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North Shore Day Trip: A Realistic One-Day Loop

Haleʻiwa, the big-wave beaches and a shrimp-truck lunch in one well-paced day.

By the Travel Oahu Local Style Editorial Team Updated 1 min read
The Haleʻiwa town sign welcoming visitors to the North Shore
Photo: Rachael Ledford on Unsplash
In this guide3 sections
  1. A realistic route
  2. Sea turtles
  3. While you’re nearby

The North Shore is a world away from Waikīkī: small surf towns, food trucks, long beaches and, in winter, some of the biggest waves on Earth. You can see it in one well-planned day. Here’s a realistic loop.

A realistic route

  1. Morning: drive up through Central Oʻahu (about an hour from Waikīkī without traffic). An optional stop at Dole Plantation is easy with kids.
  2. Haleʻiwa town: shave ice, surf shops, galleries and the Rainbow Bridge.
  3. Beaches: in winter, watch surfers at Waimea Bay, Pipeline and Sunset Beach. In summer, swim at Waimea Bay or snorkel Shark’s Cove when it’s calm.
  4. Lunch: garlic shrimp from a food truck.
  5. Return: continue around past Lāʻie and down the Windward coast past Kualoa for a full island loop.

Sea turtles

Green sea turtles often rest on North Shore beaches. Keep well back and never touch them.

While you’re nearby

A surfer inside a huge barreling wave at Banzai Pipeline on the North ShoreWatching Big-Wave Surf on Oʻahu’s North Shore (Safely)Aerial view of turquoise water and lava rock at Waimea Bay on the North ShoreNorth ShoreYellow food trucks and picnic tables under shade trees on OʻahuPlate Lunch on Oʻahu: What to Order and Where to Find ItSwimmers and the shallow reef at Hanauma Bay seen from the overlookThe Best Snorkeling Beaches on Oʻahu, by Season and Skill Level
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