Reviews of Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee (Coffee Shop)

Irina Kim

Expectations exceeded. I took 3 lessons on a 5 day stay in Hawaii. Great service and instruction. Staff was friendly and accommodating. I am scared of water and can’t swim, but instructors made me feel at ease. Overall the place stood out vs rest of the shops (which are abundant in Waikiki), as it had a much nicer look and feel. They also have a well built website with convenient scheduling and access to photos. Speaking of which - if I have to think of something I didn’t like as much - pictures were pretty expensive (if you buy over 25 pics - it’s $200 (quite steep, I’d say, and more expensive than a private lesson, too :D). Anyway, all in all, great experience and one of the highlights of this trip.

Business Only

My instructor had alcohol on his breath so I didn't feel safe. I thought he was actually drunk . The only wave we caught was when we were coming in (early) and my instructor swallowed water and asked "where did that come from". I give him a 2 because he was kind enough to tow me when I was too tired to paddle

Trevor Vance

The team at Big Wave Dave’s were absolutely fantastic. They took four kids under 8 out for lessons and every kid surfed and the best experience. I can’t say enough good things about the team.

Monica Funigiello

My husband and I had a lesson with Jason and it was nothing less than incredible! I am a first timer and Jason was so patient with me while allowing my husband to ride every wave he could catch. Thanks to Jason, I stood up on my second try! If you are in Waikiki, don't go anywhere else! This is the place to do a lesson or just rent a board!

Rickmer Köhn

Great surf instructor. Board rentals affordable. Go greet Dave!

Anita Brown

Lots of Longboards to choose from, surf, sun, fun.

Tamara 13

First surf lessons for my husband, our 7 year old daughter and myself . Cody, our instructor was awesome! Took great care of my daughter who he stayed on the board with. Surfing is hard work (we are sore today) but was an amazing experience to surf for the first time in Waikiki with Diamond Head in the background. We had to go a little further than the usual spot so we didn’t have any great close up pics but still bought them at a reasonable price. Once in a lifetime experience. We will definitely be back!

HONG NAMKOONG

(Translated by Google) Do not go. Basically, the lesson ends in 5 minutes (and it is not a lesson). I commissioned to take a picture, but the picture did not come and I revisited it three times. They have already sent me my photo e - mails and they said that they should not check their spam melons well, and they told me to send them again. But eventually I did not register my e-mail address. I do not even have to say sorry ... I spent a lot of time somehow. (reply) We visited 3 times 7/30, 8/2, 8/4 afternoon. The student name is Claire Kim & Nari Shin. I'm their uncle. At that time, there were young lady as a staff. I can not remember the name of instructor. (Original) 가지마세요. 기본적으로 레슨은 5분안에 끝나고 (해주는게 레슨도 아닙니다만) 무성의 합니다. 사진 찍는것 의뢰 했는데, 사진이 않 와서 3번이나 재방문 했어요. 자기네들은이미 사진 제 이메일로 보냈으니 스팸멜이나 잘 확인하라하고 지들은 잘못없다고 하더니, 또 다시 보내 달라고 하니 돈 더 내야 한다고 우겨서 기다렸습니다. 그런데 결국 제 메일 주소도 등록을 않해놨더라구요. 미안하다는 말도 없고.. 여하튼 좀 시간낭비 많이 했어요. (reply) We visited 3 times 7/30, 8/2, 8/4 afternoon. The student name is Claire Kim & Nari Shin. I'm their uncle. At that time, there were young lady as a staff. I can't remember the name of instructor.

Tyler Mui.

Great place to learn how to surf

Jonathan Erickson

Great value and friendly staff! Got me out to the fun quickly and with no hassle. Highly recommend.

Heather Knightson

The surf instructors are super nice!!

Geoffrey Si

This surfing shop is absolutely amazing. The entire staff was amazing, but Alika (sorry if spelling is wrong) was an absolute master at teaching surfing. Booked 3 days of surf and felt like we could conquer anything at the end of it. Plus they got awesome photographers who capture your entire learning experience

Cathy Saunders

Wow....all these reviews make me more comfortable in booking a class for my BFs 50th birthday as we will be there in 9 days. :)) Im giving 5 stars on all the great reviews and look forward to seeing him surf. LOL Love great customer service as I am in the hospitality business as well. :))) Darn, just saw that the groupon is not valid during our time there. boo hoo........

Dave Fan

awesome shop and surf lessons - thanks troy!

