North Shore

• Haleiwa means “house of the iwa (great frigatebird)”
• Waimea means “reddish water”
• The biggest waves happen between the winter months of November and February. 
• Known as the “seven mile miracle” for it’s seven mile stretch of beaches with world class waves.
• Above Waimea Valley stands Oahu’s largest heiau (stone temple), covering almost 2 acres; it’s now a state historic site.
• The fish pond in Haleiwa, called Loko Ea, is between 400 to 500 years old.
• Matsumoto Shave Ice, established in 1951, is still the most popular snack spot for tourists and locals alike.

An hour’s drive from the bustling streets of Waikiki is the North Shore of Oahu. Here’s how to say the towns you’ll be visiting: Haleiwa (hah-lay-ee-vah) is the main attraction, although  you’ll probably drive to or at least past Waimea (why-may-ah) Bay, stop for lunch at a food truck in Pupukea (poo-poo-kay-ah) or head  further down the road to the shrimp trucks of Kahuku (kah-hoo-koo).

Referred to as “the country,” here the trade winds blow and the sun shines on a more relaxed and slow style of life. It’s home to some of the most famous surf spots in the world, thanks to the  northerly winter swells that bring surf chasers from all over and, when conditions are right, see  renowned surf competitions like the Pipeline Masters and Eddie Aikau Invitational. 

Haleiwa town welcomes visitors with shops, restaurants and more food trucks than you could possibly try in one trip. Keep your eyes out for some local favorites like No. 7 or Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. For those looking to get active, surf lessons are easy to find, and the Ehukai Pillbox hike offers an aerial view of miles of white sand beaches and turquoise water. Whether visiting for the day or staying at Turtle Bay Resort, the only full-service hotel in the area, take advantage of the area’s incredible beauty. Walk through the botanical garden and cultural locations that showcase early Hawaiian life in Waimea  (“reddish water”) Valley or snorkel at the world-class dive area known as Sharks Cove. After your day in the sun, partake in the classic North Shore dining ritual of enjoying poke from Foodland (a local grocery store) on the beach.

Before Western contact, the North Shore was a major population center, with fish ponds, taro fields and Oahu’s largest rock temple. Up until the late 1960s, the modern North Shore contained mostly small beach houses and farms, and was only accessible by a small, two-lane road. Then surfing entered the mainstream. In the 1970s and ’80s, surf magazines shared the location of its incredible waves and surf competitions gained popularity, turning North Shore into a hot spot for both surfers and curious spectators. Thanks to local efforts, the “7-mile miracle” has remained largely undeveloped: There’s only one full-service hotel, Turtle Bay Resort, between Oahu’s northwest tip of Kaena Point and the northeast town of Laie, which has the more modest Courtyard by Marriott Oahu North Shore. Those who visit the North Shore today can still enjoy its slow, laidback country lifestyle and natural beauty.