You might call Oahu’s North Shore an enigma. Drenched in dramatic scenery and ancient culture, it drifts in the past at an unhurried pace. At the same time, it delivers delightful surprises, providing new and different things for families to see and encounter.
“The North Shore offers a wide array of activities that let families experience Oahu’s small country towns, natural beauty, surf culture and outdoor adventure,” said Oahu Visitors Bureau’s director of travel industry sales, Stacey Alford. “Since vacation is a time for families to slow down and reconnect, the North Shore and its laid-back vibe is the perfect place to have relaxing, yet energizing, fun together.”
North Shore News
Commanding plenty of attention these days is the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), a 42-acre North Shore attraction featuring a collection of Pacific Island villages with multigenerational appeal. PCC has been going through a major revitalization as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2013.
“We have so many new offerings,” said PCC’s chief operating officer, Alfred Grace. “In 2009, we launched our evening show, ‘Ha: Breath of Life.’ In 2011 we opened the Gateway Restaurant and, lately, we’ve added fun activities like paddling your own canoe around beautiful lagoons.”
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For 2013, PCC will debut an interactive theater and an entirely new Hawaiian village with immersive experiences. Other improvements under way include the renovation of Hale Aloha — the setting for PCC’s luau — and a renewed Samoa village. With its 50th anniversary in mind, PCC is embarking on a year-long celebration. Throughout 2013, it will announce special pricing and promotions and, from Sept. 1-8, it will commemorate the anniversary with a week’s worth of festivities.
More North Shore headlines come from Turtle Bay Resort, where the new Hele Huli Adventure Center assists visitors whether they are staying at the hotel or elsewhere. Family-friendly activities arranged through the facility include bike and moped rentals, fishing excursions, kayaking and horseback riding. Turtle Bay — the North Shore’s only resort-style hotel — also recently repositioned itself as a center of surf culture, playing up its ideal location on Oahu’s North Shore. Families can plan their vacation around special events such as the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the World Paddleboard Championship.
Then there’s Kahuku Farms, which introduced guided tours in 2011. During a tractor-pulled wagon ride, the family can get a behind-the-scenes look at Oahu’s thriving agricultural industry and learn about the farm’s history and crops, as well as savor fresh goodies and fruit smoothies before hitting the road.
Tried-and-True Pastimes
While Oahu’s North Shore boasts plenty that’s new, families shouldn’t overlook the attractions that have long defined the area. At 1,800-acre Waimea Valley, for instance, clans can join guided hikes through the historical and cultural valley rich in botanical gardens and archaeological sites. Hawaiian elders talk about life in old Hawaii and share hula and lei-making lessons, and kids can challenge each other at Hawaiian games such as stone rolling, dart sliding and Hawaiian checkers.
Then there are those legendary beaches, magnets for the world’s top surfers when winter waves rise as high as 40 feet. In the calm summer swells, relatives can hang 10 together during a surf lesson at the Hans Hedemann Surf School, then head over to the North Shore Surf and Cultural Museum with its fun collection of antique boards and surfing videos.
Oahu’s North Shore prides itself on a rural ambience dotted only with a few small towns. Haleiwa lures visitors with boutiques, eateries and a quintessential beach vibe. Waialua, a former sugar mill town, has turned into a gathering place for local artists, surfboard makers and producers of made-in-Hawaii products.
A drive to Dillingham Field leads families to aerial adventures with Honolulu Soaring, ready to thrill the tribe with piloted glider rides. In nearby Mokuleia, families can cheer during world-class polo matches held from April through September and sign up for horseback rides along the sandy shore. The brood can also saddle up at Gunstock Ranch in Laie and Happy Trails in Pupukea.
Whether they stay for a day or a week, families never run out of ways to discover the timeless treasures of Oahu’s North Shore, where the pace of life is slow and the list of lively activities is long and alluring.
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| Visitors love Haleiwa’s beach vibe. // © 2012 Hawaii Tourism Authority |
North Shore Family Eats
Numerous farms dot Oahu’s North Shore, so it’s only natural that the culinary scene is as dynamic as the region’s legendary surf. Options range from teriyaki chicken sandwiches to fresh catches of the day.
Haleiwa Joe’s:
Serving sandwiches, salads and fresh fish
www.haleiwajoes.com
Kua Aina Sandwich:
Haleiwa hub known for tasty mahi sandwiches
www.kua-aina.com
Luibueno’s Mexican Seafood:
Haleiwa’s source of south-of-the-border fare
www.luibueno.com
Matsumoto Shave Ice:
Haleiwa landmark for tropical snow cones
www.matsumotoshaveice.com
Ola at Turtle Bay Resort:
Super-fresh seafood in an oceanside setting
www.olaislife.com
Food trucks showcasing shrimp from local aquaculture farms:
Giovanni’s Original White Shrimp Truck:
Boasting two locations — Kahuku and Haleiwa
www.giovannisshrimptruck.com
Romy’s Kahuku Prawns and Shrimp:
One of several four-star food trucks
www.romyskahukuprawns.org
Famous Kahuku Shrimp Truck:
Creative plate lunches with all the extras
www.hishrimp.com
