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North Shore Oahu Activities

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North Shore Oahu is the more rural northern side of the island. Visiting the North Shore is one of best things to do in Oahu, especially if you want to learn about Hawaiian history, agriculture, and surfing.North Shore Oahu has interesting things to do on Oahu. Historic surfing sites, cultural sites, and fantastic scenery. Waialua, Waimea Valley, Sunset Beach.

Waialua

Waialua was a prominent center for sugar production on Oahu. From 1865 to 1996 sugarcane was grown here. Waialua is a quiet residential town. The main things to do here are the Dillingham Ranch, the Hawaii Polo Club, and Waialua Sugar Mill.

  • Dillingham Ranch was developed by the Dillingham family, who built the railroad on Oahu and other notable construction projects. The lodge and its majestic trees have been featured in movie and TV shows. http://www.dillinghamranchhawaii.info/index.php
  • The Hawaii Polo Club is across from Dillingham Ranch and has a regular schedule of Sunday polo matches. You can also book a trail ride along the beach!https://hawaii-polo.org/
  • Homegrown businesses are keeping the Waialua Sugar Mill alive. A hub for coffee and chocolates, there are plenty of other local businesses worth checking out at the mill. http://www.waialuasugarmill.com/

Hale’iwa is the next town as you head north. Read more about Hale’iwa in North Shore Oahu here.

Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay Beach Park is the site of the Eddie, Quiksilver’s invitational surf competition in honor of famed Hawaiian surfer Eddie Aikau. The park is on Waimea Bay where the Waimea River enters the ocean. It’s a beautiful spot and often gets amazing huge waves. The Eddie only happens when the wave face heights are 40 feet. The holding period for the event is December 1 through the end of February, the time of the big swells. The competition doesn’t happen every year, but the opening ceremony is held every year on the first Thursday after Thanksgiving. All the invited surfers attend, paddle out to sea with leis and form a remembrance circle. Eddie would go!waimea-bay

Waimea Valley is nature park on the Waimea River. It has the largest waterfall in Oahu, Waimea Falls. The hike is paved and takes you through a botanic garden. Near the entrance is the Proud Peacock restaurant. The phone number for the park is (808) 638-7766. http://waimeavalley.net/

http://www.honolulumagazine.com/Honolulu-Magazine/Biting-Commentary/December-2014/Proud-Peacock-A-North-Shore-Institution-Reopens/#.WAlUqZMrI0o

Saints Peter and Paul Mission is a lovely Catholic church overlooking Waimea Bay. The tower began as part of the construction of the Kamehameha Highway in the 1920s. It was the silo for the crushed rubble from the nearby quarry. http://catholichawaii.org/mission-church-listing/saints-peter-and-paul-mission/saints-peter-paul

Pupukea

A little north of Saints Peter and Paul Mission on the highway is the right turn to Pupukea Road and Shark’s Cove. There are lots of highly-rated food trucks in this area. Pu’u O Mahuka is a luakini heiau, the largest heiau on Oahu. This was an area or temple set aside for the ali’i (royalty) and priests, prior to the abolishment of the ancient Hawaiian religion in 1819. This area has great cultural significance and one should be respectful when visiting. I like to leave a flower offering, but food is traditional. There would have been a tower, an altar, a hale (house) made of pili (a type of thatch) for ceremonial items and priests, a hale for sacred drums, a hale for temple fires, and ki’i (tiki) statues to oversee. Signal fires here might have communicated with heiau on Kaua’i. http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/puu-o-mahuka-heiau-state-historic-site/

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Sunset Ranch is way up Pupukea Road. The estate has a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and Waimea Bay. You can book a site tour to learn more about their farming, gardens, and special equine program. http://www.sunsetranchhawaii.com/pupukea

Paumalu

The famous Banzai Pipeline is at Ehukai Beach Park. It was featured in Bruce Brown movies from the 1960s. The Volcom Pipe Pro is run during an 11-day waiting period in the winter at Pipeline. The Billabong Pipeline Masters is the final event on the World Surf League Championship Tour, held in December. http://www2.hawaii.edu/~turner/oahu/banzai.htm

Sunset Beach is another famous surf beach. The park here has a parking lot and an additional lot with facilities across the street. You will also see that folks park on the wide shoulder parts of the highway. The beach is sheltered by Sunset Point and is known for its fantastic sunset views. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing in November and December has events at Sunset Beach. http://www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/2016/news-article/history_of_the_vans_triple_crown_of_surfing_2016

North Shore Oahu map

Grabbing a bite

Shrimp farming is a big thing in Kahuku and eating at the shrimp trucks is one of those things you should try!