Liz Manipol-Lee

Best Surf Instructors and staff! Lea, Alika, and Brent were awesome instructors! They took my 4 kids ages 15, 14, 6, and 5 out on the water and they loved it so much we came back for a second session later in the week. The staff is so friendly and helpful. We will definitely come back. I highly recommend Big Wave Dave's for all your surfing needs in Waikiki. Aloha!

Joan Malley

Instructors/staff are very nice. Paid way too much money. The owner seems pretty uptight. Totally disappointed with the equipment. Even after choosing a perfect board it didn't arrive st the beach. Things didn't go well for me and I paid close to $300.00 for about an hour of water time. Pretty bummed.

Benjamin Brown

This is my go-to surf shop anytime I'm in Honolulu. I frequently fly into Oahu, and the trip just isn't complete until I rent a surfboard from Big Wave Dave's. I'm by no means a professional surfer, but with their direction and recommendations I've been able to able to grow and develop every time I'm on the island. The staff are expeditious and friendly, and you cannot beat the price (which is normally double on the beach). Keep it up! Mahalo!

JDM

Amazing experience! If you want to learn from people who treat you like family this is where you wanna learn to surf! Plus they have all your surfing needs!

Josh Smolar

Was the second place to rent a board from last year when I was here. This year when my girlfriend needed lessons I knew right where to go! Super friendly staff and great new space!!

Jennifer Lee

We had a Groupon and took the beginners course with Dave. We used long boards so it was pretty easy to stay balanced. Dave helped us all take turns catching waves back towards the shore. Probably did about 4 or 5 runs each.

Michael P

Rented a paddleboard for 24 hours, was quite a good non-foam board at a very reasonable price. The people here were SO friendly and SO helpful, such a pleasant experience. They provided me with a lock and helped me lock the board in a rack overnight so that I could catch some waves at sunrise (a serene time for Waikiki beach that matches the unreal beauty of this location). Can't wait to go back!!! Aloha and Mahalo!!!

John Springer

Excellent!

Ross Kryda

Super friendly staff great deals

Maciej Nowiński

We took a surf lesson in BWD. Exceptional experience. staff was very helpful and friendly. Josh was our instructor and he teached us so much during one hour, that we were able to surf on our selves after this lesson. We also rented 2 boards for 3 days - great prices and very flexible terms - we could change our boards and bring them over night. Once again Mahalo \,,,/

Christina O

oh, no... level of service is disappointing. everyday we tried to surf there was something - stuff from the office never call back, I had to call back 5 times a day just to sign up for a private tour, not even a group lesson. stuff and the owner never seemed interested in clients. Instructor did not really work on our skills, didn't show dedication. We were looking for a special approach since we were not beginners, we really wanted to explore surfing on the island and were ready to pay a lot for it, but we never received what we were looking for. On our last day we even didn't surf, because Alika the instructor forgot the leaches for surfboards. Not to mention he had to wait 30 minutes for him to pick us up. I have to say, service is pretty bad in Honolulu generally, but try to avoid this place if you want to have a good surf.

Matt Ramachandran

Best rates. Staff are great. Highly recommend.

christi spencer

These guy know their stuff , I had two private leasons with Alika and both times got up on the board . I loved that my instructor knew the waters so well and explained how to find the perfect wave! I had a blast and cannot wait till next year to book a surf tour with them. Each time I came into the shop everyone around me was super friendly and made me feel very welcome. Mahalo for making my trip that much more amazing !!

Ken Choi

I did a semi private surf lesson with my son July 2016 and it was a very very fun experience with both of us riding waves - our first time surfing. The kids absolutely loved the canoe surfing, it caught 3 amazing waves (we bought the combo pack). These guys know what they are doing! I have not been able to get it out of my mind, and have booked a 12 hr flight back to the island in a couple of months, this time hopefully to leave having learned some advanced techniques. Can't wait!

R-Mobile R Mobile

Fellow traveler it’s cheaper to go buy a new surfboard at Costco and use it a couple days rather than rent from this guy. I would not have post this but these guys & staff were pretty rude 3 days in a row. ( I purchased it at Costco let my friends use it too... then sold it on craigslist and got 60% of my money back) same with boogie boards and umbrella.

