Local Expert
Brenda Yun
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here…
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here in Honolulu, buildings pop up like tourists wearing tacky aloha shirts, shops come and go like the trade winds (but ABC stores never close), traffic is part of keeping Hawaiian time--there's no wonder the speed limit is 50, but the feeling of stepping off the plane and walking in the open air to the baggage claim is unmistakable.
I heart Hawaii. I heart spam musubi and plate lunch. I heart crowded line ups at Diamond Head and Straight Outs. I heart Bruddah Iz. I heart the feeling of shedding skin as I drive through pineapple fields in to Haleiwa. The pot of gold is found in the Rainbow State. Hop on over to the "Rock" and see.
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I’ve driven by it so many times, but never bothered to try it. Jameson’s has been a staple in Haleiwa for over fifty years. Customers can choose from three unique seating areas — at the bar, in the dining room, and on the patio. This restaurant sees a decent crowd for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and specializes in fresh catches like mahimahi and opakapaka. The burgers are the most affordable items on the menu at a reasonable $10 and are quite hefty and tasty. Most of the other dishes are over $15.
As Jameson’s is pretty much the only nice sit-down restaurant in Haleiwa, there are plenty of reasons to pop in there for a good lunch or nice dinner. I would suggest going on a nice day or evening, as the patio is a lovely atmosphere for taking a meal.
This will be my first winter surfing on the North Shore. For those of you who are not familiar with the surfing schedule on Oahu, there are basically two seasons: summer and winter. During the summer months, the North Shore is flat, so most surfers head to South Shore breaks to rip it up; during the winter months it's the other way around. The only problem is that the winter sees huge -- sometimes massive, like triple overhead -- surf on the North and West shores that it can be pretty intimidating and dangerous heading in the water.
That's why I thought it might be worthwhile to list some beginner breaks for those of you who are on the North Shore even on a big day. These are pretty much the ONLY breaks that you can paddle out to, but you should still use great caution if you decide to get into the water.
1. Pu'ena Point
Otherwise known as "Pussy Point," this spot never gets big and is usually crowded with beginners. There are at least two surf schools that dominate the parking lot and rent out surfboard to visitors.
2. Lani's
Just down the road, across from the horse stables, is Lani's a sloping right that can get a bit hairy on big days but is still worth a try if you think you're capable. Paddle out to the break to the left of the wave.
3. Chun's Reef
This is a great, fun break that's just a little farther down the road from Lani's toward Waimea. During low tide, Chun's can get downright shallow. If it were in any other place in the world, people might even consider it a world class break, but since it's at the bottom of the totem pole on the North Shore, it sees plenty of beginners.