Ohana Surf Project's Waikiki surf lessons run 1 or 2 hours in five formats, from a $104.66 standard group (1 instructor to 4 students) to a $215.66 private, with board, rash guard, booties and pickup included. They suit beginners 13 and up and families with kids from 6. The drawback is a 100% charge for changes inside 3 business days.
Highlights
Five formats on VELTRA: Standard Group ($104.66/1 hr, $126.65/2 hr), Exclusive Group ($121.42/$158.07), Semi-Private ($126.65/$168.54), Private ($152.83/$215.66) and Family ($116.18/$152.83), per person as of October 2026.
Standard group ratio is 1 instructor to 4 students; semi-private is 2 to 1; private is one surfer with at most two booked.
Surfboard, rash guard, surf booties and round-trip Waikiki hotel transportation (pickup 8:15 to 8:45 AM) are included; 1-hour sessions are offered only at 3:00 PM.
Lessons are held at Publics break near Kapiolani Park, a short shuttle ride from the Ohana Surf Center at the Waikiki Beach Marriott.
Operator rated 4.9 from 409 reviews on Greetwell and 5.0 from 6 reviews on VELTRA as of October 2026.
What to Expect
You are picked up at a Waikiki hotel stop between 8:15 and 8:45 AM for the 9:00 AM 2-hour lesson, or check in directly at the Ohana Surf Project offices at the Waikiki Beach Marriott.
At check-in you sign the waiver, receive a rash guard and surf booties, and store your belongings.
The shuttle takes you to Publics break near Kapiolani Park, where instructors run a safety briefing and beach drills on paddling, popping up and wave etiquette.
You paddle out to the break on your own board and spend the rest of the session catching waves with instructors pushing and coaching; the blog reviewers we read say GoPro photos are taken during the lesson.
You return to the shop by shuttle, where photos and footage can be purchased, then are dropped back in Waikiki.
What's Included
Surfboard
Rash guard
Surf booties
Round-trip Waikiki hotel transportation from standard pickup points
Instruction in the chosen format
What's Not Included
Gratuity
Photos and footage (optional purchase)
What to Bring
Swimwear
Towel
Reef-safe sunscreen
Restrictions and Requirements
Standard, Exclusive and Semi-Private groups: ages 13 and up, must be able to swim and paddle a board to the break
Private: minimum recommended age 6, all abilities
Family: one adult plus one child aged 6 to 12; the child must swim and paddle independently
The operator may change or cancel the activity for safety, medical or comfort reasons
Not ADA accessible per The Hawaii Vacation Guide
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations or changes made after 3:00 PM local time, 3 business days before the activity, are charged 100%, including changes of date, time, package or participant count. Checked October 2026 on VELTRA (hawaiiactivities.com).
Ohana Surf Project offices at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, tour-bus entrance off Paoakalani Ave, Honolulu (business address 2552 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815). Lessons take place at Publics break near Kapiolani Regional Park.
Check-In
Hotel pickup between 8:15 and 8:45 AM for the 9:00 AM lesson from five standard Waikiki stops, or check in at the shop; the 1-hour lesson runs at 3:00 PM only.
Ratings from every source we could find
Other
4.9
409 reviews
VELTRA
5.0
6 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
This operator's near-perfect internal quality scores across its full activity lineup suggest a particularly strong, consistent guest experience relative to comparable Honolulu surf schools.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 2 reviews with text: 1 on VELTRA (September 2022, listing average 5.0) and 1 on Greetwell (5★, August 2026), plus an affiliate blog review on The Hawaii Vacation Guide. Collected October 2026.
What Reviewers Praise
Instructors are patient with nervous beginners(2 of 2 reviews we read)
Both reviews describe knowledgeable, encouraging instructors who got first-timers standing; the VELTRA reviewer named Kevin and Romeo, and the operator replied to thank him.
— VELTRA, listing average 5.0, September 2022: a self-described nervous beginner said the instructors made him comfortable and got him up on a wave.
