Hawaii's North Shore Travel Guide!
Surf 's Up But There's More on This Shore
The natural
beauty of the North Shore is evident everywhere.
In the North Shore, the water invites
investigation and visitors don't have to be surfers to enjoy it. There's
more than meets the surface; in fact, there's quite a bit below the
surface.
And the place to see it is Shark's Cove.
 s
Surf's up, but not at Shark's Cove, a snorkeling and shore dive paradise.
In the North Shore, the water invites
investigation and visitors don't have to be surfers to enjoy it. There's
more than meets the surface; in fact, there's quite a bit below the
surface.
And the place to see it is Shark's Cove.
So called because sharks used to mate in the cove ("used to"
being the key words, which is a good thing for snorkelers), Shark's
Cove it THE snorkeling spot in the North Shore. There's no spiny sea
urchins either; instead, parrotfish, turtles, triggerfish and eels are
among the aquatic creatures. The cove drops to about 20 feet. Further
out it gets much deeper and with underwater caves to explore, Shark's
Cove is also one of Oahu's top shore dive destinations.
Located in Pupukea Beach Park past Waimea Bay close to the Sunset Fire
Station, it has a small parking lot, extremely basic bathroom and shower
facilities and, for those who don't have equipment, snorkel rentals
for $10.
 Entering
the water is a bit tricky, but follow the path down the hill (wear sandals
on the way down) and give it a go among the rocks, timing the entry
between the mild surges.
Be sure and put on the fins after entering the water. With no
walk-in entrance, incoming tides and no lifeguard on duty, Shark's Cove
is a bit too tricky for children and novice snorkelers. There is an
adjacent tidepool for their participating pleasure.
Afterward, head to the lookout at Puuomahuka for a nice view of Shark's
Cove (and Waimea Bay) where you can proudly boast "I just snorkeled
there!"
If it's too rough to snorkel at Shark's Cove – as it's likely
to be from about October thru March – head a few miles north to
protected and calm Kuilima Cove. It's on the eastern end of the
Turtle Bay Hilton. This spot is a prime home to the Hawaii state fish,
the humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Known to take a nibble when surfers sit on
their boards, "the little trigger fish is so colorful that he glows.
But don't take your eyes off of him because he'll bite off one of your
toes," or so sings Eric
Stone.
Waimea Bay
Peaceful much of the year, Waiama Bay swells with waves in winter.
Famous Waiama Bay has 20 to 30-foot waves
in January and February. This is when sportsmen and women crazy enough
to enjoy such things come in from all over the world for international
surf competitions. You'll know when surf's up because the humongous
traffic swells will tell you that surf's up, bro. Even when traffic
is not such an issue, parking in the small lot requires patience. The
best viewing spots are from the adjacent cliff.
Yet despite its nasty winter temperament, Waimea Bay is a nice, wide
beach that looks totally harmless in spring, summer and fall. At those
times, it's another good snorkeling location. The Waimama Bay Falls
are across the highway.
The Banzai Pipeline
and Sunset Beach
The calm seas at Banzai Pipeline give way to tubular monsters Nov-Feb.
The hard-grinding guitar licks of Dick
Dale's Pipeline provide the perfect persona for the powerfully
awesome waves at the Banzai Pipeline (Dale's version with Stevie
Ray Vaughn on the King of the Surf Guitar CD is best, though
more surfers now prefer the smoother sounds of Hawaii's own Jack Johnson).
Just the name of the place – the Banzai Pipeline – energizes
the spiritual soul.
It energizes extreme surfers, too, who ride through and wipe out in
the barrel-shaped waves. The waves may be bigger at Waimea Bay but here
they form a tubular "pipeline" that creates legends. And now,
after some political haggling, the Pipeline is once again home to the
Van's Triple Crown of Surfing each winter.
In non-winter months, the Banzai Pipeline is hidden among the North
Shore's other scenery spots. It's about as obvious as a ripple in the
wave, an innocent-looking park with shower facilities and a lone lifeguard
stand a 1/2 mile from a school. Pipelinei s a small beach with a fairly
steep (but soft) walk from the top to the shore.
Sunset Beach is at the end point of the North Shore. Lifeguards
are on duty and it has picnic areas. From June through September stinging
limu (seaweed) can ruin a nice day at the shore. Check for postings
or just ask a lifeguard.
Laniakea Beach
, a.k.a. Turtle Beach
PubClubette Desiree Shank knows to look at, but not bother, the turtles.
As the winter surf proves, the environment
can produce some prodigious power. But nature can also rear its head
slowly in the North Shore. Very slowly, in fact. At Laniakea Beach,
or Lani's, endangered Hawaiian Green Seat Turtles gently traverse across
the shore feeding on the seaweed growing on the rocks. Seeing the turtles
is a true Hawaiian scene, people getting an up-close look at one of
nature's creatures without being in a zoo or animal park.
DO NOT bother the turtles. Get close to them, pose for a picture but
leave them alone. There's not really a curse, like taking volcanic rocks
from the other Hawaiian islands, but it disturbs nature and if any official
or even local sees this they will come down on you like a Waiema wave.
LaniÕs is easy to find, for there will be people on the beach gawking
at something on the sand and cars will suddenly turn off the highway
to park along the side. To avoid such sudden maneuvers, note it's location:
approximately two miles up Kamehameha Highway from Haleiwa.
SurfsideSam.com covers beach and tropical travel destinations around the world. © 2010. All rights reserved.
 Related: North Shore's Shrimp Trucks!
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