Ohana Surf Project Reviews

Leah Parsons

06:24 04 Jun 22

My husband and I took surf lessons with Ohana Surf Project in 2018 and it was so great that I came back with my 10 year old daughter four years later. They have a great operation with kind, professional, patient staff who seem to genuinely care about us having a great experience. My daughter loved it and can’t wait to surf again.

Kellyn Gombert

04:33 29 May 22

We had a great experience during our semi-private lesson. The team did a great job keeping the group safe and having fun. The pictures and videos turned out awesome too!

Ryan Dontje

03:02 16 May 22

We had an amazing time and our instructor, Kevin, made us feel very comfortable. He was very patient and it was a great experience. Definitely would recommend to anyone wanting to try surfing.

Thomas Miller

05:34 01 May 22

Matt was an incredible instructor- best surfing lesson we have had. Full of tips, humour and pushed us to improve. Kevin (Matt's son) was also great. Amazing location. Alana's photos / videos were also great. Nothing but positives to report!

Angeliki Zormpa

15:56 28 Apr 22

Totally worth it!! Nick was our instructor and he was very helpful, patient and of course we had so much fun. I loved the feedback after every ride. I stood up from the first try and most importantly for me, I felt safe! Mahalo from the Greek girls ??

Judson Werner DDS

22:29 18 Apr 22

My family took a private lesson last week and we had an amazing time. They were very well organized and had a great operation. They were caring, engaging and were very attentive to our safety and comfort. Most importantly we all surfed and we all had a great time. I would definitely recommend them to anyone and I would take another lesson with them again when I am back.

Jeff Rigdon

10:50 06 Apr 22

Ohana Surf Project was amazing. K, Jena, Max and Chelsea went out of their way to ensure all 7 of us had one of the best days ever. We even ended up doing something resembling surfing by the end of the lesson. My 6 year old grandson Soiyer can't stop talking about all the waves he rode in on and wanted to make sure I said a big Mahalo to the Ohana family. We will definitely be back for round 2 next time we are in Oahu. After you've been to the best there is no point checking out the rest!

Katy Hastings

16:34 24 Feb 22

Had an awesome time. Everything was well organized and went perfectly. Matt & Troy were both very experienced and helpful with enhancing our days of surf with Ohana Surf Project. Love all of the pics and videos from the photographers as well. Will definitely be back next time!

Tom Flight

01:16 23 Feb 22

Wow! So much fun. WWe went as a family of 5 and had a blast. Chelsea and the crew were so down to earth and helped us have the best time. Thank you so much. The Flights.

Y Xiong

05:21 01 Jan 22

My eight years old girl had lots of fun surfing although she did not know how to swim. Claire was very patient to ensure she had a good time. We got tons of awesome pictures and videos too. The staff was very nice to switch the appointment on last minute change. We'll definitely go back when we're in Honolulu next time.

Petr Mitsel

04:06 08 Dec 21

Our experience surfing with Ohana surf project was incredible. The instructors are all very friendly and helpful and really want to ensure a good experience for all students. We booked the two hour lesson and were very confident by the end of it, despite never having surfed before. Would recommend to anyone.

Regina San Pedro

21:08 04 Dec 21

They’re the only surfing school my husband and I keep going back to every time we visit Hawaii. The people are phenomenal. They are passionate with what they do. Nothing compares! Thank you for an awesome time, as always. See y’all soon!

Christa Kearns

05:49 28 Nov 21

I took a private lesson with Keola and it was an incredible experience! He was attentive, patient, so friendly and even got me up on the very first wave (and many many after- I slept like a baby that night!) The entire team all around was just dynamite. Chelsea immediately makes you feel like family. They all care about your experience and safety and make it the most memorable experience! So grateful I did it, hope to come back again!

Alysha Acevedo

03:17 15 Nov 21

The experience was out of this world. The instructors were so nice and patient with us. They never made us feel pressured and didn't mind answering our many questions. This is the crew you want to learn to surf with. Would highly recommend.

seshadri sridharan

21:36 14 Nov 21

Very professional down to earth group of surfing experts. I had a fantastic time with Kevin my instructor. If you have been on the fence just go for it. You will LOVE it.

