Honolulu, HI

On a recent trip to the North Shore with a few friends of mine, we decided that we would trek through Haleiwa town, something none of us had done since transitioning into the career world of a twenty-something. We traversed through the little town that has much preserved its uniqueness and I was reminded of its innate beauty that both tourists and locals alike have fallen in love with.

It’s not difficult to find your way to Haleiwa town. When going on the H-2 freeway, you’re going to take exit 8A towards Wahiawa and you’re pretty much set. Just follow that road and remember to take the Haleiwa fork instead of the Wailua fork. Once you find your way into Haleiwa town, you are greeted with a sign and an instant throwback to the old Plantation days on Oahu.

The best things about the town are the true hidden gems that are waiting to be found in the little strip malls. In my opinion, Haleiwa has some of the best food, best shops and best coffee shops on the island. You can find my three favorite stores in one North Shore Marketplace. My favorite restaurant in Haleiwa is Cholo’s Mexican Restaurant and Margarita bar. The food is “winnahz” and the drinks are even better. My favorite thing to get there is the Nachos Posse and the Li hing mui margarita. My favorite surf shop is next door to Cholos at Raging Isle Surf & Cycle shop. They have a lot of clothing, footwear and accessories that I’ve only seen at their store, so I’m always making a purchase there. My favorite coffee shop is right next to Cholo’s as well and that is The Coffee Gallery. They have a nice little café in there, healthy foods, a nice selection of coffee blends and free wi-fi. It’s definitely a great place to have a chat with friends. There is also a glass blowing studio, a sushi bar and a surf museum in the North Shore Marketplace, so if you plan on going to Haleiwa go and check it out.

There are other great places in Haleiwa other than North Shore Marketplace. There are various strip malls that have both tourist-esque stores to buy souvenirs, roadside stands with shell souvenirs, the original Kua’aina Burger, Matsumoto’s Shave Ice, Haleiwa Joe’s, Haleiwa Café and much more. You can also find various surf schools there, where you can rent a surfboard and learn from professionals. I would only recommend it during the non-winter months, as the waves get bigger as the year goes on.

I definitely missed Haleiwa upon returning to Hawaii after living on the mainland for a few years. Everything about that place is so inviting. It is so low-key and calm I wish I could live there all the time. For now, I will just make that not-so-often trek that reminds me of my love for Historic Haleiwa Town.