Haleiwa is a charming surfer town on the north coast of Oahu (Hawaii) with a historic feel that exudes traditional Hawaiian culture. It is famous for its attractive beaches, holiday vibe, quirky boutiques, colourful façades, and enticing food trucks.

The small aloha-welcoming town of Haleiwa receives visitors and locals with the iconic signpost at the entrance.

 
In Hawaiian, Haleiwa (or Hale’iwa) means ‘house of the frigate bird’ (‘Hale’ means house and ‘iwa’ means frigatebird).

Oahu itinerary

Honolulu  ➤  Dole Plantation  ➤  Haleiwa  ➤  North coast beach  ➤  Toa Luau  ➤  Valley of Waimea Falls  ➤  Kuoloa Ranch  ➤  Byodo-In Temple  ➤  Honolulu

See also What to Do in Honolulu

You can easily reach Haleiwa on a day trip from Honolulu and include it in an Oahu itinerary.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Start from Honolulu in the morning, heading towards the north coast. Take the Interstate Route H-2 to Schofield Barracks, where you will continue on the Kamehameha Highway (Route 99). Soon, you will pass the Green World Coffee Farm before arriving at the historic pineapple plantation, Dole Plantation. Here, you can see the crops in the working plantation and taste delicious pineapple and other exotic fruits.

Haleiwa signpost – welcoming visitors | Photo: Travel In Culture

In Haleiwa, you will get the vibe of a traditional community in Hawaii that has preserved its architectural style, a town oozing with beach and surf atmosphere, combined with local souvenirs and fabulous food in the food trucks!

Photo: Travel In Culture

Drive along the north coast to find your unique spot for a beach experience, whether surfing, paddleboarding, snorkelling or watching the sea turtles frolic in the waves. The north coast is perfect for surfers due to the wild waves and is known as a surfer’s paradise worldwide.

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On the north coast, you will also find Toa Luau, with traditional luau shows and Polynesian hula dancing, Hawaiian native culture, and luau eats in spectacular lush surroundings, including a scenic waterfall in Waimea Botanical Garden in the Valley of Waimea Falls with forests and streams. The waterfall area is also ideal for swimming, hiking and gaining insight into Hawaiian botanics by studying the variety of tropical and subtropical plants.

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The itinerary continues to the northeastern corner of Oahu to the picturesque Kawela Bay and Laie and further down the coastal road for panoramic glimpses of the sea.

On the way back, you will pass the Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts store next to Kualoa Ranch, set in natural beauty in the ‘Jurassic Valley’ used as a filming location in many Hollywood films (including Jurassic Park and Jurassic World).

The Jurassic Valley | Photo: Travel In Culture

Just before returning to Honolulu, you will have the chance to visit Byodo-In Temple, a replica of a Japanese Buddhist temple, proof of the Japanese cultural influence on Hawaiian culture.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Hawaiians were originally voyaging Polynesians who settled in Hawaii between 124 and 1120 AD and established their thriving Hawaiian culture rooted in Polynesian traditions.

Hula dance | Photo: Travel In Culture

Over many centuries, they developed a Hawaiian culture and a well-functioning society based on their own rules, norms and values. The cultural values included art, music, hula dance, navigation, canoe-building, beliefs (in the four gods: Kāne, Kanaloa, Kū, and Lono), social behaviour, and cooking. Through hula dancing, a veritable art form, stories were (and still are) told about Hawaiian culture, tradition and past.

Hawaiian culture is also closely linked to volcanic eruptions since the people from early times have believed that the Earth is reborn every time an eruption occurs.

Climbing the Koko Head volcano crater | Photo: Travel In Culture

The traditional Hawaiian (Polynesian) culture was challenged when missionaries and explorers such as James Cook arrived in Hawaii around 1800, influencing the native faith and culture. After the kingdom’s overthrow in 1893, civilising trends worked against the original Hawaiian culture. The children were taught in English and influenced by immigrants from Asia (Japan) and Portugal. The immigrants brought instruments, such as the ukulele and the guitar, and renewed in this way the Hawaiian music (‘mele’ – the original songs).

Waialua Courthouse | Photo: Travel In Culture

The town of Haleiwa began with a hotel opening on the north coast, built by Benjamin Dillingham in 1898. As access to the place, he also built a railway from Honolulu, where the passenger train (Haleiwa Limited) ran, enabling passengers to reach the two in two hours from Honolulu.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Photo: Travel In Culture

In the beginning, it was a sugar plantation town, an Oahu north shore epicentre of the sugar industry (Waialua Sugar Co.), surrounded by lush plantations. Today, there are still tropical fruit plantations in the region, such as the Dole Plantation.

During World War II, the Haleiwa Airfield was used for emergency landings and as a base for pilots.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Haleiwa is a ‘State Historic, Cultural and Scenic District’ in Hawaii, signifying that all houses must adhere to the authentic architectural style. There are numerous characteristic historic buildings in town.

Many artists have gathered in town to get inspiration from the small community and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and seascape. Haleiwa Art Gallery is one of the must-sees.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Of course, every visit includes a meal or snack from one of the numerous food trucks in town, e.g. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck or Matsumoto’s Shave Ice.

Today, the town is also the focal point of surfing. The north coast is a world-famous surfer’s paradise, and you will find all the surfing and paddleboarding gear needed in the shops.

Photo: Travel In Culture

Read next: There are three famous destinations making up the vertices of the Polynesian Triangle. In addition to Hawaii, it is New Zealand and Easter Island. Read about the other two: Māori Culture in New Zealand and Discover Hanga Roa in Easter Island

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