What an epic concept. Free waves for all. Photo: First Wave Project
If your social media algorithm has you bogged down with polarized politics and brain-rot content, these Hawaiian surfers might be your antidote. For the past two months, First Wave Project has been sharing feel-good stories that are guaranteed to provoke a smile — if not tears — by teaching strangers how to surf.
In just two months since their first post, they’ve already amassed 6,000 followers, a viral video with more than a million views, and the stamp of approval from Hawaiian surf legends like Kai Lenny, Mason Ho, and Kelia Moniz. So far, they’ve got roughly 50 people up on their first waves.
The project began when Honolulu native Buddy Wiggins — who used to give surf lessons but had drifted away from the ocean due to his children and work — wanted to get back into teaching. He started calling up friends, only to discover that his pal Zach Murphy had serendipitously been thinking the same thing. Once word got out, their mutual friend Isaiah Moniz — part of Oahu’s famed Moniz surfing family — wanted to join too.
Wiggins has been so moved by the early response that he feels a higher power is guiding their mission.
“I truly believe there’s something above that’s carrying us,” said Wiggins. “To see that people feel good about it makes us feel like we’re doing something good.”
Wiggins says they walk the streets of Waikiki looking for strangers who had no plans to surf — making sure they’re not taking business away from local surf schools. In fact, he says the surf schools have expressed a lot of support for their project. They’ve met people struggling with weight issues, low confidence, or the belief that they’re too old to surf, and proved them wrong as they rode their first waves.
Some of the most memorable moments, Wiggins says, include teaching a man who was overweight and convinced he couldn’t surf, and another man who had been struggling with alcohol and depression.
“This guy had been wanting to surf his whole life, he just didn’t have friends or anyone to take him,” said Wiggins. “He got teary eyed and mentioned that he thought about suicide. Throughout the lesson he was telling Isaiah that he might be able to give up drinking and could turn his life around. Surfing really changed his outlook on life.”
Wiggins says the trio hope to keep growing their following and expand their operations to give back to local kids on the island — many of whom have never surfed, or even swam. All three still have day jobs, so they plan to start accepting donations to dedicate more time to the project.
He says his favorite part has been watching the freedom that surfing instills in their students — seeing their confidence soar as they catch their first waves and emerge from the water beaming.
For those stumbling upon their project for the first time, Wiggins has a clear, simple message to sum up their ethos.
“I like to describe the ocean and surfing as a well of happiness that we get to dip into every day,” Wiggins concluded. “If I had this secret well of happiness, and I was the only one dipping into it, I wouldn’t feel like a good person. So we’re just trying to share that with people. The ocean’s given us so much and I think everyone could benefit from it.”
@firstwaveproject A stranger turned friend 🌊 Manni’s first surf blew up — not just in views, but in the way it encouraged people. He started with “I can’t stand up,” then proved himself wrong and stood tall. We knew we had to get him back out there, and this second session is only the beginning. 🤟🏼 #surf #surfing #hawaii #waikiki #firstwaveproject ♬ original sound – vb_withkaui
