North Shore

The North Shore is made famous from the Banzai Pipeline; a famous monstrous wave at Ehukai Beach that only professional surfers can surf at in the wintertime. These waves can get around 20 ft in height in the winter months! When I have visitors, it is always fun to watch Somebody Feed Phil’s Hawaii episode in season 4, which highlights the Pipeline and a few food places in Hawaii (some have since gone under due to the pandemic). Plus, Phil is such a hoot! The next day, the visitors are excited to see the Volcom Pro-Surfer House close up, and the huge waves (in the wintertime) that form due to the powerful northern winter storms in the Pacific Ocean.

What to Do

Sharks Cove

There are many more things to do on the North Shore besides just WATCHING the waves. Some of these include getting in them! Sharks Cove is a great place to go in the summertime when the waves are small beyond the cove, which makes it easy to snorkel here. Some of you might be like “why is there ‘shark’ in the name?!” I believe the reason is because, especially in the summertime, the cove that the lava rock forms protects this area from sharks. Now with lava rock comes sharp rocks… I highly recommend wearing water shoes in this area, or fins if you want to get more adventurous beyond the cove/more shallow area. This is my all-time favorite place to snorkel (so far!). It feels like you are in an aquarium - there are so many different types of fish and usually sea turtles like to swim in here and peck at the coral.

In the summertime, you can also go to Three Tables next to Sharks Cove (again, you will need to get there early to get parking). Here is a walk-in snorkel spot with “three tables” of coral reef.

Dole Farm Tour

While not necessarily on the “North Shore,” this is on the way there. It is across the street from the Dole Plantation, which is where you can get the famous Dole Whip. I had never heard of this before, but it is soft serve vanilla ice cream with fresh pineapple juice. It is worth it to stay in the long lines as it’s a large serving, you can add toppings, and it is delicious!

But I digress! The Dole Farm Tour is on the other side of the street and you will go on an in-depth tour of the pineapple farming process to learn how they grow pineapples today. You even leave with a fresh pineapple PER PERSON, and get samples of the fresh pineapple and their pineapple juice. This tour is $15/person and lasts about 30 minutes to an hour depending on how many questions you ask. I have been four times so far and have learned something new each time (and got a lot of fresh pineapples!).

Banzai Pipeline

As mentioned before, the Banzai Pipeline is the greatest thrill of being in Hawaii in the winter months. Watching top-notch surfing right in front of your eyes is something you have to see to understand the magnitude of what these surfers can do! Park at Ehukai Beach Park parking lot or if there is a competition, you may have to park on the side of Kamehameha Highway. From the Park, you can walk along the beach a short distance to see the Volcom and Billabong Pro-Surfer houses. That’s usually where people prop themselves to watch the spectacle. Tip: It is extremely dangerous for anyone to surf these waves or even get in the water here.

Turtle Bay

This beautiful upscale hotel right on the tip of the North Shore was made famous in many movies including “Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Along Came Polly.” It is fun to walk around and reminisce about all the movie scenes. There are many beaches close to the hotel’s beach that are less-popular and also have gorgeous views. The Turtle Bay to Kahuku Point 2.4 mile walk along the beaches has incredible scenery the entire way. It is mostly sand but turns to grass part of the time. Wearing hiking sandals was the way to go with this one. At Kahuku Point there are lava rocks at the tip, so if you want to get closer to the water in this area proper shoes are important since lava rocks are SHARP.

Where to Eat

Haleiwa (pronounced HAH - LAY - EE - VAH) is the adorable small town at the start of the North Shore. There are many, many places to eat here. Below are a few noteworthy spots.

Green World Coffee Farm

Two of my best friends came to visit me this year, and they LOVE and appreciate coffee. Every morning we went to a different one of my favorite coffee shops on Oahu. At the end of their week-long trip here, they dubbed Green World Coffee Farm the best coffee on the island! Most of the coffee beans are from the Hawaiian Islands and the farm itself, and others are mixed blends, both making for fantastic flavors. Here you can sample coffee, tea, and chocolate. There is also a really nice gift shop attached to it, and in the back are some of the coffee trees that they harvest. You can also ask any of the employees for a free tour of the farm, which I haven’t done yet! Though not necessarily on the “North Shore,” this is close to the Dole Plantation on your way up there.

Haleiwa Bowls

Coming from Waikiki and heading to the North Shore, I usually go to Green World Coffee for coffee, and then Haleiwa Bowls for acai. There are many different types of acai for your liking. Just a heads up, the “small” bowl is VERY filling and I usually can’t finish it. Feel free to split one amongst your friends/family.

Big Wave Shrimp Truck

Featured in Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, this food truck is very popular with their shrimp. I have tried most of the different dishes, and the coconut shrimp is my favorite. The portions are large so you can share with someone if you aren’t super hungry. Park in the parking lot right next to it on the same side of the road. There is usually someone directing the parking lot traffic, so follow what they say!

Farm to Barn Cafe + Juicery

Probably some of the freshest food you will have on the island, this healthy food stand on the North Shore is eager to please your palate. Everything is good here; I have no recommendations! They usually have live music outside, too.

Ted’s Bakery

Ted’s Bakery is close to Sunset Beach, more on the northern part of that side of the island. The lines are always long here as this bakery wins “Best of Hawaii” each year for their baked goods. Whatever you decide to eat, make sure bread is a part of it. Also, they are known for the chocolate cream pie. When I visited there, I ordered one of their breakfast sandwiches and the pie, and they were both delightful and worth the hype!