Chris Yount

Had awesome time. We had so much fun, we setup more visits. My wife and I loved the outrigger, my daughter LOVED surfing. She is only 11 and the instructors took excellent care. You need to set up some time on the outrigger!! We have been to Oahu 6 times and can't believe we haven't ever done the outrigger! BWD's is the place to go - they made our trip to Oahu a FANTASTIC trip. Photographer on the shore took some amazing photos and videos as well! Thanks again Dave! Can't wait to visit again!

Henrietta Galaxy

The outrigger canoe ride was my favorite thing on Oahu. Don't bring a GoPro, they'll give you a hard time about it.

Lloyd DUFOUR

Cheap, but require to take care of your board to cross the street. Nice to go, very hard to come back :)

David Hendrickson

I booked last minute after another surf-lesson company inexplicably stood me up. The main goal was to introduce my son to the sport. He had wanted to take lessons badly for a while. I booked semi-private lessons (just me and my son) because it is only $20 more per person and it is totally worth it! It turns out that my son is a natural and he absolutely crushed it! He is very excited to pursue this further and I think our instructor James was a big part of that. He was very motivating and wanted us to do well. My son caught wave after wave and was able to start catching them on his own. We were exhausted but had big smiles the rest of the day. This was an absolutely awesome experience.

Chris Ehrbright

Big Wave Dave’s is awesome. I can not say enough good things about them. Everyone was friendly and nice. We felt so welcome from the moment we walked in. The surfing lessons were so fun. The three instructors made sure everyone had a good time and caught waves. My daughter was nervous to try surfing so they spent extra time making sure she was comfortable. Next time we come to Oahu this is the first place we are going!

Tom Rusher

Great little Coffee Shop very close to our Hotel (Embassy Suites). Staff were great, excellent service. The cold drinks were awesome too. Thanks Team!

Gina Johnson

I called same day to try to join a group lesson. They were super accommodating and fit me right in. When I ended up getting there early and was able to book a private lesson with one of their top instructors. Billy jumped on it and was a great instructor! Super encouraging, supportive, and informative. He was fun to surf with and gave great tips on things to do in the area. I had a great experience with these guys and would highly recommend learning to surf with them!

Chris Waite

I had money stolen from the secure locker in this shop while I was out surfing. The owners didn't even care enough to review available security footage of the locker, to see what happened and try to prevent it happening to future customers! (They promised to do this - but never did, even when I followed up a second time). Warning - If your experience with these guys doesn't go to plan - they are not interested in sorting it out. Unprofessional. Avoid.

LeAnn Zuñiga

Friendly staff, great prices and good boards.

Huang Jon

Excellent fun. Especially the semi-private lesson with Keoni towed us with his foot and let us rest. Mahalo

Adamme Kearney

The only reason they lost a star is for all the miscommunication. They originally accepted by Groupon deal (a really good deal) but called back apologizing they made a mistake and don't accept Groupons during holidays. They met me half way and accepted a lower price than the regular holiday price, but I had to contact Groupon to refund the purchase. We also were told a photographer was taking pictures and video of us but when we got back to the shop found out the photographer was sick and there were no pictures of all our surfing! That was a huge bummer, those would have been great to share with friends and family. Our private instructor and lesson was great though! We both stood up pretty quickly and rode several waves. Our instructor even pulled my friend behind him because her arms were getting tired. They instructor's really love doing what they're doing. Boards are only $5 per hour if you just want to rent without an instructor which is a pretty good price.

HeavenlyHemi

I just went for food and got the avocado toast which was delicious and had the red velvet frap. LET ME TELL YOU I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE FRAP! Can’t stop thinking about it. Plus the employees were very nice and provided good service. A little costly but matches the theme for everywhere else too so won’t hit on that. Definitely would go back

Zach Liske

This place is great. Selection, price, friendly staff and location next to parking. Highly recommend!

Lu Lu Jones

This guy just slammed a fellow surfer out in the water with his elbow, other guy had to get several stitches. Would not trust any of my family members or friends with this guy. Go to another surf shop, there are plenty more better! This guy needs to get out of Hawaii, not cool for a business owner, very stupid move!

