I paddle a Huki V1-R that I bought a few years ago. I'm in Roanoke VA and have paddled it in the ocean from near Charleston SC up to New Jersey - I basically take it with me whenever I go near the coast. The boats are really fragile - like a rowing shell. Tough in the water, but not to point loads like a rack - as a whitewater paddler that takes some getting used to.
The first time I paddled it I flipped 3x before staying on, and I have years paddling in wildwater C1s. But since then it has been a blast. I normally beach launch and it has amazed me the size of the surf that you can break out through - coming back in is trickier and most of my flips now are when coming back in to the beach - look for a small wave to ride in on. The boats are insanely fast and efficient to paddle.
I've never had anyone to paddle with. I do have a waterproof VHF, and always wear a leash and a bright lifejacket. A good strategy early on is to do out and backs - paddle out 0.5 mile or so, and then back. Near shore is the trickiest, as the boats are really not for breaking waves.
There are some outrigger club paddlers around DC and Maryland, and I suspect you may also find some further north but am not familiar with that area. Also, you might try reaching out to some of the northeast surfski groups (check with Wesley at
http://surfskiracing.com/) as they get outriggers at the same races as they race the skis.
You could take a lesson from a surfski paddler also, which are a lot easier to find. As a longtime C-boater, the mechanics of paddling won't be hard for you - the part you will be learning is how to be in the ocean, and a surfski paddler or instructor could teach you those just as well as an outrigger paddler.
(I was sold on getting one after paddling in Hawaii also - I was not able to rent an outrigger there but took an Epic V-8 ski out surfing waves off Kailua (Oahu) and had so much fun.)