Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kalani Nozaki, Co-Owner of North Shore Banzai Surf School, located in Haleiwa, HI, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We own and operate a surf school out on the north shore of Oahu. Our clients are tourists visiting Hawaii, locals living on the island, and Intermediate surfers trying to take their surfing to the next level.
Tell us about yourself
We are two brothers born and raised on the north shore of Oahu. We have been surfing and competing since the age of 6. My brother is still a professional surfer and competes to this day. When we weren't surfing, we started to help our uncle at his surf school; we were around 12-13 years old. We have been freelance instructors for the past 17-18 years, and we built quite a bit of clientele, so we decided to open our own surf school. In January 2019 (right before COVID hit), we opened our surf school. We get to teach what we love and make a living from it. Surfing is our lifestyle. It taught us the love we have for the ocean/nature and how to be humble, and now it's giving us a way to provide for our family.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Starting a surf school in the birthplace of surfing and being one of the best surf schools in Hawai
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Acknowledge that every idea won't work out and have the strength to keep moving along!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Patients, Persistence, Passion.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I heard a quote once that was funny yet relevant and resided with me, so I thought I would share it. " Success is like being pregnant, everybody says congratulations, but nobody knows how many times you got fu@ked."
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.nsbanzaisurfschool.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/northshorebanzaisurfschool/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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