North Shore, Oahu

North Shore

A world surfing mecca. In winter, 10-metre waves break at Pipeline and Waimea Bay and pro contests are held here. In summer the coast turns calm and beachy. Haleiwa's shrimp trucks and shave ice are musts.

The North Shore is about 27 km of coastline on Oʻahu's northern side, from Haleiwa town to Kahuku. It is famous for world-class winter surf. Between November and February, North Pacific storms bring waves of 6–12 m. Banzai Pipeline (a barrel wave at Ehukai Beach Park), Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay are the three main arenas. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the Eddie Aikau Invitational, which is held only when waves exceed 12 m, take place here. Visitors can watch the professional surfers up close from the beach for free, but never go in the water in winter. In summer (May to September) the sea is as calm as a lake. Waimea Bay is good for swimming and jumping off the boulders, Shark's Cove is one of the best shore-snorkelling spots on Oʻahu (with tide pools and sea caves, so reef shoes are needed), and Laniakea Beach, known as Turtle Beach, sees green sea turtles haul out to sunbathe almost every day (keep at least 3 m away). Along the route are Waimea Valley botanical garden and waterfall (swimming allowed, about $25), the Dole Plantation (pineapple train and maze, convenient on the way back), and Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Kahuku, serving garlic shrimp plates for about $16, the North Shore's most famous food. In Haleiwa town you'll find Matsumoto Shave Ice, surf shops and galleries. At the eastern end of the North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie hosts afternoon village performances representing six Pacific island nations. In the evening there's a luau and the big show Ha: Breath of Life (about $100–250). Getting there: driving from Waikīkī via the H-2 and the Kamehameha Highway takes about an hour. Explore the coast in one direction, then return via the east coast to make a loop of the island. TheBus Routes 52 and 60 serve the area, but the journey takes over two hours. A day tour costs about $80–150. In winter, when red flags are flying, swimming is prohibited, and lifeguards rescue more than a hundred people each year. Parking along the Laniakea roadside is congested. Apart from the Turtle Bay resort, there are no large hotels on the North Shore, and dining options after sunset are limited.

North Shore, Oahu

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