What Reviewers Complain About
No critical reviews found in what we read(0 of 2 reviews we read · outside operator's control · most recent: August 2026)
Neither review we read contained a complaint. Greetwell's own on-page summary of 409 reviews mentions a few guests feeling private lessons offered limited attention and one who found water time short after safety videos and the shuttle, but we did not read those reviews.
About the Operator in General
The Hawaii Vacation Guide, an affiliate partner, reports a $120 lesson price, five standard Waikiki pickup hotels, and GoPro photos included, and praises the amount of water time; it lists no complaints.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
For a first surf lesson in Waikiki this is a solid option with transparent tiered pricing, a 1-to-4 ratio in the standard group and a 4.9 operator score across 409 Greetwell reviews. Pay for the 2-hour version if you can; the 1-hour slot runs only at 3:00 PM when the beach is busiest. The real cost is the cancellation rule: any change after 3:00 PM three business days before costs the full price.
Book This Tour If…
You are 13 or older, can swim, and want a structured first lesson with a 1-to-4 instructor ratio
You are a family with a child aged 6 to 12 and want the Family or Private format
You are staying near one of the five standard Waikiki pickup hotels
Your date is firm at least 3 business days ahead
Skip This Tour If…
Your plans may shift; the policy charges 100% for changes inside 3 business days
You want the cheapest Waikiki lesson; $104.66 for 1 hour is mid-to-high for the beach
A child under 13 is joining a non-private lesson, which the age rules do not allow
You need wheelchair access; the tour is not ADA accessible
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Choose the 9:00 AM 2-hour lesson for smaller crowds and calmer wind than the 3:00 PM 1-hour option.
Hotel pickup carries an additional fee on VELTRA while walk-in check-in is free, so compare if your hotel is close to the Marriott.
Tell staff in advance if someone cannot swim; a private lesson may be required.
Wear reef-safe sunscreen and bring a towel; a rash guard and booties are supplied.
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Ohana Surf Project surf lessons cost in Waikiki?
Ohana Surf Project surf lessons on VELTRA cost $104.66 for a 1-hour standard group and $126.65 for 2 hours per person, rising through exclusive group, semi-private and family tiers to $215.66 for a 2-hour private lesson, as of October 2026. Walk-in check-in is free; hotel pickup adds a fee.
What is the minimum age for the Waikiki surf lesson?
The minimum age for group, exclusive-group and semi-private surf lessons is 13, and participants must be able to swim and paddle to the break. Private lessons accept children from a recommended age of 6, and the Family format pairs one adult with one child aged 6 to 12 who can paddle independently.
Where are the Ohana Surf Project lessons held?
The lessons are held at Publics break near Kapiolani Regional Park on the Diamond Head end of Waikiki. Guests check in at the Ohana Surf Center inside the Waikiki Beach Marriott or take the courtesy shuttle from five standard Waikiki hotel stops, with pickup between 8:15 and 8:45 AM.
What is included in the Waikiki surf lesson price?
The surf lesson price includes a surfboard, rash guard, surf booties and round-trip transportation from standard Waikiki pickup points, plus instruction at the chosen ratio. Gratuity is not included, and photos or footage taken during the session are an optional purchase afterward.
What is the cancellation policy for Ohana Surf Project surf lessons?
The cancellation policy on VELTRA charges 100% for any cancellation or change made after 3:00 PM local time, 3 business days before the lesson, including changes to date, time, package or participant count. Greetwell lists a 48-hour free-cancellation window for the same operator, so check your channel.
How long is the surf lesson?
The surf lesson is either 1 hour or 2 hours. The 1-hour version is offered only at 3:00 PM, while the 2-hour version starts at 9:00 AM after morning pickups. Reviewers we read and the Hawaii Vacation Guide blog praised the amount of water time in the 2-hour session.
Contact
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TripReviewAll is an independent review site and does not operate this tour. For changes to an existing booking, contact Ohana Surf Project directly.
