Travel Guide: The North Shore

Each island in Hawaii has something that makes it unique. After visiting them all, we’ve found some special places and activities that we just keep coming back to no matter how many times we’ve been. Oahu is one of our favorite places to visit because it has it all—you’ve got the shopping, restaurants, and beaches in Waikiki, but you also have the calm countryside and more chill vibes on the North Shore. So when we visit, we usually do a couple days in Waikiki and then head up North to finish the trip.

Where to Stay, Waikiki

This time we went, we stayed for a week and started the trip out with a photoshoot on Waikiki Beach. Anytime we go, we stay at the Royal Hawaiian. This place is not only beautiful and absolutely iconic, with its pink washed walls and picture perfect beach front lounging with pink umbrellas, it’s also where my dad would vacation when he was a kid in the 1950s. 

Check out these pics! So fun! Classic vintage Hawaii vibes with surfboards and floral tees and vintage bikinis.

Our Resort 2026 collection was shot here and you’ll be seeing lots of fun and sparkly pinkhigh waisted bikinis, our classic floral swimsuits, timeless one piece swimsuits, flattering swim skirts, and even some men’s swimwear!

What to Do, Waikiki

Rent some surfboards, eat breakfast at the Royal Hawaiian (don’t miss the macadamia pancakes!) and enjoy the sun on the beach. If you love to shop, this is the place. Every luxury brand you can think of is here along with some (very overpriced) souvenir shops. We also rented a catamaran and had a blast going to Diamond Head for a Sunset Cruise.

On your way to the North Shore, don’t miss out on Leonard’s Donuts. Get them when they’re hot in the morning and enjoy one on your way to paradise!

Where to Stay, North Shore

When we’re on the North Shore, we love to stay at Turtle Bay, now a Ritz Carlton resort. The location is absolutely perfect to keep you busy. It’s about an hour drive from Waikiki and HNL. Just do yourself a favor—rent the jeep, take the top off, and enjoy the gorgeous views. The drive is absolutely worth it and you’ll see some beautiful countryside along the way.

We love the Ritz because it has everything! Ocean views in every room make it hard to leave but you’ll want to because there’s so much to do! The staff is friendly and the amenities really are top notch. There’s also an adult pool and family pool– don’t miss the slides!

What to do, North Shore

We went horseback riding, took some surf lessons, and even enjoyed watching the World Series (Go Dodgers) by the beach. The Ritz concierge is fabulous and will help you make your trip as busy or as relaxed as you want! Speaking of relaxed…the spa is so relaxing with massage rooms that let in the ocean breeze and you’ll doze off listening to the waves crash. 

Rent bikes or go for a run along the beautiful trails that go for miles. Bring your suit to cool off and jump in the water when you need a break. In winter you’ll see whales and it will take your breath away. Pro tip: you can even HEAR whales when you’re in the water!

We also loved playing at the Turtle Bay Golf Resort—you can rent clubs easily if you didn’t bring your own.  The resort also has beautiful tennis and pickleball courts! Locals come to play pickleball at 5pm every night and we had a blast. Just show up and be ready for some friendly competition.

Where to Eat, North Shore

For lunch, we didn’t miss a day at Kahuku Farms—you can’t go wrong with anything but our favorite is the pizza and side salad. You can sign up for a cute farm tour here too and it’s really kid friendly.

We also love a good Seven Brother’s Burger—there are a couple within just 10 minutes of the resort and it’s a fun, easy, and yummy break from island food.

There’s a food truck spot just 5 minutes from the resort and you can have anything your heart desires. It’s a fun spot to people watch and enjoy the perfect weather.

Haleiwa Town

One of our favorite places to visit on the North Shore is the cutest little surf town, Haleiwa. You’ll find classic surf shops and local boutiques, cute restaurants (check out Bonzai Sushi Bar), and of course, the institution of Shave Ice that is, Matsumoto.

DO NOT miss on the sweetest condensed milk and ice cream add-ons, I love me a Tiger’s Blood + Watermelon combo. We went back 3 times on this trip. They also have the cutest t-shirts and I can’t help but get one every time we go.

What to Wear

Bomber Jackets, Audrey Wide Leg Pants, Arrive Crew Sweatshirt

I love that we offer so many travel-friendly styles—maybe it’s selfish of us because we love to travel so much but I absolutely need comfortable clothes on a plane that still look put together! I also love our styles that are versatile and can be dressed up or down for different occasions. 

I never get on a plane without my trustyClassic Bomber—it can get chilly and it’s so easy to roll up and tuck in my purse/backpack and does a great job of layering over a long sleeve shirt. It’s also nice in the evenings on Waikiki where it can get a little breezy at night while still looking classy.

I brought my trusty Arrive Crewfor an oversized look that layers great over jeans or myAudrey Wide Leg Pants. I just love stuff that's light weight and dries quickly when I’m in Hawaii—super practical but also very versatile.

Natalie One Piece, Cabo One Piece, High Waisted Swim Skirt, Olivia Swim Crop, High Waisted Bottoms

For swims, you’ll always find me in my Natalie One Piece, this time I brought the Cabo One Piece. I also love aSwim Skirtfor pickleball and pool time. My Two Piece go to is always theOlivia Swim Crop + High Waisted Bottoms. Dave is always wearing hisWind and Sea Shorts,for working out, golfing, and pool time.

Hopefully this helps you plan your next trip to the beautiful island of Oahu. We love it here so much and are already planning our next trip back. What’s your favorite island?