North Shore: The waves are fierce but beautiful!
The beautiful Waimea Park shoreline @ North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
What a beautiful scenery last sunday!
That’s how we (basically) spend our weekends (lol), roaming around Honolulu particularly on the Makai (beach) side of the island. Lately, we’ve been visiting the Northern part of the island which they called the windward side. They call it windward because it is where the wind comes.
While there is a windward side, the other side of the island where the wind leaves, is called the Leeward side. Windward usually experience moderate to heavy rains while leeward is a little dry. 
That is why we went to North Shore last Sunday. We planned to snorkel on Shark’s Cove but we lacked on preparation. One important thing that we learned about that trip was we weren’t able to inquire/search/research the surf forecast of that day.
The reason was that, Windward gets this humongous BIG waves and if this is the case, swimming or snorkeling is prohibited. Surfers are (of course) allowed to surf and ride those fierce and big waves but I’m telling you, 911 and emergency teams are probably having an OT (Over Time) on these days, we’ve been hearing sirens during our stay in the ocean.
We stopped by at Waimea park before proceeding to Sharks Cove because of the ‘eye catching’ waves. You cannot just ignore, it was simply breathtaking, very fierce but beautiful.
Sharks Cove
Sharks Cove is only a few minutes from Waimea Park so we drove going to Sharks Cove and stayed there for an hour.
Sharks Cove location is safer and accessible for swimming, maybe snorkeling (although it’s not that safe during that time) because Sharks Cove is surrounded by big rocks and corals (round shape),so there was not so much impact of waves hitting the shoreline compared to those open ones.
The thing is, although it is barred by those rocks, there are more bigger/biggest waves that overlaps the barrier and it creates an impact.
But lucky us (a little bit), the first 30 minutes was still bearable so we 
were able to snorkel for a bit and swim for the rest (another 30 mins). Literally, there are different schools of fishes on Sharks Cove, you can see it everywhere, the fishes are very friendly to swimmers. From small ones to big ones, you name it, you’ll see it, you’ll swim with it.
It was beautiful, breathtaking and it was all worth it. I may say that it was worth it BUT I don’t advise on you going swimming on the beach or maybe snorkeling with a surfer’s forecast like this, it was critical and unless you’ll go there for surfing then you’re fine.
Of course, there are shacks and little kiosk for snorkeling and surfing rental equipments around the area so you need not worry about it if you’re planning to visit the area.
Food vendors are everywhere too, that’s one thing about Hawaii, you’ll never get hungry (unless you don’t have some moolah lol). There are no entrance fee for the beaches I’ve mentioned above. There is also a designated parking lot and its FREE but it’s limited so you might want to go there a little earlier if you want to spend some time.
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Hello and welcome to my blog! Let me introduce myself first, I am Gladys Muana Erhardt. Born and raised in the Philippines and is now living in the US with a wonderful husband.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Wow! it’s really a so beautiful sea beach. Hawaii is really a wonderful place for vacation.
November 11th, 2009 at 6:08 am
Hi Ms. G - Locals consider the eastern coast as the Windward side - Kahuku down to Kaneohe, Kailua, Lanikai, Koko Head, Diamond Head to Waikiki.
North Coast is pretty much “North Coast” with wonderful Waimea, Wailua and secluded areas near Dillingham Air Field.
Leeward, from Makaha, down to Waianae, Maile, Kapolei, Ewa, Waipahu and on over to western Honolulu pretty much makes up the “Leeward Side.” A good rule of thumb is knowing the mauka - Waianae range and west is Leeward; Koolau range and east is Windward; inbetween the Waianae & Koolaus is the Wahiawa plane with the North Shore north of it.
Have relatives who used to raise shrimp in/near Kahuku and had a stand where you could stop and buy raw, cooked, meal, what-have-you. Don’t know if it’s the same now, as the State made a lot of land near there a bird sanctuary. As with all good intentioned government acts, this too went “fowl” (bad pun) - there were more desired birds there while shrimp were being raised than now with the shrimp ponds no longer producing.
Go figgur, brah! More bedda before.