TRAVEL
This is the fifth part in my ‘Aloha Series.’ This series features my eight-day vacation to Honolulu, Hawaii in the United States of America (USA) in April this year. In this part I write about the North Shore which is world renowned for the best surf spots.
IT was Sunday, April 19, April, 2026 – the fourth day in Hawaii.
My cousin James offered to take my partner Mulberry and I on a scenic drive around the island of Oahu to North Shore beach. Unlike Waikiki, which is reclaimed land, North Shore is a natural beach. It is located northwest from Waikiki.
It took about an hour to drive from downtown Honolulu to the North Shore. We travelled along the Kamehameha Highway. James had his favourite songs on the playlist – Saii Kay and Tonton Malele – as we meandered along the tropical highway.
We passed the greenish Koʻolau Range where the clouds literally covered these mountain tops. This mountain range reminded me of the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. We passed Pearl Harbour, Dole Plantation, Polynesian Cultural Center, Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, and the surf town of Haleiwa. There were various farms located along the way.
We arrived at the North Shore beach around 10am. I removed my shoes and headed to the beach which stretches more than 11km.
There is something therapeutic about feeling the sand on your feet. James and Mulberry stood from afar as I headed to the shore first. I stood a meter from where I thought the shore would break.
But a few seconds later a big wave rushed in waist high – to my surprise. I was almost swept into the icy sea. In fact, swimming along beaches in Hawaii can be dangerous due to the strong current.
According to the Hawaii (HI) Ocean Safety, strong currents are powerful and fast-moving channels of water that are difficult to swim against. Because of Hawaii’s unique island environment, various currents, including tidal currents, wind currents, rip currents and other currents may create hazardous conditions at any beach in Hawaii.
Strong currents frequently accompany high surf and rapid tide changes and can be recognised as a turbulent channel of water between areas where waves are breaking. There was a sign on the beach that read; ‘Warning. Dangerous Shore-break. Waves break in shallow water. Serious injuries could occur even in small surf.
If in doubt, don’t go out. There are warning signs placed in almost all the beaches in Hawaii. If you find yourself caught in a current that you cannot comfortably make progress against, take these steps to stay safe according to HI Ocean Safety:
• Stay calm and do not panic. Currents will generally not pull you under the water.
• Conserve your energy. Regulate your breathing and minimise any erratic movement. Float on your back or front.
• Even if the current moves you further away from shore, go with the flow rather than fight/swim against the current and becoming exhausted.
• Signal for help by yelling towards the shore and waving your arms.
As a result, there are warning signs placed on almost all beaches in Hawaii. However, the massive waves attract many surfers annually. The months between November and February are the best times to see big wave surfing.
The waves can swell up to more than nine meters. It is advisable to leave surfing the huge waves to the professionals because they can be very dangerous for inexperienced surfers. The waves subside from May to September making it more suitable for swimming. There were no surfers at our spot because there were no big waves. I only saw a handful of people swimming or sunbathing around the area.
We took photos and socked up the Hawaiian atmosphere for about an hour. The sun was out but the cool island breeze made it bearable. Afterwards, we washed off our feet at the nearby washroom and returned to downtown Honolulu.
Waimea Bay Beach Park
While en route to Honolulu we passed the Waimea Bay Beach Park which is also at North Shore. The crystal clear water is popular for bodyboarding, surfing, snorkeling, swimming, and fishing. The amenities include parking, picnic tables, restrooms, and showers.
Waimea is famous for its nine-meter waves in the winter and attracts the world’s best surfers. Champion American surfer Dan Moore once said: “Waimea Bay has a lot of history. It is known to be one of the first places where the guys ventured out in the 1950s, and rode the giant waves.”
Ehukai Beach (Banzai Pipeline), Sunset Beach, Sharks Cove, and Laniakea Beach are other notable beaches located along the North Shore.
Food trucks
We made a pit-stop along the way at a roadside that had more than 10 food trucks also known as lunch wagons. They usually offer Hawaiian food such as like garlic shrimp, poke (a Hawaiian dish made with cubed raw fish, savory marinades, and fresh toppings), kalua pork plate lunches, and tacos.
I had a Hawaiian shrimp pineapple fried rice, Mexican tacos and Pineapple juice for lunch. The fried rice cost US$21(K91) and the juice cost US$10(K43). The we continued our journey to Down Town Honolulu where we arrived around 2pm and rested.
North Shore experience
North Shore Beach is isolated from the main city of Honolulu; thus it is less crowded. However, beach goers need to heed to the warning signs due to the strong currents. Personally, the North Shore is a dangerous place for inexperienced swimmers.
Next edition – Waikiki Boat Cruise
