The island state of Hawaii is a set of remote, cast-away islands in the North Pacific. Few places on earth come close to equaling the pristine, almost heavenly natural beauty of these islands. Their magnificent beaches and endless expanses of luxury resorts have appealed to travellers — particularly honeymooners –for decades. Amongst Hawaii’s well-documented coastline, the North Shore of Oahu and the erstwhile plantation town of Kahuku stand out in terms of potential for experiential travel.
When to Visit
Technically, the island group exhibits a tropical climate. This means the temperatures and humidity will never be too extreme for your liking, there will always be plenty of sun, and the precipitation will almost never be torrential. These characteristics basically make Hawaii — and, in particular, the island of Oahu — a year-round destination as far as climate is concerned.
Having said that, visitors should note that the island sees most of its rain in the winter, which lasts from about November to March. Even then, the rain is mostly sporadic and falls to the windward (eastern) side of the island. The winter, however, is also an important time, since surfers will find the large winter waves on the North Shore to their liking. These months also tend to be the best time for whale-watching, as the great humpbacks migrate to the region’s warmer waters for the winter.
Where to Stay
Kahuku isn’t the largest town on the North Shore, which works in its favour. It’s a pretty standard small town, with few shops, a sugar mill converted into a shopping mall, and one of the most spectacular luxury resorts you’ll find along the entire North Shore: the Turtle Bay Resort.
With a range of incredible options from beach cottages to ocean villas and bay-facing rooms/suites, the resort is a great place to begin your North Shore adventure. Sitting on an eight-km beachfront, the resort also houses two championship 18-hole golf courses and every modern amenity you can imagine to help create an unforgettable holiday. Starting at $200 a night, the Turtle Bay Resort might be slightly heavier on your pocket, in which case you can find some cheaper alternatives on Airbnb.
Image via Flickr by Aussie Assault.
What to Do
Kahuku is an epicenter of outdoor activities on the North Shore. The North Shore as a whole is considered the mecca of the surfing world. In the month of December, it hosts three competitions that make up the Triple Crown of Surfing, which in itself is worth witnessing. Some great surfing spots, including the Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay, are just around the corner from Kahuku. There’s also plenty of options for diving and snorkeling, parasailing, sky diving, and other such outdoor sports that will keep the adrenaline gushing.
The Kamehameha Highway, the main route in and out of Kahuku, is a hotbed of shrimp trucks, which are unique to the Hawaiian Islands. On your way in and out of town, don’t forget to treat yourself to some amazing indigenous shrimp dishes to complete your Hawaiian experience on Oahu.