O’ahu offers plenty of magnificent shorelines that not only provide postcard beauty, but offers some of the world’s best surfing. When flying into Honolulu’s Daniel K Inouye International Airport, the glistening shades of blue lead right up to its brown sand beaches. Its simply amazing!
After thirteen hours, one layover and a 5-hour time change, we landed in one of America’s most sought after vacation destinations. My name is Anthony and with the assistance of my two traveling companions, we will be showing you around the south and north shores of Oahu.
Oahu is one of the eight Hawaiian archipelago islands in the South Pacific. This enchanting island is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands. The name O’ahu means “Gathering Place.”
Even though the first part of our day was overcast, we enjoyed the sound of waves crashing against Pokai Bay Beach. The Pokai Bay Beach & Park is one of the few places on Oahu where you can snorkel along the reef.
On this particular trip, we didn’t bring our snorkeling gear. But there is always a next time. However, walking the beach looking for shells and sea glass can be a day all its own.
The flat rocks that lie along the shore not only protect from erosion, but also create tide pools. These tide pools hold a variety of sea life. Although, it was rather difficult to get out there with a camera in hand.
Being environmentally conscious, we decided not to disturb the tide pools. It has also been said that taking a rock home from Hawaii will bring bad luck!” With that said, “People have actually mailed their stones back to Hawaii in hopes of changing their luck.”
As we walked along the beach, we came across a Green Sea Turtle. Again, Hawaii has very strict laws regarding sea life. We kept our distance and when we came back, the turtle had crawled back into the ocean.
There are several reasons why Sea Turtles come ashore. In no specific order they like basking in the sun, nesting, escape predators, and for certain healing purposes.
Parts of the South Shore have parks with facilities that include bathrooms, play grounds, grassy areas and free parking. After the clouds blew out, the sky turned a deep blue and the temperatures stayed in the mid 70s.
The palm trees that line the beach swayed against the ocean’s inward breeze. To our backs are lush green mountains that are feathered with clouds that will most likely bring afternoon showers.
Your day can start with a casual drive through the mountains exploring their volcanic origins. You can then cruise H1 and enjoy the amazing South Pacific views. Believe me, it’s a great way to spend a day!
Oahu’s North Shore is a bit different from it’s counter part to the south. There are several elements that separate the two. For one, the waves are much bigger and for two, the beaches are more susceptible to having dangerous undertows. In my opinion, the crashing waves added a powerful beauty to the majestic scenery.
Pupukea {Sunset Beach} where the waves can reach 30 plus feet high, has been an ideal location for the O’Neil World Cup of Surfing Championship to hold their annul event. On one of our last day’s on the island, we took a drive to Pupukea to watch some of the event. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing to hard and the day’s session was cancelled. I was hoping to take a few photos and shoot video of some of surfing’s elite wave riders!
With the ominous overhead clouds and strong gale like winds, the waves were crashing against the rocks with brut force. It’s no wonder that the surf championships were cancelled. I’m sure the competition will resume tomorrow.
The weather on Oahu in January can stir up some vicious storms. It’s not unusual for the life guards to post caution signs and red flags warning people of the danger. This was one of those days. If your not allowed to surf, you sure can’t go swimming. Although, it did make for an exciting sight!
Can you imagine the training these life guards have to go through? They have to be excellent swimmers, know how to maneuver around rocks, and get out of a riptide to say the least. It’s a life and death job for not only the victim, but the rescuer as well.
There are not a lot of towns around Pupukea beach. It’s a quiet community with mostly surfers and locals. If you looking for party bars or nightlife, this is probably not your place. Honolulu is where you most likely want to be. However, If you like to surf and appreciate unspoiled surroundings, then the North Shore is your dream come true.
Before you leave this page, take a few moments to watch our video. It will give you more of a feel on what we experienced both on the South and North Shore beaches. Also stay tuned for more exciting adventures regarding our visit to Oahu.
Photography: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Video: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Article Creator & Formatting: Anthony Scopel
Video Production: Anthony Scopel & Matt Kemper
Associate Editor: Maureen Scopel
Technical Mastering & Web Support: Matt Kemper
Publishing Provided By: You, Me and The Dock
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