North Shore Oahu, Hawaii (Complete Travel Guide)

First time visiting? Our North Shore Oahu guide covers everything you need to plan your trip - beaches, activities, food, places to stay, insider tips, and more!

As a first-time visitor to the North Shore of Oahu, I know you have many questions and want a lot of information before your trip. You might be wondering where to stay, what to do, where to shop, where to find the best restaurants, transportation options, etc.

I had many of the same questions when I first traveled to Oahu! Now, after living on the North Shore for nearly 30 years, I can provide the answers and give you all the information you need to plan your perfect trip.

Let's cover everything you need to know about the North Shore. Feel free to use the table of contents to jump to specific topics of interest, leave a comment, or send me an email with any questions you have.

What's so special about the North Shore

The North Shore is considered the countryside of Oahu, offering a much quieter atmosphere than the bustling areas of Honolulu and Waikiki, where most hotels and name-brand shopping are located.

This is where visitors come to relax and enjoy beautiful beaches, great food, and the scenery. There are no freeways, and the area is accessible via a charming two-lane road, adding to its friendly, laid-back beach town vibe.

But what truly sets the North Shore apart is its world-renowned surfing scene. With perfect, big waves that attract surfers from across the globe, this coastline has earned its spot as one of the best surfing destinations on the planet.

These qualities also made it a popular filming location. You may have watched or heard of movies and TV shows like 'Blue Crush,' 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' 'North Shore,' 'Lost,' and 'Baywatch Hawaii'; they were all filmed here!

Location / How to get there

The North Shore coastline is located geographically on the north side of Oahu. If you look on the map, it stretches about 22 miles from Ka’ena Point to Kahuku Point.

How to get there: 2 routes

From either Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, or the airport there are two ways to get to the North Shore:

1. The fastest route: Inland via the H1 and H2 freeways through the island's center, taking about 1 hour by car.
2. The scenic route: Through the East side, following the H-3 highway before driving along the coast on a two-lane road. This route can take double the time by car.

Which route should you take? I recommend both routes! If time is a concern, take the fastest route. However, I highly recommend setting aside a day to drive around the East side for one of the most scenic drives on Oahu.

Best time to visit

Any time is great to visit the North Shore of Oahu! With year-round sunshine, you're always in for a treat. Here are a few factors to consider when planning your trip:

• Summer: Summer brings calm ocean conditions, ideal for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, and fishing.
• Fall through Spring: The surfing season is October through April. So if you want to watch the big waves and surfing competitions or take a surf lesson, this is the best time of year to visit.

Another thing to keep in mind is how the seasons affect the weather. It can get pretty hot during the day in the summer months, while winter brings warm days and cooler nights.

Plus, winter tends to bring more rain, but it's usually just quick showers that pass by in a few minutes. The best part is that those showers often gift us with stunning rainbows!

Things to do

There are so many things to do on the North Shore when you come to visit! While exploring the beaches is number one on the list, there's so much more to experience. Here are just a few highlights:

• You must visit Haleiwa Town to check out the local shops, restaurants, food trucks, and landmarks like the Rainbow Bridge and the iconic Haleiwa surfer sign.
• Go swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, fishing, sailing.
• Watch the whales and turtles.
• Take a surf lesson at Pua'ena Point.
• Hike Oahu's North Shore beautiful trails.
• Go for a bike ride on the bike path along the coast.
• Go zip lining and skydiving with panoramic ocean and mountain views.
• Check out the Waimea Falls hike at the historic Waimea Valley.
• Visit the pineapple Dole Plantation.
• Go shopping at the North Shore farmers market and get some fresh fruits and veggies from local farms.

I'm honestly just scratching the surface here because there's a ton of things to do. But this post isn't just about things to do, so for a more complete list, check out the best things to do on the North Shore. And here is a comprehensive list of all the top things to do in Haleiwa.

Beaches and surf spots

One of the primary draws for visitors to Oahu's North Shore is its renowned beaches and iconic surf spots. You've likely heard of popular names such as Pipeline, Waimea Bay, and Sunset Beach.

The region is known as the 'Seven Mile Miracle,' reflecting several of the best surf spots on Oahu and the world, found between Haleiwa and Sunset Beach.

What's more, even the neighborhoods along the North Shore are named after the closest surf spots in the area, underscoring the profound impact of surfing on the community.

So when you're here, I have a few beach suggestions for you:

• For swimming, head to Haleiwa Beach Park, and for snorkeling, check out Sharks Cove.
• To watch the waves and surfers in winter, stop at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach Park, Waimea Bay, Pipeline (Ehukai Beach Park), and Sunset Beach.

• To see turtles on the beach, visit Laniakea Beach.
• If you're a surfer, here's a map listing all the surf spots on the North Shore. Be sure to also check out our advanced and beginner's guide to surfing the North Shore.

Food and dining

Historic Haleiwa Town is the focal point for dining options on Oahu's North Shore, with many of the most popular restaurants and food trucks located here.

Further north by Shark's Cove Beach, there are also several food trucks to try out. My top recommendation is Pupukea Grill, but many more delicious options are available.

You may have heard of Ted's Bakery. They serve local plate lunches and the most delicious Hawaiian Haupia Pies. Ted's is just north of Sunset Beach. Also at Sunset Beach is the world-famous Sunrise Shack serving coffee, açai bowls, and more.

Continuing north, several amazing restaurants inside Turtle Bay Resort are open to the public. I highly recommend Lei Lei's Bar & Grill!

And finally, you must check out all the popular food trucks by Kahuku Point, including the famous Giovanni's Shrimp Truck.

Shops and grocery stores

Haleiwa Town is the central place for shopping on the North Shore where you'll find a variety of local boutiques, gift shops, surf shops, art galleries, and more.

Just a few minutes from Haleiwa is Waialua, the oldest plantation neighborhood on the North Shore. In the historic Waialua Sugar Mill, you'll find a few shops worth checking out, such as Island-X Hawaii and the North Shore Soap Factory.

As you drive past Turtle Bay Resort towards Kahuku Point, you'll come across several gift shops along the way, including those near where the food trucks are parked.

As for grocery stores, you'll find Malama Market, Celestial Natural Foods, and Longs Drugs in Haleiwa Town. Further north, next to Shark's Cove Beach, there's also a Foodland Supermarket.

Places to stay

You have a few options for places to stay on Oahu's North Shore, ranging from hotels and resorts to short-term vacation rentals and other accommodations.

Choices include Turtle Bay Resort, Courtyard by Marriott, a hostel called Backpackers, selected short-term vacation rentals, camper van rentals, and campgrounds.

For detailed information about each option, please check out our complete guide to places to stay on the North Shore.

Local tips & insights

Safety tips: The North Shore is a pretty safe place, and you can walk around the streets without much concern. But here's a little tip from me: make sure not to leave any valuables visible in your car.

Expect to sit in traffic: This side of the island is busy with tourists, surfers, and local residents, and sometimes, especially when the waves pick up, you can expect to sit in traffic.

Packing essentials: Bring a GoPro for those water shots, reef-safe sunscreen, a cool hat, shades, a comfy sun shirt, and a windbreaker.

Hawaiian words to know:

• Aloha (ah-LOH-hah): a greeting similar to "hi" or "hello," also conveying love and compassion.
• Mahalo (mah-HAH-loh): thank you or gratitude.

FAQs

Hope this helps you plan your trip to the North Shore of Oahu! Got more questions? Drop them in the comments below! Also, check out these other posts for more insights into the area.