Hawaii Surfing Academy LLC | Waikiki Surf Lessons — Local services in Oʻahu

I'll start off by admitting that as someone who does not like the ocean (or being in the water in general), my friends totally peer pressured me into taking surf lessons with them. It ended up being one of the most memorable experiences of my Hawaii trip!

Jimmy and his lovely wife met us bright and early in the morning. We followed them in our car to a nearby beach in North Shore. Jimmy came prepared with all the surfing essentials including long-sleeved tops, pants, and surfboards. Right off the bat, he inquired about our skill level in swimming and provided life jackets for those who were not as experienced (aka me). Jimmy also warned us in advance that the waves were choppy and that he'd be taking us out in pairs to ensure our safety.

We began our lesson by carrying our surfboards out to the beach (this was a workout in itself) and learning the basics in paddling and standing up. While in the water, Jimmy rotated between teaching one person and having the other person wait closer to the shore. I was incredibly nervous when we first started, and Jimmy really helped me feel at ease. He was very patient and encouraging. He really pushed me to challenge myself!

I ended up doing surprisingly well! I caught a few waves and had a ton of fun. I also felt 100% safe the entire time - Jimmy had a watchful eye on us while we were in the water. Jimmy's wife also took amazing photos and videos which she sent to us immediately after our lesson! Our keepsake was such a great bonus.

Overall, Jimmy's awesome personality and style of teaching made it easier for us to learn. His expert knowledge of surfing and safety really made the experience personal and worthwhile. He even led us to the pipeline afterward to watch the big waves! I can now proudly say that I learned how to surf in Hawaii and it's all...

Mahalo Jimmy and your wife. Amazing lesson yesterday and I appreciated not only how supportive you were during the lesson but also that you wanted to make sure I learned as much as possible. The constructive feedback you provided was fantastic. Thanks to this and all of your demonstrations I know what I needed to work on to better improve myself. The fact that your wife took fantastic photos and videos (at no additional cost!) is also incredible.

Most importantly I had a ton of fun and I’m thankful that you helped to make this experience memorable. I would highly recommend your service to anyone else considering it. 🙇🏻‍♂️🏄🏻‍♂️

UPDATE

So this is actually my second lesson with Jimmy and honestly Jimmy and his wife, Nani, are incredible. Jimmy is such a positive instructor that even when you might be self-criticizing he focuses on the positive of your performance while still giving you effective feedback on how to improve.

The first time around was great but this second time around was absolutely fantastic. I was able to put even more of what I had learned last time into practice for this session and the confidence made it an even better experience.

I was able to catch a lot of waves and ride them out and most of the time only getting down by choice versus falling off a bunch. We even worked our way out further a couple hundred yards where the waves had more of a push.

And I’d be mistaken to not mention that during all of this Nani is taking awesome photos and videos from the shore with her professional camera. Capturing all of those moments for free (other places might try to charge you upwards of $40USD) for the same thing or worse.

I’m so happy I found these two as they’re so committed to giving you a great experience while also understanding that a lot of us are probably travelling...

I had the pleasure of taking a surf lesson today with my sister and 11 year old daughter. It was an absolutely unforgettable experience! From the moment I contacted Jimmy he made the booking process easy. Jimmy and his wife went out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. They started with a thorough introduction, covering all the basics—from paddling techniques to positioning on the board. I was initially nervous, but they were incredibly patient and encouraging, which made all the difference.

The lesson was structured in a way that kept me engaged without feeling overwhelmed. After a brief land demo, we hit the water. Jimmy was always nearby, offering helpful tips and adjusting his guidance as needed. I was amazed at how quickly we started to catch small waves and even managed to stand up a couple of times! I’m extremely grateful for how patient Jimmy was with my daughter. He made her experience one she won’t soon forget.

The location was perfect, with calm waves that were ideal for beginners. They provided everything I needed and the atmosphere was laid-back and supportive, making it a fun and enjoyable learning environment.

Overall, I couldn’t recommend Hawaii Surfing Academy enough. Whether you're a complete beginner or someone looking to improve your skills you are guaranteed an amazing day! And, if that wasn’t enough, they provide you with pictures and videos of...