Learn to Surf
Learn to surf on the Wai Kai Wave, powered by Citywave! The Wai Kai Wave is an endless standing wave that makes surfing accessible to anyone. Water volume, wave height, and shape can be adjusted per channel on demand. The entire pool is soft padded to ensure safety throughout the pool. Instructors teach the fundamentals of surfing, surf safety, wave riding technique, proper stance, and turning.
Instructors: Ikaika Kaulukukui & Julia Nichols
Safety: Instructors hold the following Red Cross Certifications: CPR/First Aid/AED, Emergency Medical Response, and Shallow Water Lifeguarding. All Keiki must wear helmets during their surf session. Brightly colored rash guards will be provided for easy identification of students.
Objective: Successfully ride the Wai Kai Wave using surf or body boards.
Keiki Learning Outcomes:
- About the sport of surfing and what a surfboard and bodyboard is
- How to select a surfboard or body board: sizes and shapes
- Basic skills of surfing: stance, balance, turning and falling
- Risks and safety rules for the surfing environment
- Each keiki will have the opportunity to ride the wave on a bodyboard and a surfboard
- Advanced keiki will receive coaching on technique and turns to enhance their skills
Learn to Paddle
Learn to paddle on the 52-acre fully enclosed Wai Kai Lagoon! The dock is a waterman’s dream, outfitted with top-of-the-line stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, outrigger canoes, hydro bikes, pedal boards, and more. This is the perfect place to learn to use the watercraft or enhance your skills. All lessons include instruction, USCG-approved PFDs, and equipment.
Instructors: Madison Bauer & Rache Sapla
Safety: Instructors hold the following Red Cross Certifications: CPR/First Aid/AED, Emergency Medical Response, and Waterfront Lifeguarding. All keiki and instructors must wear USCG-approved PFDs. Brightly colored rash guards will be provided for easy identification of students. Classes will always maintain an 8:1 Keiki to Instructor Ratio.
Objective: Participants will successfully learn to paddle Stand-Up Paddleboards, Kayaks, and Outrigger Canoes.
Keiki Learning Outcomes:
Outrigger Canoe
- History of outrigger canoe paddling and its importance in Hawaiian culture
- Proper names for each component of the canoe
- Risks and safety of being on a canoe in the lagoon and in the ocean
- Basic skills and technique of paddling strokes and different types of stokes
- How to right overturned canoes (huli drills)
Standup Paddle Boards
- About the different types of boards, shapes, and sizes of paddleboards and paddles
- Understand weather/wind limitations and effects on paddleboarding
- Proper stance and posture on the Stand-Up Paddle Boards
- Different strokes and techniques of paddling
- How to properly fall
- Racing strokes and paddling technique
Kayak
- Components of the kayak
- Safety and risks of kayaking in the lagoon and ocean
- Proper paddling posture and correct foot placement
- How to size and hold a paddle
- Various paddling techniques- forward, reverse, sweep, and draw strokes
- How to overturn a flipped kayak
