Hawaiian Boy Surf School — Local services in Honolulu

I deleted my previous positive review and am sad to leave this one. I had a terrible experience, I suggest you avoid this business that has clearly gone a different direction.

My son (5) had two great lessons with Preston back in January. I left a 5 star review.

This month (May) I scheduled another and was extremely disappointed. The surf instructor was 10 minutes late, I called Preston and he said he had sent a replacement. The “replacement”, a guy named Sterling, was NOT an instructor. He asked my husband to get in the water with them and help for the lesson (again, this was his third time, neither of us were in the water the first 2). He just kind of paddled around for 20 minutes. My child got scared and started crying. This guy was very strange…he wore his sneakers in the water and his pants were practically falling off (for a kids lesson). After those 20 minutes they came out of the water and the “instructor” told me my son “didn’t want to do it” and he walked away, lesson over. My child was terrified by this point. I regret even letting him in the water with Sterling. I should’ve trusted my gut.

I tried texting, calling, and emailing Preston and never heard back. He took my money and offered no response, refund, or reschedule.

Still never heard back. It’s been a week.

Sadly what was an incredible place to get lessons seems to have gone awry. I can only suggest you avoid at all costs. Even as an adult, I wouldn’t have accepted a lesson...

A once-in-a-lifetime surf experience for our family!

We booked a surf lesson with Preston, and it was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Hawaii. He, his amazing wife, and their son Ezra made our young family of five feel completely supported and at ease from the moment we arrived.

Each of us received personalized lessons that matched our comfort and skill levels, and his wife was so kind and encouraging with our daughter — her warmth and patience made all the difference. Ezra was also incredibly patient, helpful, and full of aloha, cheering everyone on and adding so much heart to the experience.

They even went above and beyond to capture photos and videos so we can treasure those first waves forever.

If you want an authentic, family-run, local experience filled with kindness, connection, and fun — support local and book with Preston. It’s an unforgettable memory our family will cherish for...

If you want to learn to surf in Honolulu then Preston and the Hawaiian Boy Surf School is the place to go! I cannot recommend them more highly.

For a beginner, older female like myself, Preston's professionalism and manner mattered to me; gentle and reassuring. But it was also his decades of experience in, and knowledge of, the ocean that impressed me most.

I specfically sought out an Hawaiian-owned and operated surf school, and Preston sharing insights into the history and cultural concepts of surfing during the lesson, was as important to me as learning to ride a wave.

The HBSC is also far less expensive than some of the more commercial ventures operating in Waikiki - so 'buying local' really benefits everyone.

Easily a highlight of my time in Hawaii this year.

Mandaang guwu...