The Ultimate Guide to Oahu's North Shore: Beaches, Food Trucks & More!

North Shore, Oahu

When planning our trip to Hawaii, one thing we heard over and over again was, “Make sure you check out the North Shore!”

We're so glad we followed everyone's advice and took a couple days to explore outside of Waikiki! Visiting the North Shore was like seeing another side of the island.

It was wild and rugged, with lots of rural farms and empty dirt roads.

The beaches felt nearly deserted compared to the crowds on Waikiki, and the colorful plantation-era buildings and roadside food stalls were the only signs of ‘development'.

Oahu's North Shore was like visiting the Hawaiian heartland, where country remains country.

Quickly jump to a section:

Where is the North Shore
Road Trip vs Day Trip
Where to Stay on the North Shore
Best Hotels
Best Airbnbs & Vacation Rentals
Visiting Without a Car
Best Things to Do on the North Shore

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best-food-trucks-and-restaurants-on-oahu-north-shore

The North Shore

While the secret's out on the North Shore, the coastline still feels quite natural and local despite all the tourists.

The North Shore region starts at Kahana Bay and ends at Ka'ena Point.

In between, there's a series of beaches, towns and quaint neighborhoods dotted throughout the area and it's a great idea to head up without any plans and see where the day leads.

How to Get to the North Shore

Oahu is pretty compact, so whether you have a couple days or two weeks, it's easy to fit a lot in on one vacation. Getting to the North Shore is roughly 1 hour from Waikiki, and there's a couple routes to choose from:

Quick Route

From glamorous Waikiki to the laid back North Shore, it's a fast and easy 40 minute drive straight north through the middle of Oahu. From your hotel in Waikiki, plug the surf town of Haleiwa into Google Maps and take the the H-1 and H2 freeway.

Just make sure to leave early to avoid traffic!

Scenic Route

Or, you can drive the slightly longer, but more scenic route. Head north east of Waikiki to the town of Kahuku by taking Highway 3.

You'll see spectacular views of the emerald Koolau mountain range, then continue north on Kamehameha Highway to loop eastward along the North Shore.

If you drive this way, you'll often have a great view of the shoreline right outside the passenger side of the car. Enjoy view after view of Oahu's most beautiful white sand beaches!

Read more: The Best Things You Can't Skip on Oahu

North Shore Day Trip

If you're staying in Waikiki, you can visit the North Shore in a day trip (or multiple day trips). It's roughly a 40 minute to 1 hour drive up from Waikiki. We recommend heading out early in the morning to avoid traffic.

Also make sure to book your rental car early.

Rental cars in Hawaii sell out quickly and car rates can get pricier as it gets closer to your travel dates. Try to reserve a car as soon as you can!

Almost all the main car rental agencies are present in Hawaii, including Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Dollar, Sixt, Thrifty and Budget.

But I found that local company Hawaiian Discount Car Rentals offered the best rate out of them all, so I recommend booking with them.

Browse car rental rates for your trip here.

Where to Stay on the North Shore

Or, you can also stay on the North Shore!

Since the North Shore is more laidback and less developed, there's only a couple hotel options. Well, about 2 to be exact.

Turtle Bay Resort

There's the luxurious beachside Turtle Bay Resort which is perfect for couples and families.

Turtle Bay has its own sheltered beach and offers tons of water activities like surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkeling etc. Like its name, you'll be able to see turtles here as you swim!

Book rooms: Booking.com, Hotels.com | Check rates: TripAdvisor

Courtyard Marriott Oahu

There's also a Courtyard Marriott located a little further east, near the Polynesian Cultural Center.

There's food trucks in the parking lot nearby and it's walking distance to the famous Polynesian Cultural Center luau so this hotel is a great family friendly option.

Book rooms: Booking.com, Hotels.com, Courtyard Marriott | Check rates: TripAdvisor

Vacation Rentals on the North Shore

Otherwise, you'll find plenty of airbnbs, condos, VRBOs and short term rentals on the North Shore! Here are some of our suggestions:

North Shore Studio

Studio, Sleeps up to 4

This light and airy jungle retreat is perfect for a couple, families traveling with young kids or friends.

It's located in a gated secluded neighborhood on the North Shore just 3 minutes from the best beaches and surfing.

The studio apartment has its own entrance and has recently been renovated to a clean, comfortable and airy retreat. There's also a kitchenette if you wish to cook!

Check availability here.

Turtle Bay Villa

Studio, Sleeps 3

This luxurious condo is great for couples. It's located by Turtle Bay Resort and not only does it have lake and ocean views, but it's right near the famous local golf course.

