An hour away from Waikiki, the small Northern Shore town of Haleiwa is the creative and social hub of Honolulu Country on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. It is a small area, with a population of under 4,000, yet saturated in artistic spirit and many galleries and independent boutiques. It is a place for locals and visitors to relax, away from the constant movement of the city, and especially to unwind on the waves of the beautiful beaches.

The North Shore region is popular with surfers and visitors can master surfing skills at the beaches of Ehukai, Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach, all beautiful and known for their perfect waves. A good time to visit is during one of the annual surfing competitions, such as the Big Wave Invitational that takes place every January. There are various adrenaline activities in this part of Hawaii, from skydiving to jet skiing to hang gliding to scuba diving with sharks, there is always something fun and exciting to do nearby. Many restaurants in town offer delicious meals, including grilled chicken and local fish, and Haleiwa is the perfect place to embrace the local treat of shaved ice, famous to this area of Oahu.

Visitors can take the inland road along Route 803 to Haleiwa, which takes less than an hour to drive from Honolulu. The local bus takes much longer, sometimes up to two hours, but it goes directly without any changes and is a beautiful cross-island journey. The main airport is in Honolulu, which has links to rest of island.

Although the history of Haleiwa is not very old, the buildings of the town make an effort to maintain a rustic aesthetic. Unlike the larger cities, like Waikiki, it keeps to its country roots and retains the local town charm so appealing to tourists.