A Local's Guide to Visiting North Shore Oahu
North Shore Oahu is one of my favorite places to escape the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. It’s famous for it’s huge waves and being home to the charming surf town, Haleiwa.
If you have plans to be on Oahu, you cannot skip a day trip (or more) to the charming Oahu North Shore. Here's a guide to visiting, including how to get there, what to do, and where to eat!
HAVE PLANS OUTSIDE THE NORTH SHORE? DON'T MISS A LOCAL'S GUIDE TO THE BEST PLACES TO EAT ON OAHU AND THE TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON OAHU!
A Local's Guide to Visiting North Shore Oahu
ABOUT THE NORTH SHORE OAHU
The Hawaii North Shore of Oahu is the area located on the northern-facing part of Oahu, of course! Literally speaking it is entire area from Kaena Point to Kahuku Point, with charming little Haleiwa located smack dab in the middle.
Getting to the North Shore Oahu Hawaii
When I go to the North Shore Hawaii, my destination is always Haleiwa. I recommend the same for you, with additional stops on the way as needed.
If your goal is to get to the North Shore Hawaii as quickly as possible, simply type “Haleiwa” into Google Maps and do what it says. For me a trip to the North Shore is often more about the journey than the destination, so I like to take the coastal road. It’s one of the prettiest roads you will ever drive and there is lots to see along the way.
Assuming you’re coming from Honolulu, putting “Haleiwa” into Google Maps will give you a route that'll take you straight through the island (45 mins total). It doesn’t even provide another option because my preferred route takes much longer — about 1 hour 30 mins without traffic. But, like I said, it’s the scenic route and worth it. Plus you can take the quick way home.
To trick Google Maps into directing you along the coastal route, after you search directions to “Haleiwa” click “add stop” and search “Kualoa Ranch”. Once you find it, drag that stop above Haleiwa. This should give you a route that takes you along the coast and looks similar to the above right photo.
While I definitely recommend spending a fair amount of time at Kualoa Ranch while on Oahu, I wouldn’t actually stop at it on your trip to the North Shore. Both the North Shore and Kualoa have a lot to do and deserve fully dedicated days.
Prior to Haleiwa there are many places to stop, though. There are food trucks in Kahuku (like famous Giovanni’s Shrimp), many scenic beaches and look out points, and adorable fresh fruit stands galore! Keep reading for more specific details.
Things to do North Shore Oahu
There are many things to do in the Oahu North Shore — everything from seeing the famous North Shore waves to walking around historic Haleiwa town.
Oahu’s North Shore is famous for it’s crazy big waves so you will definitely want to stop at a beach (or two or three) on your way to Haleiwa.
Best Beach in Oahu North Shore
One of the best things to do North Shore Oahu is to visit the beautiful beaches! While it’s hard to pick the best beach in Oahu North Shore, there are a handful I recommend visiting. As they are all relatively close, it’s easy to hop around from beach to beach if you desire. Otherwise, you can pick one from the below list of my recommendations.
WAIMEA BAY
Waimea Bay is my favorite North Shore beach and often where I will spend my morning on the North Shore prior to heading to Haleiwa. The parking lot is incredibly tiny and, with little additional street parking, you are often out of luck if you come to late. If you want to spend some time here, I’d come early (arrive by 10 or 10:30).
The bay is incredibly beautiful and it has a huge rock that people jump off into the water. If you’re up for an adventure it’s a pretty good time, if not, it’s great for photos! Unlike many beaches on the North Shore, you can usually go in the water here without worry.
You can also hike Waimea Valley near here back to a waterfall if you’d like to get some exercise!
PIPELINE (EHUKAI BEACH/BANZAI PIPELINE)
Pipeline is home of the world’s deadliest wave! Unless you are extremely experienced, I would not recommend getting in the water here. But it is world famous and depending on when you go you might be able to catch a surf competition.
Note: the beach itself is actually called Ehukai Beach. "Pipeline" is technically the surf break there, but as far as I know most people just call it all "Pipeline".
SUNSET BEACH
Sunset beach is another famous Oahu North Shore beach that surfers cannot get enough of. North Shore waves are biggest from October to March but are worth seeing year-round, in my opinion.
