Hale'iwa

By car

From Honolulu or Waikiki: Or if you have a car, take the H1 west to the H2 north, follow signs for the North Shore and you'll end up on the Kamehameha Hwy. Look for signs to Hale'iwa. The journey is about 40min.
From Schofield Barracks Area: There is a sign on Highway 99 indicating where to turn to reach Hale'iwa.
From Waimea Bay: Head west on Kamehameha Hwy, and take a right turn at the sign for Hale'iwa.

By bus

From Honolulu/Waikiki, it's pretty easy to bus it instead of driving. Catch the Number 52 bus at Ala Moana Shopping Center, or the Number 55 "Kaneohe/Circle Island" and get off in Hale'iwa to stretch your legs. Help the planet, help reduce Oahu congestion and don't rent a car, catch the bus. You'll save money and meet real people who really live here.
You might want to take a jacket or fleece with you since the air conditioning inside buses is often pretty fierce.

The town is small, and best seen on foot. However, there are several other options to see the town, and the whole of the North Shore. You can rent a dune buggy, a bike, moped or even an Uber if need be. With the North Shore being visited by over half of the visitors that come to Oahu, you will want to take advantage of nimble transportation.

• Hale'iwa Art FestivalHeld each July, is a treat.

• Aloha Buggies

  phone: +1 808-377-6683
  address: 66-145 Kamehameha Hwy
  Great way to get around the North Shore or even the island. Dune buggy rentals and/or tours that use convertible looking jeeps. Pretty cool

• North Shore Chocolate Factory

  phone: +1 808 637-3000
  address: 66-470 Kamehameha Hwy
  Handmade chocolates without preservatives. Be sure to say hi to Jigs, the resident watchdog. JulieAnn and Dave can provide advice on local eats and activities.

• Rainbow Bridge Gift Shop

  phone: +1 808 637-7770
  address: 62-620 Kamehameha Hwy
  Beach towels, snorkel equipment, surf boards are just a few of the items for sale or rent here. Handmade Ukuleles can be found here. You might be lucky and find Pettra in the store. If so, Pettra sometimes plays a Ukulele and singsa real treat.

Budget

• The Beet Box Cafe

  phone: +1 808-637-3000
  address: 66-443 Kamehameha Hwy
  Lacto-ovo-vegetarian, natural foods

• The Beet Box Lunch Wagon

  phone: +1 808-366-8666
  address: 59-414 Kamehameha Hwy
  Lacto-ovo-vegetarian, natural foods

Grass Skirt

phone: +1 808 637-4852

address: 66-214 Kamehameha Hwy

Popular with the locals, excellent food for the price. Three types of fish steak dinners (ahi, mahi, or ono) with rice, side salad and locally grown greens. Or opt for a sandwich. Take-out is available.

Kava RootsGet the delicious Acai Bowl, with fresh bananas, granola, and honey.

Killer Tacos

address: Kamehameha Hwy

One stop taco joint. Tasty and cheap. Sells Tacos, Burritos, Nachos, and Taco Salads. Friendly and helpful staff. Motto is "Let us roll you a fatty!".

Matsumoto's Shave Ice

phone: +1 808 637-4827

address: 66-087 Kamehameha Hwy

The best place to get shave ice on the north shore. For a twist on this local favorite, try it with ice cream, azuki bean or both. Also a great place to pick up crack seed (preserved fruit candy), souvenirs or a signature t-shirt. Expect a long line during peak tourist season.

Shrimp TrucksKahuku's shrimp farms provide fresh shrimp for many trucks scattered between Kahuku and Haleiwa. A good place to get a relatively quick and cheap lunch plate on the north shore.

Ted's Bakery

address: 59-024 Kamehameha Hwy

A must-visit for anybody on a north shore day trip. Their food is pretty good, but the cream pies are the main draw. They are celebrated for the chocolate-haupia pie, which is world-class.

Mid-range

• Banzai Sushi

  phone: +1 808 637-4404
  Tasty sushi in the heart of Hale'iwa.

• Cholos Homestyle Mexican

  phone: +1 808 637-3059
  address: 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy
  Mediocre but popular, it's the place to be for dinner if you're lookin' to get your tequila on.

• Hale'iwa Eats

  phone: +1 808 637-4247
  address: 66-079 Kamehameha Hwy
  Really tasty Thai food, in a cute little roadside restaurant with a nice vibe and decent atmosphere. Be warned though, if you ask for spicy they'll give you Thai spicy!!!

• Hale'iwa Joe's

  phone: +1 808 637-8005
  address: 66-011 Kamehameha Hwy
  A popular seafood grill in the heart of town.

• Cholos Homestyle Mexican

  phone: +1 808 637-3059
  address: 66-250 Kamehameha Highway
  Cholo's has been around the North Shore for almost twenty years. Cholo's has been a long time favorite among locals, military, kama aina, and return tourist. It was important for the owner to create an ambience similar to those that she has experienced while traveling throughout Mexico. . The décor, music, intention to create a friendly festive atmosphere, where people would gather to meet and make friends, enjoy good food and drinks at a great price.

Splurge

• WikiWiki Java

• Island Vintage Coffee

  phone: +1 808 637-5662
  address: 66-111 Kamehameha Hwy #503, Haleiwa, HI 96712
  Great place for latte's, coffee, breakfast or healthy lunch. The best option I personally think for coffee drinkers.

• Backpackers Vacation Inn and Plantation Village

  phone: +1 808 638-7838
  address: 59-788 Kamehameha Hwy
  Dorms, rooms, and cottages. Walking distance from three great beaches (Sandy, Wahamai Beach & Waterfalls, and Shark's cove).

From Hale'iwa it is 13.5 mi (22km) to Turtle Bay Hilton, 16 mi (26km) to Kahuku, 17 mi (27km) to Malaikahana and 19 mi (31km) to Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.

• Waimea Valley - Stunning botanical gardens and waterfall. 0.5 mi (1km) stroll to waterfalls, reasonable prices for admission and lunch. Thursday and Sunday at 2PM, the Native Plant Tour is offered. Also look for Full Moon Walks and Historic Hawaii Living Tours.