Mark gauvin

01:49 11 Nov 21

I had an awesome time learning to surf all over again, after having 10 years off it was a workout!! I booked the 2 hour private lesson and had Hughes as an instructor and he helped me out greatly, i now feel confident on my ability to consistently catch waves and riding them. Only down side is I won't have palm trees to look at when I try again back home!Awesome spot, great group of people and the stoke for everyone was nice touch!

Mariah Chadwick

21:31 13 Oct 21

My boyfriend and I decided to take surfing lessons while we were staying in Waikiki. Neither of us have ever surfed before and were super excited. Chelsea did NOT disappoint. She is an amazing teacher and extraordinarily patient. We plan on coming back in a few months to book some more lessons with y'all. Thank you so much for the amazing experience!!!!

Joseph Convery

05:21 11 Oct 21

My wife & I had an amazing experience with Ohana Surf Project - we did the 1-on-1 lessons and spent two action-packed hours in the water. They were even able to arrange transportation to and from our hotel. This was a great experience and would recommend to anyone interested in learning to surf.

Erin Yaggy

13:41 22 Jul 21

Everything about Ohana Surf Project was top notch. We were in Oahu for a family wedding but I wanted to fulfill my daughter’s wish to learn how to surf. My husband, a recreational surfer, died when she was a year old. Lizzie has always wanted to surf like her dad but I didn’t know how I could make that happen… until I found Ohana Surf Project. They were amazing in every way- my daughter popped up just like her dad did and it was an awesome sight. 🙂 I can’t wait to come back again soon and surf with Ohana Surf Project.

Cory Dionne

00:04 18 Jul 21

We had a great experience with our instructor Cole and the other instructors out in the water today. My son caught a few and I survived.

Matthew Metz

03:44 14 Jul 21

My wife and I had an amazing morning learning how to surf in Waikiki from locals. We booked a 2 hour private lesson and were paired with Max. We were blessed with great weather and good waves. The group was small so we got a lot of waves. We started with only 4 people and 3 instructors which grew to about 8 people and 5 instructors after about 45 minutes. Id bet my wife and I got at least 25 waves each. Communication was extremely clear and easy. Pricing was fantastic. I couldn’t think of anyway to make the experience better. We even found free parking right at the starting location.

Megan R

17:25 04 Jul 21

Phenomenal experience. Instructors were helpful, patient, and informative. If you’re looking for a couples lesson, the semi-private was perfect. I highly recommended OSP to any first-timers.

Joe Asher

19:52 18 Jun 21

Greatest surf project on the planet! I wish they were on every beach. Great admin, great staff, great instructors. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Lindsey Jones

16:34 27 May 21

I had a great time and the instructors critique you well enough so you can make specific adjustments to your technique. After a few tries, I was up and catching waves. This is a must-do when you’re in Hawaii!

Eric Forero

23:31 17 Apr 21

Great service. As a strength and conditioning coach who is an instructor for basketball, I loved the warm up and Hughes was super coolAnd was great at preparing is to do our best surfing. Will be back when in HI. ????????

Jeffrey Lau

07:51 03 Apr 21

Team at the Ohana Surf Project have it dialed in!! Great team of teachers that will get you surfing ?????, period. Super friendly and supportive. Could not ask for a better atmosphere to learn in.

Monique W

16:00 11 Mar 21

The Ohana surf team was so awesome. I was very nervous for myself and my 6 year old...but we had the time of our lives thanks to Matt and the entire team - safe, professional and accommodating. You cannot leave Hawaii without this experience. The training was very thorough and the coaching staff throughout the session was absolutely great. Thank you again for the wonderful experience.

Samantha Stiteler

03:51 01 Feb 21

SO MUCH FUN ? BEST EXPERIENCE EVER. Such good vibes ?

Megan Bonnette

06:06 29 Jan 21

We had the BEST time with Taylor & Courtney! Highly recommended worth the money!

Scott Burke

19:50 02 Jan 21

I booked a private lesson with Ohana Surf Project twice during the week before Christmas and was super happy with the business and the coaches. I had about six months of surfing experience before visiting Ohana Surf Project and learned so much from the two - 2 hour lessons. I've been back in Florida for about a week and am surfing much, much better thanks to the OSP team. They are very friendly and easy to work with and their approach of having two coaches in the water with you; one watching you from the front so they can see you catch the wave and maneuver and one getting you set up in the wave was perfect...plus they provide video which makes it easy to see what you are doing wrong so you can make corrections to get better.If you don't have any experience that's okay too. I watched them with completely novice surfers and they are excellent coaches with complete beginners too and are very safe, friendly and overall cool people to talk to.In short, I can't recommend them enough and if I can get back to Oahu next year I will be back getting some coaching from them.

