On the Island of Oahu, the North Shore gets all of the glory.  It’s where the big wave surfers perform their death defying feats.  It’s where the cute little town of Halei’wa is.  It’s where the famous Turtle Bay Resort with its Arnold Palmer designed golf course awaits those lucky enough to stay and play there.  What you may not know is that the North Shore is also home to Ka’ena Point which is the westernmost point on the island.  So it’s not only North but also west. 

​To get to Kaena Point you can either come from Haleiwa Town to the East or up from the Wainae side of the island.  Either way, you will need to park your car and hike.  The road used to extend around the point but finally the highway department got tired of repairing it after each winter when the road would get washed out during high surf.  So they turned it into a bird preserve for the endangered Layson Albatross and a natural area now known as Kaena State Park. 

Those of a superstitious nature may want to stay away during the full moon.  Hawaiian legend says that Ka’ena Point is the place where the souls of the dead converge on the full moon and then jump off and rejoin their ancestors.  Those caught at the wrong time will be brought with them. 

While the surf may look tempting, most surfers stay away from Ka’ena because of dangerous currents, reefs and undertows.  The famous big wave surfer Greg Noll photographed the largest wave ever photographed from here in 1969 - the record stood until the 1990s!  So, if you go in the water...please be careful. ​
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If you go as far East as you can on the island of Oahu - you will find yourself at Makapu’u Point - a stunning place where the desert meets the rainforest and is bathed in azure waters and dramatic rocky cliffs.  The name comes from the Hawaiian word which means “Bulging Eye” most likely in reference to a carved totem which once was kept here by the Hawaiian people - but if you say it to locals - they usually just think about East side body surfing and Makapu’u Beach. 
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If you’ve ever imagined what the perfect little beach town feels like - then you know exactly what it’s like to visit Kailua on the windward side of Oahu.  Kailua is that place in your imagination with all the things you would expect - little surf kids riding bikes around, the world’s most beautiful beaches, kitesurfing, great restaurants, a walkable downtown and a healthy and friendly lifestyle.  For many people, Kailua is exactly what they think of when they picture an idealized Hawaii. 
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​From humble beginnings as a plantation village - Haleiwa, Hawaii on the North Shore of Oahu, has grown into one of the most charming destinations in the Aloha State.  Filled with delicious food, great shopping, galleries, and of course, surf shops - Haleiwa is the perfect place to spend the day enjoying Hawaii’s perfect weather.

At first glance, Haleiwa is still the slow paced country town of yesterday.  But, then upon looking deeper you come across the laid back surfer vibe - dig a little more and you find a culinary treasure trove and the home of one of Oahu’s bustling artisanal scenes. 

​Nestled on the shore of Waialua Bay, Hale’iwa has a small boat harbor, hosts world class surf competitions  and is only minutes away from the most famous beaches in the world, important Hawaiian cultural sites, the North Shore Soap Factory and even the world famous Dole Plantation. 

Ancient Hawaiians recognized the beauty of the place and had villages scattered across the North Shore.  Hawaiian royalty would vacation on the North Shore during summer escaping the heat of Honolulu and Ewa for the cool breezes of the island's Northern coastlines.  There have been people living in what is now Hale’iwa since about 1100 AD, but the first European style building was the Queen Liliuokalani Protestant Church built in 1832.  The modern town itself was founded in 1898 by Benjamin Dillingham, a local businessman who built a railroad from Honolulu to the North Shore to facilitate the transport of sugar and pineapples.  Dillingham saw the touristic potential of the site and built a hotel at the terminus of the railroad and named it the Hale’iwa - which in Hawaiian language means nest of the black frigate bird. 

Since that time, the town has grown - but not too much.  This is not the hustle and bustle of Waikiki - there are less than 4000 residents in Hale’iwa, though sometimes if you are waiting for a shave ice at Matsumoto General Store, it may seem like there are far more! ​

The Summer Season is a perfect time to be out on and in the water!  On the North Shore of Oahu, the Anahulu Stream offers a picturesque opportunity to paddle a kayak and/or stand up paddle board through one of the many fresh water rivers on the island.  Located near the town of Haleiwa, the Anahulu Stream meanders from the Northwestern  section of the Ko'Olau Mountain Range approximately 7 miles down into Waialua Bay.  The river is a moderate paddle and great for beginners.

For additional details about kayak and paddle board rentals, please visit www.surfnsea.com/en/rentals/.

