Shopping in Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu

The Soap Cellar: A wide variety of soaps, salts and candles that make lovely gifts if you’re looking for something handcrafted yet affordable. Walking in is like a sensory experience, with all the different soap fragrances and colorful displays.

Silver Moon Emporium: A staple in the North Shore community stocked with trendy women’s clothing, accessories, beauty products and more. With new arrivals constantly coming in, there’s always something fresh to discover and to suit everyone’s tastes.

Kōkua General Store: This open-air shop operates under the philosophy of no-waste living, selling vintage clothing along with sustainable and bulk wellness products. You’ll also come across cute gift items like jewelry and puzzles from local makers. It’s one of the storefronts for the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation, a nonprofit by Kim and Jack Johnson meant to inspire environmental stewardship in the community.

Haleiwa Farmers Market: Find fresh produce, prepared food and other artisan goods every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Waialua Community Association. This is one of the best ways to support local agriculture, so definitely check it out if you’re in the area.

Surf N Sea: Old-school surf shop stocked with everything a surfer could ever need. Stop here if you forgot your wax at home or to rent a surfboard and hit the waves. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s always fun to visit this historic shop, which has been around since the ‘60s.

Santo Loco: A hip surf and skate shop with a well-curated selection of stylish brands and gear, including surfboards made by local shapers such as Carson Myers. The inside is so thoughtfully designed, it almost feels like an art gallery dedicated to modern surf culture.

Pakaloha Bikinis: Find Brazilian-style swimsuits in a broad spectrum of cuts and colors – I’m talking walls lined with rows of bikinis. Each bikini is made with ethically sourced materials, and meant to handle both lounging in the sun and being active in the water. This is the only location on Oʻahu, so stop by if you’re in the market for a new bikini.

Splash! Hawaii: Hitting the beach? Get all your fashionable essentials at Splash! Hawaii. This local swimsuit brand has been around for over 35 years, offering quality bikinis in a wide range of sizes and styles to accommodate most. Beyond swimwear, it also sells cute Hawaiʻi-inspired beach accessories, such as totes, slippers (flip-flops) and trucker hats.

Roger Hawaiʻi: A concept store filled with minimalist, island-inspired women’s clothing and accessories created by the team behind the popular boutique Mahina. If you’re by the Haleʻiwa store, definitely come in because there’s only one other location in Hawaiʻi and it’s on Maui.

Guava Shop: A trendy women’s boutique owned by two North Shore friends. Browse through their ever-changing collection of jewelry, clothing and more from brands such as Acacia and Gillia, both beloved by locals for their island-style clothing and swimsuits. Guava Shop also has its own line called Pon Pon, which consists of brightly colored trucker hats and t-shirts with local phrases.

Tini Manini: A family-owned store with adorable clothing and accessories for keiki in designs that are uniquely local. Think surfboards, shave ice and other prints rooted in the North Shore. The shirts are made right upstairs, so it’s as local as it gets.

Mahina: Hawaiʻi gals adore Mahina’s trendy apparel and accessories, all exuding an effortless, island style. Founded on Maui in 2006, this popular boutique has grown to 16 locations across the archipelago. There’s no online shopping with Mahina – except for a top that donates proceeds to those impacted by the 2023 Maui wildfire – so an in-person visit is a must.

Kai Ku Hale: Come across local art, handmade jewelry and other unusual finds. If you have someone in your life who seemingly has everything, this is where you’ll get their perfect gift. Browse through pillow covers, soaps, ornaments, dishware and more. Stock is often limited, so if you like it, it’s wise to buy it.

Greenroom Gallery Hawaii: What originally started in Japan in 2005 as a celebration of the intersection of surf, lifestyle and art, Greenroom made its way to Haleʻiwa in 2010. This bright, airy gallery offers prints, keychains and more by Hawaiʻi artists. There’s something here to fit every budget, from keychains to prints and larger canvas pieces.

