Oahu North Shore: Surf Lessons with Pro Lifeguard & Dogs

4.97

(266 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I was more nervous about meeting the dogs than getting on the board. They’re kind of famous around here, these fluffy sidekicks who trot down the sand like they own the place. Our guide, Kai (she told us her name means “sea” in Hawaiian — I probably pronounced it wrong), just grinned and handed me a rash guard that still smelled faintly of salt and sunscreen. The whole group was half-laughing, half-shivering as we listened to her explain how to pop up without face-planting.

The first fifteen minutes were all sand and awkwardness — my feet kept sinking into the warm grit while Kai demonstrated paddling moves, her two dogs weaving between us looking for dropped snacks. Then, suddenly, we were out past the break, boards bobbing under us like little rafts. The water was colder than I expected, but not in a bad way — more like a wake-up call. And then she pointed: “There’s a turtle.” Sure enough, this round shadow drifted by so close I almost forgot to paddle. You don’t get that on every surf lesson on Oahu’s North Shore.

I wiped out at least four times before I caught anything resembling a wave. Kai cheered anyway (“That counts!”), and one of her dogs barked from shore like he agreed. I can still feel that first moment standing up — legs shaking, sun in my eyes, salt everywhere. It lasted maybe three seconds but felt longer. Afterward we all flopped onto our towels laughing at ourselves and swapping stories about who fell off most creatively. Honestly, I didn’t expect to care so much about getting it right or about those small moments when everyone just…clicked.