RALMA

(Translated by Google) My first surf lesson from 3-generation-super-instructor Billy with my wife. He was so wonderful and taught me so much. I even forgot what the hell was my wife. He even ubered my wife since she was exhausted. Anyway, I highly recommend this shop and cheerful instructor Billy as well. Cheers. I received my first surf and surfing lesson. I did a semi-private course for about $ 115 / person for 2-3 people. The instructor Billy taught me, but I was so kind and fun. I also took a taxi to the wipe-uber (?) To the far end. It is a very good experience, so I do not review it at all. I write here. Oh right sea turtle is also spring. (Original) My first surf lesson from 3-generation-super-instructor Billy with my wife. He was so wonderful and taught me well so that I almost stand up on the board! I even forgot what the hell my wife was doin lol. He even ubered my wife since she was exhausted. Anyway, I highly recommend this shop and cheerful instructor Billy as well. Cheers. 와이프랑 서핑 강습 처음 받았습니다. 개인 레슨 말고 2-3인 인당 115불 정도 하는 semi-private 코스로 했습니다. Billy 라는 강사가 가르쳐 줬는데 너무 친절하고 재미있었습니다. 먼바다까지 와이프 우버(?)택시도 해줬습니다. 너무 좋은 경험이어서 왠만함 리뷰 안쓰는데 여기씁니다. 아맞다 바다거북도 봄.

servant318

The group surf lessons are worth it if you have some idea how to surf. The staff are very pleasant and the instructor was super personable. Great experience all around.

Ana French

My son got a lesson with Pono on our last day in Hawai‘i and he learned well - he was able to get up on the FIRST wave that he tried! It was amazing to see him learn something new & look good while doing it!! Pono was a great instructor!

Bruce Marsack

Long time surfer from San Diego. Dave's feels like what a surf shop should feel like. You can smell the surfboard wax when you walk in, and their enthusiasm is contagious. Its is one block from the beach and cheaper than the vendors who are right on the sand.

Nancy Wamer

What a great experience we had with the outrigger canoe and surfing for our kids. Would highly recommend them and would for sure return again!! Thanks Dave, Josh, Pono for showing us a fabulous time!!

James Hayes

The surf instructors - Troy and Kevin - were fantastic. They looked after my 14 year old son, and really helped him improve his surfing. I also recommend renting chairs and umbrellas from this store rather than paying exorbitant prices at the beach.

Javier Gómez García

Great place to start surfing in Waikiki Beach, good clases and board rentals only 5$ and hour (min 2hours)

Jacob Oberholzer

Amazing service - everyone is super friendly and they're there to help with absolutely everything you need! Perfect for board rental, lessons and tours

Claudette Smith

Excellent course for beginners. Very patient instructors. We had a blast! Highly recommended!

Paul Baumgartner

The people here are fantastic. Just finished up a lesson with my 8 yr old and 5 year old. They both did tandems with Keone and Cody and had a ton of fun. I'm a novice myself, but rented a board and paddled around with them and got a few pointers along the way. Avery at the desk figured out how to make it the most cost effective and even applied a few coupons. As a bonus, they have Shanda who took great photos, which I bought, and allowed me to be in the water rather than on shore snapping pics. Would recommend Dave's to everyone, except jerks.

Jeri Lynn Mower

I couldn’t recommend them more. They are such a great company with great prices. We bought a Groupon and they were just so friendly and helpful and went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed ourselves.

Joshua D

Good coffee, nice food and service. A little over-priced avo toast but nice

Jacki Daymut

We had a wonderful experience with Big Wave Dave's! My niece took lessons with Josh and he did an awesome job!! She had a fantastic time and was successful surfing her first time. Everyone at the shop was extremely nice and easy to work with. I would recommend Big Wave Dave's to everyone wanting lessons or with rentals.

Philippe Ceulen

Had a great experience with renting boards at this surf shop. Conveniently located close to parking at Kings Village Shopping Center and only one block away from the beach. Staff was friendly and helpful and we were surfing the Waikiki waves in no time. There is a safety box to keep your bag. Boards have a number on them so you can remember which board you had for repeat rentals. Thanks!

Gregg Huitt

For all Alaskans, get your morning coffee here...friendly staff like Kaladi Brothers, good pricing and Great Coffee. Very good pricing snorkel and surfboard rentals and lessons. Best pricing for long sleeve sun/swim shirts

Yvonne Fisher

I had an awesome experience here! It was my first time ever surfing and I had a private lesson with Leah. She was amazing! A great teacher, she explained things well and was patient and I was able to catch a wave on my third try! In addition to her, everyone working there was super friendly and welcoming, especially David at the register. Great conversation and he even gave me suggestions on good local food. Next time I visit Hawaii I would definitely come back for another lesson.

Lynn ogara

Total surfing experts! Troy and Alikka were awesome. Very patient and so friendly and funny. They are all about making sure you enjoy yourself. My family had the best time. Within two runs we all were able to stand up. This is the only place I would recommend!

