Skip the tourist-packed beaches of Waikiki and head to a real North Shore break for your surf lesson. This is a small, independently owned surf school, not a big tour company, and every session is shaped around your comfort level and swimming ability rather than a one-size-fits-all group class. Start with a land lesson covering paddling and pop-up technique, then head into the water to put it into practice. Lessons run in private 1-on-1 or private small-group formats, 1 or 2 hours long, at a quiet local break where Hawaiian green sea turtles are a common sight. Well-behaved dogs are even welcome to join the session if they're comfortable in the water.