The North Shore of Oahu – After renting a car at Honolulu Airport, we drove an hour north from the developed beachfronts and skyscrapers of Waikiki to the untamed wilderness of the island’s North Shore of Hawaii.
While my family came for the legendary surf, my focus was wellness and ancient beauty rituals. Throughout the trip, I kept a copy of Practical Folk Medicine of Hawai’i by Mikeke McBride tucked in my purse with the intent of discovering Hawaiian healing plants.
This North Shore Oahu weekend guide focuses on wellness, native plants, and a stay at Turtle Bay Resort.
North Shore Oahu Wellness & Travel Guide
In contrast to the high-rise developments of Honolulu or the manicured lawns of the Ko’Olina resort complex where we stayed last year, Oahu’s North Shore is wild and relatively preserved. Famous for its surf history, the North Shore Oahu was prime agricultural land for ancient Hawaiians, with valleys dedicated to taro cultivation and coasts rich for fishing.
We stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay, one of the few resorts on this stretch of coastline. The name “Turtle Bay” references the honu, the Hawaiian green sea turtle, who were once central to indigenous medicine and spiritual practice.
Planning Your North Shore Oahu Weekend
The Sea Turtles (Honu) of the North Shore
Historically, Sea Turtles (Honu) played a significant part of Hawaiian life. Honu were consumed as food, their parts harvested for medicine, and their shells worn as adornment. Rendered from their fat, Turtle oil was used for chapped skin and lips, scars, sunburn and warts, as documented in McBride’s research.
Today, the North Shore has become a sanctuary for honu, and they can be seen laying their eggs in April. These creatures are endangered and protected by strict viewing codes. You can observe them from a respectful distance, but taking, touching, or disturbing them is prohibited.
Where to Stay: Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay Review
Ocean View Rooms
Our Ocean View Guest room featured a king-sized bed, a pull-out sofa bed, and a balcony that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. Rough winter waves and winds kept us from enjoying the patio, but we found the room was comfortable, albeit simple. The bathroom’s separate toilet and shower allowed us to easily share the facilities.
The Ocean Bungalows are located steps from the shoreline, surrounded by lush landscaping. Traditional flowers grew throughout the grounds, including Hawaiian Moon Flower, with its white blooms that open only at night, and Blue Morning Glory, whose stems and roots were pounded and applied to wounds, aches, bruises, and broken bones.
Resort Gardens & Native Plants
In the morning, we found activities – such as fragrance creation and lei making – spread across tables in the main entrance. The friendly concierge directed us to a beach trail that winds through the Turtle Bay Resort property, and we passed the hotel’s ranch where horses grazed in paddocks.
Along the trail, we found ti plants with their long, glossy leaves. Ti leaves, or kī in Hawaiian, were traditionally used to wrap injuries, their anti-inflammatory properties protecting wounds. Beach naupaka grew right at the shoreline, its white flowers distinctive for appearing only half-formed. Legend says naupaka represents separated lovers, but in practical medicine, the plant treats skin irritations and provides cooling relief. Sea moss, humble and often overlooked, was used traditionally for wound healing in Hawaiian herbal medicine.
Later, my family lounged at the multi-level pool deck where an adults-only pool and hot tub overlooked a larger family pool and children’s pool complete with slides.
The Fitness Center & Nalu Spa
The ali’i, Hawaiian royalty, maintained their physical conditioning through surfing, swimming, and island athletics. The Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay hotel honors this tradition with its fitness center, which overlooked the beach through floor-to-ceiling windows. The studio offers a rotating program of classes throughout the day: yoga, pilates, and high-intensity interval training. Pickleball tournaments, golf courses, and tennis clinics are also available on the property.
I booked a massage at Nalu Spa, which can be conducted at a private casita near the shore or in a room that looks onto a spa patio, which is surrounded by a lush garden where lemongrass and hibiscus grow in wild clusters. Available only to spa guests, the small spa facilities included lockers, steam showers, a converting sauna and complimentary salt-scrub with locally harvested herbs.
