6 Colorful North Shore Towns You Won’t Want to Miss

Your guide to the local towns dotting Oʻahu fabled North Shore.

This story was originally published on Dec. 15, 2018 and updated on Aug. 6, 2025.

Oʻahu’s iconic North Shore is dotted with vibrant beach towns, each with their own historic sites and unique personalities. From famous surf breaks and picturesque beaches to top-notch food trucks and hole-in-the-wall bakeries, these local neighborhoods are all worth visiting.

Here is your guide to Oʻahu’s North Shore towns.

READ MORE: 8 Free Things to Do on Oʻahu’s North Shore

Pūpūkea

The stretch of land that spans from Waimea Bay to Sunset Beach, Pūpūkea is home to many of Oʻahu’s best surf spots and beaches. You’ll want to find a parking spot and get out to watch surfers ride the massive barrels at ʻEhukai Beach Park, which houses the famous surf breaks Pipeline and Backdoor. (What some visitors don’t realize about these North Shore beaches is that they also double as family-friendly playgrounds during the summer, when the surf is small to flat.) Visitors, locals and surfers right out of the water converge at Pūpūkea Foodland to fill up on poke bowls and other grab-and-go snacks before continuing their perfect North Shore beach day.

Haleʻiwa

The iconic Haleʻiwa signs welcome you to this town, often regarded as the epicenter of the North Shore. Its busy streets are lined with a mix of local mom-and-pop shops, swim and surf shops, restaurants, rows of food trucks, boutiques and shopping centers. This is where you’ll also find the world famous Matsumoto Shave Ice. Tip: Haleʻiwa Harbor and Aliʻi Beach Park are two of the best places to watch the sunset.

READ MORE: Top Things to Do in Haleʻiwa

Kahuku

Oʻahu’s northernmost town, Kahuku serves as a refreshingly authentic contrast to the nearby resort area of The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay. Brimming with schools, residential neighborhoods and churches, Kahuku has an undeniable local feel, filled with some hidden gems. Giovanni’s Shrimp truck, or the Kahuku Superette for its poke, are absolute necessities. Kahuku Golf Course, a nine-hole course facing the ocean, is also popular with travelers on a budget.

READ MORE: Our Favorite Shrimp Trucks on Oʻahu’s North Shore

Mokulēʻia

Isolated on the far west side of the North Shore, Mokulēʻia is a quiet seaside district with a beach park that probably has more turtles relaxing on the sand than people. Continue your drive west and you might see skydivers descending near Dillingham Ranch, where Hawaiʻi Polo Club’s seasonal matches are held. Want to go on a hike? Park your car at the Kaʻena Point trailhead and wander past remote beaches to Oʻahu’s westernmost point.

Waialua

Not nearly as busy as Haleʻiwa, its bustling neighbor, Waialua is a vestige of Hawaiʻi’s sugar plantation era that has seen a new wave of chic cafés and eclectic boutiques opening on its country streets. We recommend the hip café, Mele Mele Bakery, which serves delicious matcha lattes making a stop at the old Waialua Sugar Mill a must. The mill is home to some of the world’s best surfboard shapers, but if you’re not looking for a surfboard, don’t fret—there’s also a soap factory, local boutique and farmers market to check out.

READ MORE: 9 New Things to do on Oʻahu’s North Shore

Lāʻie

There’s a lot packed into the small, laid-back coastal community of Lāʻie. It’s a country town with two-lane roads and side streets leading to some of the island’s best beaches. You’ll also find the Polynesian Cultural Center. Because it is a Mormon-dominated community, many of the stores and restaurants may be closed on Sundays—and liquor here is nowhere to be found.

Kevin Allen was a longtime writer and is a former editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.