The updated condo has a gourmet kitchen, washer/dryer, tv with cable, netflix, etc plus a balcony!

Couples traveling on holiday who want an affordably luxurious place to stay will love this!

Check availability here.

Tropical North Shore Villa

5 Bedroom Home, Sleeps up to 10

If you're traveling as a group, check out this luxurious North Shore villa!

The elegant home is located in the Pupukea Highlands and feels like its own private retreat. Not only does it have pristine views of the ocean, Mt. Kaala sunsets and a pool, it also has multiple bedrooms and lots of room for multi-general families or couples traveling together.

Finally, it's got a fantastic location right in between Haleiwa Town and Turtle Bay resort. World class surfing, golf and water sports are just a short drive in either direction.

Check availability here.

Visiting the North Shore Without a Car

If you don't plan to rent a car, don't worry, you can still visit the North Shore!

There are lots of great tour options that will take you all around the island on a full day trip.

It can be really convenient, because the local tour guides know all the best spots (and photo opportunities) on Oahu and they take care of transportation!

This North Shore Tour is the most popular, as it combines sightseeing and activities.

It picks up from Waikiki Beach and heads straight to the North Shore.

You'll get to see surfers catching towering high waves at Banzai Pipeline, one of the best surfing spots in the world (Blue Crush was filmed here!).

Throughout the day, you'll explore both the North and East sides of Oahu, hitting up a lot of the most popular sights like Waimea Bay and Waterfall, Haleiwa surf town, the Dole Plantation, Halona Blowhole, Chinaman's Hat, Tropical Nut Macadamia Farms and more.

No need to worry about parking, directions or planning – the tour takes care of everything so you'll have a great time visiting all the highlights in one day!

Check tour availability here.

Best Things to Do on Oahu's North Shore

1. Explore Haleiwa Town

Haleiwa is the main town on the North Shore and you'll definitely feel the ‘country' vibe here!

It's laidback, colorful and filled with clusters of shops, restaurants and art galleries.

The buildings are colorful plantation-era structures that have been converted to fun surf shops and brunch spots and it's a really fun afternoon to just walk around, browse, find some souvenirs and grab a bite to eat!

Plus, there's a couple big parking lots so you can easily park in one area and walk from section to section. It's a great way to spend the afternoon!

2. Go Shark Cage Diving

If you're super adventurous, there's a once-in-a-lifetime activity you can do on Oahu's North Shore: go diving with sharks!

You can dive with sharks both in a cage or swim with them out in the open, sans cage. The crew is super experienced and it's a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.

Tours depart from Haleiwa harbor on the North Shore and you often get the bonus of seeing turtles, dolphins and (humpback whales in winter) along the way!

The most commonly sighted sharks around Oahu are Galapagos, Hammerhead, and Sandbar sharks, which range from 5-15 feet.

Check availability here.

3. Go Snorkeling at Shark's Cove

Snorkeling is a must do while you're in Hawaii!

One of the best spots to spot colorful fish and coral reefs is at Pupukea's Beach (aka Shark's Cove) on the North Shore.

The natural tide pools aren't too deep and had some adorable colorful reef fish darting in and out of puddles of water, everywhere you look. We brought our own snorkel gear and spent the morning leisurely watching all the fish dart in and out.

There are places to buy or rent snorkel gear closer to town but I think it's more sanitary and cheaper in the long run to just get your own set!

Tip: I recommend wearing some water shoes that cover your feet.

The area is a mix of sharp pebbles, fragile coral reefs and tide pools and the rocks that form the small protected bay are really sharp and slippery!

Covered water shoes really come in handy. I wore these simple slipper-like ones from Amazon – they were inexpensive and really helpful in the water!

Read more: What to Pack for Hawaii: The Ultimate Packing List

4. See Turtles at Laniakea Beach

Sea turtles, or honu, are native to Hawaii.

There's a not-so-secret beach on the North Shore where you can watch these slow moving beauties warm up or surface for air.

There's usually lots of crowds (and no parking) so in my opinion, the best way to see sea turtles in Hawaii is to book a snorkel tour. They'll take you out a bit to sea, provide all the life jackets and equipment you need and ensure both you and the turtles have a safe and respectful time.

Check tour availability here.

Unfortunately, so many people crowd the beach that they can make the turtles too nervous to come to the beach to breathe (and the animals can drown).

Make sure to keep your distance!

5. Go Shopping

If you love to shop, the North Shore is for you.

While Waikiki felt a bit Vegas-like and touristy, with tons of high street and luxury designer stores, the North Shore felt more like… Williamsburg.

