2/28/2026 | USA | general | ✓ Verified - cbsnews.com

A Hawaii man tackled his sports gambling addiction by offering free surf lessons

#gambling addiction #Hawaii #surf lessons #Waikiki Beach #First Wave Project #community #recovery #mental health #sports gambling #charity

📌 Key Takeaways

Buddy Wiggins is using free surf lessons to combat his sports gambling addiction.
The project, called "The First Wave Project," offers lessons to strangers at Waikiki Beach.
Wiggins aims to provide confidence and a sense of purpose through giving back.
He has helped approximately 100 people so far.
The initiative is motivated by a desire to overcome personal struggles and experience the positive feelings associated with helping others.

📖 Full Retelling

Honolulu, Hawaii – Buddy Wiggins, a 32-year-old pool cleaner, is tackling his sports gambling addiction by offering free surf lessons to strangers at Waikiki Beach. Wiggins started "The First Wave Project" after experiencing significant financial losses due to gambling. He and friends offer lessons to inexperienced surfers, aiming to instill confidence and provide a sense of purpose through giving. So far, they've helped around 100 people. Wiggins does this for free because it provides him with "the feeling of giving."

🏷️ Themes

Addiction Recovery, Community Engagement, Personal Transformation, Giving Back, Mental Health

📚 Related People & Topics

Waikīkī

Neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

Waikīkī (; Hawaiian: [wɐjˈkiːkiː, vɐjˈtiːtiː]) is a Honolulu neighborhood and the eponymous Waikīkī beach on its south shore, on the island of Oʻahu in the U.S. state of Hawaii. (Despite situational use of the spelling "Waikiki", typically in materials aimed at tourists, the spelling "Waikīkī" is o...

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗

Hawaii

U.S. state

Hawaii ( hə-WY-ee; Hawaiian: Hawaiʻi [həˈvɐjʔi, həˈwɐjʔi]) is an island state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles (3,200 km) southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only state not on the North American mainlan...

View Profile → Wikipedia ↗

Entity Intersection Graph

No entity connections available yet for this article.

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This story highlights an unconventional approach to overcoming addiction by channeling personal struggles into helping others. It demonstrates the potential for positive change through acts of service and finding purpose in adversity. The article also provides a crucial resource for those struggling with gambling addiction.

Context & Background

Sports gambling addiction is a growing concern in the US.
Hawaii has a significant tourism industry, providing opportunities for interaction with diverse individuals.
Community-based initiatives are often effective in addressing personal challenges.

What Happens Next

Wiggins plans to continue his First Wave Project, aiming to reach more people and expand its impact. He hopes the project will inspire others to find their own paths to recovery and purpose. The initiative may attract further media attention and community support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the First Wave Project?

The First Wave Project is a program where Buddy Wiggins offers free surf lessons to strangers to help them gain confidence and inspire personal change.

How many people has the project helped?

So far, the project has assisted approximately 100 individuals.

Where can people find help for gambling addiction?

The National Problem Gambling Helpline offers free, confidential support 24/7. You can call 1-800-GAMBLER.

What motivated Buddy Wiggins to start this project?

Wiggins started the project after experiencing a sports gambling addiction and feeling a need to find a new direction in his life.

Original Source

              On The Road Why a Hawaii man chose to tackle his sports gambling addiction by offering free surf lessons to strangers By Steve Hartman Steve Hartman Correspondent Steve Hartman is a CBS News correspondent. He brings viewers moving stories from the unique people he meets in his weekly award-winning feature segment "On the Road." Read Full Bio Steve Hartman February 27, 2026 / 8:42 PM EST / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Honolulu, Hawaii — For Buddy Wiggins of Honolulu, Hawaii, the end result of a yearslong sports gambling addiction has come to this: soliciting strangers on the beach. The 32-year-old pool cleaner says he heard a voice, a calling, to take his life in a radically different direction. "I finally came to a point where I lost pretty much everything," Wiggins told CBS News. "And I'm on my hands and knees, and I'm crying." What Wiggins felt called to do was to come down to Waikiki Beach, approach total strangers who had never surfed before, and ask them if they wanted a free lesson. Wiggins calls it the First Wave Project. Twice a week, he and a couple of friends extend their free offer to the most unlikely surfers they can find. "The energy that they had made you feel like you could do exactly what he was saying," surfing student Quest Douglass said. "They gave me a confidence that I haven't had since I was in my 30s," said Manny Fernandez, another student. It is a confidence that often lasts a lot longer than the ride. "I think when you overcome things that you never thought was possible, you start thinking, 'OK, what's next?'" Wiggins reflected. So far, Wiggins and his team have helped about 100 people ride that wave of inspiration. "Especially at a time when I'm struggling financially," said Wiggins, who added that he does it for free because it provides him "the feeling of giving." It's all thanks to that mysterious voice in his head that told him to tackle his addiction by sharing his passion. If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling, he...
            

Read full article at source

Source

cbsnews.com