Polu Lani Surf Lessons & Adventures

John is the BOMB!!I have taken a couple of friend groups out for surf lessons. We even had a 10 year old with us in one group ( who proceeded to show out on us old folks). John is patient, attentive and kept us all safe. Most important we had BIG FUN while learning. Every time I have visitors who are brave enough to get on a board this is who I call.

Surfing with John at Ala Moana Beach with a beautiful view of the Honolulu coastline at sunset was one of the best decisions in our trip - hands down. Throughout the 2h class, John made us feel safe, supported and confident by sharing tips and encouragement. It also helps that John does small groups so we had his full attention. I managed to stand up on the first try and caught 7-8 great waves with suggestions to improve from John each time. Overall, I had so much fun and time flew by. I also gained a greater appreciation of surfing as a sport and can't wait for the next time. Thanks John for making this a highlight of our travels in Hawaii!

I took a short surf lessons in San Diego a while back, and numerous other lessons when I visit other places on vacation. But today I truly felt the Aloha spirit when taking a surf lesson with John.John is so considerate that he arrived my hotel earlier to wait for me, and his car was nice and clean. We had a chat and he's very nice to talk to. He taught me how to predict waves by using weather forecast and wind forecast. Obviously he knows what he's talking about. Then we hit the beach and started the lesson. John was to the point when teaching. He showed me how to and did a few practices on the beach so that I'm comfortable standing up. Afterwards we went into water and started surfing. This is the first time I "seriously" take a surf lesson and after two tries, I was able stand up. Peddling is really hard for beginners, so john was always there holding my board and push me into the water. I was able to catch so many great waves and surf like a pro (or I think) when we had the lesson midway. I was really impressed with his teaching.Since I was really having a great time, john offered to let me catch a few more waves because he had a small gap till his next lesson, free of charge. I'm really grateful for his generosity as well.To sum up, it's the absolutely surf school and surfing lessons I took. John was a rock star instructor and I look forward to see him next time already (he said he will take me to diamond head or north shore for more advanced surfing yay!)

My mom found this company through a mutual friend and because our instructor owned and operated this business I knew we were in good hands. John was a great accommodating teacher and our lesson moved at a good pace. I had never had a formal surf lesson prior and the instructor had great faith in me. His tutorial was concise yet throughout, he also ensured that I got a great video of me surfing. I stood up upon my second try (first try I was nervous) but I did very well and so did my mom! If anyone were to ever express interest in a surf lesson I would recommend John, he is very amiable and makes his students feel safe. Many thanks, Mahalo!

Without a doubt the BEST instructor we could have asked for. Not only was he extremely kind, making sure we chose the best time to paddle out, but he also made us feel extremely safe taking my son on the front of his board. He had him up and surfing immediately! I would highly recommend booking with John anytime and we will definitely be doing the same again!

After researching many different surf schools I noticed that Polu Lani received consistent 5 star reviews on multiple online platforms. I decided to book a private lesson and so glad I did!!John, the owner of Polu Lani provided an amazing experience from beginning to end. He has a deep knowledge of the ocean and lifelong surf experience to ensure you get the most out of your session. He is a brilliant teacher willing to share spot-on advice that will enhance success.Polu Lani is a top notch surf school that will help start or improve surfing with safety top of mind. If you want to catch tons of waves and gain extra confidence look no further.

John was very helpful teaching me and my girlfriend (both our first our first times) how to surf. He was very supportive and encouraging. I would recommend him to anyone who is looking to learn how to surf.

My partner and I enjoyed our lesson with John so much that we did a second one during our trip to Hawaii. This was our first time surfing, and John made it fun and enjoyable. John had us both standing and we were both able to catch a ton of waves over our two lessons

TL;DR: John is A W E S O M E and taking a surf lesson with him was, quite honestly, one of the best decisions I made since I moved to O'ahu! If you want to learn to surf on O'ahu's south shore, Polu Lani Surf Lessons & Advenures is the way to go! :)BACKSTORY: I had surfed a *little* bit on the east coast but after moving, I was humbled ~very quickly~ and realized I still had SO much to learn in order to stay safe in such a dynamic ocean environment. I made the mistake of not finding John / Polu Lani for my first lesson on the island. That particular lesson was in Waikīkī (where I assumed would be the most "beginner-friendly" area-but I was wrong). I didn't feel safe or supported by my instructor, the crowd factor was insane (which was to be expected...but still), another surfer ran me over while this instructor was pushing me into a wave (...ouch), and the frustration left me feeling really discouraged. After a little while, I was walking around Ala Moana Beach Park and I noticed the Polu Lani Van parked on the street. I looked them up online and had a really great feeling after reading so many raving reviews. I'm so happy I found John! He's so encouraging, super fun to talk to in the water, will make you feel very safe, and as other reviewers have mentioned before, he truly embodies Aloha. It was an honor to learn from him. He had the perfect advice to give for each wave and I think I learned a lot. I loved feeling the pure stoke that only riding a wave can give come back into my life. I'm so excited to continue taking more lessons with him, learn more, gain confidence, and progress my surfing! Whenever I have visitors who want to learn to surf, I'll definitely bring them to John!

I took a surf class from here while visiting honolulu. I have never been surfing before. He was quick to return my call and schedule the class. He sent me a reminder the day before. The class was fantastic. He was kind, gave clear directions and encouraged me. It felt like I was being taught by a friend, so one trustworthy who was putting my comfort, safety and goals first. At the end of the class he even offered me a ride back to my hotel. Highly recommended!