Spending a Leisurely Day Along the North Shore

After yesterday's adventures, today's pace is all about leisure, and dallying. The first stop on today's itinerary are a couple of local breakfast options, but if you'd rather stay and enjoy the resort and check out closer to 11:00 a.m. — that's completely understood.
Kahuku has long been known for its North Shore shrimp trucks and shacks, but there's a whole lot more that's happening here. Take, for example, the site of the old Kahuku Sugar Mill, which now houses several rise-and-shine breakfast options (meaning, they open well before 11:00 a.m. — which, unless you're surfing or hiking or road-tripping, is early for Hawaii time). There's also a beer garden and burger joint that open later in the day.
For a healthy breakfast option, try Raised by the Waves, which serves smoothies, powerhouse toasts, and açaí bowls most days of the week. There's also The Country Eatery, which offers fresh-pressed juices, yogurt or chia fruit parfaits, and the like Monday through Friday. As a counterpoint to that healthy fare, there's Da Bald Guy, an adjacent food truck that goes all-in on breakfast options: think eggs plus Portuguese sausage, or teriyaki furikake Spam, or New Zealand corned beef, or Kiawe smoked bacon (to name a few).

Before you really get on your way for the day, Kawela Bay is a must-see. Leave your car here and head straight to the beach.

This secluded beach is a treasure of the North Shore; flagged to be preserved as nature intended, it's lined with coconut palms and ironwood trees. It's also a fantastic location for sea turtle sightings and is home to a beautiful, mature banyan tree that's had cameos in numerous Hollywood productions, including Pirates of the Caribbean and the TV show Lost.
Before turning into the parking area — or on your way out — consider a quick detour to stop at the Kuilima Farm Stand nearby to pick up a bag or two of fresh, locally-grown tropical fruits to take on the road.

Too early for pie? (Well, oops, you're on holiday.) Driving past Ted's Bakery, it would be a shame when you're in the vicinity of such a beloved establishment to not stop in. Is it possible to resist a slice of chocolate haupia cream pie, macadamia nut cream pie, peach Barvarian cream pie, coconut cake, or pineapple macadamia nut cheesecake any time of day?
Order a slice (or two) to-go, to enjoy on the beach at the next stop or at some point during this leisurely North Shore adventure. The choice is yours.

The North Shore of Oahu is home to some of the world's most legendary surf spots, one of which is Banzai Pipeline, which is known for its perfectly curled waves. During big wave season, November through March, waves regularly reach heights of 6 to 12 feet — and up to 20, 30, even 50 feet when the conditions are exceptional. But on any given day of the year, it's impressive to see what the ocean is creating, continually — and you'll likely see surfers out in the water here, waiting for that perfect set.
Park in the public lot for 'Ehukai Beach Park to get close to the action. There's a reason why brands including Billabong and Volcom own professional surfer houses in the vicinity.

When you're having a most relaxing North Shore day, stop at as many beaches as possible — you never know what you'll find. Laniakea Beach in particular is a popular spot to find sea turtles resting on the sand.
Recall that moniker, the "Heart of Hawaii"? As an island, the shape of Oahu does resemble a heart. It's something truly special to observe these seafaring creatures making themselves at home.

There are a few requirements of visiting the North Shore: You can't leave without cruising down Kamehameha Highway through Haleiwa town's main street and you can't not try the North Shore's signature shrimp, which are always fresh as they are harvested locally. Big Wave Shrimp checks all of the boxes. Whether you order the classic garlic butter shrimp, lemon pepper shrimp, or tempura (crunchy) shrimp, you can't go wrong here. Never rushed, always welcome to linger — that's Oahu's aloha spirit.

Understandably, the proposal of visiting a museum as one of the final stops on this return journey from two days exploring some of Oahu's most beautiful, natural places could seem incongruous.
But getting back to the story of the "gathering place" and heart of Oahu, the Bishop Museum is a treasure worth discovering. It's not fussy; it's not too much (as some museums can be). Housed in an historic building dating to the 1800s, the museum's main halls focus on the fascinating history of Oceania and Polynesian wayfinding culture that really connects the dots about Hawaii as you experience today.

The Pig and the Lady in Honolulu's Chinatown is always a great place to land after an adventure on the island, as parking is free and readily accessible.
Whether you sit indoors or outdoors, where else can you find rotating pho options and other Vietnamese specialities — plus twice-fried chicken wings, escargot, Burmese tea salad, a whole Branzino, or sirloin cap steak served without an ounce of pretension? (The cocktail program is quite nice, as well.)