waikiki, I took 3 lessons with Ohana and rented boards from them countless times. I could immediately tell that the quality of instruction at Ohana was superior to that I received from other schools in the past. Ohana's instructors were attuned to my needs, concerns, and skill level. They were competent and relaxed, which in turn gave me a sense of safety and confidence. One of the instructors surfed alongside me and guided me on posture adjustments, which was very helpful. Two years ago I had a scary experience in the water, which made me hesitant to surf. Ohana helped me overcome my fears and enabled me to go surfing on my own again. The entire team is extremely helpful, friendly and will quickly get you set up with whatever you need - lessons, board rentals, rash guards, booties. Their ability to read waves and surfing conditions helped me have a better surf experience every time. I had a great time learning from them and surfing alongside them! Thank you, Troy, Chelsea, Kevin, Taylor, Gabi, Nick, Lani, Jayden, and Matt! I'm really looking forward to surfing with you all again soon! read more

I am new to the island and was looking for surf lessons when Ohana Surf Project was referred to me. Best decision! The instructors all great. SUPER patient with me as a "newbie". They join you in the water and help guide you. They also take still photos and videos to help you with your form. Tim worked with me and I will be back for additional lessons. I am by no means going to be the "north shore surfer" but looking forward to gaining more confidence in the water. Great value for the experience! Highly recommend. read more

I absolutely LOVED the instructors, surf location, and staff at Ohana Surf Project!! I was in Waikiki for a month, and I took 8 lessons with them, with multiple instructors (Taylor, Jena, Nick, Chelsea, and Matt), and they're all top notch: they care about your progression, safety, and they're positive and supportive. I've taken lessons all over the world, and I can honestly say that OSP is really special. They listened to me, understood where I wanted to go with my training, and they helped me progress far more than any other instructors I've had, and I was genuinely sad to say goodbye to them when it was time to leave my last day. Do take lessons with them. You'll be so glad you did! read more

I love this company's ethos and message. My private lesson with Kae was amazing. He gave me pointers and pushed me into so many fun waves. He was personable and relatable. Highly recommend Ohana surf project! read more

I'm happy I decided to learn to surf. The staff is extremely knowledgeable in not only techniques of surfing, but also feeling the ocean and reading waves. You'll have to come take lessons to know what I mean. Kevin is hella funny lol! Chelsea's tips are simple yet, helpful. Come to these guys to surf! read more

Ohana surf project is great for helping you learn to surf. Paid $100 for 2 hour group lesson, included was transportation from my hotel and back, the board, shirt and water shoes. I paid extra for the photos and videos of the lesson because who doesn't want photo proof of standing up? Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to learn how to surf. They managed to get this out of shape terrible swimmer to stand up on the board. read more

Ohana Surf Project - Ohana surf took me from this... - Surf Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Super awesome. Been surfing for years... solid intermediate skills. Wanted to improve my technique and get expert coaching (also wanted awesome pics). Booked private lesson with video. Learned a ton! Coach was great!!! Worth every penny as my surfing improved from only one lesson. Plus I got the video I could go back and watch later to critique myself. Regardless of your skill set, book with this company! They are experts in the water, love what they do, and super easy to deal with. I'm going out again in a couple of days and my stoke has still not worn off. Sincere thanks to the whole team at Ohana! Thanks for an epic session for this Florida guy. ‍ read more

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Hands down BEST surf school! Don't hesitate book now! My 8 year old daughter had a blast! It was her first time and EVERYONE was very kind and professional to her. Don't forget to add on the photos and video. It's worth EVERY penny! Such an unforgettable experience that's documented for you. We will definitely be back! Surfing is all my daughter talks about now‍ Thank you Ohana Surf Project read more

I can't stop thinking about this amazing experience. My children and I loved our surfing lessons, and we can't wait to go back to do more! Two lessons were not enough for us beginner surfers. The teachers were patient, kind, professional and just amazing! Our dream came true to do lessons in Waikiki and all we talk about is keeping up the sport (despite seasickness and many wipeouts haha) and it's our favourite sport, especially in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii. Highly recommend Ohana Surf Project, our family gives them 10 stars! Thanks again for an amazing experience. read more

I had one 2 hour group surf lesson with Ohana Surf Project and it was a fantastic experience. My main instructors were Chelsea and Matt who were both absolutely amazing. They were so nice, great at teaching, and made sure all of us were having fun. They treat you like you're their good friend from the get go which meant that I wasn't embarrassed if I fell or screwed up. The photos they take (for you to buy at an additional cost) are really great and worth the price. I got about 80 pictures and videos for $50. I went by myself to the lesson and I love having the footage to share with my family and friends. If I could share the videos here, I would, because you can tell how great the instructors are from their commentary and support in the audio. Highly highly recommend! read more

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