LANIAKEA BEACH (TURTLE BEACH)
Lanikea Beach is a beach full of turtles and one of the best beaches on North Shore Oahu.
In addition to beaches, you'll want to set aside a fair amount of time to explore Haleiwa.
HALEIWA TOWN — the iconic town of Haleiwa is a historic surf town perfect for exploring. In addition to tons of great food, there are also a handful of cool surf shops, boutiques, gift stores, art galleries, and more.
There are a few different areas in Haleiwa you may want to spend some time exploring:
Haleiwa Store Lots is a newer shopping area built around Matsumoto’s (famous shave ice) and is fun to walk around. The Haleiwa Fruit Stand/Whalers General Store has great local gifts and Island Vintage Coffee is a nice cafe.
North Shore Marketplace is another shopping area that has many galleries, boutiques, cafes, and more
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck lot is full of food trucks if you want to try a bit of everything
If you can’t find parking at any of the above locations, try the North Shore Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center. I think parking is free there, but double check the signs.
WHERE TO EAT
Haleiwa is full of so many amazing places to eat that the most difficult part of going is often deciding where to get your meals! Some of my favorites:
MATSUMOTO SHAVE ICE
Iconic shave ice shop serving the North Shore since 1951! It’s not the best you’ll ever have, but to me (and many others, including celebrities!) it’s always been something you just do when you go to the North Shore.
location: 66-111 Kam Hwy Suite #605
hours: 9am-6pm daily
site / insta
KUA AINA
A good place to grab a burger if that is what you’re in the mood for!
location: 66-160 Kam Hwy
hours: 11am-8pm daily
site
GIOVANNI'S SHRIMP TRUCK
Extremely famous shrimp plates and garlic hot dogs! There is always a huge line no matter what time you go. To be totally honest I have actually never tried it due to the long queue, but I’ve heard only good things so I felt obligated to include it.
location: 66-472 Kam Hwy
hours: 10:30am-5pm daily
site
THE BEET BOX CAFE
Organic breakfast and lunch.
location: 66-437 Kam Hwy
hours: 7am-4pm daily
site / insta
ISLAND VINTAGE COFFEE
Coffee and light bites.
If you need food before Haleiwa, stop at the food trucks in Kahuku. There’s another Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck there and many other great options.
Pupukea Grill (site/insta) in Pupukea is great if you want ahi, too!
Along the way you’ll also find many different fruit stands and small markets along the side of the road, including the Instagram-famous Sunrise Shack (site/insta)! If you need to pick up some lychee, want to drink fresh coconut water, etc. these are a great option.
STAYING ON THE NORTH SHORE
If you are interested in staying on the North Shore instead of just visiting for the day, Turtle Bay Resort is the place to stay if you prefer a hotel or resort. Click here to see the latest prices.
For a more local experience, these Airbnb options are my recommendation: 11 Best Airbnb Oahu Rentals: Waikiki, Kailua, North Shore.
For broader recommendations on where to stay on Oahu, click here for where to stay on Oahu - a local's guide!
What to Pack for Hawaii
Having the right travel gear is incredibly important for any trip. Save yourself time and money by getting all of the necessary items prior to arriving at your destination. Some of the items I consider non-negotiable for Hawaii:
BIKINIS/SWIMWEAR — The most essential packing list for Hawaii item. Bring as many as you have/can fit! I tend to bring one for each day depending on how long I am going for. My current favorites:
SUNDRESSES — When packing for Hawaii I recommend bringing at least 3-5 sundresses! I personally live in these while there because they are so easy to throw on and they don't take up much space while packing. If dresses aren't your thing, swap these out for shorts and tops. Click here for my favorite sundresses. I also shop for them here, here, and here.
For cheaper options, I like here, and here. The cheaper sites can take a little more digging to find the good quality stuff, but sometimes it's worth it!
My current favorites:
CASHMERE WRAP — Another top seller on ckanani.com every single month is this oversized cashmere wrap. It’s something I personally carry in my bag every single day, whether I’m on the road or back at home in San Francisco. If you haven’t already noticed, I love versatility. I’d rather pay a little more for something high quality that’ll last a little longer and also work in a few different ways. I bet you’re a bit like me, so this is a must. You can wear it as a scarf, as a wrap when you find yourself at a surprisingly cold restaurant or flight, as a blanket, and more. I can’t tell you how many times this thing has saved me. Click here to see the latest prices and availability.