Leeann Herald

Pono was an awesome instructor!

Lauren Delaware

Found it hard to find authentic organic food for breakfast in Waikiki, this place did a great avo and toast fresh breakfast for me. Was the best breakfast iv had in Waikiki!

Km M

Awesome, friendly instructors pricy $$$$ pictures $80-$90

정경태

(Translated by Google) I just booked one lesson at 5 o'clock and arrived at the surfing shop about 5 to 10 minutes late. I waited 30 minutes for the instructor to be ready, and then the instructor ended up early in the morning while I was surfing in the ocean. I did $ 157 for 90 minutes. I was 30 minutes on standby. 30 minutes on surf. . If you have received Mocha, you should go to Mocha. I do not know where to go. I do not know what to do. (Original) 방금 전 상황입니다 1인 레슨을 5시 예약 하고 5분에서 10분가량 늦게 서핑샵에 도착했습니다. 강사가 준비 안되었는지 30분가량을 대기하게 한 후 바다에서 서핑을 하는 도중 강사가 생각 보다 이른 시간에 끝을 내는 겁니다 90분 157달러를 했는대 대기 30분 서핑30분 하고 컴플레인 걸어서 겨우 30달러 환불 받았습니다. 모쿠도 받아 봤는대 차라리 모쿠 가세요 더 친절하고 늦는 것 도 없습니다. To asian people if you are not good at english go to another shop there service is awful to other language even there is something wrong but thet didnt tell me find other shop

Anthony Veloso

Excellent experience. They teach you the basics of surfing and got amazing pictures/videos of us riding waves. Would highly recommend this experience to anyone going to Oahu. We did our lesson on the first day of our trip and went surfing on our own the remaining days.

Alex Leung

quick hire of gear

Cocacola Bear12

Big wave Dave was just amazing.

Shree Jariwala

We booked this though viator. I got more instruction attention than I even thought I would. They make sure you have a good time and are willing to work with a slow starter. Thank you guys so much! I had fun even out of my element. ❤️❤️❤️

Kathleen Le Nguyen

We tried out a group lesson for our last day before leaving Honolulu, what a fun and memorable experience! Friendly staff and helpful, great instructors that got us catching waves in no time. I would definitely recommend!

Kt Roberts

We found this shop off of Groupon and I'm so happy that we did! We rented two beach chairs, two snorkel sets, and an umbrella for $24! We went early in the morning and used the gear all day! If we come back to Hawaii, we will definitely use again!

tommy n

nice surf shop, rented a board and returned it early but it was very friendly and neat

Balta Ruiz

BEST HAWAI’I

gene henry ward

Super love this place. Great rates, no stress. Big Wave Dave's will take care of your board renting needs. Mahalo, y'all...

c26378

What an experience!! Had my 7 and 10 year old riding the waves like a pro. We all had a blast, an unforgettable experience. Pono and Brent were our instructors and I don't think theres anyone out there better. Only negative would be the price, a bit high compared to other companies and the quality and price of their photographs. Quality was average for what you pay and taken from the beach(didn't get one shot of my wife standing on her board out of 100 plus photos) and price for photos $135, too high Mr photographer don't be greedy!! Putting that a side, we made some great family memories. It's their instructors that make the experience great.

Chris Bishop

Alika is an great teacher, yeah! Thanks for the awesome less bro. Mahalo

흔니

(Translated by Google) The surfing class is teacher Kebake The first teacher in the second class was very friendly The second was meaningless Because there are a lot of coral reefs, I take pre-aqua shoes. I recommend it. When you are finished, you will be photographed and you will get a good buy. Would you be less surprised if you only knew it was expensive? Yeah? What about me? I bought it .. ㅎ he ... Diffuse 45 boo (discount) The first one who taught me well is Paul Tr (Original) 서핑 강습은 선생님 케바케 2회 수업중 처음 선생님은 매우 친절하셨지만 두번째는 의미가 없었음 산호초가 많기에 미리 아쿠아슈즈 챙기길 추천드려요 끝나면 사진을 잘 찍어줘서 구매욕이 물씬 들것입니다.. 앞뒤없이 비싸다는것만 알고 가시면 덜 놀라실거에요? 네? 저는요? 샀죠..ㅎㅎ...배액오오십부울 (할인가) 참고로 첫번째 잘 가르쳐주신분은 폴tr

Patrick Olson

The staff here is friendly and so helpful.

