Hotels on the North Shore: The other side of heaven in Oʻahu
Your days of dreaming are over. You have finally booked your dream trip to Oʻahu! Now you need to decide where you are going to stay. Honolulu has thousands of hotels, but if you’ve dreamt of being in a quieter spot that is a closer match to a real island paradise, might we suggest you book a room up along the north shore?
Polynesian Word of the Day
“Fale Talimalo”
Samoan for guest house (n) – a building traditionally placed near the entrance to a Samoan village, made available to travelers and guests
Come rest your head in an area where the big boys come to surf, the executives come to relax, and families come to make memories. The list is short, but the choices are varied – everything from very simple to very upscale:
Courtyard Oahu North Shore by Marriott
Our first selection is the newest addition to the North Shore, the beautiful Courtyard North Shore, sitting adjacent to The Polynesian Cultural Center in the quiet little town of Laie, Oahu. Laie is at the northeast corner of the island. It is situated just across from Clissolds Beach. In fact, it has its own beautiful grassy entrance to the beach.
It is a small hotel, but it is definitely not lacking in extras. The rooms are comfortably plush, the lobby is a great gathering area, your kids will love the deluxe pool area, and there is a counter service bistro with a respectable menu for breakfast and dinner.
Tiki Moon Villas
There are some delightful bungalows just across the street from The Polynesian Cultural Center. Tiki Moon Villas, registered and licensed with the state, consistently rates “excellent” on TripAdvisor. You can choose from several personalized rooms depending on the size of your party. You’ll love gardens that contain little ponds and areas to relax and enjoy the beautiful sounds of the surf. There are lots of extras like free wifi, no parking fees, and access to washers and dryers.
Malaekahana Beach Campground
Malaekahana Beach Campground offers some of the best camping accommodations, amenities, and activities in Hawaii. Imagine sleeping under the stars, taking a morning dip in the ocean, renting paddle boats, and singing songs by a campfire. Not quite ready for sleeping in a tent? Malaekahana also has rental cabins that will sleep four. They even offer a Pavilion Package that sleeps up to 20 guests. Separate toilet facilities, camp store, and food truck on site.
Turtle Bay Resort
The moment you arrive, you’ll know you made the right choice. Turtle Bay Resort has it all. Fine dining, one of the better snorkel areas around, awesome pool area, championship golf, a perfect place to learn to surf, and close to all the top North Shore adventures and events.
Turtle Bay offers hotel rooms, townhouses, and ocean view bungalows of various sizes and prices, all beautifully appointed.
Ke Iki Beach Bungalows
The beautiful bungalows at Ke Iki Beach are situated in the middle of some of the most famous sets of beaches in the world. Guests can enjoy romantic sunsets, strolling along the sandy beach, watching world-class surf competitions, and vacationing smack dab in the middle of all the food, fun, and adventure that visitors come specifically to the North Shore to experience. All rooms have beautiful ocean and sunset views, but they fill quickly, so make your reservations early!
VRBO and Airbnb
Private rentals are available across the island through VRBO and Airbnb. In fact, there are numerous choices, but you must book early and choose carefully. Airbnb is currently trying to work with the State of Hawaiʻi regarding tax collection and local laws, with mixed results. You need to decide if this is the path for you.
See our other blogs in our “Things to Do on the North Shore” series: