A Sand Drill, Then Waikiki Surf With Jamie O'Brien's Coaches
A 90-minute group lesson on Waikiki's beginner waves, run by Jamie O'Brien's surf school from The Twin Fin on Kalākaua Avenue.
This is the group lesson at Jamie O'Brien School of Surf, the Waikiki branch of the pro surfer's schools. It runs 90 minutes, and the school built it for people who have never stood on a board.
Nobody paddles out cold. Each group starts on the sand with ocean awareness, paddling and the pop-up, the move from lying on the board to standing. Then you carry your board into the water, and your coach goes out with you.
The booking covers a surfboard, reef booties and a rash guard. Bring swimwear and sunscreen. A tip for your instructor is not included.
Every ticket on this listing is for ages 14 and up, and one booking takes up to four people. As of October 13, 2026, a seat costs USD 125.61 or USD 136.08, depending on the date.
Group Surf Lesson in the Heart of WaikikiNinety minutes in the Waikiki surf with Jamie O'Brien School of Surf, starting from its shop at The Twin Fin Waikiki.www.viator.comA Shared Session, With a Coach Close By
The school keeps four surfers to each instructor. A full group session can hold 16 to 20 surfers. Expect to share the water with people outside your own party.
In the water, your coach lines you up for waves, calls out quick corrections and helps you reset between rides. One guest came away from a February 2026 lesson with two cues still in their head: “low is pro” and “paddle with a purpose.”
The mix of ages and abilities is part of the format. A guest who joined in December 2025 found eight surfers of mixed ages too many to learn quickly. The school pitches its group lesson at first-timers, and at friends and families who want to learn together.
Gentle Waves, With Reef Shoes for a Reason
The school calls Waikiki one of the gentlest beginner waves in the world.
Gentle water here is also shallow water. The kit includes reef shoes for the walk in and out, and a guest who surfed with the school in August 2026 wrote that the group rode a shallow area with rocks and coral, and falls off the board left cuts on legs and a back. The same review still ends on the thrill of standing up.
Jamie O'Brien Picks the Coaches, and Sometimes Shows Up
Jamie O'Brien grew up at the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore. The school's biography lists the Pipeline Masters among his wins and a 2024 induction into the Surfing Hall of Fame, and his YouTube series, now Jamie O'Brien Vlogs, has run for close to a decade.
He is not available for bookings. The school says he handpicks and trains its instructors, and that he often turns up in the shop or in the water to surprise guests.
The Waikiki school is the brand's family and group option, priced below the private sessions it sells at its other locations.
Check In at the Shop Under The Twin Fin
📍 The school's shop is at street level in The Twin Fin Waikiki, 2570 Kalākaua Ave. The listing tells you to head inside to meet. From there, the school says, your instructor suits you up and runs the dry-land drill on the sand in front of the hotel.
The board, fins and leash, rash guard and reef shoes all come from the school. Photo and video packages are sold on top of the lesson.
Booking closes four hours before the start time, and confirmation is instant.
Lessons start at 11:15 AM and 12:30 PM and last 90 minutes. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund; later cancellations are not refunded. Weather cancellations by the operator are refunded.
The session ends where it began, on the sand, with a few tips to take into your next surf.