Before a backdrop of the breathtaking Kualoa Mountains, the houses, shops, and sandy roads that comprise quaint Kahuku sprawl gracefully across the fertile land that has drawn visitors to this small North Shore community for over one hundred years. In Hawaiian, ka huku means "the projection," which refers to the nearby Kahuku Point, the northernmost point of land on the island of O'ahu. To this day, the brilliant blue of the Pacific and the lush green flora of this cozy Hawaiian town have continued to enchant those who visit there – some so strongly they choose to make Kahuku home.
As thousands of foreigners flocked to the islands in the early 1900s, Kahuku quickly became a coveted spot for settlers and sugar farmers. Its land is rich with nutrients and its skies plentiful with rain. During the next forty years, the community continued to thrive, but the devastating effects of war and the bombings at nearby Pearl Harbor seeped steadily into the town's pristine day-to-day life, due to the Kahuku's close proximity to the harbor and its intimate relationship with its community. However, despite WWII's damage, the community proved as resilient as the old Hawaiian honu, or sea turtle, on its shores, and began to rebuild its lost glory and regain its place in paradise.
Today, Kahuku is an idyllic day trip from Honolulu for those looking to escape the bustling throngs of Waikiki. Still rich in farm culture, the area features countless ways for visitors to experience local life. The weekly farmers markets are a great place to buy superior, locally-produced goods—like lilikoi jelly, mango tea, and mango papaya soap—as well as the place to chat with the wonderful people who call Kahuku home. Sightseers can also visit local waterfalls, hike rainforest trails, or take a helicopter tour around the island. Of course, Kahuku's beaches also offer golden sand and gently crashing waves, minus the masses of other visitors.
If you're hoping to stay longer, Kahuku's Turtle Bay Resort is one of the most swank on the island, with stunning ocean views and 36 challenging holes of golf. Whether you spend a week or a day in Kahuku, make sure you hit one of the famous shrimp trucks that line the town's beachfront streets. FUMI's is rumored to have the greatest spicy garlic shrimp, while Romy's is said to sell the freshest-tasting. Giovanni's boasts a killer hot sauce as well as a smoothie stand right next door with some heavenly li hing mui pineapple, a local favorite that combines sweet and salty flavors – it just might be the perfect addition to your shrimp.