Ted’s Bakery is in Sunset Beach on North Shore Oahu. They have a bakery, grill, and coffee bar. Order at the counter and then sit inside or outside and watch North Shore life go by on the Kamehameha Highway. Breakfast sandwiches and egg dishes are available along with Ted’s famous chocolate haupia cream pie. Haupia is an egg-less coconut pudding that has to be patiently stirred at the stove to get the right smooth coconut texture. The haupia is layered with a chocolate cream in the pie. There are lots of other delightful offerings with guava, macadamia, pineapple, chocolate and other delicious tropical flavors. You’ll have to visit several times! http://www.tedsbakery.com/teds-bakery Turtle Bay Resort has Kula Grille and Roy’s Beach House with seating right on the beach. http://www.turtlebayresort.com/Oahu-Restaurants

The Hukilau Café in Laie is open for casual breakfast and lunch. They also have Hawaiian foods such as Portuguese sausage and loco moco. They are closed Sunday and Monday.

Where to stay North Shore Oahu

Turtle Bay Resort is the big hotel in the area. Also, there are lots of beach house rentals throughout the North Shore.

At Turtle Bay, check out the plaque memorializing the use of radar during the Pearl Harbor attack. ww2-radar-ieee

Getting there

From Waikiki, take Ala Wai Boulevard to McCully Street. Follow the signs to H1 going west (Ewa). As you approach Pearl City, watch carefully for the exit for H2. At mile marker 8 in Wahiawa, take the exit to route 80 going north, Kamehameha Highway. (After passing through Wahiawa, you may want to make a stop at the birthing stones on the left.) Continue north on route 80 to merge into route 99 headed north. (You may want to stop at Dole Plantation on the right.)pineapple-fields Watch for signs for historic Hale’iwa – you will turn left off 99 at 930 and enter a traffic circle. Go straight (halfway around the circle) to 82 Waialua Beach Road to visit Waialua. Go back to the circle and take Kamehameha Highway north to visit Hale’iwa and the beaches of the North Shore.

Tip: The Kamehameha Highway gets quite busy north of Hale’iwa on the weekends and especially so during the winter high surf months. wind-power If using The Bus, Route 55 goes to the North Shore.

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Haleiwa North Shore town – Oahu

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Haleiwa town on the North Shore of Oahu is a must stop on my trips to the island. It started life as a resort near the sugar cane fields back in the 1890s and today it is a center for surfing, art, and food.Haleiwa town on the North Shore has interesting things to do on Oahu. Restaurants, shopping, surfing and other sports, and Liliuo'kalani Church.

There are lots of places to shop and eat in Hale’iwa. I’m giving you an overview of some of my favorites. But go and explore. It’s a place full of aloha.

Grabbing a bite

As you enter town from the south on the Kamehameha Highway, on the right you’ll see a congregation of food trucks, a popular place to get some food.

Breakers Restaurant is a fun sportsbar. It’s a great place to watch a game and I enjoy the locals who hang out there.haleiwa-breakers

Shave ice is a Hawaiian treat that you must try on a trip to Hawaii. Blocks of ice are shaved with special Japanese machines that make a wonderful fluffy texture to the ice. Syrups made with local fruits are poured on. The treat can be enhanced with ice cream or azuki beans. Matsumoto Shave Ice is a famous Oahu shop that started as a general store serving the plantations in 1951. When you visit, watch out for Stanley Matsumoto, second generation owner. My favorite shave ice is lilikoi (passion fruit), guava, and orange although I sometimes get papaya. The shop has lots of North Shore tee shirts and other gifts. Matsumoto Shave Ice is now part of a shopping complex with more interesting shops and a handy parking lot in the rear. Turn on Kewalo Lane or Mahaulu Lane to enter.

Haleiwa Joe’s faces the Hale’iwa Boat Harbor and is located on the former site of the historic Hale’iwa Hotel. The restaurant is casual with lots of seafood options. You can sit inside with the friendly bar group or out on the lanai facing the harbor and the Hale’iwa rainbow bridge. They have a large small plates menu. I recommend the lilikoi margarita with li hing mui rim.

The Gardener and I love to have dinner where watching the sunset is possible. The Beach House has views of the ocean and the Lo Ko Ea fish pond with a second floor bar and deck. The building is gorgeous and modern and it also has 4 fire pits. The well-rounded menu has offerings such as poke bowl, lobster Cobb salad, mongchong fish with bok choy, and rack of lamb.

