The north shore beaches of Oahu island in Hawaii are known for their fantastic sand and waves, snorkeling and sea turtle spotting, bargain food trucks, and overall laid back vibes.

To be fair, the north shore is no secret anymore, and there’s plenty of tourist traffic here, but it still manages to be one of the more quiet and undeveloped corners of Oahu island, and the wildlife sightings are as good as ever.

Whether you’re a surfer, a snorkeler, or a family with kids, you should definitely check out some of the best north shore Oahu beaches. Here’s a list of our favorites!

North Shore Shark Diving

If you want a unique thrill in Hawaii, you can cage dive with sharks on the north shore of Oahu! This is a popular activity where they take you a few miles out from the coast by boat and let you see sharks up close.

The most popular shark diving tours have a metal cage for protection, and you can see sandbar sharks, Galapagos sharks, and hammerheads.

It’s a snorkeling trip, not scuba diving, so you don’t need any certification (although swimming experience helps). This is a very high rated activity in Oahu!

1. Sunset Beach

This is a top spot for watching the sunset on the north shore, which is how it gets its name. However, it’s also a great beach in its own right.

Sunset beach has a long strip of soft white sand that’s perfect for relaxing during the day, and there’s even a photogenic bent palm tree where you can take pictures!

Please don’t climb on this palm tree though, because it’s delicate and we want to keep enjoying it for as long as we can.

The summer waves at Sunset Beach are mellow, while the winter waves are some of the biggest on the north shore. However, you can still relax on the sand even when the water’s not as swimmable.

This beach also has public bathrooms and showers across the street that you can use, with a bus stop and a fair amount of car parking. Don’t forget to check out the nearby food trucks if you’re feeling hungry.

Overall, it’s definitely one of the best north shore Oahu beaches. If I had to pick just one as my favorite, it’d probably be this one.

The sunsets here are legendary, and it’s usually not too crowded!

2. Ka’ena Point

The northwestern tip of Oahu island, known as Ka’ena Point, is only reachable by hiking, but it’s well worth the effort.

This is an amazing place to chill by the ocean, and it’s a wildlife sanctuary so you can see humpback whales, Hawaiian monk seals, and Albatross birds.

There are small sandy beaches along the way, as well as tide pools and a rock arch. It’s definitely one of the best hikes on the north shore.

Ka’ena Point is a 5-6 mile roundtrip hike, but the trail is flat all the way, making it pretty easy overall.

This is one of the more family friendly hikes on Oahu and it’s great for kids, although I’d try to avoid the midday heat. This is also one of the best sunset spots on the whole island.

Keep in mind if you do Ka’ena Point for sunset then you’ll be walking back to your car in the dark, so it’s a good idea to bring a headlight!

3. Haleiwa Beach

Haleiwa is a historic town in Oahu that serves as the main town center of the north shore. It has a laidback vibe with lots of fun shops and a population of only 5,000 people, although the tourist traffic makes it seem a bit busier.

There are actually three different beaches in Haleiwa. First, you have the main beach, which is a long stretch of sand with mountain views and occasional turtle sightings.

Next, there’s the nearby Haleiwa Ali’i beach, which is smaller but has public restrooms, showers, and a big parking lot right by the beach.

Last, but not least, you can find Haleiwa Beach Park on the east side of the harbor, with a bus stop, showers, and plenty of parking. We also saw sea turtles swimming there.