The latitude and longitude of O'ahu are 21.4389°N, 158.000°W, making it a tropical paradise smack in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The gin clear waters here average 77°F during wintertime and can get up to 82°F in the summer. It’s great news for anyone who wants to learn to surf because there’ll be plenty of ‘hang’ time in the water. Hawai'i is fortunate to have warm weather and gorgeous waters year-round.
For centuries, the act of using the waves' energy for pure joy has been happening here. In Hawaiian, the phrase He’e Nalu translates to “wave sliding.” So, if you’re going to learn to surf in Hawai'i, or for the sake of this article, O'ahu is one of the best places in the world to give it a try. Before you even get wet, here are some pro tips and suggestions to help you hang ten.
Safety Tips:
Paddling out on your own is advised only if you have the inside scoop or a little assistance from a local who knows these waters, the breaks, and the best places to go. No worries if you don’t have a personal tour guide. There are plenty of options to get you in the water, from beginner waves you can brave on your own to getting some private or group surfing lessons.
Here are a few pro tips and things to keep in mind:
Have a buddy. Always be with someone in the water.
Do not touch the reef or the wildlife. The reef is razor sharp and can cut you, so if this happens, get out of the water and clean those cuts.
Always wear reef-safe sunscreen.
There will be wax on the board to keep you from slipping off, but it can cause some chafing or a rash, so if you have sensitive skin, throw on a rash guard.
Eight days after the full moon, jellyfish can appear on the south side of the island. You can refer to the Waikiki calendar to check the schedule of jellyfish. The east side gets Portuguese man-of-war; these have long, thin blue tails that can wrap around you in the surf, so be aware.
An equally important part of your learning curve is understanding and abiding by surfing etiquette. Think of how traffic flows when you follow the rules everyone is safe and gets to their destination. But when that one jerk decides to be an exception, accidents happen. The following tips are a collection from various sources, but if you want to go deeper, we suggest The Encyclopedia of Surfing.
Don’t ditch your board; it can fly and hit someone else.
Don’t cut others off or drop in on them if they already have the wave. Unless you hear “party wave” which means the more the merrier.
Be respectful of the others in the water. If you are friendly, polite, and patient, more than likely you can make friends in the water and receive some insider and local tips.
Be aware of your surroundings. Watch the waves and see what others are doing.
Always remember: When in doubt, don’t go out.
Whether you are brand new, have caught a few waves before, or are looking to catch some safe and friendly waves while visiting O'ahu. Here’s a list of breaks, rentals, and lessons on the four different sides of the island.
In Town:
The infamous Waikiki beach has some of the best waves to learn on. It’s easy enough to rent a board and paddle straight out yourself to give this surfing thing a spin all on your own. There are plenty of other places you can rent boards from that may be in slightly better condition for a better long-term rental rate from neighboring surf shops and hotels in Waikiki.
Waikiki:
Paulo at Kahu Surf School offers 1 or 2 hour lessons. Paulo moved to Hawai'i from Brazil in 1985 and teaches private and group surfing lessons in Waikiki.
Big Wave Dave was born and raised on O'ahu and has been one of the famous Waikiki Beach Boys for over 35 years. His team of instructors are all beach boys who are experienced watermen.
Professional surfer and 2023 world longboard champion, Kai Sallas, operates his Pro Surf School. They offer lessons in surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, body surfing, and surf tours. They will bring you to a safe, secure, and less crowded break.
North Shore:
The most famous surfing on O'ahu is found in the waters of the North Shore. Pipeline, Waimea, and Sunset Beach are all great places to watch the pros do their best work. If you do want to try surfing on the North Shore of O'ahu, check out these user-friendly breaks and some local companies that offer lessons in this gorgeous corner of the world.
Hale'iwa Beach Park and Turtle Bay Resort have relatively gentle breaks compared to the rest of the North Shore. Here is where you can get guided lessons from professionals:
Professional surfer and local boy Hans Hedemann has a surf school that offers lessons either in Waikiki or on the North Shore at the Turtle Bay Resort.
Sunset Suzy is the only female lifeguard on the North Shore and has been teaching lessons for over 25 years. She offers group lessons starting at $75.
Kala Grace comes from a lineage of famous Hawai'i surfers, his school features all Hawai'i-born and raised instructors, and has lessons for all skill levels.
West Side:
The west side of O'ahu is hot and sunny most of the year. The surf breaks on this side of the island have a reputation for being a little territorial, so do your research before paddling out. If you are brand new to the sport, we highly suggest taking lessons with one of the schools so the instructors can help you get started, and they can also clue you into where beginners are welcome once you are on your own. If you do want to enjoy surfing on this amazingly gorgeous and sunny side of O'ahu check out these schools that offer lessons and know the inside scoop of the waters on the beautiful west side of O'ahu.
West Oahu SUP offers rentals, boards, and lessons. Their location is one of the more gentle and friendly breaks to learn to surf.
Surf HNL School offers a great lesson package at three different locations to learn how to surf or stand up paddleboard.
East Side/Windward:
Kailua and Lanikai are two of the most beautiful beaches that O'ahu has to offer. They are family-friendly and great for beginner activities. The eastern coast of O'ahu is referred to as the windward side, so at times, it is a bit more rainy and windy. Also, the man-of-war jellyfish are in these waters eight days after the full moon, so keep your eyes out. If you see plenty of these long blue tails on the beach before you get into the water, be mindful. Kailua Beach has a nice shorebreak, making it easy to grab a board and surf a little bit on the sand break. There is also Flat Island, which has a nice and gentle break just to the right. This is a great place to catch some waves on a longboard. Kailua has easy and fun options to surf. If you do want some instructions there are a couple companies that offer rentals and lessons.
Hawaiian Water Sports is the mecca of rentals and lessons in Kailua. Surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, kite surfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, and freediving are all accessible here. They offer both lessons and rentals, so get detailed instructions, or give it a go on your own.
Kailua Beach Adventures has been in the business of rentals and lessons for 40 years and
is within walking distance to the beach access.
Wherever you are on the islands and whatever skill level you have, there is a way for you to enjoy these beautiful waters. Be safe and catch some epic waves.
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