Is Bodyboarding Easier Than Surfing in Hawaii?
Is bodyboarding easier than surfing in Hawaii? Short Answer: Yes. Long Answer: Keep Reading.
You’ve landed in Hawaii, it’s day one of your tropical adventure, and you’re standing on the shore watching people glide across waves like they were born to do it.
Some are standing, others are lying on their bellies... One group is surfing. The other? Bodyboarding.
And now you’re wondering:
Is bodyboarding easier than surfing in Hawaii?
The short answer is yes.
The long answer is, “Yes, and also here’s why it still totally rules.”
Let’s break it down—belly-first.
The Basics: What’s the Difference Between Body Boarding and Surfing?
Surfing requires standing up on a board, balancing as the wave propels you toward the shore. It’s a full-body experience: arms for paddling, legs for control, core for everything in between. The learning curve is real. Getting to your feet is one thing; staying there as the wave moves under you? That’s the part that separates the groms from the legends.
Bodyboarding (also called boogie boarding) is different. You lie on your stomach on a shorter, softer board and ride the wave prone (or sometimes on your knees, if you’re feeling spicy). There’s no pop-up required, which immediately makes it more accessible.
That’s why every surf town—including Hawaii—has a group of kids, aunties, uncles, and beach bums who live for the bodyboard. It’s fun, fast, and forgiving.
Why is Bodyboarding Easier Than Surfing?
1. No Standing Required
Let’s be honest: the hardest part of surfing isn’t paddling (although that is A LOT harder than it looks). It’s not even reading the waves (though that’s also a big one). It’s that split-second pop-up that requires timing, strength, and balance—and if you’re off by even a hair, boom. You're back in the water. Bodyboarding skips all of that. You're already lying down, so the minute you catch the wave, you're in the ride.
In Hawaii, where the surf can be bigger and more powerful than you’re used to, having the board do the balancing for you is a huge win.
2. Easier to Catch Waves
Surfing requires you to position yourself just right, paddle hard, pop up at exactly the right moment, and hope the wave doesn’t leave you in the dust (or tumble you into a reef). Bodyboards are smaller, lighter, and more buoyant—plus, you get to kick with fins, which gives you a head start. It’s like catching waves on easy mode.
3. Beginner-Friendly Beaches in Hawaii Love Bodyboarders
Not every beach in Hawaii is friendly to first-time surfers. Waikiki, Lahaina, and Poʻipū? Sure. But spots with bigger waves, rocky entry points, or strong currents can be intimidating.
Here’s where bodyboarding shines: you can ride waves close to shore, often in spots where standing up wouldn’t even be possible. Think of it like this—if surfing is taking the highway, bodyboarding is joyriding the scenic route. And in Hawaii, that scenic route often includes turquoise water and soft sand.
4. Fewer Wipeouts (And Softer Ones When They Happen)
You will still wipe out. That’s just the ocean saying hello. But when you do, you’ll likely be closer to the water and in better control. No epic falls from six feet up. No rogue surfboards bonking you in the head. Just a little splash, maybe some seaweed in your swimwear, and a strong urge to try again.
5. It’s Still Wildly Fun (And Can Be Seriously Skillful)
Don’t let the “easier” label fool you. Bodyboarding isn’t the kiddie pool of surf culture. Not in Hawaii. Some of the heaviest waves in the world—**think Pipeline, Sandy’s, Keiki Shorebreak—**are dominated by bodyboarders who make it look insanely cool. They’re dropping into barrels, launching into aerial spins, and holding their own next to any surfer.
So yes, bodyboarding is easier to start. But it has a high skill ceiling if you decide to level up.
Final Answer: In Hawaii, is Body Boarding or Surfing Easier?
So, is bodyboarding easier than surfing in Hawaii?
Yes. It’s easier to start, less physically demanding, and more forgiving.
But does that make it less awesome? Not even close.
Whether you’re lying down on a soft-top or standing tall on a fiberglass board, the point is the same: you’re in the ocean, you’re on a wave, and for a few magical seconds, you're flying.
Try them both. Fall in love with one. Or fall in love with both. That’s the real Hawaiian way.
Booking Your Surfing Water Sesh
Sure, the answer to, is body boarding easier than surfing in Hawaii? Is: Yes. But that shouldn’t discourage you from trying this epic sport. The best and safest way to try surfing? Easy, get a lesson from Big Wave Dave.