Here are the things to do in Haleiwa I usually take friends to when they visit, from food and shops to beaches, quick stops, and activities you can book. I'll also point out a few historic buildings you might otherwise miss while walking around.
I have a full Haleiwa guide if you want more on the town. For a broader look at the area, there's also a North Shore guide that covers the region beyond Haleiwa.
Quick look: Things to do in Haleiwa
- Top things to do: Browse local shops, eat at food trucks and restaurants, paddle the Anahulu River, spend time at Haleiwa Beach Park
- Quick stops: Haleiwa sign, macadamia nut farm, Kaiaka Bay
- Book ahead: Surf lessons, shark diving, fishing charters, sunset cruises
- Time needed: Half day to a full day
What to do in Haleiwa Town
1. Go shopping in Haleiwa Town
Shopping in historic Haleiwa Town is one of the main things to do when you're here. You'll find a mix of surf shops, local boutiques, art galleries, and small specialty stores along the main strip, set in wooden plantation-style buildings from the early 1900s.
The easiest way to see everything is to break it up into sections. The main road is only about 1.3 miles long, so you can walk it, but most people prefer to park, explore one area, then drive to the next.
We usually start at the Haleiwa Store Lots, walk one side of the street, cross over, then drive further south to check out the shops at Haleiwa Town Center and North Shore Marketplace.
There's free parking all along town, and it's easy to find a spot. It also helps to swing back to your car to drop off shopping bags before moving on.
As you're walking between shops, you'll also pass a few preserved historic buildings that are easy to miss. I included a map below so you can see where they are as you explore.
If you want to know which shops to stop at and what you'll find in each, check out my Haleiwa shopping guide.
2. Eat at food trucks or restaurants
Haleiwa Town is where you'll find most of the places to eat on the North Shore, all within a short distance of each other.
Food trucks are a big part of eating here. You'll order at the window, find a spot outside, and that's usually where we'll go first, especially for things like garlic shrimp, acai bowls, tacos, or plate lunches.
There are also some great restaurants in town, with a mix of local and international options that people come from all over the island to try.
If you want help deciding where to go, I put together a guide to the best Haleiwa food trucks and another with my favorite Haleiwa restaurants, so you can see what each place is known for and pick what sounds good.
3. Paddle the Anahulu River (Rainbow Bridge)
Paddling the Anahulu River under the Rainbow Bridge is one of the most relaxing things to do in Haleiwa. The water is calm, and it's an easy paddle for all ages. It's something we'll usually do when family is in town.
The route is short, about an hour round trip, and you'll pass under the bridge and through a quiet stretch lined with palm trees and mangroves. The water isn't crystal clear, but you'll still see fish and sea turtles along the way.
You can rent paddleboards or kayaks right along the river, but if you want to have everything set ahead of time, you can reserve them in advance.
If you want more details, I put together a full guide to the Haleiwa Rainbow Bridge and another on the Anahulu River.
4. Spend time at Haleiwa Beach Park
Haleiwa Beach Park is an easy place to stop when you're in town if you want to spend some time at the beach. It's right next to the Rainbow Bridge and across from the harbor.
The water here is calmer than other North Shore beaches, so it's a good option if you want to get in. It's also a nice spot to sit for a bit and take a break from walking around town.
There's free parking, bathrooms, showers, and grassy areas with shade and picnic tables.
It's also one of the best places on the North Shore to watch the sunset. You can sit along the rock wall by the beach and just take it all in - it's one of my favorite ways to end the day.
5. Watch the surfers at Ali'i Beach Park
After walking around Haleiwa Town, stop by Ali'i Beach Park. It's one of the best places to see the surf up close or just hang out on the beach for a bit.
In the winter months (surf season), it's a great spot to watch surfers. In late November or early December you can also see the HIC Haleiwa Pro surf competition here.
Outside of winter, it's still a good place to spend time by the ocean. People come to swim, sit on the beach, play games in the park, or just hang out.
There's parking, bathrooms, showers, grassy areas with shade and picnic tables, and lifeguards.
6. Stop by Kaiaka Bay Beach Park
Kaiaka Bay Beach Park is just a few minutes from Haleiwa Town and feels a lot quieter than the other beaches nearby. It's an easy stop if you want a break from the busier part of town.
The park sits on a wide peninsula with open views of the coastline, grassy areas, and shady trees. Along the shoreline, you'll see the well-known mushroom-shaped rock formation, which is one of the main reasons people stop.
It's not the best beach for swimming, but it's a nice place to walk around, have a picnic, or just take in the scenery.
If you're driving through Haleiwa or heading toward Waialua, it's a quick stop that's worth pulling over for.
There are a few more beaches around Haleiwa, and each one is a little different. I have a Haleiwa beaches guide that shows what each one is best for.
7. Taste fresh Macadamia Nuts
While you're in Haleiwa Town, stop by the macadamia nut farm right across from Haleiwa Beach Park, North Shore Macadamia Nut Company.
It's a quick stop, and most people spend about 15-30 minutes here, usually on the way in or out of town.
You can try locally grown mac nuts and pick up a few flavors to take with you. They usually have samples set out, so you can taste options like roasted, honey-glazed, or chocolate-covered before buying.
8. Take a surf lesson
Taking a surf lesson is one of the most popular things to do in Haleiwa. There are several surf schools in town that offer lessons for all experience levels, including complete beginners.
