Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/118148
the North Shore. True, it's a pretty civilized surf capital – there are no signs stipulating "No Clothes, No Service," as in Maui's equivalent surf mecca, Paia – yet somehow we do not feel deprived while strolling past shops that once housed tractor dealerships but now pitch hang-gliding excursions and shark- and turtle-viewing cruises alongside vintage Ron Artis surfboard art. No, the only thing we feel lacking in is time. In just 10 hours, we've journeyed through lush jungle and across near desert, communed with marine life and risked our necks at the hands of the sea. Yet we have not been on any of the roads that loop high into the view-laden Ko'olau Range, nor have we been out of the car long enough to traverse any of the dozens of hikes or golf courses for which Oahu is renowned. Incredibly, on this entire circuit we've never been more than 50 kilometres from Honolulu, and from Hale'iwa we could barrel back in an hour. In fact, given that the sun will soon drop from the sky, we probably have to. Our firm resolve: next time, like Randy Rarick, we'll do the full Oahu. oahu overnight Why do so few people stay outside of Waikiki? For one thing, the native Hawaiian renaissance that helps make Oahu so vital has also translated into staunch resistance to the building of resort hotels. That said, options do exist to experience Oahu's vast variety from the comfort of your own lanai. ■ Turtle Bay Resort An unbelievable surfside setting combined with ongoing upgrades, excellent restaurants and two golf courses (one of them a classic) firmly place this North Shore institution among the Hawaiian Islands' most iconic resorts. ■ JW Marriott Ihilani Ko'olina Resort Joined last year by a brand new Disney resort just across the street, the Marriott offers proximity to Pearl Harbor and the island's rarely visited southwestern shore to go with pleasant beaches and a solid golf course of its own. ■ B&Bs and Vacation Rentals While B&Bs are rare (a little less so on the north shore), vacation rentals are plentiful. A few are condos or purpose-built cottages, but most amount to private homes in residential neighbourhoods. –J.S. 34 W E S T W O R L D p28-35_Oahu.indd 34 >> WINTER 2012 12-10-19 9:56 AM