Hanyan Wang

01:11 29 Dec 20

I purchased a 2-hour private surfing lesson from Ohana Surfing Project. This was my second surfing lesson. The staff was friendly, but the experience did not match the price I paid (>$200, including tax and tips). The wave was gentle so we had to paddle further into the sea. Wearing all the equipment, watching the instruction video (I understand that it is necessary), and paddling to the right spot had already taken about 30 minutes. In the rest time, I fell off the board twice because it was slippery (thankfully, then the instructor waxed the board). Another two surfing attempts failed immediately because the angle between the board and wave was not right (instructor: this is not your fault). Besides having to paddle back between these failures, I also had to paddle to avoid other Ohana surfers or head to another spot (again, I understand all the safety concerns, but the instructor could have a better route plan.) In the end, I was exhausted after paddling for 2 hours and I only fully succeeded once, which is even less than my first 1-hour surfing lesson. My experience with Ohana Surfing Project is not bad but did not meet my expectation.

crista lindberg

00:30 28 Dec 20

Had a one-hour body boarding class with my family. Kevin was amazingly optimistic and took such good care of us. I'm considering going back to Kevin for a surf lesson. He kept things light and kept the family engaged. Plus, we learned and caught a few waves. Perfect!

Nicki LaCognata

02:14 06 Dec 20

If you do ANYTHING in Honolulu, you HAVE to take this surf lesson. Everyone is friendly, kind, and helpful from pickup until drop off. They are patient and go at your pace- plus make everything super fun! I can’t say enough AMAZING things!!

Naomi Pigue

21:25 15 Jun 20

Riding a wave is unlike any other feeling! I’d highly recommend Ohana surf project they make you feel so comfortable! Talk about fun in the sun!!! They are the best of the best!

Steve Morgan

17:23 18 Feb 20

Highly recommend for families. This was the third (and fourth) time surfing for my 9yo daughters and I. We had poor weather the first day, but Troy did a great job making it fun for the girls. Then we had an amazing day (of weather and surfing) with Chelsea. Ohana's system of instructors, photo-takers, and "fetchers" (for lack of a better word) makes the best use of their team and makes the lesson fun for the whole family out on the water.

Scott Chen

23:20 03 Jan 20

My family of four took the family surf lesson. I was very impressed by the lesson. The coaches are very nice and patient. The location they selected is very safe and good for the beginner. Everyone was able to successfully catch the waves several times. I am a good swimmer and I tried to surf by myself before but it was very difficult. With the coach’s help, this becomes so easy. Our family really enjoy our time surfing.

Taylor Hamilton - Grande

09:27 02 Jan 20

I wish I could give Ohana Surf Project and their group of talented, professional instructors far more than 5 stars! I came into my first lesson with zero experience on a surf board and left ready to catch my own waves and had a blast! Nick and Troy are immensely attentive and knowledgeable instructors. They gave me on the fly advice and broke down the mechanics of my stance and technique in a way that was both easily understood and immediately applicable. Everyone on the team was friendly and involved. From the sign up process, to the instructional video, right up to when you’re doing a pre-surf workout/warm up and standing up on your first wave, you are always taken care of. It is invaluable to be with a group of instructors who truly care about how you’re doing as you’re out on the water and making sure you’re given the tools to succeed. At such a fair price for their private lessons I don’t see how I could recommend another company! Give Ohana Surf Project a shot!

Luna Guo

19:21 24 Dec 19

Had the most fun experience learning how to surf from Nick. The team was so patient and nice and really aim to give you personalized attention. You could tell they were in it because of the love of the sport. I never felt like just another customer; the care and attention I was given was phenomenal as they helped wait around for some good waves for me. Thank you for the great experience!

Melissa

02:33 19 Dec 19

Had a blast! I highly recommend 2hrs! It’s tiring but goes by so fast at the same time. Everyone was so friendly and personable it was like hanging out with old friends! My son was encouraged so much it built his self esteem a lot!

