What our students have to say about surfing with us on the North Shore!!
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Excellent choice for us to choose this surf school while on vacation with our two teenagers. It was amazing! Great instruction and had us all up and surfing within the... read more hour. Our teens said it was the highlight of our trip to Hawaii
August 6, 2019We all had a blast!!! Kala made sure we each were having fun while learning. Brett also was very helpful. We loved it so much, we came... read more back for round 2!!! He has a great understanding on how to teach all levels.
April 8, 2021Brett & Fielding had all the gear set up for us at a calmer surf bay near Haleiwa (ha-lee-va). We got the basics on shore & we to to the... read more water to test. Learned so much! Surfing is like fishing, it’s a waiting& hoping game. We had a blast taking turns & caught waves each of us - such an incredible feeling for the wave to pull ur board! Brett is a master at spotting which waves to try & setting you up with the timing to paddle & stand. It takes practice like anything so keep that in mind 😉
December 27, 2020One of the best experiences I’ve had while on my trip to the island.
My 17 and 12 year old sisters and I went out once with Kekai... read more and ended up going back a day later because of how much we enjoyed it the first time. Kekai was friendly, helpful, patient, and encouraging as it was our first time ever surfing. He met up with us at the most perfect secluded beach with the best waves. Overall we had a wonderful 2 hours in what basically felt like a private lesson because it was just us and keiki the entire time. I would 100 percent go back to this surfing company and recommend to family and friends.
April 26, 2022When my 13yo suggested surf school for the family we were a bit unsure how it was going to play out. I got online and booked with North Shore... read more Oahu Surf School. Best decision I could have made. Kala (our teacher) was amazing. After a quick session on shore we got out in the water. He had both kids and the wife surfing in 2 or less try’s (kids 1st try, wife 2nd). My old butt was a bit slower but still we were all able to do it and had a blast. I HIGHLY recommend and would give 10 stars if it was an option.
March 6, 2020Our instructor Kala was awesome! My family and I (age 13, 17 and 46) took lessons and we were able to surf very quickly with all of us having little... read more to no prior experience. Kala was very good at preparing us by providing instructions and practice before we got in the water so we felt comfortable. He was encouraging and friendly. Kala was very knowledgeable about surfing and safety. I highly recommend his company and I would use North Shore Oahu Surf School again for future lessons. We had a beautiful and fun time surfing!
August 13, 2021 -
Incredible experience with our instructor Lawrence. He was on time, professional, super patient with beginner surfers and encouraging the entire lesson. Knowledgeable with 25 years of surfing would highly recommend... read more taking a surf lesson with Lawrence.
brittanyp725
October 29, 2022*Please note that Kala and Ke'kai are brothers with separate businesses, however, they work together, so this review is posted on both of their pages. I interacted with Ke'kai first... read more then he set me up with Kala.
I spent a week in Hawaii exploring O'ahu with my wife. As we did our research before the trip and started narrowing in on the stuff we wanted to do, learning to surf was at the top of my list. And my googling somehow led me to these reviews, I found their page and set up a lesson over text. I'm so glad because this was one of the best experiences of my trip.
Kala is a stud. He's a kind, patient, encouraging, and positive teacher. I had a private lesson which was great for my first time surfing. I wasn't sure about it at first because it's more expensive, but now after that fact, I would recommend it. I grew up wakeboarding and snowboarding, but it's been a while, so the added attention of a private lesson was really good for me. It took me a few times to get up because I was so excited I forgot to do what we had practiced on the shore before going out. But I got the hang of it and it was an awesome experience. I tried to ask lots of questions about the ocean because that's what I admire most about these guys... they seem to know exactly when and where to be. After every wave, Kala gave me pointers. He also didn't make fun of me for being too winded from paddling out (surfing is a decent workout, also, Kala said there was a lot of energy in the ocean that day). Another example of his kindness was that he warned me that my hat might come off if I fell, and then when it did on my first fall, he swam up straight away and grabbed it for me. After the 2 hour lesson, I felt exhausted and very accomplished at the same time. Surfing is rad. (photos attached show me catching waves with Kala in the background)
Kala even made sure to say hi to us when we ran into him later that day at Sunset Beach as we watched some big waves and the sunset while eating our dinner.
