North Shore (Oahu)
The North Shore, in the context of geography of the Island of Oʻahu, refers to the north-facing coastal area of Oʻahu between Kaʻena Point and Kahuku. The largest settlement is Haleʻiwa.
This area is best known for its massive waves, attracting surfers from all around the globe.
Surfing
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The northern hemisphere winter months on the North Shore see a concentration of surfing activity, taking advantage of swells originating in the stormy North Pacific. Notable surfing spots include Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach.
Banzai Pipeline, located at Ehukai Beach, is the most famous surfing spot on the North Shore and is consistently ranked one of the top surf spots in the world.[1] It is a prime spot for competitions due to its close proximity to the beach, giving spectators, judges, and photographers a great view.
The North Shore is considered to be the surfing mecca of the world. Every December, the area hosts three competitions, which make up the Triple Crown of Surfing. The three men's competitions are the Hawaiian Pro, the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing, and the Billabong Pipeline Masters. The Pipe Masters was founded in 1971 and is regarded as the sport's top surfing contest.[2] The three women's competitions are the Hawaiian Pro, the Roxy Pro Sunset, and the Billabong Pro on the neighboring island of Maui.[3]
Waimea Bay hosts the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau. This is an exclusive competition that participants must be invited to. The competitions has a scheduled window of dates each winter, however the competition has a minimum requirement of consistent, 20-foot (6.1 m) waves. Therefore, the competition is not held every year.
Although the North Shore is known for its large winter surf, there are a number of surf schools that teach a beginner the basics of surfing in coves that are protected from the larger waves.
Television and film
Due to its natural environment, proximity to Honolulu, and large waves, the North Shore is a popular area for filming.
The documentary film Bustin' Down The Door (2008) chronicles the rise of professional surfing in the early 1970s.
The Fox Network TV show North Shore was filmed there. ABC's Lost was filmed almost entirely on O'ahu, with much of it filmed on the North Shore, including in the area of Turtle Bay.
The North Shore was also the setting for the movies Ride the Wild Surf, North Shore, Blue Crush, The Big Bounce, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, as well as being fictionalized for the animated film Surf's Up.
Since December 2015 Hale'iwa and Pupukea have been the setting for the popular German reality TV show Die Reimanns portraying the life of the Reimann family on their lush estate in Sunset Hills.
Accommodation
The North Shore only houses one large commercial hotel, the Turtle Bay Resort, which also has two world-class golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer and George Fazio. Other accommodations are available in privately run condos, house rentals, and a youth hostel.[4]
Activities
While the North Shore is most famous for its surfing, there are a number of other popular activities on the North Shore including hiking, scuba diving, shark cage diving, snorkeling, food trucks, foilboard, shopping, shave ice, dolphin tours, etc.
Floods and beach erosion
The surf during the winter months regularly cause flooding along the North Shore, which may lead to temporary closure of Kamehameha Highway, erosion of some beaches, and take a toll on oceanfront homes.[5]
Communities
Notable residents
- Rochelle Ballard, professional surfer
- Owl Chapman, surfer
- Darrick Doerner, surfer
- Jim Evans, artist
- John John Florence, professional surfer
- Brian Grazer, Oscar-winning film and television producer[6]
- Bruce Irons, professional surfer
- Jack Johnson, folk rock singer-songwriter
- Samuel Kamakau, historian
- Stanley Kennedy Sr., founder of Hawaiian Airlines
- Jamie O'Brien, professional surfer
- Frederick Patacchia, professional surfer
- Makua Rothman, professional surfer
- Paul Theroux, American travel writer and novelist[7]
- Butch Van Artsdalen, surfer
References
- ^ Jade Bremner, for. "World's 50 best surf spots". CNN. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ Warshaw, Matt. "Pipe Masters".
- ^ "2012 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing hydrated by vitaminwater". Triplecrownofsurfing.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ^ Backpackers Vacation Inn and Plantation Village
- ^ Extreme surf Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ Tom Austin (July 2006). "Surfing Oahu's North Shore; Oahu's North Shore Scene". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ^ "Theroux: No Place Like Home". CBS: Sunday Morning. August 3, 2001. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
External links
- Oʻahu Surf Conditions, Radar, and Forecasts
- 'Life Among The Swells': William Finnegan from Outside magazine gives a detailed insight into the professional surfing world on the North Shore of Oʻahu.
- Oʻahu North Shore Chamber of Commerce
- "The Drive-By Coast." Hana Hou! Vol. 10, No. 2 (April/May 2007 issue; 7 pages). Article by Curt Sanburn, photographs by Dana Edmunds.