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Buddy Wiggins is the founder and leader of the First Wave Project in Honolulu, offering a free recovery-focused activity for those facing addiction.
Twice a week, they find people who have had no interest or experience in surfing and invite them to learn at no cost.
The First Wave Project is a unique service that taps Hawaii’s surf culture with holistic approaches to addiction recovery.
You can also explore other free rehab programs in Honolulu that cater to folks with limited incomes.
Free Holistic Therapy in Honolulu Raises Awareness
For Wiggins, a 32-year-old pool cleaner, First Wave originated with a personal dash of cold water.
He describes hitting a breaking point after a long struggle with a sports gambling addiction that left him feeling as if he had lost nearly everything.
Falling to his hands and knees, he heard an inner voice that prompted him to make a radical change in his life.
In that moment, the First Wave was born. Wiggins has found a way to address his gambling problem through a form of addiction therapy that impacts others in a positive and lasting way.
Low-Cost Recovery Support in Honolulu
Wiggins’ goal is to show people that overcoming an obstacle like surfing for the first time can shift how they see themselves and their beliefs about what they can achieve.
The exhilarating feeling can empower them to tackle other personal challenges.
First Time First Wavers agree. One student, Quest Douglass, explained, “The energy that they had made you feel like you could do exactly what he was saying.”
Another participant, Manny Fernandez, said that the lesson helped restore his confidence he thought he lost.
As for Wiggins, he still faces financial challenges, but he continues offering sessions at no charge to keep recovery support accessible to those who may struggle to pay for treatment.
The work gives him a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment, especially during difficult times.
For the 100 people who’ve hit the waters through the First Wave Project, that sense of uplift comes from more than just the surf.
Find Free and Low-Cost Rehabs in Hawaii
Hawaii enjoys a reputation for its sand and surf paradise, but The Aloha State also has a breadth of treatment centers, many at low or no cost.
Search rehab.org’s directory to find free rehab centers in any of the islands or call
800-914-7089
(
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for help today.
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