PS. If you think this is a crazy recommendation for Hawaii, trust me, it’s not. Every indoor place in Hawaii is insanely air conditioned and you’ll often likely forget a jacket since it’ll be so hot out. Throwing this in your beach bag or whatever bag you’re carrying around will save your life!
LIGHT JACKET. Like I said above, every single place in Hawaii is air conditioned like crazy! Because of this I never leave the house without a jacket - ever. When thinking about what to wear in Hawaii, do not overlook this item. Click here for the jean jacket I love!
SUNGLASSES — Of course! I cannot believe I am about to say this but I’ve found a very cheap brand I recommend. Why is that shocking? Because I absolutely hate cheap sunglasses. I used to be a total sunglass snob and only buy $400 Saint Laurent, Dior, or Chanel sunglasses because the cheap ones feel horrible and don’t actually protect. Until now!! This brand I found on Amazon is under $15/pair and is shockingly impressive. I’ve bought four pairs so far. Click here for my favorite all black aviators, here for my rimless aviators, and here for my square ones.
EVERYWHERE BELT BAG — My new absolute obsession is this Lululemon belt bag. I have used it literally every single day of my life since buying it last year and absolutely cannot recommend it enough. You can wear it around your waist or crossbody, I personally love both. It’s especially great for travel because it stays so close to your body you never have to worry about someone sneaking in and grabbing something.
This one is also the perfect shape and size. Prior to buying this one I tried a handful of others and sent every one of them back. I was starting to think I just wasn’t a belt bag type of gal but then I had dozens of recommendations to try this one. And I LOVE IT. Truly the best $38 you will ever spend! Truly. Click here to get yours.
GOLD LAYERING JEWELRY — Layering jewelry from SHOP CKANANI specifically. It’s my own shop so I'm a bit biased, of course, but hear me out. I’ve always loved jewelry but was tired of spending $60 on a necklace that would tarnish after 2-3 wears so I started making my own. I hand make them in my San Francisco apartment of incredibly high quality, primarily gold filled materials.
Gold filled items are great because they contain 100+ times (!) more real gold than gold plated items. An item being gold filled means that there is an actual layer of gold pressure bonded to another metal, making it much more valuable, durable, and tarnish resistant. This means it’s also perfect for everyday wear and for travel! Because who wants to spend their trip taking their jewelry on and off constantly? Not me!
After sharing pictures of necklaces and bracelets on my Instagram story, I finally gave in to the requests asking me to start selling my creations. And that’s how SHOP CKANANI was born! I’d really love and appreciate your support, especially if you’ve found the info in this post helpful :) Click here to see current availability.
For Hawaii I especially recommend the Kahala necklace, the Global Citizen necklace (our best selling item), and the North Star necklace. Plus an arm full of various gold chain bracelets, of course! And as a special treat from me to you, use code “HAWAII10” for 10% off.
HATS — Another great way to spice up a look, plus it’s a fantastic photo prop and can cover up a bad hair day.
For a full list of Hawaii packing recommendations, click here for what to pack for Hawaii!
Other Hawaii Information
If you will be visiting Oahu, we have everything you need to plan your trip!
FOR WHAT TO PACK… click here for our Hawaii packing list.
FOR WHERE TO STAY… click here for the best hotels and resorts and here for the best Airbnbs.
FOR WHERE TO EAT… click here for a local’s guide to the best places to eat.
FOR WHAT TO DO… click here for my top 10 recommendations. My number one recommendation is to swim with dolphins in the wild. Click here for a detailed post about how to do that!
FOR A GUIDE TO VISITING KUALOA RANCH (JURASSIC PARK HAWAII)… click here.
FOR A GUIDE TO THE FAMOUS NORTH SHORE… click here.
FOR WHERE TO HIKE… click here for Crouching Lion (my absolute favorite) and here for the Lanikai Pillboxes (my second favorite!).
FOR THE BEST PHOTO OPPS… click here!
Also, subscribe below to get our FREE downloadable guide and we’ll also send you some step-by-step help to plan the Hawaii trip of your dreams!
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