The Surf Professor

(435 reviews)

14.2 km

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

(276 reviews)

14.6 km

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.

My kids decided they wanted surf lessons while we were in Oahu, and I didn't hear back from most…read moreplaces I reached out to since they can book out months in advance. Ohana Surf Project was the exception--they got back to me within an hour and were able to set up private 1:1 lessons for each of my kids the very next day! If you don't see availability online, definitely try calling--they are really accommodating. The whole experience itself was really organized. When we signed up, they collected shirt and shoe sizes - and when we arrived, rash guards and water shoes were already set out for the kids in a bin (you can also rent a wetsuit top for $10). After gearing up, they watched a short instructional video, then everyone hopped on a school bus to head to the beach. They take you away from the crowd to a more private area (which feels rare for Waikiki). It made the whole experience a lot more relaxed. Sean was an amazing instructor--super patient and great with the kids. Overall just a really smooth and fun experience. I highly recommend booking with them! Oh! We also prepaid to have photos taken. The kids had lessons on Wednesday afternoon and we received photos/videos the next day at 11am (about ~80 total between photos and videos).

Surfing in Waikiki

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Mickeys Surf School

(278 reviews)

14.3 km

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

Surf HNL

4.8

(209 reviews)

28.8 km

I highly recommend this surf school. It was a little tough to find at first, but Cody walked me…read morethrough all the directions and was very patient - even though we got lost and were late. The instructor (Liane?) was helpful and friendly and made my son feel very comfortable. Her patient encouragement helped him stand up within 20 minutes of getting in the water! He can't wait to do it again. If you're on O'ahu and on the fence about which school to go with, choose Surf HNL. You won't be disappointed.

We had a great experience at Surf HNL Kapolei. It was very easy to schedule and worth the price…read more Cody was very kind and professional, and he made sure my keiki felt comfortable and safe. We got so many cute pictures and videos and she was over the moon! Surfing has been her dream and we're so glad we started her out with this experience. Mahalo nui, Cody!

Surfing on Eisenhower Beach

Eisenhower Beach

Eisenhower Beach surfing

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808 Surf School

(66 reviews)

37.9 km

We had SUCH an amazing time with 808 Surf School!!…read more Andy was the best-- professional, knowledgeable, really attentive, and made us feel safe and comfortable in the water the whole time. He explained everything in a way that made it easy and not intimidating at all. This was my boys' VERY FIRST time surfing ever, and they both got up and rode waves ‍ It was the coolest thing to watch--they were so fearless and had the best time. Couldn't have asked for a better experience. If you're even thinking about surf lessons, this is 100% the place. Andy is awesome

They were amazing!! First, Mike went above and beyond to accommodate our group of 4 teens last…read moreminute. Then Andy, was an amazing instructor! The way he interacted with the kids was an intangible...he was a kindred spirit! It was obvious these folks cared about teaching their love of surfing and it wasn't just about earning our payment. If you ever go to Oahu...I recommend opting for these guys instead of booking with some commercialized surf lesson company at Waikiki. You get so much more than just lessons. It's an experience. There were 3 households of parents that unanimously agreed Andy was awesome!!

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8 year old

Alysha Surf School

4.7

(94 reviews)

15.1 km

I took lessons with Al. He is amazing. Teaches safety and details with surfing for beginners like…read moreme. He is funny but serious when it deals with safety issues, getting up, and getting down from the wave. He took his time with me and made sure I was comfortable before getting out! I recommend these instructors. I did get up on 6 waves and felt confident during the experience. Thank you, Al you are amazing!!!

My boyfriend and I took surf lessons with Al in the beginning of March. We paid for a semi-private…read morelesson at 7am in the morning at the advice of my friend, and it was absolutely worth it! Very long time out in the water, and we didn't have to share our instructor's attention with anyone else! Al took us a south of the crowd, and gave great instructions on where exactly to meet up. He has a safe in his car and had all of the equipment we needed. That early in the morning it was completely empty and beautiful. Al gave really great instruction and felt more like an uncle than a commercial surfing instructor. He made sure we had fundamentals down so I could correct my positioning and form by myself. His critique after each fall were great. When I showed interest in how to read the waves, he happily taught me some things, despite that normally being reserved for the second or third surf lesson. My boyfriend and I were up on the board quickly and for most of the lesson. We were so stoked he let us know where to rent boards on our own for the rest of our stay. If we had had the time I definitely would have booked a lesson with him for another day. But I guess I'll just have to wait until my next O'ahu vacation. :)

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Hawaii Natural Surf School & Tours

(3 reviews)

14.4 km

I HIGHLY recommend a hike with Howie. I did this hike with my family with skills ranging from…read moreDivision I athletes to couch potato. Howie made this hike enjoyable for all ages and capabilities!! We are not a "hike" family, we were not expecting to love this so much, but we felt like we needed to do some site seeing (our typical vacation is sitting by the pool/beach). We ALL left Hawaii saying that this hike was the absolute best part of our trip!! The views on this trail were jaw dropping. We saw so many waterfalls and got to swim in springs. For the more athletic crew in our family, Howie took them up almost vertical trails with ropes! It was AMAZING! This truly felt like a once in a lifetime experience!

