Haleiwa Town

About one hour drive north from Honolulu and Waikiki, Haleiwa Town is as far removed from the big city as it gets. Haleiwa (pronounced hah-lay-ee-wah) is a beach town with a laid back, country feeling that speaks to three things that are important in Hawaiian culture: 1) the long-time agricultural lifestyle and trade of the sugar industry; 2) the beloved, international sport of surfing; and 3) the relaxed, "no worries" attitude that has its roots in the ancestral beliefs of the Hawaiian islands.

Considered the economic hub of the north shore of Oahu, the quaint, small town of Haleiwa is registered as a State Historic, Cultural and Scenic District and is included in America's Main Street program which requires that all new construction adhere to the architectural design that reflects a town's history. For Haleiwa, it is the plantation-style homes and buildings that embody the early years of the sugar industry, so although Haleiwa is a small town, it's big on local heritage and style.

A popular spot during surf season on the famous north shore, Haleiwa is filled with cool surf shops and an ambiance that one would expect from a popular island beach town. Unique boutiques and charming art galleries fill the plantation-era buildings, but one of the best things about Haleiwa is its variety of restaurants. Some of the best food on the island can be found here, with flavors that are distinctly local.

Just east of Haleiwa are the beaches that make the north shore famous for world wide surfing events and competitions: Waimea Bay, Pipeline and Sunset Beach. These cannot be separated from the town of Haleiwa. They invite the world to come, visit and experience a way of life that is both quaint and adventurous, which is what the north shore is all about.