Through the good graces of my friend Lips, my daughter had her first encounter with a surfboard on a wave yesterday morning.

She’s been wanting to surf for a very long time but neither her father, grandmother nor I have ever done it. “She couldn’t choose tennis?” I inquired, picking my mossy way over the rocky shoreline that, as much as it’s a part of world-famous Waikiki Beach, is rarely seen by tourists. “Well…if she wants to turn pro, you’d have to move to Florida,” her father replied, trying to keep the camera from falling into the sea.

It rarely occurs to me to ask friends for favors, so until Lips and I were talking about a promotion earlier this year I didn’t think of bringing up Cyd’s desire to surf. Lips, a veteran waverider who is well-known and well-liked, works with former world champion and current Masters competitor Hans Hedemann. When I finally got it in my head to ask about the cost, Lips insisted he’d take care of it when Cyd was ready.

With school starting on Monday, this was the final weekend to be ready. So I called. And Lips very kindly set up a private, one-hour lesson with Hans — free of charge. Considering Hans usually goes out with a more elite bunch of clients (Adam Sandler, Cameron Diaz), Cyd was one very lucky kid.

Hans, whose career I’ve followed for a very long time (this is Hawaii, surfers are heroes), is a warm and gracious individual. He apologized for being tardy and immediately got Cyd down to the beach. All told, her lesson was about an hour and a half, and she got to keep the reef walkers she’d borrowed because “she had to wait so long.”

The entire staff at his surf shop at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, is incredible. It helped that we all figured out we had a bunch of mutual friends. Even Willie, one of the surf instructors, asked me to say hello to his “Auntie Sweetie,” my boss’s wife, for whom he will occasionally spear tako (octopus). You mainlanders may find this unsettling, but tako is consumed with great enthusiasm here.

If you are ever in Hawaii and find yourself wanting to learn to surf, I strongly recommend Hans’s crew — not just because they were good to Cyd, but because they were good to everybody. I was very impressed.

She will be returning to Hans’s school for more surf lessons and again, Lips is working out a “rate” for us. I can’t thank him enough for giving Cyd one of the greatest experiences of her young life. Look for her on the pro circuit in about four years

Did I mention that Lips also reps Sierra Mist in Hawaii and once ran by my office with cases of the regular and diet stuff so my staff could sample the goods? He even went to the beach to catch me yesterday after the lesson, knowing my daughter loves that soda — but I was too crispy to stay, so he’s going to swing by my office with it next week. Ya gotta love a guy like that. Muchos mahalos, Lips! I owe you yappari big time!!

Photography and commentary are available by clicking on Cyd’s photo under daughterly gasconade. I’ve also uploaded a few other photos for your perusal.

Buy stock in Avon. I’m about to purchase their entire inventory of sunscreen.