Hawaii Surf Guru — Local services in Honolulu

Can't say enough good things about surfing with Kimo. For scanability, I broke it into highlights by key area:

KIMO'S INSTRUCTION:

*Super knowledgeable about board design & calibrating board type to your body and skill level: After getting my specs and a feel for my level, Kimo arrived with a range of boards to select from - all designed for someone my size.

*Super knowledgeable about wave mechanics: Teachers that can actually explain the mechanics of the wave so you understand why you're doing something (e.g. late take off pop-ups; paddling in on an angle vs. 90 degrees) are rare. Kimo's got it.

*Teaches technique not just another learn-how-to-stand-up-on-a-surfboard surf school: If you're new to surfing, Kimo will get you up on a wave in no time . More importantly though, he'll also work with wherever you are to get you to the next level. I could go down the line which was great for the 10% of waves that are perfect, perfect positioning, etc., but I didn't really understand how to work the wave the other 90% of the time. I spent a week in the water with Kimo and not only understand the mechanics of what to do but also had loads of practice.

*More waves than anyone else out there: Lots of people in the lineup? No problem. With Kimo's positioning and help, I caught 3x the number of waves which gave me a lot more opportunity to practice.

KIMO'S BUSINESS:

*Fully stocked mobile shop advantage: Don't let the lack of a storefront deter you. You get to surf where the waves are best and best for your level. Forgot your booties, wetsuit, whatever - no problem, Kimo has everything you could need plus nice après-surf touches (e.g. water to rinse your feet, Gatorade to recharge, etc.)

*Responsive; accommodating with scheduling: I submitted an online request form through his website and received a call back within the hour. It was a couple of days before Christmas which is a particularly busy time for Kimo because he has his regulars, plus his visiting holiday regulars, and newcomers like me, but he made it happen & rearranged his hours to get me in at the beginning of the day.

KIMO'S STYLE:

*Fun, sense of humor: Most importantly, Kimo has a fun and healthy outlook on surfing and on life....

Me, my partner, and friend signed up for a 3 person personal lesson. It was our first time surfing and we had a blast!

I called Kimo the night before and he was very friendly and helpful getting us set up to surf the next morning.

When we got there at 6:45 he had bins for our clothes and items, gave us our rash guards/wet suit top, then we went to Caden to get a quick lesson on land. He explained how to surf really well and answered any questions we had.

Once we got on our boards we immediately went out to hit the waves. They started us out on the small waves. Luckily we had Caden and Kimo guiding us and helping us as we surfed. He would tell us when to start paddling and also give a good push to get us going so we wouldn't miss the wave.

Once we paddled back out to them they would give great positive feedback to make sure we were perfecting our new skill and not learning bad habits. This was probably the best part, they didn't just give the lesson and watch. They went out with us and helped every step of the way - even Caden towing my partner back to the wave break when she took a little longer to get back out after riding a wave. I also mentioned I wanted to try a larger wave and Caden said to go next to Kimo, he would help. I went out further and Kimo told me where to wait and what to look for and when to start paddling. He helped me start the bigger wave but they were too big and hard for me, but still fun to try, and hopefully can do it next time.

In the end we all had a blast and would recommend Kimo, Caden, and his crew to anyone learning to surf. You won't be disappointed. (also everyone seemed to know Kimo and say Hi...

Kimo and his team were outstanding! Exactly the kind of people you’d hope to get trained by when you imagine taking surfing lessons in Hawaii. They were patient, relaxed, encouraging, funny, and overall just great guys to be around. My brother can be hard on himself, but I could immediately tell that their encouragement and patience worked with him incredibly well! He later told me that it felt like he was surfing with really down to earth guys, and not some intimidating, know-it-all instructor, and I would have to agree! They just radiated positivity and encouragement. Kimo was able to accommodate my brother and I less than a day in advance...obviously I don’t recommend waiting until the last second, but we were definitely fortunate to find spots in such short notice. His method of instruction was very simple and straightforward, and just felt natural. My brother and I, with no prior experience, were up and surfing in only a couple of tries. My only regret was not taking the class the first day I was in Oahu so that I could have been surfing more later! We had a blast and would ABSOLUTELY recommend...