Dining
Breakfast at Alaia, the hotel’s main restaurant, was a highlight of our trip. The buffet includes everything from local fruit to made-to-order eggs. We sat outdoors overlooking the pool and ocean.
Sunset, the bar that overlooks the beach at the Main Resort Pool deck, had friendly service and live music entertainment daily. My favorite hotel bar was Off The Lip located in the oceanfront lobby and flanked by infinity pools.
When the sun went down, we ventured to Beach House by Roy Yamaguchi at Kuilima Cove for dinner al fresco, where we enjoyed fresh seafood and local meat preparations.
3-Day North Shore Oahu Itinerary
You can rent a car and drive, but regular buses run along Kamehameha Highway, stopping at the hotel’s convenient bus stop every half hour for just three dollars cash. The bus travels to many locations, including all the way to Honolulu.
Day 1: Waimea Valley and Arrival
After breakfast, travel to Waimea Valley, a sacred landscape continuously inhabited for more than 700 years. Bring a swimsuit, towel, walking shoes, and a hat as you make your way toward Waimea Falls. The gentle hike winds through botanical gardens that protect native Hawaiian plants and species introduced by early Polynesian settlers.
Along the path, you’ll pass patches of taro, kalo, a plant revered in Hawaiian culture. Believed to be the ancestor of the Hawaiian people, kalo is both sacred and central to traditional Hawaiian healing practices. At the end of the trail, Waimea Falls cascades into a tranquil pool ready for swimming.
Day 2: Surf Culture and Haleiwa Town
Taking a surf lesson at the hotel or riding the waves at a local North Shore beach means participating in an ancient tradition. Surfing, or he’e nalu in Hawaiian, predates the modern sport entirely. Hawaiian royalty practiced wave riding as physical conditioning, spiritual discipline, and social activity. Chiefs had beaches reserved exclusively for their use, and skill in the waves demonstrated both fitness and command of natural forces.
Spend your afternoon exploring Haleiwa town, a former sugar plantation community that’s retained its character. Don’t skip Matsumoto’s shave ice, an island institution since 1951. Afterward, wander the boutiques, art galleries, and surf shops that line the main street.
The food trucks here are legendary, particularly the shrimp trucks where ginger and onion feature prominently in the preparations. Both ingredients appear throughout McBride’s book as medicinal powerhouses: ginger for inflammation and digestion, onion for its antimicrobial and cardiovascular benefits.
Day 3: Dole Plantation and Departure
On your way to the airport, stop at Dole Plantation, located between North Shore and Honolulu. The history here is complex, tied to Hawaii’s colonial period and the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. American business interests, including the Dole family, fundamentally changed Hawaii’s economy and political structure through pineapple cultivation. The plantation offers tours explaining this history alongside the botanical reality of how pineapple grows.
If you have time, stop at one of the local farmer’s markets or roadside stands. You’ll find produce from small farms maintaining traditional growing practices alongside modern organic methods. The vendors can tell you about what they grow, how they grow it, and sometimes what their grandmother used each plant for beyond eating.
North Shore Oahu and Turtle Bay offered the chance to enjoy nature’s pharmacy, to participate in it respectfully. The best beauty rituals come from generations of people living in harmony with their environment.
Tips for Visiting North Shore Oahu
Frequently Asked Questions About North Shore Oahu
Is North Shore Oahu good for wellness travel?
Yes — the region offers natural landscapes, traditional healing plants, outdoor movement, and fewer crowds than Waikiki.
Where is the best place to stay on the North Shore?
The Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay is the primary luxury resort on this stretch of coastline, offering beach access, spa services, and wellness programming.
Do you need a car on the North Shore of Oahu?
A car is helpful, but buses along Kamehameha Highway connect major sites for $3.
Updated January 2026
