Surfer Girl Academy Surf School

I called the day before to ask for a lesson and they told me I could show up to the 10 AM lesson and said to pay onsite. The surf lesson was both amazing and scary. We were given a 2-minute safety and tips speech before both of us in the lesson were shown how to get up on the board. We each had one attempt to get up while the instructor held the board steady near the beach. Then we paddled out to the waves. We had to paddle far and it wasn't my hands/arms that were tired but my shoulders and neck because you have to keep your chin up to stay out of the surf on your way out. I was able to stand up on almost every wave except the one that was too small and the one I tried to do myself. I can imagine it being unsafe and not fun to try to just surf yourself without any prior experience because the one time I tried to judge when to get up myself, I immediately fell hard into the water and swallowed salt water. Highly recommend it if you are at all athletically inclined. Surfer Girl Academy was very laid back and I liked the instructor John.

Best group surf instruction that I've experienced on Oahu. They we super calm, positive, and helpful. This is the way for newbies who want a professional experience. After two hours of fun, you can get excellent photos too! Worth the price!

My nine year old had a wonderful time and was able to catch a few waves. Was nervous because she cannot swim well but she was safe and there was someone always besides her. Totally recommend

Really enjoyed myself. So much in fact that I returned a couple of days later to surf again. The staff, Yuko, Shuji, Inne & Jake took good care of everyone in the group. They were very friendly, helpful & service orientated. You will get your money's worth in the couple of hours you are in the water, and believe me, if an old, fat guy like me can get up on a surfboard, most anyone can. Yuko also took great photos & video that will provide some fantastic memories of this trip to Oahu. You'll need to look for the white van in the parking lot by the water. There is a small "SGA" on it.

Surf Girl Academy was an amazing surf company to go through for a first-time/beginner surf family. SGA accommodated my whole family while we were on vacation in August.My husband (47 years old), 15 year old son, 9 year old daughter and 7 year old son all received about a 20 minute on land instructional, and then got to practice implementing the steps they learned in the shallow waters to gain a better understanding of what to expect while also helping my family to build up confidence to paddle out.ALL the instructors/guides were EXCELLENT! For a 2 hour lesson, the student to instructor ratio cannot be beat! My youngest (7 years old) really wanted to surf but was super nervous in the beginning. I had a hard time finding surf lessons for my 9 and 7 year olds, since most lessons I found required kids to be at least 13. SGA was the only surf company that I could find that advertised surf lessons for young children. It worked out wonderfully for me that SGA provided lessons for younger students as well as teens and up - which made SGA a one stop shop for my whole family.Another thing I really appreciated was their commitment to making sure everyone had a positive experience. I loved that they gave the option to actually have an instructor on boards WITH young students if the student felt any nervousness. My 9 year old daughter was able to surf alone, but having an instructor on the board with my 7 year old son was precisely what my he needed to have a blast while feeling secure in the water.All my family members had incredible experiences, and memories to last a lifetime. The feedback I gathered from them was they felt their instructors were all extremely knowledgeable, gave their undivided attention to the details of my family's surf mechanics, ensured each of my family members caught waves (which they caught TONS in a two hour span), while also fostering and nurturing a love for surfing. What else could you possibly want for a surf experience?We absolutely loved our time with SGA, and would highly recommend this company to anyone. It was one of the highlights of our vacation!Mahalo SGA!Sending lots of Aloha,The Martin Family

This review is long overdue. My family and I spent a summer in Waikiki and my little ones wanted surf lessons. We were so fortunate to find Mito. Her response was quick and she was extremely easy to communicate with. My 8 year old and 10 year old thoroughly enjoyed their surf lesson. Mito was so warm and patient with them, eventhough they were both terrified at first. She's a great instructor and they were up and standing on their surf board in under 30 minutes. We would have taken more lessons with her if we stayed longer and we have recommended her to many family and friends. Her prices were very reasonable compared to other places, but overall, it was her demeanor, warmth, and professionalism that won us over.

My friends and I had an amazing group lesson at Surfer Girl Academy! I had taken a group lesson once before somewhere else, and a private lesson as well somewhere else, but my lesson at SGA was my favorite lesson to date, by far.The lesson was held in a spot that is not at all crowded (the other lessons I've had have been in central Waikiki, where you constantly have to focus on not hitting someone!). They provided water shoes and rash guards, which made the lesson so much more comfortable and safe for our feet! They met us, helped us get suited up, taught us how to paddle and stand up while on the shore, and then we paddled out with them and started catching waves!The biggest thing that made the lesson great was the teachers. They were methodical, calm, helpful, and FUN! Compared to other places I've gone, it felt like they were more invested in the whole experience. Everyone in the lesson was standing up and riding waves shortly after getting out in the water. Kota, Mito and Shuji were so encouraging, keeping their eye on us all the time. They gave feedback so we improved over the course of the lesson, and cheered us on with huge smiles and kind words! We felt very safe and had an amazing time.I would recommend this school to absolutely anyone! Mahalo for an amazing morning : )

What an amazing team led by Mito at SGA! I had requested a beginner's session completely last minute and she happily accommodated our schedule with an 8am lesson the very next morning. The team was really organized and got everyone set up at Ala Wai with comfortable reef shoes and boards, with very clear instruction on land before paddling out. My 7 yr old son had the best time learning to ride with instructor Jeremy, who was incredibly patient and made the entire experience super fun for my kid who is always hesitant about anything new. He stood up confidently and rode more than 15 waves! When they got back to shore, my son declared it the "best day ever!" :DTo top off a wonderful morning, we purchased beautiful high resolution photos from their professional photographer, Manuel. Perfect way to end a perfect first experience with surfing. It was a true joy to work with all of them. We are already planning to schedule more sessions with them in the future. Thank you so much Mito-san!!

We had an awesome experience with SGA today for our 5-year-old. Everyone was very kind and helpful and her teacher was great. She came back thrilled and ready for another adventure. Would highly recommend (students who were older also seemed to have a great time!).

I thought it's completely voluntary to tip. Watch out, these guys force you to pay tips. Doing the job well is simply part of the job.