Haleiwa
Haleiwa offers an excellent selection of art galleries, surf shops and eateries.
The North Shore Surf & Cultural Museum located at the North Shore Marketplace features a wide range of surfing memorabilia, including antique surfboards, photographs and videos that chronicle the history of the surfing. And each summer, the town puts on the Haleiwa Arts Festival.
To cool down, visit Matsumoto Shave Ice and treat yourself to a rainbow-colored snow cone with a scoop of ice cream and azuki beans. It’s good stuff!
Kaena Point
Kaena Point is the westernmost tip of land on the Island of Oahu. The point can be reached by foot from both the south (Waianae Coast) and the north (Mokuleia) coastlines; walking in from the north side is recommended. An unimproved track extends some three miles along the coast from the end of the paved road on the north side.
Kawela Bay
Kawela Bay is adjacent to Turtle Bay and the Kuilima Resort. These coastal features and shorelines (including Kawela Bay itself) are mostly hidden from the traveler along Kamehameha Highway, although access to the shore can be found at Waiale’e Beach Park with scenic Kukaimanini, an offshore islet. This area (for those travelling west) begins the North Shore of O’ahu. For those travelling east, the road turns inland at Kawela to cross the Kahuku Plain, coming again to the coast at Hukilau Beach in Laie on the windward (ko’olau) side of O’ahu.
Laniakea
Laniakea beach or Lani’s is also referred to as “Turtle beach” because this natural sanctuary attracts so many of the endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle or “Honu”. Since the year 2000 the turtles have been basking on the beach enjoying the warm sun rays, the turtles most likely come here because of the abundance of limu (seaweed) growing on the rocks which they feed on. Laniakea is a favorite spot for surfers too.
Mokuleia
Mokuleia is a North Shore community in the Waialua District on the Island of Oahu, City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii. Mokuleia means isle (of) abundance in Hawaiian. Features Mokuleia Beach, Mokuleia Polo Field, and Dillingham Airfield located west of the town.
Pipeline
Banzai Pipeline and Ehukai Beach Park are walking distance from Sunset Point and Sunset Beach. Location of the World Famous Pipeline Masters, Pipeline is the North Shore’s premiere professional surfing paradise. First reef known as Pipeline that is the most commonly surfed and photographed. When hit by a North swell, the peak becomes a true A-frame, with Pipe closing out a bit and peeling off right, and the just as famous Backdoor going right.
Pupukea
“For those who like privacy and land, Pupukea is a wonderful choice,” Simone said. “Its approximately 500 properties have a minimum lot size of about an acre with a mixture of beautiful ocean and mountain views.”
Sharks Cove
Sharks Cove is located on Oahu’s magnificent North Shore, between Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. In the wintertime, this area has some of the largest waves in the world, but in summer time, it is calm and boosts some of the best snorkeling on the island. You will find reefs with caves, lava tubes and fantastic coral outcroppings. Depths in this area run to 60 feet, but diving is easy and it’s often used as a training area for scuba diving.
Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach, Hawaii is only minutes from Pipeline and is also the host of prestigious international surfing competitions that take place on the North Shore. From late October through March, this beach becomes a surfer’s haven with action filled “Big Waves”!!! Relax on the beach and enjoy the panoramic ocean view and year round sunsets. As you can see from the photo when the surf is calm it is a swimming and sunbathing paradise.
Turtle Bay Resort
Turtle Bay Resort is the ONLY resort zoned property on Oahu’s North Shore and encumbers 880 acres and 5 miles of pristine beaches. Turtle Bay Resort features two eighteen hole championship golf courses, ten tennis courts, horseback riding, spa and fine dining. Kuilima Estates Townhomes and the exquisite Ocean Villa luxury condominiums are also located within the Turtle Bay Resort grounds.
Velzyland
The best known surfing sites are Velzyland, Sunset (at Sunset Beach Park), Kammieland, Pupukea, Ehukai, Pipeline (these latter two off adjacent Ehukai Beach Park and Banzai Beach) and lesser breaks are arrayed off this shore. Popular diving areas known as Three Tables and Sharks Cove are located at Pupukea Beach Park. And, at the southwest end of Pūpūkea is Waimea Bay, with one of the most popular beaches on the island forming the shore at Waimea Beach Park.
Waialua
In the late 1970s, Waialua Plantation was one of only two remaining sugar plantations on O‘ahu as sugar lands were taken out of production throughout the state. Waialua Plantation closed in 1996, and there are no sugar plantations remaining on O‘ahu. Waialua is quite different in its quiet ambiance from nearby Haleiwa.
Waimea Bay