Most lessons take place at Pua'ena Point, right next to Haleiwa Beach Park near the Rainbow Bridge. This spot has smaller, mellower waves that break on the inside, so it's one of the easiest places to learn.
Lessons usually last a couple of hours and include everything you need, so you can just show up ready to go.
If you want help choosing a school, I put together a guide to surf lessons on the North Shore of Oahu.
9. Go night paddleboarding on the Anahulu River
You can also paddle the Anahulu River at night on a guided tour if you want to do something a little different.
You'll be on an LED-lit stand-up paddleboard that lights up the water as you go. It's a really unique way to be out on the river at night.
Tours start at Haleiwa Beach Park and take you under the Rainbow Bridge and along the Anahulu River. It's a calm, easy paddle, and since it's guided, it works for all experience levels.
If you want to book, we like the tours by Kealohi Surf.
10. Go shark diving
A lot of people come to Haleiwa specifically to go shark diving.
You'll head out by boat from Haleiwa Harbor and see sharks just offshore, either from inside a cage or in the water on a cage-free tour. It's a unique experience being that close to them, and you'll usually see several during the trip.
Everything is guided, and the crew walks you through what to expect and provides all the gear, so you don't need any experience.
If you're booking, earlier in the morning is usually best, since the ocean tends to be calmer before the trade winds pick up. You can check availability for both cage diving and cage-free diving tours and book ahead.
11. Go on a fishing charter
If you're into fishing, the North Shore is a really good place on the island to do it, and you can book a fishing charter from Haleiwa Harbor.
You'll head offshore looking for pelagic fish like ahi (yellowfin tuna), mahi-mahi, and ono, and if you're lucky, you may even catch a blue marlin.
Charters are usually private and run as half-day or full-day trips, depending on how long you want to be out.
The crew handles everything, from setting up the gear to helping you reel in your catch, so you don't need any experience and can just enjoy being out on the water.
If you want to book, you can check availability for fishing charters and plan ahead.
12. Go on a sunset cruise
If you want a nice way to end your day in Haleiwa, going on a sunset cruise is a great option.
You'll head out from Haleiwa Harbor on a catamaran and cruise along the coastline as the sun sets.
The views of the North Shore from the water are beautiful, and you may even see dolphins and, in the winter months, whales. If you're visiting during whale season, you can read more about whale watching on the North Shore.
This is a private tour, which makes it a great option for small groups of family, friends, or couples. It runs for a couple of hours, and you can bring your own food and drinks.
It's an easy, laid-back experience, and the crew takes care of everything so you can just sit back and enjoy it.
If you want to book, you can check availability for sunset cruises and plan ahead.
13. Take a photo with the Haleiwa sign
You'll likely pass the Haleiwa sign as you enter or leave town, and it's one of those places most people stop to take a photo.
There are actually two signs, one on each side of town, both with the surfer design that's now a symbol of the North Shore. They were created in the 1990s and are a well-known landmark and photo stop.
It's a quick stop that only takes a few minutes and an easy way to mark your time in Haleiwa.
If you want to know exactly where each sign is and the best place to park, I put together a guide to the Haleiwa North Shore sign.
14. Scuba dive the Haleiwa trench
Scuba diving at the Haleiwa Trench is another unique thing to do in Haleiwa and one of the more well-known shore dives on the North Shore.
You access it from Ali'i Beach Park, and it's best on calm days, especially in the summer when the ocean is flat.
What makes this dive different is that you're following along a trench that drops off deep, so it feels more like diving along a wall than a typical reef.
You can expect to see reef fish, turtles, eels, and sometimes octopus, lobsters, or even sharks.
If you already dive, you can rent gear from shops in Haleiwa, like Surf N Sea right across from the Rainbow Bridge.
15. Go off-roading with ATVs
If you're looking for something different from the ocean, you can go off-roading on guided ATV tours based right in Haleiwa.
Tours meet in town and take you out to nearby private trails and farmland, where you'll ride over dirt roads, hills, and more rugged terrain with views of the North Shore along the way.
Everything is guided, and you don't need prior experience, so it's an easy activity to book if you want something a little more adventurous.
If you're interested, you can check availability for ATV tours and plan ahead.
Exploring beyond Haleiwa
Haleiwa is the main town on the North Shore, but there's a lot more to see nearby.
If you have extra time, it's worth exploring beyond town. I have a guide to things to do on the North Shore with more beaches, hikes, and places to stop along the way.
I also have a page to plan your North Shore trip with tours and activities you can book.
FAQs
Most people spend half a day to a full day in Haleiwa. You can walk the town, grab food, and visit a couple of nearby beaches in a few hours, or take your time and add activities like paddling the river or booking a tour.
Yes, having a car makes it much easier to visit Haleiwa and explore the North Shore. While you can walk around town once you're there, getting between beaches, activities, and nearby areas is much easier with a car. You can take the bus to Haleiwa, but it takes longer and isn't the easiest way to get around.
Haleiwa is mostly a daytime town, and things quiet down after sunset. Shops usually close around 7 pm, but you can still grab dinner, have a drink, or watch the sunset at the beach. For something different, night paddleboarding on the Anahulu River is one of the few activities that runs after dark.
If you've been to Haleiwa or are planning a visit, feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions below. I'm always happy to help and hear how your trip goes.
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