People are lured to Oʻahu’s North Shore because of its famous surf breaks and beautiful beaches. And while these alone are great reasons to venture north, there are plenty of others, including dozens of local coffee shops, shave ice stands and restaurants. And lately, it seems like anytime I’m on the North Shore, an exciting […]
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
Picture relaxing in Hawai‘i. We’re pretty sure you imagined a beach. Hawai‘i has some of the best ones in the world, from the glittering sands of Lanikai on O‘ahu to the jet-black sands of Punalu‘u on Hawai‘i Island. And some of these beach locales have more than just sandy shores: You’ll find great restaurants, cute
Many first timers to Hawaiʻi set their sights on Oʻahu, thanks to its visitor-friendly activities and locales known around the world. The island is home to the state’s capital city, Honolulu, and sites including Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head (the Hawaiian place name is Lēʻahi), Pearl Harbor and the North Shore. While travelers should certainly include
This March, HAWAIʻI Magazine readers spent a lot of time preparing to travel to Kauaʻi—whether they’re first-timers or seasoned regulars—visitors wanted to know what to expect on a trip to the beloved Garden Isle. Along with what to pack and where to make reservations across the Islands, readers wanted to know what not to do
The unofficial capital of Oʻahu’s North Shore, Haleʻiwa epitomizes the perfect beachside town. With a vast array of small, locally owned boutiques, a selection of eateries to fill the empty stomach of beachgoers and surfers alike as well as activities to do in the town itself, there’s a reason why locals and visitors love Haleʻiwa.
It’s difficult to find a name more legendary in Hawaiʻi’s shave ice industry than Matsumoto. Serving the Islands’ ubiquitous cold treat and maintaining an endearing charm, Matsumoto Shave Ice has drawn residents and visitors to Oʻahu’s North Shore for decades. This week the Matsumoto family celebrates 72 years of business in Haleʻiwa. On Saturday, Feb.
In a barn-red building along Haleʻiwa’s main road, Kaimana Shave Ice is a bit of a hidden-gem. But the family-run business serves some of the finest shave ice on the island—a contentious subject, especially with Matsumoto Shave Ice and Aoki’s Shave Ice just down the street. “Matsumoto Shave Ice and Aoki’s Shave Ice helped create
The painted panels its rollup door declare one of the world’s most universal truths: “ICE CREAM MAKES YOU HAPPY.” Sweet As, the bright and cheery real fruit ice cream parlor in Haleʻiwa, has embraced the claim and upped the ante—and going by the waves of returning customers certainly would have you believe that good ice
Do you know the story of the Haleʻiwa Hotel? Not many people do. The illustrious property closed its doors in 1943, as the epicenter of Oʻahu’s tourism industry cemented itself in Waikīkī, and the building itself was torn down a decade later in 1953. But for a moment, this country estate served as a dream
Yesterday, on March 9, Hawaiʻi experienced an onslaught of rain and stormy weather, flooding towns and districts across all islands. On Oʻahu, the North Shore got the worst of the weather. Overflowing rivers caused road closures throughout the area, and those in Haleʻiwa were ordered to evacuate because of “catastrophic flooding.” While the order has
This summer, a couple of months after the state issued the first shutdown to control the spread of COVID-19 in the Islands, our team visited Oʻahu’s most popular neighborhoods to see how the lack of visitors had affected these areas. There were no surprises: Lots of businesses were shuttered—mostly temporarily, some permanent—the beaches were empty