Darrick Schubert

23:52 06 Dec 19

2 weeks ago we had a group of 10 with Ohana Surf Project. We had an absolute blast. Even though it was extremely windy they got all of us up and riding waves. Even me being the older overweight guy. ? the whole crew was very attentive and supportive. I hope we get the opportunity to have fun with them again.?

NL

02:58 04 Dec 19

Came here because we had great past experience.Paid for 2 private hours but only got 1.5 on the water. Blond lady was so rude to us, we found another company down the street who not only gave us the full two hours but it was 25% less expensive.I give 2 starts because our instructor was nice and also because if we weren't treated so rudely, we would have never found the new place which is awesome!Thanks rude blond lady!

Tim Williams

04:57 25 Nov 19

Very nice and patient instructors. I'm 59 years old and they had me up and riding the waves in no time. Great experience! Highly recomend it to everyone!!

Isaac Isaac

03:33 10 Nov 19

Would highly recommend. Super professional, safety focused and will quickly scale instruction to all abilities. I felt like I got a lot out of the private instruction and Troy gave me a lot of helpful tips to be successful catching waves and enjoy my first surf experience!!

Paul Slattum

06:43 06 Nov 19

I had an excellent private lesson with Matt. I learned a lot and was able to catch a bunch of waves. The team took great photos. Everyone was super friendly and helpful, I highly recommend using their services if you are ever in Waikiki.

Ashley Wallace

00:41 06 Nov 19

I've never surfed before and have always wanted to. I spent 2 hrs with the instructors and feel like an aspiring pro! They went over safety and techniques before our group hit the water. This made things so much easier once we got into the water. They were also very encouraging and paid attention to each participant in correcting our techniques throughout the session. I would recommend this group to everyone and would even take another class with them myself. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Vivian Shang

04:49 31 Oct 19

Booked in last minute for a group surf lesson with Ohana Surf Project. We were taken out by Chelsea, with David, Taylor and Justin also there to help. Had an awesome time and managed to stand up on the board and ride the wave by my second attempt! The waves were nice and gentle, which was great for beginners and weren't really crowded at all at the 12pm sesh. Despite being seasick, still had an amazing time! Thanks to the instructors for paddling and pulling us along when we got too tired! Taylor also took great photos and videos which half of us purchased at the end of the sesh:)

Robert Schettler

21:47 27 Oct 19

These guys were great! The trainers were very positive. Surfing was much easier than I expected. They offer pictures and videos of you afterwards, and they were amazing!This was the first time I EVER thought that pictures/videos were worth purchasing from a vendor.

Epi Reefer

07:32 26 Aug 19

One of the best experiences I had in Hawai'i. Awesome people, literally cool as ice. ?? Kevin, Allana, the other guys and gals were so helpful.

Michael Corpus

22:39 19 Aug 19

This was an AMAZING experience. Not only did I have a GREAT time, but it was so much better because of Kevin and all of his help. He was very patient and knows how to teach you like you are a beginner. My whole experience with the whole Ohana Surf Project was awesome. With no doubt I would DEFINITLEY recommend Ohana Surf Project.

Lara@ActionAid

08:04 23 Jul 19

Highly recommend Ohana Surf Project. We booked the semi private lesson and absolutely no regrets. Our instructor Lani was super friendly, knowledgeable and so supportive. She tailored her teaching to suit us both and we had so much fun - caught loads of waves and had something to work on each wave to improve our ride. These guys take safety appropriately seriously and had a lot of staff/ instructors on the water to make sure everything ran smoothly. Loved having Dani taking videos out on the water and another professional photographer on land to capture each ride. Worth every dollar in our opinion. Many mahalos OSP

Alistair Young

12:44 30 Jun 19

Everyone I dealt with was very nice (Kelly on phone, Chad in van from Marriott, Jenna the instructor), Jenna seemed to do a good job as instructor, but maybe the overall value was not there for us.I paid $277 for a 2hr semi-private lesson for my 2 boys. I also tipped $40 ($20 for each boy). However, for the most part my boys were really just part of the main group lesson - they warmed up and went out with the group, caught the same waves as the group, came in with the group, then reviewed all the photos of everyone in the group. They had a dedicated instructor for tuition, I'm just not convinced this made much difference to their surfing. At the end, some of the 'group' folks were signing up for another group lesson ($80+tax) while we'd spent our budget and were done.It's a little frustrating to pay twice as much as the others (I did not see any of them tipping), but then walk away with very similar experience. Maybe they could have thrown in a few photos/videos to make paying the extra worthwhile … or something. Instead, I would just have to say the folks in the group lesson made better use of their money. And you should too.

avas oopsies

23:15 29 Jun 19

our instructor chelsea was very nice while also providing very helpful tips.

