North Shore Blues

We’re going to miss winter in Hawaii for the first time in many years. I’m missing the North Shore (of Oahu, that is). The North Shore has that laid back country feel though there’s a big fight going on right now.  Kuilima, the company that owns Turtle Bay Resort, wants to add thousands of hotel rooms and condos to the resort property under an agreement negotiated twenty years ago. Lines have been drawn. Some are fer it; some are agin it. Both sides have some good arguments. The North Shore has this odd mix of plantation shacks, multimillion dollar homes, a funky little town (Haleiwa) and only one resort. It’s surfer country and the surfing culture prevails. Surfing is a better than average spectator sport (because the spectators are also fun to look at) and when the big events occur there are thousands of spectators jamming the single two lane highway from Honolulu and absolutely nowhere to park. From Haleiwa to Kuhuku, 15 miles of prime surfing beaches including Pipeline and Sunset, there are but a handful of places to eat, buy groceries or take a leak. Local knowledge is important and tourists only seem to stop at Sunset and the turtle beach, both of which are wide open to view. (They can’t usually find the Pipeline because the sign says "Ehukai Beach Park"). The North Shore is so country that there is only one Starbucks. But this Starbucks is the gathering place for surfers, tourists and celebrities. Board shorts, tee shirts and flip flops are the uniform of the day. If you are a local and it’s a bit chilly (79 and rainy) you’ll probably wear jeans and a sweatshirt. There are ways, however, to sample the delights of the North Shore when you can’t get there. You can watch
Lost which is filmed mostly on the North Shore just outside Haleiwa. And, if you keep your eyes open you might see Terry O’Quinn, who plays John Locke, in Starbucks. Another way to visit the North Shore is to download a video podcast from iTunes called Hawaii Surf Session Report Hawaii Surf Session Report. Great camera work and good background music from local bands. But the real sound track for the North Shore has to come from Jack Johnson  Jack Johnson, along with Kelly Slater (who is a regular at Starbucks when he’s around) are the biggest North Shore celebrities. Jack Johnson is not a typical North Shore surfer. He actually grew up there. (I’m going to guess that at least half the North Shore surfers are from other countries). Jack’s music is laid back, lyrical, relaxing and surprising. He’s got a bit of the Hawaiian patois and plays a terrific slack string guitar. My grandson and I like his video for “Upside Down” with Jack and Curious George in an underwater fantsy world. It’s also fun to watch “Taylor” and see Ben Stiller play a North Shore tourist geek. If you like that then go to "video bonuses" and view the out takes for that video. The thing about the North Shore is that if you don’t surf then you’re a Ben Stiller geek. And, keep your eyes open. You'll probably bump into Jack. Don't be surprised if there are little kids following him.

Comments

[Toegee-Jon Midpoint]

Thank you for mentioning my Blog - http://keepthenorthshoresane.blogspot.com/ on your post. I can see how you would think I am "for" Turtle Bay development. I discuss quite a few North Shore things on the Blog and I hope you checked those out as well.

I am more for intelligent discussions about change than I am for Turtle Bay. It is just that the opponants to that project are, for me, a target that is so tempting I can't stop myself. Their lying and hypocrisy astounds me and I just have to tee off on them.

Aloha, and I hope you get to come back to the North Shore, I, and the people I know, appreciate our tourist visitors.

Aloha,

Toegee-Jon