Instead of huge malls, you'll find a mix of marketplaces, small boutiques and kiosks selling a mix of name brands and hard-to-find-anywhere-else gifts.

We parked our rental car once we got into town (around the Post Office) and then walked around up and down the strip checking out stores along the way. There were loads of surf shops, antique stores, fine jewelry places and art galleries.

It was a lot of fun, and we found some really cute unique finds!

We especially loved the local furniture stores and Hawaiian souvenir shops.

If you're looking to buy gifts for family and friends, get it on the North Shore! They have everything from stylish bikinis to authentic Hawaiian wood crafts and locally made home decor.

If you're looking for a tiki mug, there's some great ones at Polynesian Treasures. Lots of surf gear shops and cute clothing stores too!

The North Shore is a laid back place, so take your time and walk leisurely through the side streets and arcade malls and pop into everything!

6. Grab Acai Bowls at the Sunrise Shack

After a day out in the hot sun, you'll be dying for something refreshing.

Head to the Sunrise Shack for a delicious, cooling acai bowl. They have a ton of different options but I liked the passionfruit and tropical fruit bowl. We also grabbed kombucha to drink.

There are a couple Sunrise Shacks on the North Shore and you won't be able to miss it – they're painted a fun cheery yellow!

7. Watch a Surf Competition

In the winter, the North Shore becomes a surf mecca.

The best surfers all over the world gather to ride toweringly high waves and compete in surf competitions all along Waimea Bay, Ehukai Beach (also known as Banzai Pipeline) and Sunset Beach.

The huge waves should be left to the pros, but it's just as fun to watch! Even in the summer, there was lots of surfers and sun bathers and it was a great spot to walk along the beach.

8. Cool Off with Shave Ice

oahu shave ice from uncle clays house of pure aloha

Shave ice (not ‘shaved') is a local treat!

It's kind of like an ice-y snow cone but the ice is really finely shaved and typically topped off with sweetened condensed milk, giving it a creamy (not crunchy) consistency.

Try out different flavors, add mochi or jellies for texture and add a scoop of ice cream! The best shave ice spots make their own toppings and syrups from scratch.

Matsumoto's is probably the most famous shave ice spot on the North Shore (there's always a long line)! Aoki's is another great option, right across the street.

9. Watch the Sunset at Sunset Beach

Hawaii gets some of the most incredible sunsets I've ever seen.

One of the best places to sit and watch is at… Sunset Beach!

Aptly named, this beach has a great open view of the sun setting over the ocean. Make sure to arrive early to snag a parking spot and space on the rocks! It's one of the most heartwarming ways to end a trip to Hawaii.

10. Grab Lunch at the Food Trucks

One of the best things about the North Shore is the sheer amount of food trucks.

One of the worst things about the North Shore is your stomach simply won't be able to try them all!

There are so many mouth-watering food trucks to choose from every mile or so along the North Shore. It's part of the local culture and I suppose highlights the surf meets countryside vibe of the area!

Two of the most famous are Romy's and Giovanni's.

Both are shrimp trucks known for their garlic shrimp and sweet and spicy shrimp options. But they'll always also have long lines. Cooking time here runs on island time!

Don't worry – you can find shrimp trucks all over and personally I think they're all quite similar. I didn't love that you have to peel the shrimp yourself but they're worth trying!

You can also find taco trucks, Asian trucks, fresh fruit juice stalls etc.

11. Buy Some Macadamia Nuts

Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts is a popular stop on the North Shore, as they sell a variety of flavored macadamia nuts and local Hawaiian snacks!

Macadamia nuts are a must-try while in Hawaii – they're so rich and flavorful! I especially love the honey roasted and dark chocolate covered flavors.

Tropical Farms has all different flavors available to sample. Munch on some nuts, buy some as gifts and get back on the road!

12. People Watch at Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the North Shore – and for good reason!

It has a huge sandy shore where you can lay out… picnic or even play beach volleyball. And in the summer months, it's one of the more calm and gentler beaches where you go for a leisurely swim.

There's also a famous giant rock at the far left corner of the Bay. You'll probably see a line of people climing up ‘The Rock' to leap off!

13. Walk Through Waimea Valley

things-to-do-on-north-shore-oahu-waimea-valley-garden

Waimea Valley Park is a sacred place to the Hawaiians.

Named ‘The Valley of the Priests' in 1090, an ancient ruler of Oahu originally awarded the land to the kahuna nui high priests. Descendants of the high priests lived and cared for the sacred Valley until the late 1900s.

Today, the gardens have been turned into a public park. Entrance is $25 per person and it's worth a visit! The gardens are lush and vast, it feels like you're walking back in time, an