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Photo courtesy Hawaii Tourism Japan
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The north shore of Oahu is a mecca for surfers in search of the ultimate wave.
Visit one of the many
surf shops in Haleiwa, but be warned: the north shore surf is for accomplished surfers only--especially in the winter months,
when the waves reach in excess of 20 feet.
Adventure seekers can also find that adrenaline rush out of the water: skydiving is available at Dillingham Airfield.
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Waimea Bay is home to the largest, most spectacular surf in the world.
It's a frequent site of several surf contests each year,
including the prestigious Quicksilver Eddie Aikau Memorial Big Wave Classic, a competition held only when the
waves crest over 20 feet. In recent years, waves in winter have been said to exceed 50 feet on occasion.
Not only can visitors watch expert surfers in the winter months, but migrating whales can be seen off the coast in this area
from January through March.
At one point in time, it was said to be cursed. The hill overlooking the bay was sacred to the
Hawaiians as a place where the cheiftesses were brought to deliver their babies. Next to the hill in the Waimea Valley
is a sacred burial site.
Many visitors come to the beaches of the North Shore to escape the crowds of Waikiki, to spectate, and in the summer
months when the seas are quite calm to swim and snorkel.
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Photo courtesy Kirk Lee Aeder
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Further north near Kawela Bay is Turtle Bay Resort,
set on 880 acres of oceanfront, and boasting a spa and two of the best golf courses in all of Hawaii: the Arnold Palmer and the George Fazio.
Continuing along the north shore eastward from Turtle Bay, you'll come to one of the most popular tourist destinations on Oahu,
the Polynesian Cultural Center. Here, you can learn about the cultures
of all of the Polynesian islands, including not only Hawaii but also Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, the Marquesas, and more.
You'll see displays and performances from each of the major Polynesian island groups, an authentic luau,
and the Rainbows of Paradise canoe show.
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