Shopping in Haleiwa

The Ukulele Site is a wonderful shop for ukuleles or music books. The staff is so knowledgeable and you can take lessons on YouTube from them.

Global Creations and Interiors is my favorite shopping spot in Hale’iwa. The shop has a great mixture of home goods, art, jewelry, and clothing. Many items are Hawaiian-made and all have a tropical flavor. You can get local music here and their handpainted sarongs are amazing.

If you are looking for a fabulous children’s store, the Growing Keiki is the place! This cozy, delightful store has Hawaiian-style muslin blankets, onesies, children’s books and more. I’ve never seen technical shirts and wetsuits so tiny! They’ve got a great selection for little ones at the beach.

Hale’iwa is a center for surf culture and there are lots of places to buy, rent, or take lessons. Surf N Sea has been around since 1965 and is always highly rated. They specialize in surfing and scuba but stand up paddle, kayaking, and more are available.

History and attractions

Queen Liliu’okalani enjoyed retreating to Hale’iwa and the Liliu’okalani Protestant Church stands in town as a lovely reminder of her. A church has served the area since 1832. The entrance stone arch is host to night blooming cereus and there are other lovely plants on the grounds such as golden shower tree. The church spire is topped with an ‘iwa bird (great frigate bird), symbol of the town.

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Hale’iwa Beach Park is an easily accessible beach with parking. The monument to World War II local heroes is here. You get a nice view of Kaena point and it’s a nice place to sit in the sand, relax, and maybe have a picnic.

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The Hale’iwa Hotel opened in 1899 and was built by Benjamin Dillingham to encourage passenger travel on his railroad. His railroad was built primarily for transporting sugar to the Honolulu harbor. This beautiful resort gave it’s name to the town that grew around it. The rainbow bridge has graced the river crossing since 1921 and is a symbol of Hale’iwa.Haleiwa town on the North Shore has interesting things to do on Oahu. Restaurants, shopping, surfing and other sports, and Liliuo'kalani Church.

Hale’iwa town map

Where to stay

The closest hotel to Hale’iwa is Turtle Bay Resort at Kahuku. However, there are many vacation rentals throughout the North Shore.

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Where to stay in Oahu

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If you’ve never been, where to stay in Oahu can be one of the difficult decisions to be made. The Gardener and I have spent some time exploring the island and we have some favorite Oahu hotels.Where to stay in Oahu with 6 top picks for hotels in Waikiki, Kaneohe, North Shore, and Ko Olina. Restaurants and maps included!

The majority of hotels are concentrated near the beaches of Waikiki in Honolulu. Some belong to well-known chains: Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Trump, Disney. Some belong to more local groups: Outrigger, Aqua, Castle. And some have no affiliation in their name, such as Ilikai, Halekulani, Royal Hawaiian, and Kahala. I learned that it is worth it to explore beyond the well-known hotel chains and using a map when choosing a hotel.

Where to stay in Oahu – Waikiki

  1. The Moana Surfrider was built in 1901 and is a beautiful wedding-cake of a building. It is right on the Prince Kuhio section of Waikiki beach and has the gorgeous Beach Bar outside around an amazing banyan tree with live music every evening. The Beachhouse restaurant is on the beachside veranda and has fantastic food. The hotel has a spa, shops, and an excellent coffee shop. If you stay there, I recommend the rooms in the Diamond Head wing for great views of the beach and sunrise over Diamond Head. Be sure to check out the museum on the 2nd floor to learn more about Waikiki when folks came by boat and stayed for a long time!

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  2. The Park Shore is part of the Aqua hotel group. It is located across the street from the Queen Kapiolani beach, on the east end of Waikiki. Many of the rooms have views of Kapiolani Park, Diamond Head, and the beach. This is not a luxury hotel, but it has a pool, our favorite Waikiki restaurant Lulu’s, and is at our preferred end of Waikiki.
  3. The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort is across the street from Prince Kuhio beach. It’s in a good location, has a nice pool and bar (Moana Terrace) with live music, and the orientation of the balconies give you great views of the beach and the mountains. This Marriott has lots of restaurants, shops, and amenities.
  4. The Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach is located on the Royal Hawaiian beach, the central busiest part of Waikiki. The beach is so nice here and one of the beach walls is right in front of the hotel, a perfect spot to walk out into the ocean and greet the morning sun. The hotel has very good food choices, including the Shorebird breakfast buffet and the Kani Ka Pila Grille. We love the Kani Ka Pila’s dedication to Hawaiian musicians, an evening here is not to be missed!

