Apart from the amazing beaches where some of the world's largest surfing competitions are held annually, the area from Laie to Haleiwa - the North Shore, is best known for two major attractions, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Waimea Valley Audubon Center.
In Laie you will find the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii's most popular privately owned attraction. Here you will find re-created villages of seven Polynesian cultures, Fiji, the Marquesas, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Hawaii.
Students at nearby Brigham Young University Hawaii who come from these islands share their culture, their art and their dance. The students work in exchange for tuition, room and board.
Activities abound at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The afternoon canoe pageant is a popular attraction as is the evening luau and show.
If the drive to Laʻie is too far for you, there are many tour companies that offer round-trip bus transportation and admission to the Polynesian Cultural Center with pickup from your hotel in Waikiki.
After rounding the northern tip of Oʻahu, the Kamehameha Highway passes some of the most famous surfing beaches in the world. If you're on Oʻahu in winter, you're likely to see the very high waves that make Oʻahu's North Shore famous. The highway eventually makes its way to the town of Waimea, home to the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. The Center provides a unique experience where visitors can immerse themselves in Hawaiian natural and cultural history.
The center is a leader in native flora collections and offers insights into Hawaiian ecosystems and pre-contact history. This is a self guided experience where visitors to the valley are invited to explore the many botanical, cultural and historical resources distinctive to Hawaii.
Next Page - Central Oahu and Pearl Harbor
