Going to the North Shore?
Here are some great things to see and do!

First tip: Start early! It takes about 1 hour from Waikiki to get to the North Shore by car. Take the H1 freeway to the H2. Going north, exit at "Exit 8" into Wahiawa. Locals pronounce it "Wahiwa" dropping the "a" in the middle. Keep headed north through Wahiawa and a few miles later you will find yourself at...

The Dole Plantation is on the way to the North Shore and is a great place for your first stop. They have a gift shop with many interesting snacks and souvenirs. A snack bar with lots of food and pineapple ice cream. In their pineapple garden you can discover all the many varieties of pineapples that grow in the world as well as learn some history and how pineapples grow. The Dole Plantation has bragging rights to the worlds largest maze and is quite fun to walk through it. Allow about one hour for the maze. Pineapple cutting demonstrations are scheduled throughout the day where they will show you how to easily cut and enjoy a pineapple. Their koi pond has so many fish, they pile on top of each other as they complete for the fish food you throw to them. It's hilarious! I don't recommend the train ride. I rode it once. In my opinion, save your money for Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park or Disneyland and you'll get a much better ride for your buck. View Map.



As you approach Haleiwa, veer right and head east. About 1 mile or so past Haleiwa is Laniakea Beach or "Turtle Beach". Park on your right and take care when crossing the street. Turtles sleep on the beach and don't seem to care too much about all the attention they get from tourists. Take photos, but don't touch. If the waves are small you could even go snorkeling with the turtles! View Map.



Continuing east along the Kam Highway along the north shore, Waimea Bay is a great place to swim and try some cliff jumping. The huge rock in the ocean can be accessed from the shore do you don't need to swim out to it to get on top of it. It has heights of about 10 and 20 feet that you can jump from. Water depth is about 9 feet and the bottom is sandy. Never jump if the water is murky or the waves are too large. Parking can be difficult to find on the weekends and holidays and when the monster waves are in town. Weekdays are best. View Map.



Heading east again about a half mile or so from Waimea Bay is Pupukea Beach or "Shark's Cove". In my opinion, it's the best place to snorkel on Oahu with lots of fish, underwater caves, restrooms, parking is free and close to the water! But you can only snorkel here when the waves are small. Summer time is best. During the winter the waves are much bigger and you cannot snorkel here. Here is a link to NOAA's Hawaiian Surf Forecast for O`ahu. You can know the surf conditions before you go to the north shore and best plan your trip. Bring your mask, snorkel, fins and sun block. Women, bring a rubber band for your hair. It will make putting on your mask a lot easier. Always snorkel with a buddy and don't pet any sharks if they haven't had lunch yet. ;) View Map.



Dinner time! A great place for dinner is right in Haleiwa Town. Head back west along the Kam Highway. Some of my favorite grinds are Cholo's Mexican food, Kua 'Aina Sandwich Shop, Bob's Pizza, Rosie's Cantina and Spaghettini. If you get into town early enough, Aoki's has great shave ice and the line is usually much shorter than M********'s shaved ice. :) And it's right next door! View Map.



If you happen to drive back to Waikiki early before sunset, in the late afternoon, quite often you can spot a rainbow.




Aloha,


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