QUICK FACTS

Location: Puaena Point, Haleiwa — North Shore of Oahu | Duration: Up to 2 hours | Price: $129 per surfer | Skill Level: All levels, no restrictions | Ages: 3 and up | Equipment Included: Soft-top surfboard, leash, and rash guard | Instructor Ratio: Paired to fit your group, up to 12 people | Best Time of Year: Year-round, mellowest conditions April through October

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WHY CHOOSE A PRIVATE PARTY LESSON

A Private Party Lesson is built for friends and family who want the whole group learning together, without joining a public class. It can be just the two of you or your entire crew of up to 12. Unlike our Group Lessons, which cap at 4 students per instructor and are open to other guests, a Private Party is exclusively your people, and we bring in as many local instructors as your group needs. It costs more per surfer than a Group Lesson, but you get a private beach, flexible instructor pairing, and a lesson built around your group's exact mix of ages and abilities.

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WHAT TO EXPECT

Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early to check in and sign a waiver at our meeting point in Haleiwa. Your instructors will introduce themselves, size everyone up for the right board, and start with a beach briefing covering paddling, balance, and ocean awareness. From there your whole party wades out together to a gentle, sandy-bottom stretch of water where you'll practice pop-ups on dry sand before paddling out. Instructors position themselves in the water to push each surfer into their first waves, offer hands-on correction, and keep your group within sight of each other the entire time. Most parties are standing and riding whitewater within the first 30 to 45 minutes, and the remaining time goes toward building confidence, longer rides, and photos of everyone's best waves before wrapping up on the beach.

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WHAT'S INCLUDED

Every Private Party Lesson includes a beginner-friendly soft-top surfboard sized to each rider, a leash, and a rash guard for sun and rash protection. You'll also get full instruction and water safety supervision from local pros for your entire group, plus tips on the best spots to keep surfing on your own afterward. Just show up in your swimsuit with sunscreen already applied, and bring a towel and water to stay hydrated.

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WHO IS THIS PERFECT FOR

Private Party Lessons are ideal for first-time surfers who'd rather keep their lesson just among the people they know: families with a wide age range (we welcome ages 3 and up), couples, groups of friends traveling together, solo travelers who want to bring one or two people along privately, and cruise-ship or resort visitors with a tight window who don't want to wait for a public group slot. If your crew has anywhere from 2 to 12 people, or includes very young kids, non-swimmers, or a mix of skill levels, a Private Party gives us the flexibility to bring in the right number of guides to match.

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WHY LEARN HERE

We teach at Puaena Point in Haleiwa because it's one of the most forgiving beginner breaks on the North Shore: a sandy bottom, a gentle, rolling wave, and an easy paddle out, unlike the reef breaks nearby. Summer swell direction keeps the wave soft and slow-breaking, which is exactly what a first-time surfer needs to have time to stand up. Because a Private Party isn't tied to a fixed group time slot, your instructors can choose the exact peak to set up on depending on the day's swell, tide, and wind, so your group always gets the safest and most rideable wave available that day rather than a one-size-fits-all spot.

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SAFETY

Safety comes first on every lesson. Our instructors are trained in ocean rescue and CPR, and they read conditions every morning before deciding where and whether to run lessons. Because a Private Party is scaled to your group, we bring in extra guides for larger parties or for members who are young, nervous, or not strong swimmers, so nobody is ever out of arm's reach for long. If wind, swell, or crowds make a spot unsafe, we move the lesson to a better beach rather than push through bad conditions. We also carry basic first aid and always brief every group on currents, other surfers, and ocean etiquette before anyone paddles out.

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LOCAL KNOWLEDGE

Growing up surfing the North Shore means we know which beaches are working on a given morning and which ones to avoid, how the crowds shift through the day, and the small rules of respect that keep everyone safe in the water, like not dropping in on another surfer's wave and giving local riders their space at the more advanced breaks. Because your Private Party is exclusively your group, we tailor that local knowledge specifically to who's in the water with you that day, not a script we repeat for every class. We pass all of it on to your crew, not just how to stand up, but how to read the ocean and carry yourselves respectfully in it.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I join if I can't swim well? Yes. Unlike our Group Lessons, a Private Party lets us assign extra guides specifically for weaker swimmers or non-swimmers in your group.

How old do kids need to be? We welcome ages 3 and up on a Private Party Lesson, with instructors paired to match younger or nervous riders.

What if it rains? Light rain doesn't stop a lesson; Hawaii rain showers usually pass quickly. We only reschedule for unsafe conditions like high surf, strong wind, or lightning.

Do I need any experience? No experience is needed for anyone in your party.

What happens if the waves are too big the day of my lesson? Your instructor will move your group to a more protected beginner-friendly spot on the North Shore.

Where do we meet and park? You'll get exact meeting and parking details in Haleiwa when you book.

Can family members who aren't surfing come along and watch? Yes, spectators are welcome to hang out on the beach during the lesson.

What should I wear? A swimsuit with sunscreen already applied; a rash guard is provided if you'd like extra coverage.

Is gratuity expected for the instructors? Tipping is never required, but always appreciated if you had a great time.

Can I bring a GoPro or camera? Yes, just let your instructors know beforehand so they can help capture your best waves.

How far in advance should I book? We recommend booking a few days ahead, especially in summer when Private Party slots fill up quickly.

How many people can join a Private Party? Anywhere from 2 people up to 12, and we'll pair you with the right number of guides.

How is this different from the $199 Private Session? The Private Session is strictly 1-on-1 coaching for one surfer; a Private Party is for you and everyone you're traveling with, learning together as a group.

Can we add a private surf guide instead of a lesson? Yes. For experienced surfers, we also offer a Private Surf Guide add-on starting at $300, where we pick you up, coach you, and get you filmed on the best wave for your ability over 2 to 3 hours.

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REVIEWS

We're rated 5 out of 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from more than 300 reviews across our surf lessons (some listed under Kona Surf Company). Visit our Reviews page to read what families and friend groups are saying about their Private Party experience on the North Shore.

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RELATED GUIDES

Looking for a different format? Check out our Group Surf Lessons for a small-group class, or our Private Surf Lessons for one-on-one coaching. You can also read real guest stories on our Reviews page.

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Ready to surf together? Book your Private Party Lesson today and we'll see your whole crew in the water.