Say Aloha to That Surfer Dude Spirit

John Pregil knows he’s one lucky guy.

Not only does he live in paradise, but he also has figured out how to earn a living doing what he loves most, which is meeting people from all over the world. He is guaranteed all the action and excitement he wants. Even better, his wife and children can sometimes tag along.

When Pregil isn’t on duty as a Honolulu firefighter, he can usually be found on a nearly deserted beach at Barbers Point, about 20 minutes west of Waikiki, teaching tourists how to surf. Pregil and two other surf-loving firefighters, Garrett Valles and Kevin Miller, launched the Hawaiian Fire Surf School a little less than two years ago and employ other off-duty firefighters to teach. All are trained in first aid, CPR and open-water rescue, and they all have years of lifeguard experience. Call Hawaiian Fire at (808) 384-8855 or visit www.hawnfire.com.

“We all grew up surfing,” Pregil says. “It was something we did on the weekends. You go to the beach with your families, and you hang out and go surfing. It’s an attitude.”

That ultra-cool surfer’s attitude is exactly why kids who visit Hawaii want to learn to surf.

My kids couldn’t wait to give surfing a try--after they had bought the “right” surfer shorts and shirts, of course.

There are certainly plenty of opportunities to learn surfing in Hawaii, especially in Waikiki, where surf lessons have been offered since before World War II. And these days, with fewer tourists on the beach, your kids will get all the personal attention they could want from teachers who are eager to introduce youngsters to the sport.

Sam Mokuahi is licensed by the state to teach surfing and has been doing so for decades.

He charges $20 for a 60-minute lesson and is stationed just outside the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach hotel.

“If you know how to swim, you can learn to surf,” Mokuahi says. “Just make sure you go with someone who knows what they are doing.”

Farther down the beach, legendary Hawaiian surfer Hans Hedemann, who spent 17 years surfing competitively all over the world, runs his surf school in the shadow of Diamond Head. Kids account for about a quarter of his students, he says, and some come for lessons every day they’re on the island. Call the Hans Hedemann Surf School at (808) 924-7778 or visit www.hhsurf.com.

“Parents set up a class for the kids, and then [the parents] want to go,” Hedemann says. “Moms jump in there and give it a shot.”

I did, though not too successfully, I must admit.

The Hawaiian Fire Surf School van picked us up at our hotel just after breakfast and equipped us with everything we would need for the day. The school charges $79 for adults, less for kids, and lunch is included.

“We get you out of Waikiki so you won’t be around all the surfers who don’t know what they’re doing,” Pregil told us. “We can keep a close eye on you here.”

That sounded good to me. The waves were gentle too. There’s only one drawback: If you (or the kids) aren’t having fun, there’s no escape until the lesson is over several hours later.

That wasn’t a problem for us. The instructors reminded me of the instructors at a ski resort, enthusiastic and eager to introduce novices to their sport.

“Surfing is very spiritual in Hawaii,” Pregil says. “It’s like you’re at one with the ocean. This is where surfing began, and Hawaiian surfers are very proud of that and glad to be able to help pass it on.”

The session began with a safety lesson on the beach. (Never dive into the water headfirst.) Then we learned how to position ourselves on the board. After that we surfed alongside the instructors till we dropped onto the beach in exhaustion. We learned that the hardest part wasn’t balancing ourselves on the board but paddling out to catch the waves.

The good news was that everyone who tried--even the 50-somethings in the group--managed to get up on their boards. I’d never seen such a happy, sand-covered, waterlogged group. There were even smiles on the faces of those who wouldn’t have come if not for their kids’ urging.

“I got up for two seconds,” said a pleased Tanya Bastillos, who was with her 13-year-old daughter. “I thought I’d hate it, but I want to do it again.”

This could be the year you and the kids join the Hawaiian surfing scene, because a trip to the islands is affordable. Before booking, ask about deals that include rental cars, free breakfasts, kids’ activities and, most important, free nights with a certain minimum number of nights booked. (Visit www.gohawaii.com, the state’s official tourism site.) Even luxury hotels are offering discounted packages.

Here’s a sampling of what’s out there:

* Pleasant Holidays, a charter company that sends more than 400,000 tourists to Hawaii each year, has six-day air/hotel packages from the West Coast starting at $399 a person. There are also packages offering substantial discounts at condos and luxury hotels. Call (800) 2-HAWAII (242-9244) or visit www.pleasantholidays.com.

* Book an Aston condo or hotel from January until June and get one free night for every three nights paid. Aston operates 35 condo resorts and hotels on four islands. Call (800) 92-ASTON (922-7866) or visit www.astonhotels.com.

* Outrigger hotels and their more moderately priced division, the Ohana hotel group, offer various specials depending on the property. There are free snorkeling lessons for kids at the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach and free kids’ activities at the Outrigger Wailea Resort on Maui. Subject to availability, discounted Ohana rates start at $69 in Waikiki, $99 on Maui. Call (800) 688-7444 or visit www.outrigger.com.

* At Destination Resorts Hawaii in Wailea on Maui, luxury condos large enough for a family start at $165 a night. Call (800) 367-5246 or visit www.destinationresortshi.com.