Things to do on the North Shore

The North Shore is Oahu's surf country, a rural stretch anchored by the small town of Haleiwa, roughly 50 kilometres (about an hour to an hour and a half by car) from Waikiki depending on traffic.

In winter, from around November to March, north Pacific swells push waves of 3 to 6 metres or more onto Waimea Bay and the Banzai Pipeline, and the same water turns dangerous for anyone but experienced surfers. In summer these beaches calm down and become swimmable.

There is no practical public transit out here, so plan on a rental car or an organized tour for the day. It suits people chasing big-wave surf and a slower pace, not a guaranteed swim.