The majestic Ko'Olau Mountain Range spans approximately 45 miles from the southeast corner of the island of Oahu all the way north to Kahuku Point on the North Shore.  Pu'u Ualaka'a is an amazing lookout point in the Ko'Olau Mountain Range just outside the city of Honolulu.  Also referred to as Tantalus (Pu'u Ohia in the Hawaiian Language) Lookout, Pu'u Ualaka'a is the Hawaiian name given to the State Park that surrounds this extinct cinder cone outcropping.  
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The panoramic views from Pu'u Ualaka'a stretch from Diamond Head Crater  all the way west to the Waianae Mountains of west Oahu.  As the sun sets to the west, Pu'u Ualaka'a provides one of the best views for sunset on the island!
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The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is located on the south east shore of the island of Oahu.  This beautiful bay is one of the most popular snorkeling locations in the State of Hawaii.  Hanauma Bay is a nature preserve that is now managed by the State of Hawaii and visitors to the Bay currently number around one million per year.  During a visit to Hanauma Bay, snorkelers often see tropical fish, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles and other varieties of marine life that live in the area's abundant coral reef ecosystems.  

Hanauma Bay was formed approximately 30,000 years ago during the Honolulu series of volcanic eruptions in the Hawaiian Island Chain.  This amazing landscape took it shape as the violent explosions of gasses and magma made their way up from the bottom of the ocean.  The resulting caldera was formed as fine volcanic ash from the explosions finally settled and cooled creating the tuff cone that we see today.  In addition, after thousands of years of ocean erosion, one side of the caldera collapsed allowing ocean water to fill the space and create the bay.

​The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is open to the public from 6:00am to 6:00pm HST, six days a week.  Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays.  For additional information about the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, please visit their website pros8.hnl.info/hanauma-bay.

Located approximately one hour's drive from Waikiki, Haleiwa Town is the North Shore's most famous surfing village.  Much the opposite of the hustle and bustle in world-famous Waikiki, Haleiwa reminds visitors to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.  Things like locally-owned small businesses, amazing local coffee and the legendary Hawaiian Shave Ice.  

Haleiwa Town is quaintly nestled on the shores of Waialua Bay near the mouth of the Anahulu Stream on the beautiful North Shore of Oahu.  In the Hawaiian language, Haleiwa translates roughly into "House of the Frigate Bird".  The ancient Hawaiians settled this area around the year 1100 AD.  Haleiwa was optimal for a civilization due to it's rich ocean waters and fertile lands near the banks of the Anahulu and Kaukonahua Rivers.

Modern day Haleiwa is an easy walking town.  You could stroll from one end of the village to the other in less than 30 minutes.  However, be sure not to miss the many art galleries, restaurants and surf shops along the way!!

For more information about Haleiwa Town, please visit http://haleiwatown.com.
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Diamond Head Crater is one of the most famous landmarks in the state of Hawaii.  Diamond Head (Le'ahi in the Hawaiian Language) is a tuff cone crater that was formed by volcanic eruptions on the island of Oahu some 300,000 years ago.  Today, most people consider Diamond Head to be extinct.  This means that it will never erupt again.  Looking south from the tranquil shores of Waikiki, Diamond Head offers one of the most picturesque tropical backdrops on the planet.

The Diamond Head State Monument is now a part of the Hawaii State Park system.  Inside the crater there is a trail that leads up to the summit.  The hike is 1 mile and the elevation at the summit of the trail is approximately 600 feet above sea level.  If you plan to hike to the summit, wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water.  The inside of the crater can get really hot.  The Diamond Head State Monument is open from 6am to 6pm daily and there is an entrance fee.  For more information, please visit the State Park website at http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument/.

Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000 acre working cattle ranch located on the beautiful Northeast shores of the island of Oahu.  Approximately 22 miles from the city of Honolulu, Kualoa Ranch is currently one of the top tourist attractions in the state of Hawaii.  Kualoa also offers a variety of adventure tours throughout the ranch.  These specialty adventures include (but, are not limited to) ATV tours, Horseback riding, Zipline and a Hollywood movie sites tour.  


In ancient Hawaii, the lands that are now called Kualoa were sacred.  The Ka'a'awa Valley was used as a training ground for Hawaiian royalty.  The area was named Kualoa ("Long Back" in the Hawaiian language) in 1927.  For additional information about Kualoa Ranch's history and attractions, please visit www.kualoa.com.