Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Surf lessons › Waikiki: Open Group Surfing Lesson
Waikiki: Open Group Surfing Lesson
★ #1 of 14 in our Surf lessons list Picked from the 106 surf lessons in the Oahu catalogue, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated the price every day; listing, departure times and pickup notes
Hans Hedemann teaches you to surf at Waikiki Beach in an open group. The 2-hour lesson costs from $112.31 per person. Check-in is at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel lobby surf shop before daily starts from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. You share an instructor with two or three other students. The session includes 20 minutes of land practice before you enter the water.
Our check
Waikiki: Open Group Surfing Lesson at a glance
| Beach | Waikiki Beach |
| Duration | 2 hours, including 20 minutes on land |
| Price | from $112.31 per person |
| Format | Open group, three or four students per instructor |
| Starts | Daily at 8 a.m. · 11 a.m. · 2 p.m. |
| Meeting point | Queen Kapiolani Hotel lobby surf shop, 20 to 30 minutes before the lesson |
| Ages | 14 and up |
| Main trade-off | Swimming without a life jacket and unaided paddling back to the instructor required |
| Guide languages | English, Japanese |
| Cancellation | Full refund until 24 hours before the start; nothing after |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on .
What's included
- Safe storage lockers to store your belongings
- All Equipment including surfboard, rash guard, and reef shoes
- 2-hour Group Lesson
- All taxes and fees
- Professional instruction from a certified teacher
What's not included
- Hotel pick-up and drop off
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
Options
Which option to book
The 2-hour open group runs daily at 8 or 11 a.m. There's also a 2 p.m. start.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Open Group Surfing Lesson | 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., daily |
The catch: The group starts at age 14, and you must swim and paddle back without help.
The day
How does the day work?
Your group meets at the Queen Kapiolani surf shop before sand practice and coaching in the Waikiki surf.
- 1
Lobby surf shop
The group gathers at the surf shop inside the hotel lobby. Your instructor then takes the lesson from the meeting point to Waikiki Beach.
- 2
Practice on sand
A safety demonstration comes before the water session. You practice the movements on land so they aren't entirely new when you reach the waves.
- 3
Coaching in the water
Your instructor helps you learn to catch waves. You're responsible for paddling back between rides, so the lesson requires independent swimming and paddling.
The 2-hour session covers both land instruction and surfing. Your finish point is the Queen Kapiolani Hotel surf shop.
Pickup and meeting point
- Early check-in: Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your start time. Check-in takes place at the surf shop in the Queen Kapiolani Hotel lobby.
- Your journey: The hotel journey is yours to arrange. There isn't a pickup or drop-off service attached to this group lesson.
Before you book
- This isn't a lesson for nonswimmers. Your instructor coaches you in the water without replacing the need to swim unaided.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
Solo beginners aged 14 and up can join this Waikiki group without bringing a partner. Your session lasts 2 hours. It's a fit if you can swim unaided and paddle back between waves. Shared instruction keeps you with other learners.
For two swimmers aged 15 and up, Ty Gurney's shared hour costs from $118.82 per person for 2 to 4. Manifesting Aloha gives children from age 4 their own instructor, from $160 per person.
Who it's not for
- Children under 14
- Nonswimmers or anyone needing a life jacket to swim
- Surfers unable to paddle back unaided
Good to know
Know before you go
This group starts at age 14. You need to swim without a life jacket and paddle back to your instructor yourself. Pregnancy is a reason to choose another activity.
Your swimwear should be on before check-in. Bring a towel and drinking water for afterward. A rash guard and reef shoes are supplied with the lesson.
You can book a single place in this open group. Each instructor teaches three or four students. The session can be canceled if too few travelers book.
Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel lobby surf shop. You arrange your own journey there. The lesson doesn't include a hotel transfer.
Lockers are part of the lesson price, so your belongings can stay ashore. Photos cost extra. For bookings of 8 or more, gratuities are compulsory.
One reservation can cover 1 to 30 travelers and issues a mobile ticket immediately. You get a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before departure. Later cancellations aren't refundable.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
Closer coaching for a pair
Private and Semi-Private Surf Lessons in WaikikiTy Gurney pairs two students with each instructor. The shared hour costs from $118.82 per person for 2 to 4 and requires swimmers aged 15 or older.
★ 5.0 · 79 reviews · from $118.82 per person for 2 to 4
A young child's own instructor
Private 1-on-1 Surf Lesson with Videos and PhotosManifesting Aloha offers tandem help for ages 4 to 11. Your child gets individual instruction near Ala Moana Bowls, from $160 per person.
★ 5.0 · 120 reviews · from $160 per person
Transport from designated Waikiki stops
Family, Private and Group Surf Lessons with Waikiki Courtesy ShuttleOhana's shuttle connects designated stops with its surf center. The 1-hour open group costs from $104.66 per person for 2 or more, for swimmers aged 13 and up.
★ 5.0 · 284 reviews · from $104.66 per person for 2 or more
All 14 Surf lessons we picked · Oahu tours and activities by category
Good to know
People also ask
- Can beginners join Hans Hedemann's Waikiki group lesson?
Yes, beginners aged 14 and up can join if they swim independently. You'll learn safety and practice on sand before entering the ocean. The instructor helps you surf, but you must paddle back without help.
- How much time should you allow for Hans Hedemann's Waikiki lesson?
The lesson lasts 2 hours, with check-in another 20 to 30 minutes beforehand. Land practice is part of that lesson. You also need time for your own journey to and from the hotel surf shop.
- Does Hans Hedemann provide the surfboard and somewhere for bags?
Yes, your 2-hour booking includes the board and storage lockers. A rash guard and reef shoes come with it too. You don't need a separate equipment rental, though souvenir photos are an extra purchase.
- Can you book Hans Hedemann's Waikiki group lesson on your own?
Yes, the booking minimum is 1 traveler. You join other students rather than paying for a private instructor. The teaching ratio is three or four students per instructor, and the session still needs enough participants to run.
- Can you cancel the Hans Hedemann surf lesson for a refund?
Yes, cancellation at least 24 hours before the scheduled start gets you a full refund. You lose that refund inside the cutoff. Keep the deadline in mind when fitting the lesson around other island plans.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Tours book on the booking page at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.