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 […]
Snorkeling is like a stained-glass window into a world under the sea. The best part about it is, there is no expensive equipment or training needed. Anyone can jump in and experience a kaleidoscope of magnificent, tropical fish going about their day. Over 5 million people visit Oʻahu’s stunning, sandy coastlines and clear crystal water every
There are too many places to eat in Wahiawā for us to cover them all, so we’ve listed our five favorite spots below. 1. Koa Pancake House View this post on Instagram A post shared by Koa Pancake House (@koapancakehouse) Everything you’d want from a hometown diner, Koa Pancake House serves local-style breakfast
I don’t often stop in Wahiawā. I’ve driven through it hundreds of times—growing up on the North Shore, I’d pass by the town on my way to, well, anywhere. Now that I live in Honolulu, I zip through Wahiawā on my way to surf in the country, but rarely do I stop. But the area
Standing in a circle of native Hawaiian crops, I extend my hand as Ramsey Brown pours a handful of small, dried brown flowers into my palm. “This is our ʻilima,” he says. “A single ʻilima lei is made with 500 to 1,000 of these flowers.” I clasp the seeds just as a tropical breeze sweeps
I’m about to begin my journey through the massive Pineapple Garden Maze at the Dole Plantation on Oʻahu’s North Shore. But first, I breathe in the fresh air and pump myself up. The plan is to rush through the maze as fast as I can; I might not leave with a record time, but for
Growing up on the North Shore of O‘ahu, I always waited with bated breath for our next family excursion to Shark’s Cove. To me, it was a magical underwater playground with so much to do and see. And now, as an adult who lives on the other side of the island, I still look forward
Most visitors to Oʻahu end up staying in Waikīkī—and for good reason. The beachside neighborhood offers a wide variety of accommodations—from high-end oceanfront resorts to cozy boutique hotels to cheap hostels—and tons of things to do. But if you’re looking to ditch the crowds—and you should!—get in a car (or hop on the city bus)
This story was originally published on Jan. 24, 2023. It’s not every day the prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational happens at Waimea Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore. In fact, in 34 years, the surf contest, which requires wave faces to be consistently larger than 40 feet (measured from the front of the wave)
It seems like the stars and swell are aligning this weekend, as The Eddie Big Wave Invitational has again been given the green light for Sunday. Although the contest was expected to run on Wed, Jan. 11, 2023, it was ultimately called off due to high winds and poor conditions. However, the forecast is showing
During the winter months, surfers and spectators flock to Oʻahu’s North Shore for the monstrous waves. And after a few hours at the beach, they all swarm the area’s shrimp trucks for lunch. But today, a clear Sunday in December, I’ve got one thing on my mind, and it doesn’t involve massive waves or shrimp.
The waves that pound Hawaiʻi during the winter have a hypnotic beauty to them. Massive in size, these moving mountains of water slam against northern shorelines every winter—starting as early as November and pulsing through January. And on Oʻahu’s North Shore, it’s easy to watch these massive slabs of water roll in from a safe
