Florida Couple Gets Approached to Surf in Hawaii. They Almost Didn’t Say Yes: ‘Way Better Than Breakfast.’

Trying out new things can be both exciting and intimidating all at once. A couple from Florida was approached by the First Wave Project (@firstwaveproject) in Hawaii to surf for the first time. Reluctant at first, the couple agreed to the spontaneous idea.

“We go around to strangers and we ask them if they’ve surfed before,” the instructor, Buddy Wiggins, said. The couple claimed that they’d never surfed before, so he offered to teach them for free if they’d let him document the process.

They agreed, but Wiggins told them that they’d have to go now.

“We’re going to eat,” the husband said.

“I highly recommend we go surfing first, and then you get breakfast, because breakfast will always be there,” the instructor insisted. Free opportunities are difficult to come by, after all.

“We don’t have bathing suits on,” the wife mentioned. The Wiggins cut in and said that they had some available.

But another surfer from behind popped up and told the couple to take the opportunity. He looked like he just came back from the waves himself.

“Do it, it’s awesome,” the surfer said, and that statement finally convinced the couple to try the sport out.

“We are at Waikiki Beach, on our honeymoon, and we’re about to surf for the first time ever,” the woman said, hauling the board to the shore after the lesson. The couple didn’t get it perfectly the first time. Surfing requires a great deal of balance, and they’d both tried to get up, only to fall into the water.

Some of the best things come for free

The couple gradually started getting up on their boards, only to fall back. But the process of learning seemed to be enjoyed by the couple regardless.

“I see why people get a thrill for this,” the woman commented even after slipping off the board. But because of her persistence, she was finally able to get up and surf while holding the camera.

“Way better than breakfast,” she said. “You can have breakfast tomorrow; breakfast will be there.” But the opportunity to learn something new won’t always be there.

Even her husband was eventually able to get up and balance.

“I love it, man. It could be my hobby over there in Florida, but they don’t have any of this type of stuff over there,” he said. Florida is also known for its golden beaches, and locals also surf on the eastern side of the state. Perhaps he’s referring to the lessons—while beaches may be accessible, learning opportunities are a different story.

“She wanted to do it, I didn’t want to do it,” the man confessed. “But since you said it’s free and it’s a brand new experience, we go out here and try to learn how to surf. At least I’m going to leave the island to learn something new.”

Are there always free surfing lessons in Hawaii?

The First Wave Project by Buddy Wiggins, located in Waikiki Beach, Oahu, is an initiative that offers free surfing experiences. Wiggins’ TikTok account also shows the other people he previously taught, and many were invited spontaneously.

While there are several surfing clinics across Hawaii, many are paid or complimentary to vacation packages. Breakfast can wait, but saying yes to an opportunity that isn’t always going to be there can lead to amazing adventures.

(featured images: First Wave Project, Jess Loiterton)

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