Beth Mullen

02:00 16 Jun 19

My son just asked if I could give Kevin a 5 star review, so that's what I am doing. Kevin spent 2 hours with my 9 year old and was an awesome teacher. My son says that learning to surf was the absolute highlight of his trip to Hawaii. We also opted to purchase all of the pictures and videos for $50. They typically go so far out that you can't take pictures of your own, so you'll definitely need this package. We absolutely recommend Ohana Surf Project! Thank you for making my son's trip so memorable. We will be getting another private surf lesson through Ohana Surf Project when we return to Oahu!!!

Samantha Nier

01:16 16 May 19

Our instructor, Kevin, was the very best. Kevin was able to accommodate our wide range of skill levels. The rest of the crew was so kind and helpful.

Jesse Lane

05:57 05 May 19

The team at Ohana Surf Project was incredible. They were fun, patient and great instructors. I had a blast surfing, and my first surf experience exceeded expectations. ??? OSP was professional, safe, and took great photos and videos of all of us on our group.I highly recommend these guys!

William Hester

03:55 29 Mar 19

My girlfriend and I took a surfing lesson. The staff was awesome! They were really encouraging and friendly.

Jimmy Tanghongs

04:06 24 Mar 19

Great group! First time surfing, was up on the third try. Thanks Troy, Danny, and Lani!

Todd Peterson

01:27 25 Feb 19

What a GREAT kick a$$ experience! I would like to thank Matt and the entire staff for helping me check off a bucket list item. I would highly recommend Ohana Surf Project to anyone no matter what their skill level or age is. I’m 53 and they even got me up on a board! Better than that, they teach about waves, water, and respect the environment that they are in. Surfing right under Diamond Head...well... what else does anyone need. Spectacular! Do yourself and your soul a favor, just do it! Mahalo!!!

Chris Ferretti

02:14 31 Jan 19

My wife and I were in Oahu on on honeymoon and worked with Chelsea and Keyola of Ohana Surf Project and we had a blast!!Such good instructors, knowledgeable and caring - both my wife and I who never surfed before were able to get up on our boards a couple of times!! I couldn’t believe it! Never in a million years did I ever think I could ever surf - what an exhilarating feeling! I am totally hooked and plan to continue surfing lessons back in NYC (once the weather rises above 7 friggin’ degrees?).But all in all, I can’t say enough nice things about our instructors Chelsea and Keyalo. So nice and encouraging. If you’re in Oahu and looking for awesome and affordable surf instructors look no further than Ohana Surf Project AAAAA++++????????

stephane P

23:08 03 Jan 19

First time surfing and chose these guys. Was very easy to book the day before and instructions were very clear to get there. We had Matt as an instructor and he was probably the best instructor we could have hoped to have for a first time but honestly the whole team was so fun, great at providing tips/instruction, and was very supportive.Thanks guys for making this a great experience! Highlight of the trip to Hawaii for sure.

Adam Thomas

05:29 08 Oct 18

Chelsea was our instructor and was fantastic. My daughter and I had a great morning surfing for the first time. Would highly recommend this to others looking to try out surfing

Jenny Lauridsen

04:03 23 Sep 18

Super professional.Focus on safety.Awesome instructors , fun and friendly

James Styles

00:37 27 Aug 18

My partner and I had a wonderful time surfing (our first time ever) on Waikiki beach with Ohana Surf Project and I'd strongly recommend them to anyone wanting to give it a go.Chelsea was our surf coach, she was very professional, clearly very experienced and a fantastic teacher. She give specific feedback to each member of our small group helping us all to successfully stand up on the waves. Take the time to look at the photos and videos when you get out ours were really great! Beautiful location.

