Standing Room Only

Learning to swim started with being dunked by your cousins until you swam for your life. Getting the hang of driving meant circling the school parking lot a hundred times until your dad finally let you on the road. And then there were surf lessons – you’ve still never mastered the pop-up. Does riding waves lying down count?

There’s another way to get vertical on your board.

Kama ‘aina-owned Wet Feet will ease you into the newly-popular sport of stand-up paddle surfing. Rent a board at their laid back Aina Haina store, then talk story with the owners to get some basic instruction to supplement your natural ability. Daily rental costs just $40 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or $60 for 24 hours, and depending on the board you can get a multiple-day discount. If you learn quick and get hooked, they’ll apply your rental fees to a subsequent board purchase.

In about a month or so Wet Feet plans to offer on-the-water lessons, but until then, co-owner Jeff Chang recommends heading to the Hawai‘i Kai boat ramp near the canoe hale to get your feet wet.