Haleiwa
Contact your Hotel Concierge or Front Desk
On the North Shore of Oahu you will find a sleepy little village called Haleiwa. This village is a complete 180-degree turn from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki.
More than a century ago, however, before Waikiki built its first hotel, visionary businessman Benjamin J. Dillingham opened Hawaii’s finest lodging on a small strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Anahulu River. He named the grand Victorian hotel "Haleiwa," which means "House of the Iwa." The graceful frigate bird, he said, best exemplified the ambience he wanted to create for the hotel.
While The Haleiwa was set in the middle of nowhere, Dillingham had a plan. He had laid tracks for an ambitious railroad to serve his sugar plantations between Honolulu and Waialua, and he figured placing a grand hotel at the end of the line would be a way to further capitalize on his investment. For years, visitors and residents alike rode the train to spend some leisure time at the beachside resort. Shortly after, the town adopted the name Haleiwa.
The hotel is gone now, but this old plantation town continues to welcome visitors. Designated a Historic, Cultural and Scenic District in 1984, Haleiwa has maintained its simple charm and laid-back environment. Aging storefronts line its main street. This is definitely a "shorts and slippers" kind of place.
Still, there is much to see here. Haleiwa offers a nice selection of art galleries, surf shops and eateries. Visit the North Shore Surf & Cultural Museum, established in 1999, located at the North Shore Marketplace. The museum features a wide range of surfing memorabilia, including antique surfboards, photographs and videos that chronicle the history of the surfing.
Visitors to Hawaii in the winter particularly between the months of November through March have to add Haleiwa as a must see. In addition to all of the attractions that are available on dry land there is the famous Oahu North Shore surf, the Pipeline as it is often called. The Pacific Ocean and all of its power can be seen and even felt as spectators watch breaking waves higher than many of the building that are found in nearby Haleiwa Town.
More than a century ago, however, before Waikiki built its first hotel, visionary businessman Benjamin J. Dillingham opened Hawaii’s finest lodging on a small strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Anahulu River. He named the grand Victorian hotel "Haleiwa," which means "House of the Iwa." The graceful frigate bird, he said, best exemplified the ambience he wanted to create for the hotel.
While The Haleiwa was set in the middle of nowhere, Dillingham had a plan. He had laid tracks for an ambitious railroad to serve his sugar plantations between Honolulu and Waialua, and he figured placing a grand hotel at the end of the line would be a way to further capitalize on his investment. For years, visitors and residents alike rode the train to spend some leisure time at the beachside resort. Shortly after, the town adopted the name Haleiwa.
The hotel is gone now, but this old plantation town continues to welcome visitors. Designated a Historic, Cultural and Scenic District in 1984, Haleiwa has maintained its simple charm and laid-back environment. Aging storefronts line its main street. This is definitely a "shorts and slippers" kind of place.
including antique surfboards, photographs and videos that chronicle the history of the surfing.
