Meet Your Instructor: Dom Nokai

If you book a surf lesson on Oahu's North Shore, there's a good chance you'll meet Dom Nokai — the instructor behind Venture North Shore, and a familiar face in the water up and down this coast.

A Life Built Around the Ocean

Dom grew up immersed in Hawaii's surf culture, eventually building a career around the sport he loves. He served as President of the Hawaiian Surfing Association, Big Island chapter, from 2014 to 2018, and has worked as a certified ISA (International Surfing Association) competitive surfing judge since 2010 — meaning Dom doesn't just teach surfing, he's helped officiate it at a competitive level for over a decade.

He's a licensed surfboard instructor, permitted to teach beginners safely in the waters he knows better than almost anyone.

From the Big Island to the North Shore

Dom's surf journey started on the Big Island with Kona Surf Company, before he brought that same instruction style — patient, safety-first, and genuinely fun — to Oahu's legendary North Shore with Venture North Shore.

Along the way, he's guided lessons and surf trips across the globe, from Tavarua in Fiji to Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch, picking up experience that shapes how he reads waves and teaches students today.

More Than Just an Instructor

Ask around the local surf community and you'll hear the same thing: Dom is generous with his time, his gear, and his knowledge. He's known for opening his home to visiting surfers, lending equipment to friends in need, and showing up for the people around him — on top of running a full teaching schedule.

Coach Dom's Corner: I got into teaching because I remember exactly what it felt like to catch my first real wave — and I wanted to be the person who gets to hand that feeling to someone else. Every lesson I teach, that's still the goal.

Teaching Philosophy

Dom's approach is simple: meet people where they are. Whether it's a nervous first-timer, a family with young kids, or a returning student ready to push further, lessons are paced to the individual — not a one-size-fits-all script.

• Safety and ocean awareness always come first
• Beginner-friendly equipment and conditions matched to your skill level
• Patient, encouraging coaching — no judgment, no pressure
• Real local knowledge of the North Shore's breaks, seasons, and conditions

Credentials

• President, Hawaiian Surfing Association (Big Island), 2014–2018
• Certified ISA Competitive Surfing Judge, 2010–present
• Licensed Surfboard Instructor
• Experience teaching and guiding internationally, including Fiji and Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch

Ready to Learn With Dom?

Whether it's your very first time standing on a board or you're back for another session, booking a lesson with Venture North Shore means learning from someone who has spent his life in these waters — and genuinely loves sharing that with others.

Book your lesson today and find out why so many visitors leave saying it was the highlight of their trip.