Waikīkī vs North Shore surf lessons
Compare Waikīkī and North Shore surf lessons using published school details.
Choose between Waikīkī and the North Shore by comparing the school details you can confirm: lesson format, length and published location. The area column follows the operator evidence; it is not a statement about ocean conditions.
Compare school plans, not coast-wide promises
A private lesson and an open group can involve different arrangements. Use the A–Z table to shortlist formats, then ask the school for the exact meeting point and current availability before planning travel between areas.
These guides use dated operator facts only. They do not establish seasonal conditions, beach access rules or safety suitability. Check current official ocean-safety and weather sources and confirm plans with the school.
Published operator details
Compare the published school details below. Entries are ordered A–Z, with no ranking. Each row links to its official source, checked Oct 29, 2026. Blank or uncertain facts are omitted; this is a selection of sourced offerings.
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| School | Published area | Published lesson formats | Length | Published location / meeting point | Official source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 808 Surf School | North Shore | private/group, all ages | 2 hr | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee | Waikīkī | group/semi/private | 1.5 hr | 226 Lewers St | Official school source ↗ |
| Faith Surf School | Waikīkī | group/private beginner lessons | — | beach fronting Outrigger Waikīkī, 2335 Kalākaua Ave | Official school source ↗ |
| Go Nuts Hawaii Surf Rentals & Surf Lessons | North Shore | private/semi/group | — | Laniakea, Chun's Reef, Puaʻena Point (by conditions) | Official school source ↗ |
| Gone Surfing Hawaii | Waikīkī | private groups only | 90 min | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Haleiwa Surf School | North Shore | group/semi/private/tandem kids | 1 hr 30 min | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Hans Hedemann Surf School Waikiki | Waikīkī | group/semi/private + land lesson | — | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Hawaii Surf Guru | Waikīkī | private + Early Bird beginner group | 90 min | Ala Wai Boat Harbor area | Official school source ↗ |
| Hawaii Waves Surf School | North Shore | private/group | up to 1 hr 45 min | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Jamie O’Brien School of Surf Waikiki | Waikīkī | group/ohana/private | — | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Jamie O'Brien Surf Experience - North Shore | North Shore | group/private | 90 min (group) | meet at Turtle Bay surf shop; private break | Official school source ↗ |
| Kahu Surfing School | Waikīkī | open group + private | 1, 1.5 or 2 hr | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Lani Nalu Surf Co. | North Shore | private/semi/family/tandem + 15-min land lesson | 1 hr or 2 hr | Chun's Reef / Puaʻena Point | Official school source ↗ |
| Moniz Family Surf | Waikīkī | signature 4-person lesson | 1.5 hr | 101 Uluniu Ave | Official school source ↗ |
| North Shore Banzai Surf School | North Shore | intro beginner group/private/tandem | — | Puaʻena Point Beach Park | Official school source ↗ |
| North Shore Beach Boyz | North Shore | group/semi/private/kids | — | — | Official school source ↗ |
| North Shore Oahu Surf School | North Shore | private/semi/private group | 2 hr | Chun's Reef / Puaʻena Point | Official school source ↗ |
| North Shore Ohana School of Surfing | North Shore | open group + private | 1.5 or 2 hr | Chun's Reef / Puaʻena Point | Official school source ↗ |
| North Shore Surf Girls | North Shore | group, private, family, tandem | 1, 1.5 or 2 hr (group) | Puaʻena Point / Chun's Reef | Official school source ↗ |
| North Shore Surf Lessons (Sunset Suratt Surf School) | North Shore | group/private/semi + tandem kids | 2 hr (private) | Puaʻena Point | Official school source ↗ |
| Ohana Surf Project | Waikīkī | open group + private | 1 hr or 2 hr | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Sea & Board Sports Hawaii | North Shore | private/semi/group | 2 hr | — | Official school source ↗ |
| SFC Surf School | Waikīkī | open group / private / 3-day camp | 60 or 90 min | near Ala Wai Boat Harbor | Official school source ↗ |
| Sparky's Surf School | Waikīkī | private/semi/family | — | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Star Beachboys | Waikīkī | lessons for all ages | — | Waikīkī Beach stand | Official school source ↗ |
| Stoke Drift Surf School | Waikīkī | private groups only; no open groups | 1.5 hr (15–30 min land + 1 hr water) | — | Official school source ↗ |
| Ty Gurney Surf School | Waikīkī | private/semi-private; beginners welcome | 1 hr or 2 hr | 205 Lewers St (Kalia Rd entrance) | Official school source ↗ |
| Venture North Shore (VNS) | North Shore | beginner group/private | up to 2 hr | Puaʻena Point | Official school source ↗ |
| Waikiki Beach Services | Waikīkī | beginner lessons on Waikīkī beach | 1 hr 15 min | Royal Hawaiian & Sheraton beach desks, 2255/2259 Kalākaua Ave | Official school source ↗ |