For many of the teenagers in red shirts surfing at Ala Moana Bowls yesterday, it was their first time out, but they caught several 1- to 2-foot waves, some riding the ridge of water until it flattened out.

It was the first surf session by Surf 2 Serve, a new project that uses surfing to improve the lives of disadvantaged youth , especially those who live or have lived at the Next Step homeless shelter in Kakaako.

Janet Grace, a member of One Love Ministries in Kaimuki, created the project with the help of her church, along with donations from several businesses, including the O’Neill surf gear company, which donated the red rash guard tops and reef shoes.

"We want to take away the stigma of homelessness," Grace said. She said the program is reaching out to youth to build their self-esteem and break the cycle of poverty.

She said the group wants to develop relationships with the teens and plans to hold the surf sessions every other Saturday, eventually adding other mentoring opportunities.

A key part of the project is the quality time spent between the mentors and the youth , she said.

More than 20 adults volunteered yesterday to mentor the children with one-on-one instruction in the water.

"Basically, we’re trying to instill trust in each other," said Bradley Lee of Kaimuki, who mentored 14-year-old James Pieper-Remigio. "(They’re) trusting us that they can stand up and we keep them safe.

"A lot of these kids, they know what is trust, but they don’t have it because of whatever circumstances they come from," he added. "It’s to get them out of the element, something to do for the day, and hopefully they might learn something that will stick with them."

After paddling back in from an hour long session, Max Soto, 12, glowed from riding his first wave.

"It was amazing," he said. "It’s like you’re in the surfing competition and you’re winning first prize for surfing."

Surfing champion Dane Kealoha led the lessons and tried to share the spiritual side of surfing — the sense that "you’re being cleansed" — with the teens.

"You come out of the water and you feel different," said Kealoha, who runs a surf ministry at One Love Ministries. "I want to try to educate them and love them."

Members of the Hono-lulu Police Department’s District 1 Community Policing Team also showed up as part of a plan to enhance the Kakaako area. Officer Richard Fikani said showing impoverished youth that people are willing to help them can get the youth involved in the community.

"Even if you got a terrible hand, you can still win if you play it right," he said.

For Jaray Reyes, 14, who lives at the Next Step shelter with his sister, the best part was, "catching a wave, going as far as I can."

It was the first time he surfed, he said, because "there’s nobody to teach me."

But his sister Jenna, 16, has surfed as an assistant junior mentor manager with Surfrider Spirit Sessions, a group that uses surfing to help at-risk youths from the courts system.

Jenna Reyes, who wants to become a surgeon or a photographer, said she doesn’t have much time to surf because she’s usually studying, but she enjoyed the individual attention yesterday.

"It feels good that they’re there to help you," she said. "A lot kids don’t get the opportunity to try this surfing, and we live in Hawaii."