We took our first surf lesson with Howie and had an AMAZING time! We got some great photos and…read morelearned the basics! Howie's prices are very reasonable and we can't wait to get back in the water with him! Mahalo Howie for such an awesome time!!

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Hawaiian WaterSports

3.9

(143 reviews)

6.1 km

Certified professionals

Family-owned & operated

I had an excellent experience with Hawaiian Watersports and especially Josh, the owner. He was…read moreextremely friendly on the phone and incredibly helpful in tracking down a very desirable surfboard for me...

This store is a must stop for any water activity! Great selection, friendly staff with lots of…read moreknowledge with personal touch. Lessons, rentals, gear.... they have it all. Highly recommend!

Let me show you how to windsurf. Lesson with instructor Svenja!

Wing foil is the fastest growing water sport and the new thrill in lessons.

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Wing foil with us. We sell all the gear, plus rentals and lessons

Surf Lessons Waikiki

(36 reviews)

15.1 km

Wish I could give 10 stars for this amazing surf lesson by Al!!!…read more My sister and I were always so scared to try surfing, even though we have been to Hawaii multiple times. Finally after our 8th visit, we decided to finally give it a shot, although we were still a bit hesitant and nervous.. we heard a lot of stories about how hard it is to surf, even for extremely athletic people. Al was a TOP NOTCH, professional, and most importantly, a fun instructor! He gave us the useful tips on how not to fall, emphasized on ways to avoid hazardous situations, and always kept an eye out on ways for us to improve our surfing. Not only did we successfully ride waves during our first lesson, we were confident to tackle even BIGGER waves the next day! Unfortunately we were catching a flight the next morning which caused issues for booking our next lesson.. Al is patient, helpful and kind. We would not hesitate to return during our next trip to Hawaii. Highly recommend this lesson to anyone who doesn't feel confident about surfing - also I would opt to pay extra money to get some cool photos!! We chose not to, but regret it because we definitely rocked at our first time surfing thanks to the help of Al and his team! Mahalo!

Jenny is awesome! I thought surfing was going to be a pain in the butt to learn, but after 1 hour…read morewith Jenny I was ready for the North Shore, too bad its not winter, I would've been tearing it up. If your headed to O'ahu and are interested in a surfing lesson, look no further!

Age 11

Age 9

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Ready Set Grow Hawaii

4.0

(1 review)

1.6 km

I am so grateful for all the help, training, and one on one attention I received from my teacher,…read moretutors and all the staff. It helps me build up my skills in math, reading and writing. I like the people and atmosphere at Ready Set Grow. I really like this program and would recommend it to anyone.

Pali View Baptist Preschool

(15 reviews)

1.7 km

We LOVE everything about Pali View Baptist Preschool. I had no idea where to start when searching…read morefor preschools for my kids, but had heard that many preschools require you to apply almost a year in advance to reserve a spot. Pali View came highly recommended to me by a friend when I was last minute searching for preschools that would be a good fit for us. I did not think we would get in due to our "later than normal" application, but to our surprise we got a spot! The communication from the start was unmatched. I had many questions as this would be the first school my kids were attending and the director, Elyssa, thoroughly answered all my questions and concerns in a timely manner (less than 24 hour response time which was great)! The administration is great, quick to respond and flexible. The school accepts many of the scholarship programs, which is always a great help when paying the tuition. Even without a scholarship, the tuition is reasonable compared to most preschools here on Oahu. We love that Pali View sets a Christian foundation for the students. I am so happy when my kids come home singing songs from chapel, or telling me stories from the bible. The teachers are incredible and share daily updates, photos etc. through the brightwheel app. The teachers are responsive through the app if you have a question in the middle of the day or mornings before drop offs. The school hosts many events from movie nights, art shows and the Harvest festival, just to name a few. They also have super fun fieldtrips throughout the year. The teachers truly care about each and every one of the kids and they also make it a point to get to know the parents. I could go on and on... but if you are considering sending your kid(s) here, you won't be disappointed. This was the best decision we made in our kiddos early education!