Silvia I. Moreno

07:21 18 Jul 18

Our family had the privilege of experiencing surfboard lessons with this particular company and the experience was fun and totally professional. Everyone had a great time.Plenty of instructions to prepare you for the lesson. And after your time in the water the instructor also had the opportunity to give you some critiques on how to improve. It was amazing to see photos and videos afterwards.Thanks for the great Hawaiian hospitality.

Kate Klavon

16:53 31 Mar 18

I was very impressed with Ohana Surf Project. They were all very friendly and helpful in teaching me how to surf. The instructors make sure you stay safe so you can just enjoy surfing! This is my favorite thing I did on my trip.

Joe DeStefano

03:28 08 Dec 17

Surfing with these guys is always the best. I've been surfing with them for many years now and Sean has become my mentor. He brings his level up method of teaching to provide you with instruction and techniques you need improve on your surfing. No matter who you take a lesson with, (I've had many instructors through the years), from beginner to advanced levels, you will feel safe in the ocean, be encouraged to catch all the waves you can, get instruction, and friendly coaching first hand from pre to post surf session. All this and the welcome you as a part of their surfing "ohana" makes them hands down the best out there! Look for the surf bus, you won't be disappointed and you won't find a better group of qualified, friendly and helpful surf instructors in Waikiki or on Oahu's south shore! Can't wait to get back the water with you soon.Thank you so much for everything!

Kelsi Thorne

05:42 10 Aug 17

Probably some of the coolest people you will ever meet. The best surfing experience. I had two lessons, but probably could have surfed on my own after one. Really reasonable pricing, and will even pick up from most hotels in the region. Will be recommending these guys to everyone I know visiting Oahu.

Alisha Hunter

07:07 04 Aug 17

Hands down the best experience I've had in Hawaii so far! Would highly recommend! The instructor to surfer ratio is so comforting and they take you out of the hustle and bustle of the main beach in Waikiki! Thank you guys so much!

Aliyah Reid

18:59 02 May 17

The Ohana Surf Project crew is simply awesome and really make you part of their Ohana. We have traveled and surfed in many places around the world and they are by far the best crew we have ever surfed with. The crew emphasizes the importance of safety yet, gives you positive and reassuring vibes to feel comfortable in the water and CATCH WAVES. Chelsea and Sean, we can't wait to surf with you guys again! Mahalo!

Farrah Moore

21:06 21 Mar 17

Really awesome experience. The crew, especially Nick, are really nice! My husband also got to surf with Shaun, the pro surfer. The whole crew is very professional. They also offer some great advice for other cool things to do around the island. We'll definitely book with them again. Mahalo!

Alanna Kriz

17:19 13 Feb 17

Best group of instructors in Waikiki! I had the pleasure of spending 2 summers working in Hawaii. I worked closely with Chelsea, Sean, Nick and James. They all are so passionate about surfing and it really shows up in their lessons. With friendly, outgoing personalities, you will spend the lesson with a smile on your face. They have years of experience and know exactly how to get anybody on their feet in just one lesson, it is truly amazing. They also know the surf conditions and safety is their number one priority. If you are in Waikiki, and have any interest in surfing, whether you are a beginner or an experienced surfer, I definitely recommend surfing with Ohana Surf Project.

Ian Clark

04:25 01 Feb 17

During my last visit to Oahu, I asked a few of my resident friends where a good place would be to get surf lessons and several told me to check out Ohana Surf Project. I had some experience as a teenager but definitely was in need of a refresher - I tried an initial lesson on the second day of my trip and went out several more times after such a positive first time experience. Every trainer I went out with was incredibly helpful and knowledgable and created a safe fun environment.

Shannon Dee

03:08 01 Feb 17

Ohana Surf Project is the best surf school in Hawaii! I had the best experience with these guys. They really treat you like family there. I am a beginner surfer and was nervous on a board but they made me feel super comfortable! I'm so thankful I found these guys, they made my trip to Hawaii extra special.

Charla Lewis

18:44 31 Jan 17

I had the best surfing experience with this crew! They were all so helpful with picking us up, giving us basic land lessons and then even helping us paddle out when my arms gave out! We had an awesome time and would highly recommend this great crew! We went back for more and did both stand up paddle board and body boarding! That was a blast!!! Thank you for adding to the adventure of our visit and we will be back soon!

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