The BEST Things to Do on Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii

If you’re planning a trip to the island of Oahu, you’ve probably already heard of the North Shore. Home to legendary surfers, the North Shore of Oahu is famous for its incredible winter waves. But don’t be fooled – there are plenty of other things to do on Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii, even if you’re not a surfer!

In this post, I’ll cover all the BEST things to do on the North Shore for all seasons, including the best beaches, the best restaurants, the best hikes, and more!

There is something for everyone on the North Shore, and I highly recommend adding this area to your Oahu itinerary. Sure, you have to see Waikiki beach and Pearl Harbor, but North Shore is a totally different vibe! So keep reading for all things you have to do while visiting North Shore.

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A Complete List of the Best Things to Do on Oahu’s North Shore in Hawaii

Where is the North Shore on Oahu?

Before we get into the list of the best things to do on Oahu’s North Shore, let’s talk about where the North Shore is on the island of Oahu and if it’s worth staying here!

The island of Oahu is about 600 square miles. It’s a relatively large island, but still smaller than the Big Island and Maui. The North Shore of Oahu refers to the 17-mile stretch of coastline on the north-facing side of the island.

As seen on the map below, this area stretches from Ka’ena Point in the west to Kahuku Point in the east. The largest settlement on North Shore is the town of Haleiwa, right in the center. This map of North Shore includes all the places mentioned in this blog post, so make sure to save it for later!

Where to Stay on the North Shore of Oahu

If you’re planning a trip to Oahu and wanting to visit North Shore, you are probably wondering if you need to stay the night on North Shore. My answer? It depends!

Most people visiting Oahu will stay in Waikiki, Hawaii’s most popular neighborhood and home to the big hotel chains. It takes just under an hour to get from Waikiki to North Shore, barring any major traffic delays. So, it is totally doable to do North Shore on a day trip from Waikiki.

However, if you read through this list of the best things to do on North Shore and want to see and do them ALL, you will need more than just one day. So, you can either do multiple day trips to North Shore from Waikiki, or stay within North Shore itself. If you are visiting Oahu for more than 4 days, I highly recommend staying at a second location outside of Waikiki, whether that be North Shore or somewhere else, like Kailua.

In terms of where to stay on North Shore, you have a few options. If money isn’t a concern, I highly recommend checking out the famous Turtle Bay Resort. This hotel, located on the eastern end of North Shore, is absolutely stunning. It has even been used as a film location for some major motion pictures, like Hunger Games, Pirates of the Caribbean, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and many more!

There aren’t many other major hotel chains on North Shore, aside from the Courtyard Marriott, which is not very central. If you want to stay right on North Shore, your best bet is a vacation rental home through Booking.com or AirBnb!

Renting a Car to Visit the North Shore

Like I mentioned above, the island of Oahu is about 600 square miles. If you plan to visit the North Shore, you will absolutely need to rent a car. This will come in handy throughout your vacation, as all the best activities on Oahu are spread out! The easiest thing to do is rent a car when you land in Honolulu and return it when you fly home!

I highly recommend using RentalCars.com. They allow you to compare prices across all of the major rental car companies. Plus, they have a great cancellation policy (typically free cancellation up to 48 hours in advance). Oh, and they price match!

Visiting North Shore in Summer Vs Winter

It’s important to note that the list of the best things to do on Oahu’s North Shore will vary slightly depending on when you are visiting Oahu.

During the winter months (November through February), the waves along the North Shore reach incredible heights. In fact, North Shore is where the World Championships of Surfing are held in December, for this exact reason! Waves along North Shore can get up to 30 feet high – absolutely insane!!

So, if your goal is to watch some incredible surfing, I highly recommend visiting North Shore in the winter. However, because of these large waves, the North Shore is not great for swimming during the winter. If you are visiting in the winter, you’ll need to visit other beaches on Oahu, like Kailua or Waikiki, to go swimming.

In the summer, however, the waves on North Shore are relatively small, and you can swim and snorkel at many places along the North Shore! Aside from swimming, there are plenty of other things to do on Oahu’s North Shore, regardless of the time of year.

Best Beaches on the North Shore

Now let’s get into the complete list of the best things to do on Oahu’s North Shore, starting with the best beaches! Obviously, you can’t come to the North Shore and not go to the beach, that’s kind of the whole point!!

One of the best beaches on the North Shore is Ehukai Beach Park. This beach park is where the Banzai Pipeline is located, one of the most famous surf breaks in the world. During the winter months, this beach is one of the top places to watch pro surfers. During the summer, the water is typically much calmer, but I still recommend checking with a lifeguard before going swimming.

Another awesome beach on the North Shore of Oahu is Waimea Bay Beach Park. I visited this beach park in winter just before sunset and was absolutely blown away by the size of the waves here. There was a lifeguard on duty informing people when large swells were coming in so they could back up.

In the summer, Waimea Bay is a great beach for swimming and relaxing. The water is typically quite calm here, but make sure to check with the lifeguard. There is also an epic spot to go cliff jumping here if you visit during the summer!

Another great beach on Oahu’s North Shore is Sunset Beach Park. This beach is, you guessed it, one of the most popular places to watch the sunset on the North Shore!

Finally, there are 3 different beaches right within the town of Haleiwa on North Shore: Haleiwa Beach, Haleiwa Ali’i Beach, and Haleiwa Beach Park. The water at Haleiwa Ali’i was very calm in winter, and I saw a ton of turtles swimming offshore!

Best Places to Eat on the North Shore

Hands-down one of the best things to do on Oahu’s North Shore is to EAT. Here, you’ll find an incredible collection of local food!

