Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee 4.4★ (489) — Honolulu, HI

Open until 5:30PM

// From Google reviews

"Customers rave about the fun and memorable experiences, particularly highlighting the friendly and helpful staff who ensure everyone catches waves and enjoys their time, whether surfing or riding..."

Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee, located right on the beach, offers surf lessons and outrigger canoe wave riding for an unforgettable ocean experience. Customers consistently praise the friendly and fun-loving instructors who ensure everyone catches plenty of waves. With a convenient beachfront location, equipment rentals, and unique outrigger canoe adventures, Big Wave Dave's provides the perfect blend of surfing and aloha spirit.

The Good

Many customers praised the surf instructors for being patient, friendly, fun, and providing clear, helpful instructions. Specific instructors like Michael Jackson, JP (John Paul), Kahai, Josh, Noe, Pauli, Noi, Kodi, Cody, and Lloyd received shout-outs for their excellent teaching and positive attitudes.

The outrigger canoe rides were a highlight for many families, offering a fun way to experience catching waves, even for non-surfers.

The coffee and food options, including lattes, acai bowls, and gluten-free crepes, were frequently mentioned as delicious and a great addition to the experience.

Customers appreciated the convenient beachside location, the availability of equipment rentals, and the overall welcoming vibe of the shop.

Several reviews highlighted the value for money, especially for beginners, with some mentioning that the lessons felt personalized even in group settings.

Things to Consider

One customer had a very negative experience with a surf instructor who was disengaged and unhelpful, leading the customer to give up on the lesson.

A few reviews mentioned issues with Groupon bookings not matching the advertised experience, specifically regarding lesson duration and included board rentals.

One customer reported a poor coffee experience with rude service and a barista who argued about coffee preferences.

Another customer found the pricing for a sandwich to be too high for the quality received, and noted a lack of responsiveness to negative feedback.

The paddle out to the surf spot was described as very far and physically demanding by some, leading to muscle fatigue.

One customer experienced a significant delay in receiving their coffee order despite being the first to order.

A customer reported not receiving promised free rental hours after their lesson.

There was a complaint about a lack of photographers available for lessons, despite it being advertised.

One customer felt the lesson duration was too short and the amount of time spent paddling was excessive compared to actual surfing time.

Safety Scorecard

Summarised from this school's public reviews

Analysis

Multiple customers explicitly mentioned feeling safe, noting that instructors were patient, encouraging, and took time to ensure they understood safety procedures in the water. One review specifically mentioned instructors focusing on the basics of safe surfing.

Lesson Details

What Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee teaches, and who it teaches.

Lesson priceNot published — ask when you call

Features & Amenities

What makes this surf school stand out.

Beginner Friendly
Kid Friendly
Private Lessons
Group Lessons
Equipment Rental

Business Hours

Confirm availability before you go.

Monday8AM - 5:30PM

Tuesday8AM - 5:30PM

Wednesday8AM - 5:30PM

Thursday8AM - 5:30PM

Friday8AM - 5:30PM

Saturday8AM - 5:30PM

Sunday8AM - 5:30PM

Get Current Pricing

We have information about available services, but pricing may vary. Let us know what you're looking for and we'll connect you with Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee.

Available Services:

• private
• semi-private
• group

Ready to Book Your Lesson?

Contact Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee directly to get current pricing and book your lesson.

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// Reviews left on SurfSpotGuide

SurfSpotGuide Reviews

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Open until 5:30PM