Oʻahu · Hawaiian Islands

North Shore, O’ahu

If you're staying in Waikīkī and wondering whether to make the drive up to the North Shore, I say yes. Try not to let the idea of sitting in traffic deter you. It's going to happen; it's a part of life here. Just think of it as having more time to look out the window and sightsee while you get to where you are going, which is essentially to cruise the North Shore anyway. If you're only on Oʻahu for two nights, skip it. Anything more, save an entire day for it. This is a quintessential Hawaiʻi experience.

Popular North Shore Towns to Visit

Oʻahu's North Shore runs from Kaʻena Point in the west to Kahuku Point in the east, about 17 miles end to end. It is renowned for its beaches and big-wave surfing competitions that draw professional surfers from around the world. It is also known as "the country," with sprawling farmland, dirt roads and roadside produce stands. Over the past century, the North Shore has become a major hot spot for tourism. Visitors come not only for the sand and surf, but also for food trucks, shopping, farm tours and hiking.

Waialua

Waialua is a laid-back coastal farm town for the most part. Visitors come here for snow puffs (a light, crisp cream-filled pastry) at Paʻalaʻa Kai Bakery and the historic Waialua Sugar Mill, which now houses shops and restaurants and a weekly farmers market on Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. You can also take a tour of Haleʻiwa Distilling Company. Waialua is also where you will find Mokuleia Beach Park, which is primarily good for sunbathing, and the Hawaii Polo Club, which hosts matches every Sunday afternoon from April through Labor Day weekend in September.

Haleʻiwa

This is where you'll find all the good shopping on the North Shore. It is also where you'll come to eat, as there are lots of good restaurants and food trucks up and down the highway. Matsumoto's Shave Ice, Banzai Sushi and Haleʻiwa Bowls (killer açaí bowls) are some of my favorite spots. Of course, there is also the beach, where you can take a SUP lesson, go shark diving or go kayaking down the Anahulu River.

Shrimp truck in Haleiwa North Shore Oahu Hawaii. — Shrimp truck in Haleʻiwa. Photo by Sarah Burchard.

Pūpūkea

This is the section of the North Shore with the beaches that get the largest surf during the winter months. It is also where you will come to see honu, or sea turtles, at Laniakea Beach, go snorkeling at Sharks Cove and visit the Kapoʻo tide pools. It's where Ted's Bakery sells its famous haupia-chocolate pie and you can pick up a pint of poke at Foodland. If you are interested in learning more about Hawaiian culture, sign up for a volunteer day at Mālama Loko Ea or Mālama Pūpūkea-Waimea — both nonprofit organizations doing exceptional conservation work along the ocean.

sharks cove snorkeling spot on north shore oahu hawaii. — Kapoʻo / Sharks Cove, Pūpūkea. Photo by Sarah Burchard.

Kahuku

Home to the famous North Shore shrimp trucks, this is where you will come for lunch or a snack after hitting the beach. This is also where The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay — the only North Shore resort — is located, as well as Kahuku Farms — Oʻahu's only farm that grows its own açaí for açaí bowls.

Top North Shore Experiences

Take a surf lesson — Learning how to surf on O’ahu’s North Shore should be on everyone’s bucket list. Group lessons typically cost around $120 per person. Private lessons are around $135 per person.
Watch big-wave surfers — Winter swells bring massive waves to the North Shore, along with top big-wave surfers. Sunset Beach hosts the WSL Sunset Pro each November, ʻEhukai Beach Park (Banzai Pipeline) hosts the Vans Pipe Masters in December and Waimea Bay is home to the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, known as "The Eddie," which runs only when the surf is big enough during a holding period that stretches roughly from December through March. Visitors and locals pack the beaches to get a glimpse of these world-class surf competitions.

Spectators watching surfers on the north shore oahu.

Eat at Food Trucks — The North Shore's food truck scene is as much a part of the experience as the beaches. Visit the famous garlic shrimp trucks in Kahuku or Haleʻiwa, which serves everything from poke bowls to Hawaiian plate lunch.
Go Shopping — Haleʻiwa is the North Shore's shopping hub, with surf shops, art galleries, boutiques and the historic North Shore Marketplace all within walking distance of each other along Kamehameha Highway.
Take a Farm Tour — From coffee and cacao at Waialua Estate Coffee & Chocolate to macadamia nuts at North Shore Macadamia Nut Co., several North Shore farms welcome visitors for tours and tastings. Some of my favorite tours include Kahuku Farms, Little Plumeria Farms, Lokoea Farms,and 21 Degrees Estate for a cacao farm tour and chocolate tasting. You can also put on a beekeeping outfit and learn how to harvest local honey.
Go Hiking — For trails with a view, try the Hauʻula Loop Trail, Kaʻena Point Trail or Lāʻie Falls Trail, or book a guided outing through Hiking in Haleʻiwa.
Visit Puʻu o Mahuka Heiau — Located in Pūpūkea, this preserved heritage site from the 1600s is the largest heiau, or temple, on Oʻahu. 59-818 Kamehameha Highway. Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m

Farm to Barn, Haleiwa Oahu Hawaii. — Farm to Barn, Haleʻiwa. Photo by Sarah Burchard.

Practical Information

Parking: Free across the North Shore, but difficult to find in some areas and at peak times of day (late mornings and afternoons). Most beaches have a parking lot, or you can park along the highway. Haleʻiwa has a couple of parking lots and limited parking in front of businesses. The earlier in the day you arrive, the better chance you'll have of finding a parking spot.
Reef-safe sunscreen: Hawaiʻi bans oxybenzone and octinoxate in sunscreen per state law. Make sure the sunscreen you wear is reef-safe.
Safety: The surf on the North Shore can go beyond 30 feet at some beaches during the winter months. During this time, visitors should not attempt to swim, snorkel or participate in any water sports where there is a high surf advisory or strong currents. Always heed lifeguard warning signs.