We really like Pali View. Our kids talk about their friends and teachers all the time. Our kids are…read moreexcited about going to school, and they continually show us the Bible songs and prayers they learn. We also struggle with the amount of days off at the school. Having two demanding jobs, we are continually trying to take off time for Veterans Day, Election Day, Fall Break, early outs, etc. This makes it impossible to save up any vacation time to do anything outside of the school. Occasionally, I have meetings that start right at 8AM or end at 4:30PM in downtown Honolulu. In these cases, I am doing everything humanly possible to get to or from the meeting and to the school during the 7AM-5PM window. Coming home, If we hit a stoplight or a traffic jam, we are bound to pay them $1 a minute charge. It's exhausting. Each morning, my daughter's classroom asks that we sign her in and then go to her classroom and practice writing her name and numbers each day. With a demanding schedule, this task is challenging. So really a mixed bag. If you can make this work for your schedule, do it! The staff love your children and your kids learn great social skills. Plus they are learning the core Biblical principles. But be mindful of the time challenges as well.

Chapel Time with Mr. Jeff

Water Play!

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Le Jardin Academy

(5 reviews)

4.2 km

Le Jardin is the best private school on O'ahu. It is small enough to feel like a close-knit…read morecommunity and large enough to have the resources that students need to remain competitive. The campus is beautiful, the faculty and staff are warm and happy to be there, and the students are overwhelmingly kind. Students study a language from K-12 as part of the curriculum and are immersed in hands-on, experiential learning for throughout the day. Le Jardin is an International Baccalaureate World School that offers not only the IB Diploma Program but also the IB Primary Years Programme and the IB Middle Years Programme for its primary and middle schools. We moved our children here from Mid-Pacific Institute (one of the WORST private schools on the island) and the difference is night and day (they even have 18 more in-school days in a school year!)

This is an EXCEPTIONAL school. It's the ONLY K-12 International Baccalaureate school in the…read morestate. The setting is at the old Kailua drive in site, and it's spectacular. The views are incredible. The staff are great. Helpful and interested in the children's best interest ( as it should be ) and are always available to engage with the parents on their children's education. Although expensive, it's well below Punahou, 'Iolani, and Mid Pac. They do offer financial aid options, yet make sure you apply early because it can take some time to get through the process. Le Jardin does offer athletics as well as a quality education. As a matter of fact, the girl's just won the ILH water polo championship, and the boy's won last year. Le Jardin competes in Water Polo, paddling, swimming, volleyball, basketball, tennis, kayaking and golf. They also compete in the PAC-5 in football, softball, wrestling, baseball and cross country. The gym is fantastic, a tad bit cramped, but very nice indeed. I'm proud to say that my girls will be attending Le Jardin the fall of 2013

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The Growing Patch 24-Hour Children Academy

4.3

(12 reviews)

13.9 km

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.

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Windward Nazarene Academy

3.9

(8 reviews)

1.0 km

If you're looking for a private school, but can't afford those big name ones and live on the…read moreWindward side think about the school I have to tell you I have never met more caring, teachers and faculty staff than this school. They truly are a diamond in the rough. You will not be disappointed, especially with Miss Debbie what a sweetheart she is.

A great school!!! I wouldn't send my three keiki anywhere else if I had the choice. Our children…read morehave been reading since Preschool...... The best part of it is that our kids come home raving about Jesus!!! I guess it's not for everyone, but that's why it's a private school and not everyone will be a good fit. Academics are awesome. Our kindergartners are now writing in cursive and reading at the 2nd/3rd grade level . Our 2nd grader has been reading chapter books since 1st grade and already multiplying. Granted we as parents have put in some time helping them with their homework, but that's part of being parents. To set them up for success. If you want a school that will teach your child to love Jesus and others as well as get ahead in academics, this is where you want your child to be. They do push Christian values and we love how our kids are saying our meal prayers since they were 3 yrs. old. Their love for God, Jesus and others is awesome... If you don't want your child to have a really strong Christian base, then maybe this school isn't for your child. Cost is extremely reasonable compared to other private schools. Plus where else can you drop off at 7am and pick up at 5:45 pm with lunch and snacks included in tuition? The staff is very caring especially in preschool... There are two teachers per classroom up to third grade (which) is when kids start to migrate to other private schools... We haven't had a teacher that we didn't get along with. Couldn't have asked for a better place for my keiki...