Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline)

Unusual at Sunset, this a great beach park with good parking and clean rest rooms that is relatively protected from the surf and within view of the Banzai Pipeline. It's a place where you can swim in all but the worst of conditions and still see the drama for which the North Shore is famous.

Sunset Beach

Technically all of this two mile stretch of sand is Sunset Beach, but it's been subdivided by wave breaks into a dozen colorful surf spots: Kammie Land, Gas Chambers, Pupukea, Banzai Pipeline, Back Doors, Off-The-Wall, Log Cabins, Cloud break, Pele's Followers... we'll call them all Sunset Beach. It's really, for the most part a beach where you can play audience to some of the world's great surfers. The waves are too high for safe swimming. The parking is spotty. But the action and power of fifteen foot waves are incredible. It's a must-see, but most of us should stay out of the water.

Waimea Beach

This is surfers paradise. Waimea has the longest rideable surf break in the world. there's a lifeguard stand, restrooms and plenty of parking. In the winter the waves are so high that the shore is lined with spectators watching the derring-do of the best surfers in the world. If you're not a very accomplished swimmer and familiar with the ocean, stay out of the water. During the summer, the Bay is generally as calm as an inland lake and it's one of the great swimming spots on the island. If the surf is up, be careful.

North Shore Famous Sites

Haliewa

Don't miss Haliewa, conviently located just a little east of Sunset Beach on Kamehameha Highway. Haliewa (pronounced hali-eva), a historical town with everything you need including grocery stores, restaurants, surf shops, art galleries, and gift shops. This town also has a marina where you can charter fishing and dive boats, rent surf boards, boogie boards, as well as snorkel and dive gear. Don't forget to check out Matsumoto's Shaved Ice, Surf-N-Sea, and Haliwa's other rustic and vintage stores.

Matsumoto's Shaved Ice

Matsumoto's Shaved Ice has been in operation since 1951, and has been serving locals and tourists (famous often as not - check out the owner's pictures with many celebrities) the delicious combination flavored shaved ice: Don't forget, you haven't tasted a shave ice till you've had it with ice cream. Also home to the famous Matsumoto's Shaved Ice tee-shirts.

Surf-N-Sea

If your looking for serious surfgear or just want to check out the nice surf accessories and clothing, Surf-N-Sea also rents surfboards to those who want to brave Sunset or Pipeline. They also house promotionals for several surf teams during major surf competitions. If you consider yourself a surfer, or just like imagining you can, check out Surf-N-Sea located in Haliewa.

Courtesy of O'ahu Visitors Bureau