Description: The highlight of my stay on Oahu had to be my drive to North Shore. Make sure you get really good directions before you go, because NOTHING in Oahu is well-marked. We would have never known what beaches we were visiting had our concierge at the Hilton Hawaiian Village not given us landmarks to look for.
We started at Sunset Beach and wondered at the rough surf and the surfers who sat on their boards out in the water waiting for that perfect wave. What a contrast to Waikiki’s almost non-existent surf. The north, windward sides of the islands have the better surf conditions, and the locals know it! We stayed here about an hour and then managed to get our car out of a crowded lot with the help of a local resident, who gave us the ‘hang loose’ signal when we said “Mahalo” to her.
From there, we headed south to the Bonzai Pipeline (look for the Sunset Beach Elementary School that’s across the street, otherwise, you’ll never know it’s anything other than a parking spot). Here the waves are not only quite large (they were 12-15 feet when we were there, and the competition surfers occasionally see 30-footers) but they curl (thus the name “pipeline”). This was just like watching surfing on TV. You could see about 10 surfers try to catch a big wave, with only one or two actually making it and then riding inside of that curl. I could’ve watched them all day. The surf was so rough that one guy came hobbling into shore with his board broken in two! We even caught site of a young woman surfer who was giving the hotties a run for their money.
There are several beaches along the way to stop and explore – so plan a whole day for this drive. Stop at the Waimea Audobon Park to see Waimea Falls (it's about a 1-mile hike each way) I’d suggest taking some snacks and bottled water with you. It’s windy, so also know that you’ll get a lot of sun and some wind burn in there, too. Hold onto your hat!
Also, stop in the ABC Store before you depart to get yourself a $2 woven beach mat so you can more easily sit on the beach and watch ‘em surf!
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