You may want to consider the Ilikai (a groovy vibe, the tower where Jack Lord is standing during the old Hawaii Five-O credits), the Hilton Hawaiian Village (very large property with a beautiful lagoon and shopping, just take care with the tower you get – it could be a huge hike to the beach), the Halekulani (another historic hotel, very luxurious, with fantastic dining and hula every evening at the House Without a Key), or the Kahala (other side of Diamond Head, favored by celebrities, dolphin lagoon).

Windward side

On the eastern side of Oahu most places to stay are bed-and-breakfast or house rentals. A lovely hotel choice is the Paradise Bay Resort on Kaneohe Bay. This somewhat rustic hotel has suites and cottages available with kitchenettes, all perched on the hillside going down to the bay. Located in Kahalu’u on a quiet back street, this an unexpected, peaceful gem. A pool, kayaking, fishing, a floating sun deck, and meals on a large lanai with mountain views are all part of the experience at Paradise Bay. You are only a few minutes away from Kualoa Ranch!

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North Shore

Turtle Bay Resort is on the North Shore at Kahuku, north of Haleiwa and La’ie. This is an absolutely a beautiful resort and location. Fantastic rooms, fantastic views, surfing, golfing, good food and more! This hotel emphasizes the surf culture of Hawaii. Turtle Bay is surrounded by farmland and wildlife refuge, but the resort has lots of activities and amenities. You are just a short drive from the congregation of shrimp trucks in one direction or Ted’s Bakery and Haleiwa in the other. Sunset at the Point bar on the beach is an amazing experience.

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Leeward side

Ko Olina in west Oahu is a resort area surrounding the Ko Olina Golf Club. There are 5 places to stay: Disney Aulani Resort, Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club, Four Seasons Resort Oahu, Beach Villas at Ko Olina, and condominium rentals. It is very easy to go back and forth between these resorts and their beaches and lagoons. There is also a Ko Olina Center shopping and dining area . One of the best luaus in Oahu is at Paradise Cove, at the west end of the resort area.

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We’ve stayed in the Aulani. This is probably the most welcoming hotel we’ve visited, also the most expensive. Every detail has been planned in true Disney fashion. There are plenty of pools, character events, and fine dining. We saw many families enjoying themselves and spending all day long in the resort with plenty to keep the children happy. The concierge team will help you plan excursions to Pearl Harbor and other sites if you do want to leave Ko Olina. Just be aware, if you choose to stay here, that you are joining a Disney Hawaiian experience and you are not in Honolulu. For instance, Iolani Palace is at least 40 minutes away, Waikiki shopping is about 50 minutes, and Pearl Harbor is about 35 minutes.

Oahu map – where to stay

Waikiki map

Grabbing a bite

Waikiki: try Lulu’s Waikiki Surf Club, Beachhouse at the Moana, Kani Ka Pila Grille, and Shorebird.

Windward: try Haleiwa Joe’s in Kaneohe (in the gorgeous Haiku Gardens) .

North Shore: try Kula Grille, Ted’s Bakery, The Proud Peacock, or the many food trucks in Kahuku or Haleiwa.

Leeward: try Monkeypod Kitchen or ‘Ama ‘Ama .

Getting there

Airport to Waikiki: Take Route 92 Nimitz Highway east. Nimitz will become Ala Moana Boulevard. Continue east through Waikiki on Kalakaua Avenue.

Waikiki to Paradise Bay: Take Ala Wai Boulevard to McCully Street. Go west on the H1 and take exit 20A for Route 63 Likelike Highway. In Kaneohe, go north on Route 83. Turn right on Route 830 Kamehameha Highway (if you see the Hygienic Store you went too far). Turn left on Lihikai Drive. Paradise Bay Resort will be on your left.

Paradise Bay Resort to Turtle Bay Resort: Back track out to Route 83 Kamehameha Highway, turn right to go north. After you go through La’ie and then all the shrimp ponds and food trucks at Kahuku, turn right at Kuilima Drive to enter Turtle Bay Resort.

Turtle Bay to Ko Olina: Take Highway 83 Kamehameha Highway to the west and south. At Haleiwa take Route 99. Take Route 80 through Wahiawa and get on the H2. Take the exit for H1 going west towards Kapolei. At the end of the H1, take Route 93 Farrington Highway. Take the exit for Ali’inui Drive.waikiki

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We took one trip to Oahu where we stayed a few days on each side of the island. It was fun to have adventures in each place and soak up a little extra local flavor.horizontal bar with plumeria

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