Haleiwa is a
colorful,
historic community in the center of Oahu's North Shore, once the
playground of royalty and the location of a former television
series called "Baywatch," Haleiwa has long been
acknowledged as Hawaii's surfing capitol.
The more than
100-year-old town is a picture of its past with rustic old
buildings dominating the landscape.Many of the buildings are on
the State List of istoric Sites, includine the vintage 1921
building that has been the home of Surf & Sea Ocean Sports
Headquarters for 35 years. After surviving numerous high waves,
this oceanfron location has been used as set for numerous TV shows and
movies.
The collection of surfboards hanging from the
ceiling trace the evolution of the sport from ancient woonden
boards you would expect to find at the Bishop Museum to examples
of every era since. Heleiwa is also emerging as an important art
center on Oahu.
There are at least six art galeries featuring
dozens of artists, many from the islands, and several gift shops
that also sell arts and crafts. In the North Shore Marketplace,
the famous seascapes of Roy Tabora and Walfrido Garcia are on
display. Haleiwa is also the headquarters for world-famous
marine artist, Wyland. Several other artisans show their work
here, with some doing their trade on premises so the public can
observe.
The towns of Haleiwa and neighboring Waialua, have an
ecletic combination of marine art, pottery, sculptures,
watercolors, and lost of arts and crafts, providing for a wide
range of tastes and pocketbooks. Get out of your car and just
walk, from gallery to shop and back, then stop for a great
berger at Kua ‘Aina Burgers,, or cool down with a shave-ice (snowcone)
from the legendary M. Matsumoto store, serving shave ice for
over 40 years in Haleiwa town.
They and neighboring stores serve
it local style, with sweet azuki beans or ice cream in the
botton of the paper cone. The Haleiwa Surf Museum, also lacated
in the Marketplace, has a collection of memorabilia including
surf posters, album covers, monochrome photos by legendary surf
photographer, vintage surfboards, and the best of all, a very
cool 1950 Ford Woody.
In Haleiwa you can rent or buy just about
anything you desire from fun on the water. If you don’t know
how, they’ll teach you to surf, windsurf, scuba dive and more.
There are sevral fishing cherters out of Haleiwa Small Boat
Harbor. Remember that during the winter the waves can get BIG,
30 feet and more. Watch the warnings and ask a lifeguard when in
doubt. We want you to use your return tiket home !!