Sochi Sinni

most memorable part of our vacation was our boys ages 14 and 16 having fun learning how to surf in Waikiki. Big Wave Dave Surf instructors Alika and Kranz are awesome! Many Thanks

Ada Luchao Wang

Would definitely recommend this surfing school! I took two private lessons with Pono and he was the best surfing coach I have ever had. The experience was amazing and they provide good photographs too!

Fernando Herzer

Nice Place!!

Yareth Vasquez

Very awesome experience! I wouldn't imagine myself surfing since I have terrible balance, but I did it! The instructor was awesome and mellow. Made it easier for me to stay calm and enjoy to the ocean. Took me two tries before I got it down. Definitely recommend anyone who's visiting Honolulu to try them out!

益子強

(Translated by Google) There was no clerk who could speak Japanese, but I could communicate by gesturing. Everyone is friendly. The board exchange was also OK, the first time I borrowed a long board, because it was a forecast that the wave size is UP, I used it for 2 days and then changed it to shortboard 6'2. Rental stock is almost long board. (Original) 日本語ができる店員さんが居ませんでしたが、身ぶり手振りで通じました。皆さんフレンドリーです。ボード交換もOKで最初はロングボードを借りたのですが、波のサイズがUPする予報だったので、２日使ってその後ショートボード6'2に変えてもらいました。レンタルのストックはほぼロングボードです。

Catherine Gao

So much fun

Christine Paluch

I went there for surf lessons. Josh who was the instructor was great, and the staff was super friendly. They even held onto my phone when I accidentally left it behind. It is a great little place! I will probably be coming back for more lessons when I am in Honolulu next time.

Chris Latimer

We rented snorkel gear from this shop expecting it to be better than what could be purchased in an ABC store. Then we walked across to the ABC store and found our exact same rented equipment for half the price for purchase! 10/10 not cool. Skip this surf shop, they're a rip off. Buy the snorkel gear from the ABC store on any corner

N C

Great experience! English, Japanese, and Spanish speaking. Great with kids.

patrick park

(Translated by Google) It was good to learn surfing for the first time. I experienced Ricky's experience getting up and riding the waves. Very friendly and basically a communication skill that makes people feel good. The ride was once a private beach so there were not many people and the whole experience was so good. I do not know the reviews below. I could feel it, and the fact that I and my wife did not have much detail in the class, but I was satisfied with just getting up and feeling the waves. The one thing I wanted to convey to one of the staffs was misunderstood the board board (surf board rental) hanging down the wall (board lease). It was too bad. I just thought it was Googleing. (Original) 처음 서핑 배우기에는 좋았음. 리키 강사한테 일어나서 파도를 타는 경험을 맛보았음. 매우 친절하고 기본적으로 사람을 기분좋게 하는 의사소통 스킬이 있음. 타는곳은 일단 프라이빗 비치여서 사람들도 많지 않았고 모든 경험이 너무 좋았음. 아래 리뷰들은 모르겠음. 그렇게 느낄 수도 있고 사실 나와 와이프 또한 강습은 엄청 자세하게 하지는 않았는데 일어나고 파도를 느끼는 것만으로 만족스러웠음. 한가지 스텝한테 전하고 싶은거는 벽에 걸려있는 보드판에 (서핑보드 렌탈)아래 (이사회 임대)라고 잘못 해석되어 있더라고. 너무 우꼈음. 그냥 구글링한거 같던데 ㅋㅋ

Liz Komperda

My daughter, Angelika, had her very first private surf lesson this morning with Kodi! She had a wonderful experience! He is so patient and extremely knowledge! She did a tandem ride with Kodi several times and was able to stand up! We recommend Kodi!!! Love this place and all the people that work there! Staff is very loving and kind!

Jessica Nasuti

The staff is very friendly and is on top of their jobs. Took my first ever surf lesson with Paul and within minutes of the lesson I was up on the board and surfing my first wave. He was very personable and knowledgeable. Even though you’re exhausted it’s an amazing experience and these guys make sure of it.

Jasmin-Marie Jones

Everyone was super friendly. Loved the shop. Got professional pictures and just had a fun time.

