About
The Wahine Project offers programs where participants surf and take part in Surf Therapy, Teen Trips, Women’s Programs, Men’s Surf, group lessons and team building, individual lessons, and monthly workshops. The program focuses on ocean safety and ocean recreation, promotes physical and mental health through ocean interactions, and develops a sense of social responsibility and environmental stewardship. The Wahine Project does not have gender restrictions in any of its programs and supports the gender expansiveness of each participant, and it celebrates diversity while encouraging participants to choose the program that best supports them in community.
• Schedule: Workshops are held monthly
The Wahine Project was created in 2010, expanded in 2015 to offer programming for all youth, and notes 15 years on the beach. Alma Del Mar was established in 2020 to create a revenue stream for The Wahine Project and offers eco friendly products and refills for everyday household items, including in-house made soaps and bath bombs in its Wild line, with all proceeds benefiting Wahine programs. The mission of The Wahine Project is to inspire a global response that eliminates the barriers preventing a diversity of youth from a personal relation with the ocean and with one another, based on the belief that a relationship with the ocean will allow people to live their healthiest and fullest lives.
The Wahine Project describes itself as a global community that believes everyone deserves access to the ocean, with 5 countries involved, more than 20,000 global program participants, and over $1,000,000 in free programming. Program funding for 2025 is provided by Nancy Buck Ransom, Montage Health, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, and Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation/Children's Miracle Network. Alma Del Mar’s proceeds benefit Wahine programs, and Alice began an outreach program for North County youth.
The leadership team includes Founding Director Dionne Ybarra and Operations Manager Alice (Alice Aguillon). One participant, Daisy from Alisal High School, shared that being part of The Wahine Project gave her opportunities she never believed possible, including the chance to surf as a young brown girl from East Salinas, and she expressed lasting gratitude for how the program changed her life.
Last updated March 26, 2026.
• Schedule: Workshops are held monthly
The Wahine Project was created in 2010, expanded in 2015 to offer programming for all youth, and notes 15 years on the beach. Alma Del Mar was established in 2020 to create a revenue stream for The Wahine Project and offers eco friendly products and refills for everyday household items, including in-house made soaps and bath bombs in its Wild line, with all proceeds benefiting Wahine programs. The mission of The Wahine Project is to inspire a global response that eliminates the barriers preventing a diversity of youth from a personal relation with the ocean and with one another, based on the belief that a relationship with the ocean will allow people to live their healthiest and fullest lives.
The Wahine Project describes itself as a global community that believes everyone deserves access to the ocean, with 5 countries involved, more than 20,000 global program participants, and over $1,000,000 in free programming. Program funding for 2025 is provided by Nancy Buck Ransom, Montage Health, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, and Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation/Children's Miracle Network. Alma Del Mar’s proceeds benefit Wahine programs, and Alice began an outreach program for North County youth.
The leadership team includes Founding Director Dionne Ybarra and Operations Manager Alice (Alice Aguillon). One participant, Daisy from Alisal High School, shared that being part of The Wahine Project gave her opportunities she never believed possible, including the chance to surf as a young brown girl from East Salinas, and she expressed lasting gratitude for how the program changed her life.
Last updated March 26, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.