Your Honolulu Surfbreak Welcome Guide
Start here. Surfbreak HNL is a coliving penthouse on the 40th floor just outside Waikīkī, with 26 private furnished rooms (each named after a Hawaiʻi surf break), shared living and kitchen spaces, dedicated coworking, and floor-to-ceiling views from the Pacific to the Koʻolau mountains. Every stay includes high-speed Wi-Fi plus wired ethernet, professional cleaning, fresh linens and toiletries, utilities, A/C, conference rooms, surfboards and diving gear, and access to the building's rooftop pool, fitness center, sauna, running track and tennis court.
Surfbreak is a membership-based community, so you apply rather than simply book. The process is free: submit an application, have a quick call with the team if invited (usually within a day), then pick a room, sign your lease and pay a refundable security deposit. Acceptance stays valid for six months, and move-in dates are flexible.
See which rooms are open for your dates. Choose from Twin, Queen and King private rooms on flexible monthly stays; rates vary by room, and rooms can be reserved anywhere from immediately to up to a year ahead, depending on availability.
The shared values every member agrees to: inclusion and zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination, keeping common spaces clean, respectful noise levels, taking calls in your private room, showing up for the community, and leaving things better than you found them. Concerns can go to the Community Manager or info@surfbreakcoliving.com.
Answers to the most common questions about applying, timing your stay, who lives at Surfbreak, and how coliving here differs from a hostel. Most members stay a month or longer, and weekly life often includes self-organized dinners, nights out, hikes, beach days and freedives (all optional).
Follow along for a feel of everyday life in the penthouse: sunsets from the 40th floor, community dinners, surf sessions, hikes and events across Honolulu and Puerto Escondido.
Honolulu's main airport and where most Surfbreakers land. Check terminal maps, ground transportation and parking info before your flight. The drive to the penthouse is typically around 25–40 minutes depending on traffic; rideshare, taxis and TheBus all connect the airport to town.
The island-wide bus network, with routes running along Kalākaua and Kapiʻolani near the penthouse and out to the North Shore, Kailua and beyond. A cheap way to get around for longer stays; use the route planner to map trips from Surfbreak.
Oʻahu's reloadable transit fare card. Load a HOLO card (or use the app) to ride TheBus and the Skyline rail; fare capping means frequent riders don't pay more than a set amount per day or month.
Honolulu's bikeshare, with stations across Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kakaʻako and downtown. Great for short hops to the beach, coffee or errands, and an easy way to reach trailheads like Diamond Head without a car.
About a ten-minute walk from Surfbreak HNL. Hawaiʻi's largest open-air mall covers almost everything you'll need in your first week: Target, Foodland Farms groceries, pharmacies, phone stores, and a huge food court. Ala Moana Beach Park sits right across the street.
A local favorite at 801 Kaheka St, a short walk from the penthouse and open 24 hours. Groceries, Japanese and local snacks, ready-made poke and bento, household goods, beach gear and electronics, all under one roof. Handy for late-night runs and stocking the shared kitchen.
The nearest full-service hospital, at 888 S. King St. in downtown Honolulu, with a 24-hour emergency department. For non-urgent issues, Straub also runs urgent care clinics around town, including Ward Village and Doctors on Call in Waikīkī. In an emergency, always call 911.
Check this before you grab a Surfbreak board or head out to dive. Lifeguard-reported conditions, surf heights and hazard warnings for beaches around Oʻahu, including Waikīkī and Ala Moana. Swim near lifeguards, and when in doubt, don't go out.
The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority's guide to the islands, with background on Hawaiian culture, island etiquette and Mālama Hawaiʻi volunteer experiences. A good read for living with aloha and respecting the land and community that host you, a value at the heart of Surfbreak.
Once you're settled, dive into our curated Honolulu guides: where to eat, coffee shops, beaches, hikes, surf lessons, boat tours, nightlife and more, all picked with Surfbreakers in mind.
Real talk from people who made the move: newcomer essays, blogs and local reporting on cost of living, pace of life and culture. Worth a read before you land.