Chloe Skoczen

the people there are so so so nice and welcoming. the instructors really care about your safety so it's super nice when you're nervous about anything. the instructor gave great advice and even suggested some other island activities! it's a great place overall.

russell williamson

Found this place by mistake and boy what a mistake. Best coffee in Waikiki and ice cream to make you want to return the very next day ( which I did )

Michael Moreno

Inexpensive board rentals with 24hr accessible storage.

Junko Cheng

I had a first-time lesson with Troy last fall, and today I brought my 20-year old son to learn from Ha'a. Unlike his mother, Josh was able to stand up on his first try. Both Troy and Ha'a and all the staff at Big Wave Dave are so kind! I was eventually able to get up several times during my lesson, thanks to Troy's patience, and my son said that Ha'a is a great instructor and had a great time. Next time, I will bring my husband and daughter and round out the whole family for the Waikiki surf experience! BWD's location is great -- just a block from the beach. I recommend these guys to anyone who wants to learn how to surf!

Eknath Belbase

Great teacher s

Julia Blair

Big wave Dave taught our teenage daughters to surf. They got up and rode the waves. He was genuine and caring. I would totally come again.

David Evans

I had actually called a different place and was planning on going there to simply rent a surfboard but ended up checking this place out on a lark. Best decision I could've made. The staff was awesome! Very friendly and helpful. They set me up with gear and a private lesson with Chris. He was a fantastic instructor. Worlds of patience and watched me every step of the way. Coached me through what I was doing wrong and made me feel great every time I made an accomplishment. The girl inside (I'm sorry I don't remember her name) set me up with pictures and was super nice! She helped me find the best picture, though I ended up buying the whole set lol. I wholeheartedly suggest this place to anyone that wants to learn to surf. Awesome experience all around! Thank you guys!!

Jaidyn Fisher

WONDERFUL staff. We took surfing lessons and LOVED it. It was so fun and the instructors were very kind. The cafe is great too. I would definitely reccomend this for beginner surfers

nate jones

The only surf shop I go to in Waikiki for lessons and equipment. Wonderful staff, and very knowledgeable on all things surf!

Tim Dunthorne

Exceptionally nice people and the shop has a good selection of 'real' surfboards to rent, Takayama, Pearson etc that are in good shape and they will let you switch boards to suit the conditions or your needs for the day. The best thing about renting here is the shop is one block off the main beach and offers locked outside storage so you can come and go when you please and not miss those sunrise/sunset sessions (or have to take your board up an elevator to your hotel). Glad we left our boards at home, it actually saved us money and a lot of hassle. Nothing but good things to say about this shop!

Daichi Yamashita

Awesome staff. Very friendly and helpful. Very affordable rental.

Simon Lecavalier

These guys rock. Nothing else to say really. They will teach you everything there is to know about surfing and have fun with you at the same time. Had a blast for 2 hours and recommends this place to everyone. Once you are done you can keep surfing by renting a board for 5$/h. 5⭐️

Jerold Barr

Nice folks. Instructor Paul was super cool, friendly and knowledgeable with patient expertise in his craft. Mahalo!

Elizabeth Schneider

My sister and I, first time surfers, took a group lesson and had a blast! Cody was a good instructor and guided us to the waves and gave us a good push and told us when to kneel and stand up. We caught several waves. We were surprised how well we did :) highly recommended!

Linda Brambley

Josh, was a great instructor! Got my teenage son and friend up surfing in no time. Took the time to help the mom try to get up (I almost did it). It was so much fun! I would definitely go for another lesson here!

Michael Barnes

WARNING: These guys buy the cheapest leg ropes for their long boards that break. I hired a long board, fell off a wave, the leg rope broke, and I was left swimming after the board. Almost ruined the experience. I returned the board and pointed out that the rope broke after falling off a wave, and they had the hide to charge me for their crappy leg rope! You might initially save money on renting from these guys, but in the end you risk paying for replacement of their cheap crappy equipement!

Corrie Olson

My husband and I took a surf lesson from here. Wonderful experience. staff was very helpful and friendly. Cody was our instructor and he was wonderful!

Linh Huynh

Rude customer service.

donna contreras

Do not rent on the beach. For under $30 using Groupon, we received 2 beach chairs, umbrella and snorkeling mask and fins. Zuri and Avery are absolutely delightful and were most helpful. They are only a block from the beach and definitely worth the very short walk. When I return to Oahu, I will definitely stop by to say hello and will rent from no one else.

Glen Cooksley

Quick land lesson then into practice. No need for lots of land practice. The 90mins was more than enough. 2hrs would've been impossibly tiring.