North Shore of Oahu

The North Shore of Oahu is home to several of the most famous beaches and surf spots in the world. Every winter, swells generated in the North Pacific Ocean deliver large, magnificent, and many times dangerous waves to the North Shore. These swells can range anywhere from 2 to 25 feet high! Surfers and spectators from all over the world come here every winter to experience the spectacular waves at spots like the Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. Although known for it large waves, the North Shore of Oahu has surf spots that suit every level of surfing.

North Shore Oahu

The North Shore of Oahu stretches from Kaena Point in the west 17 miles east to Kahuku Point. Fifty-one beaches occupy 11 miles or 66% of the shoreline. The remainder is dominated by basalt outcrops and raised Pleistocene reef, with beachrock outcrops along much of the sandy shore. The western half extends for 9 miles from Kaena Point to Haleiwa and faces due north. The eastern half faces northwest, finally curving south at Kahuku.

I drove up the east side of the island after a week of rain and found very few beaches with the blue water that you usually associate with Hawaii. Mud from the rivers colors the ocean for miles and there are some good sized rivers on the north shore. Hence the ocean coloring in these fotos.

Wahine


Sunset beach


Sunset Beach


Waimea Beach Park


Waimea River


Haleiwa


Haleiwa