Let’s start with the most popular – the North Shore food trucks! Tucked into the town of Haleiwa, there are a multitude of incredible local food trucks, the most famous being Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. This food truck turned iconic landmark is a must visit when on the North Shore. The garlicky shrimp scampi will blow you away!

Other popular food trucks in the area include North Shore Crepes Cafe and Crispy Grindz.

Just down the road from the food trucks in Haleiwa is the famous Matsumoto Shave Ice. This family-owned shop has been open since the 1950s and has become a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Here, you’ll find delicious shaved ice with sticky-sweet tropical syrup like passionfruit, guava, and more! If you have a sweet tooth, another great place to stop on North Shore is Ted’s Bakery!

There are plenty of awesome sit-down restaurants along the North Shore to try out too! Haleiwa Joe’s is located right in historic Haleiwa town and has views of the harbor, plus incredible seafood dishes.

Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican is another awesome spot, serving up authentic Mexican food and margaritas. For a more upscale option, you can also check out Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi, which is located within the Turtle Bay Resort.

Best Snorkeling on the North Shore

In the summer months, when the waves die down, one of the best things to do on Oahu’s North Shore is to go snorkeling! Luckily, there are some incredible snorkel spots to choose from. Plus, there are typically tons of sea turtles on the North Shore.

Shark’s Cove is one of the best spots to snorkel on the North Shore and is located just north of Waimea Bay. There are actually two different areas within the cove. The Pupukea tide pools on the west side are shallow and have a nice sandy bottom. For snorkeling, head to the east side of the cove, where the deeper water is and the marine life hangs out!

Another great spot for snorkeling on North Shore is Laniakea Beach, nicknamed Turtle Beach! This beach is south of Shark’s Cove towards the town of Haleiwa. It is nicknamed Turtle Beach due to the large population of Hawaiian green sea turtles that often snooze on the sandy shores.

Please remember not to touch the sea turtles or get too close. They are an endangered species!

P.S. If you are looking for other places to snorkel on Oahu, make sure to check out my guide to Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay!

Best Hiking on the North Shore

While there are plenty of hikes throughout other areas of Oahu, the North Shore is not without its own! The most famous hike on North Shore is the Ehukai Pillbox Hike. This entrance to the hike, also known as the Sunset Pillbox hike, is located right behind Sunset Beach Elementary School, across from Ehukai Beach Park.

The hike is about 2.3 miles round trip and is moderately challenging. You will have to trek across uneven ground, which can get very muddy after rain, so it’s recommended to bring real hiking shoes! You will be rewarded with stunning views of the Banzai pipeline and North Shore coastline.

Another popular spot to hike on the North Shore is the Hau’ula Loop Trail. This hike is a little further outside the main North Shore area, located on the northeast corner of the island. The trail is approximately 2.6-miles long and typically takes 3-4 hours to complete.

Along the trail, you’ll see stunning Hawaiian flora and fauna. You can also add the Waipilopilo Loop to your hike, which makes the hike even longer and more challenging.

Best Cultural Activities on the North Shore

Learning about Hawaiian history and culture is something every visitor should make time for. One of the best places on Oahu to do this is the Polynesian Cultural Center. Located just outside the North Shore in Laie, the Polynesian Cultural Center was voted the #1 Activity in Hawaii by USA Today!

There is a ton to do within the Cultural Center, including 6 authentic villages representing the island cultures of Hawaiʻi, Fiji, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga. Within each village, you can partake in cultural presentations and learn about what makes each island unique.

Also within the center is the Hukilau marketplace, where you can eat and shop for local Hawaiian goods. They also offer luau shows and fire shows!

Another cultural site located on the North Shore is the Waimea Valley. This valley is located right in the heart of North Shore across from the Waimea Bay Beach Park. Entrance to the valley costs $25, which includes enjoying the beautiful Waimea Falls.

The journey to the Falls takes about 30 minutes through a lush botanical garden. On the journey, you will pass by several Hawaiian cultural sites and sacred spots. I have seen mixed reviews about the Waimea Valley, so I recommend doing your research before visiting!

Other Things to Do on the North Shore

Dole Pineapple Plantation

Aside from the activities listed above, there are a few other things to do on the North Shore I wanted to mention! Another very popular attraction is the Dole Pineapple Plantation, located 15 minutes inland from Haleiwa.

The Dole Plantation is free to access; however, there are some paid tour options within the plantation, including a Pineapple Express Train Ride or a tour through the Pineapple Gardens. This is a little touristy for my taste, but I did still want to list it here!

Shark Diving on the North Shore

The last activity I wanted to mention is probably the most epic thing to do on the North Shore – go snorkeling with sharks!! Unfortunately, I did not get to do this on my trip to Oahu, but I will certainly be back to do it!

One Ocean Diving is an ethical shark diving tour company located on the North Shore of Oahu. When you book with them, you are contributing to marine conservation efforts and the education they promote throughout the community.

In addition, you’ll learn about the importance of sharks in Hawaii’s ecosystem and the threats they face from human activities. Their snorkel tours start at around $150 per person, and they have 5 stars on TripAdvisor!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there are a ton of epic things to do on the North Shore of Oahu. From watching world-class surfing to eating at the iconic food trucks, there is something for everyone on the North Shore. I saw most of the North Shore in one full day, but you can definitely stay overnight here if you want to spend more time in the area.

Don’t forget to check out my other posts to help plan your trip to Oahu!
Ultimate 3 Day Oahu Itinerary
Top 8 Sunset Cruises in Waikiki
Cheap & Free Things to do on Oahu
Big Island vs Oahu: Which Island to Visit

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