A guide to Oahu’s North Shore
With nearly 600 surf spots, over 50 miles of sandy beaches, over 35 golf course, 88% sunshine and an average temperature of 77 degrees, it’s really no wonder Oahu is the main hub for travelers to the 50th state. There’s so much to do within this island’s 600 square miles that could take up a whole lifetime and then some. Oahu’s timeless natural beauty and its modern urban luxuries make it one of the world’s top travel destinations.
There is no other place in the world like the North Shore of Oahu. As you make your way through the fields of Wahiawa, be sure to make a stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. This complete pineapple experience include a train, garden tour and the world’s largest maze. You might want to start at Kaena Point, the westernmost tip of Oahu, where you can hike or just take in the rugged coastline. If you’re daring, you can skydive off of Dillingham Airfield close by. In the spring and summer months every Sunday from 2-5 p.m., there are polo matches at across the street at Mokuleia.
Make your way through cute and quaint Haleiwa town, before taking a tour of the North Shore’s famed coastline. This 5-mile stretch features some of the world’s most famous big waves, such as Waimea, the Banzai Pipeline and Sunset. These waves are best observed between November and January, but if you’re around at other times of the year, you can view turtles sunbathing at Laniakea Beach, go snorkeling at Sharks Cove, or go cliff diving at the rock by Waimea Bay. There are also year-round shark adventures offered through boats that dock at Haleiwa Harbor.
What better way to catch an afternoon nap than with a cocktail by the beach. Just past all the surf breaks before you reach Kahuku, is the beautiful Turtle Bay Resort, which encompasses nearly 5 miles of beachfront and offers walking trails as well as horseback rides. To cap off your day, enjoy a luau and entertainment at the Polynesian Cultural Center, which features 7 different Polynesian cultural villages.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Parsons (via TrekEarth.com)