Also, I enjoyed surfing so much that I ended up meeting up with Kala again the following morning where he brought an extra surfboard that he let me use for $20 as well as a rash guard. I was on my own this time but felt completely comfortable after the first lesson. Also, occasionally he would give me some tips even though he was out there teaching a different lesson.
Kala was willing to do the same thing the following day, but unfortunately, we already had plans otherwise I would have been down. Oh, how I wish I could surf every morning now that I'm back on the mainland without an ocean. Maybe someday!
Really cool guys, and a really awesome experience. I'll be looking these guys up when I go back. Mahalo! Thanks for introducing me to the awesome world of surfing and for sharing your island and the Aloha spirit!
November 29, 2018I took 2 lessons with Kala during my visit to Hawaii and he greatly improved my surfing abilities. I went from catching just 1 wave to 6-7 per session. ... read more Other than teaching proper standing technique, he would help me save energy by towing me to the proper spot by paddling and hooking his foot on the front of my board and push to give an extra boost in front of the wave. I highly recommend!
September 6, 2019From initial contact to riding that wave all the way in, our experience with Kala and his family/instructors was nothing but exceptional. Every one of our family of 6 non-surfers... read more got up quickly and often. Can't say enough about our experience; the day was unanimously voted as our best day on Oahu. They provide a long-sleeve rash guard, but load up on sunscreen on the backs of your legs!
July 13, 2019Fantastic experience with North Shore Oahu Surf School. Kane was great with the family. Very supportive when out in the water. He and the other instructors really tried to create... read more a positive surfing experience for our family. I definitely recommend this crew to anyone looking for a great family experience! Mahalo!
dundonian92
November 22, 2022OMG, they said they guarantee we would all ride a wave. Me at 50, showed my 14 year old son how it’s done, first wave!!! These guys are the nicest,... read more most professional and easy going instructors! Great location, great waves, safe and easy going! I don’t have enough compliments for this company and location. Well worth the money! I strongly suggest you get there for 9AM to beat the crowds! We are only here for two weeks and plan to go back. Best day ever in Hawaii!!! Wow, what a find!!!!
December 31, 2018 -
We had a great experience!! We bought a 2 hour private lesson for my daughter and it was worth every penny! It felt local and not commercial. It... read more felt authentic. My daughter didn’t feel rushed and her instructor was patient with her. Thanks guys for being so awesome!! We will definitely do this again!
July 18, 2019We had a wonderful time. It was a family experience we had adults and little ones (6 years) and all of us loved it. Kala was amazing and made you... read more feel so comfortable. He took great care of us and took his time with all of us. I 100% recommended them, and we will for sure do it again when we come back. It was a great experience between Kala and Steven I would not go anywhere else.
June 23, 2021What a morning learning to surf on the north shore with Kala! He was able to help all 3 of us get up and surf some waves during our trip... read more to Hawaii! Super patient and kind. Not a huge operation as it is just him and his boards running the waves - but it was just what we wanted. Small and personal attention! Loved our time with him and look forward to returning to Oahu for more surf lessons! Certainly a highlight of our Oahu time! Mahalo Kala!
October 16, 2019Great guys. Explanations on how to surf were clear and easy to understand. They were super patient with my boys and very encouraging. They were cognizant of my... read more youngest and kept an extra eye on him. By the time we were done my two oldest were consistently riding waves in.
June 8, 2022Kala was our instructor and the person I spoke with over the phone when booking the reservation for my wife, older teen daughter and myself. My wife is not... read more comfortable in the ocean and really needed convincing to join us. From the start, Kala was calm, thorough and clear in teaching us the basics from paddling to standing, and turning. He explained that we have plenty of time and there's no need to rush -- just follow the basics and it'll cover 90% of the job. Before paddling out he explained the safety paths for returning to the after catching a wave in to avoid colliding with oncoming surfers. In between sets, he continued with tips on what needed correction. My daughter was standing on the first wave, and within a few waves so too was my wife. It was a good time. I'd highly recommend this school and plan on booking again on our next visit.
Mahalo Kala!
November 23, 2021