Hi Guys,
Going to Oahu in 2 weeks ( sorry to mention that ... NOT 
) For the first time, but leaving all my boards at home
Anyway I have just made a reservation to hire a board for a few weeks while there.
Dealing with "Hawaii surfboard rentals" and was wanting to know if anyone has delt with these guys at all.
There prices seem pretty good and they have a free drop off and pick up service.
Any reports??
I was also looking at hooking up with a Surf tour guide on the Island.
Basically they pick you up from your hotel and take you surfing 1 on 1, Their car, there fuel, there Local Knowledge ect 
I could find 3 guys on the Island that offer this service, all pretty much the same price,
$ 90 Morning sesh 4 to 6 hours ( south shore only )
$ 170 - $ 180 all day all over Oahu.
When you do the math for your self, car hire, Parking at hotel fee, fuel, no knowledge of local conditions, what works in swell and wind conditions, car break-ins ect, wasted time looking for waves, seems ok.
Also wondering if anyone has used any of these services and can recommend anyone.
I would consider myself your average surfer and not looking to surf anything bigger than say 6 foot ( hawaiian size )
Would love to here any info guys.
Cheers Locky 
Locky it sounds like you are going about it the right way . The guides a good idea. You can work it out a lot better once you know where to go and where not to go and then you can go it alone. My nephew was over there a few months back and hired a few boards. He did the Waikiki thing on an 11footer and loved it and went over the North Shore and surfed Chuns reef I think on a hired 8 footer and loved it. He never got into any big stuff and just waited his turn and had no dramas. I know another bloke that went over in the 80s and he told me they pulled up at Makaha one day just looking at the surf and this huge Hawaiian just strolled up and said " no surfing here today boys" that was the cue to leave.
Sh-t you lucky son of a gun,Your right local knowledge would be unreal,I hired a 4x4 and hit the north shore for some epic swimming the bay was flat as was sunset but that was September,north shore is the real Oahu but be warned mate the locals were casing me and the family,do not leave anything in your car there are some mean mothers up there. I hired our boards from Kona Board Sports had a heap og longboards to choose from and you could swap anytime for another board,I found they either had a big 10 single fin or a low volume HP which was not ideal for the rolling waves.
Best surf we had was left of the Duke statue,no tourists locals only but we managed to get a few before they got the dirts and told my son and I to fk off and mate very large men.
Be ready to wait an hour in line to eat at the cheese cake factory but a must go
Best holiday I've ever had love the place
Koa Board sports in Waikiki is the best place for board rentals. About $20 US a day.
Koas excellent, I had a half day before I flew out and they charged me $5. You can swap boards as much as you like as well.
They are surftechs, but they have the Takayama range.
Make sure you check out Surf Garage too.
Yeah, Koa are great. I think I paid about $80 for 6-7 days. Swap & Go!! But I had my old favorite on reserve!
You get to stay at a nice hotel, without the awkward feeling of walking through a classy lobby, dripping wet, with a longboard!! Which would barely fit in the elevator!
Instead, you walk out in boardies, T-shirt, towel, and thongs... Drop a few things off at Koa, grab your board... come back, drop the board off, get towel and thongs...
Looks like I might have to go to Houston or Calgary for 2 weeks work... Hawaii on the way home...!!??
I spent all of last November in Hawaii and stayed at the Outrigger on the beach hotel. They have a longboard storage area just outside the lower lobby on the way to the beach and pool area. Easy to lock up your board there and then no need to carry it through the hotel.
We just hired a car and drove ourselves all around the island including the north shore. It was a very easy drive and we had no problems getting around.
Only problem was the winter swells were very late in arriving last year and the first of the real BIG swells arrived only a couple of days after we left.
To play it safe, we are heading over a bit later this year and are spending nearly all of December over there. Whatever you decide to do you will love it, the place really is heaven on earth.
Thanks for the response guys the more info I can find out before I go the better.
Got my board hire sorted at $ 210 US ( $205 AU) for 16 days hire. Free drop off and pick up to hotel and you can swap it over at 1 days notice.
Went with a 7'6" ( Big Guy ) short board, but am thinking I may have to swap it for a 10" LB.
Still thinking of going the Surf guide option for a few times, and then might hire a car for a week or so.
Cheers Locky
The 7'6 will be fine if you want to surf any of the breaks up around the north shore area, but it won't be suitable for surfing the small breaks around Waikiki beach. The standard weapon of choice for Waikiki is something around the 9 foot and upwards mark.
Not sure where you plan to do most of your boarding, but if possible, take a laptop and check this website everyday before you head off (or the night before to make advance plans) ...The video feed sucks if you are not a member, but it is still good enough to get accurate info on what is happening at most locations. I found the site to be invaluable on my last trip.
www.surfline.com/surf-forecasts/north-shore/58581a836630e24c44878fcb
Also, a word of warning if you do hire a car. There is bugger all on-street parking in the Waikiki area, meaning if you want the car for several consecutive days, you will be paying premium rates to your hotel for valet parking in their garage area, or alternatively finding a parking garage also for top $$$....
If you do hire a car, spend the extra few $ and also hire a GPS....It makes driving so much easier with a little voice telling you when and where to turn, because believe me, your whole attention will be focussed on driving on the wrong bloody side of the ride and you certainly won't be able to look at street signs etc at the same time.
Hey, thanks heaps for the info guys, And doofuss thanks for the link, bloody champion
Just have a few more questions some of you may be able to help me with?
Should I take lockable tie-downs, Would I be stupid in thinking these would stop the locals for a second or should I just take normal tie-downs ( Save on excess luggage weight ) and just NEVER let the board out of my sight
Also any advice on Mobile phones over there
Should I take my phone with international roaming set up ( been told this can be pricey ??) or just buy a cheap $50 dollar cell over there ( 30 days unlimited calls on US system ) and trash it when I leave?
Weiry, the camera is a given mate. also thinking of taking my tripod for some filming ( stuck in a piece of pvc pipe to protect it ) but as this will take up some room in the suitcase I dunno?
The room it would take up, I could bring back a heap of surf gear and T-shirts in.
Locky
Lockie on the phone,just pay a sim card if your using your phone a lot,I just suck it up tho.Ask the board hire company about stolen goodsIf I was taking my own board and was leaving it up above while checking other things out I would lock it up,its really the back streets you need to worry about and as I said the north shore is one place you need to take care of your gear.
Hey Guys,
Sorry forgot to mention that my phone is locked to optus
. So I would have to pay 80 bucks to get it unlocked and then also buy a sim
But have done some research and looks like I can go to walmart and buy a cell phone with a sim card ( straight talk provider ) for $50 you get 30 day contract, unlimited talk text, mms and internet and unlimited calls to 411? ( I guess this the Hawaiian version of 911 ? )
If this is correct ? here is the winner
. and remember the camera mate