Haleʻiwa is the go-to if you want to support local businesses and bring home a souvenir that reminds you of the beachy, relaxed lifestyle embodied by the North Shore. With a myriad of boutiques, youʻll find locally made gifts, surf gear, swimsuits, jewelry, art prints by Hawaiʻi artists and more. If you’re staying on the North Shore, it’s also the ideal place to stock up on groceries at Malama Market and ʻĀINA Farm Stand or other necessities, including reef-safe sunscreen, at Longs Drugs.

Parking in Haleʻiwa is limited to begin with, but during peak hours and weekends it can be especially tough. Try to head there early and avoid the weekends, otherwise prepare to be patient and circle a few times. Haleʻiwa has three main shopping centers that offer the largest free parking lots, they can fill up quickly. Heading north from Honolulu on Kamehameha Highway, you’ll hit them in this order: North Shore Marketplace (shortly after the roundabout entering Haleʻiwa), then Haleʻiwa Town Center (in the middle of town) and Haleʻiwa Store Lots (next door, right before the bridge). Some stores like Malama Market Haleʻiwa or the food truck lots have several free spaces designated for customers only. Please don’t park there and wander around to other stores, since that takes up a space that someone else would otherwise use. You may even encounter a guard asking which business you’re going to.

If you’re lucky, you can score free street parking along Kamehameha Highway, but there aren’t many of those. If you do choose to park on the street, make sure you’re heeding parking signs and not blocking anyone’s driveway.

Don’t be surprised if you pull into a lot that charges a small parking fee, such as the one for Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, which costs $2 and is patrolled.

It’s possible that the stores you’re hoping to visit are located in one of the three main shopping centers in Haleʻiwa, all of which are open-air and have free parking. The first that you’ll come across when entering town is North Shore Marketplace. Over 20 shops and restaurants are here, including Tini Manini, Santo Loco, and Banzai Sushi Bar. My favorite coffee shop on the North Shore is here: Coffee Gallery. I almost always bring a bag of their roasted coffee beans back home for my espresso machine.

Next, you’ll hit Haleʻiwa Town Center. This shopping center is more low-key and often less crowded than the others. It is home to Longs Drugs, Pakaloha Bikinis, Greenroom Gallery Hawaii, Kai Ku Hale and a few restaurants. There are also two banks here if you need an ATM.

Near the end of town is Haleʻiwa Store Lots, which gets packed quickly. Try to get here early to snag a parking space. Some of Haleʻiwa’s most popular stops are here, such as Matsumoto’s Shave Ice, Guava Shop, Island Vintage Coffee and Mahina.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, no worries. TheBus has several lines that go to Haleʻiwa from various parts of the island: Route 52, Route 60 and Route 521. Check TheBus’ mobile app or website to see the map and schedule.

You could also take a rideshare to Haleʻiwa, but there may not be as many drivers on the North Shore as there are in Honolulu so it could take a while to find a car when you are ready to leave or cost more.

Exploring Haleʻiwa is best by foot, but visitors should be prepared for strong heat and sun since there’s very little shade along Kamehameha Highway. Bring all your sun protection essentials, such as hats, reef-safe sunscreen and sunglasses, plus water to stay hydrated. Since you’ll be walking around to get from store to store, and the sidewalk can be uneven, comfortable walking shoes are a must.

Unfortunately, restrooms aren’t abundant in Haleʻiwa. It’s not uncommon for food trucks or small restaurants to not have one. However, there are a couple of shopping centers with restrooms that you can use. One is at North Shore Marketplace near Tini Manini, at the far end of the shopping center, and another at Haleʻiwa Store Lots by the parking lot.

It can take between 45 minutes to an hour to reach Haleʻiwa from Waikīkī, depending on traffic. During rush hour between 8 and 10 a.m. and between 3 and 6 p.m., expect to hit congestion.

It takes about 40 minutes to get to Haleʻiwa from Ko ʻOlina.