Why you should stop in Wahiawā on O’ahu

I don’t stop in Wahiawā often.

I’ve driven through it hundreds of times; growing up on the North Shore, I passed through town on my way to, well, anywhere. Now that I live in Honolulu, I whiz through Wahiawā on my way to surf cross-country, but I rarely stop. But the environment has changed over the years. While the city’s understated charm and unashamedly local vibe remain unchanged, new shops, boutiques and eateries have sprung up over the years. That’s why I recently made it a mission to stop in Wahiawā and enjoy everything the place has to offer.

One of the biggest changes here is the addition of a colorful array of shops along Kamehameha Highway, the city’s main thoroughfare. As a surfer who loves coffee, Surfers Coffee (Kamehameha Highway 63) speaks to me on an almost spiritual level. In this trendy cafe, vintage single-fin surfboards hang on the walls next to flat-screen TVs showing endless streams of surfing videos. Note: Battling the hot weather, as I did, with an iced coffee and a freshly baked pastry from The Pâtisserie, a local bakery down the road in Pearl City, might not be the best idea if you have other things to do. I felt so at home in this cozy coffee house, I didn’t want to leave. But lest my day end prematurely, I stuck around to watch another surfing video and reluctantly left.

The vintage in Wahiawa.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

A stone’s throw away I found myself in The Vintage (Kamehameha Highway 43), a vintage clothing and accessories store that, unlike some of its competitors, has not forgotten that used clothing should be affordable. As an avid saver, I was pleased to find the store well stocked with aloha shirts from yesteryear, a good selection of jackets that fit my petite frame surprisingly well, and other clothing and accessories, such as kimono, an assortment of rings and necklaces, as well as shoes that can easily get into contemporary fashion and outfits. Vinyl records, vintage artwork and countless trinkets fill the rest of the store, perfect for visitors looking for something to take home or for 28-year-olds like me with poor spending habits.

Back on the street, I look at the shops on the strip that I have yet to explore: surf and skate clothing boutique SantaLoco (Kamehameha Highway 35) stands out to me, especially since the store also sells surfboards made by local shapers like J. Splee. I consider taking another look, but my wallet, getting lighter by the hour, screams: Don’t!

Wahiawa Botanical Garden.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

I jump back into my car and quickly drive to the Wahiawā Botanical Garden (1396 California Ave.), where admission is free. It is ironic that Wahiawā’s name appears in ‘ōlelo Hawaii translates to a “place of noise” – despite the ocean being about 10 miles away, the sound of the sea would be heard here. But that’s not what I heard in this botanical garden. It’s serene here. Apart from the rustling of leaves and the occasional birdsong, there is a certain aural tranquility to the space that is unusual in Wahiawā. The garden began as land leased to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association for “experimental tree planting” and was transferred back to the County of Honolulu in 1950. Seven years later it opened as a botanical garden; today it covers 27 hectares.

I wander through the garden and enjoy the free-roaming nature of the place. There are a handful of well-maintained trails to follow, but no grand vistas or breathtaking views as you might find in other botanical gardens on the island. But the deeper you go into the gardens, the greener your surroundings become, and massive camphor trees and rainbow eucalyptus provide excellent shade, making for comfortably cool walking conditions, even on a hot day like today.

A delicious spread at Mānoa Honey & Mead.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Finally, I end my day in Wahiawā at Mānoa Honey & Mead (Palm place 930), one of the few meaderies in the state. As I find a comfortable seat in the outdoor garden, I enjoy six types of mead and marvel at the smooth, sweet taste of the honey wine. The meadery was started by Yuki Uzuhashi, a beekeeper from Japan, who acquired Mānoa Honey in 2014. He wanted to create a drink that was fresh and fruity to suit Hawaii’s tropical climate, and after purchasing a bottle of durian from the store mead and tasting it after I got home, I can honestly say he achieved just that.

Wahiawā is a living reminder not to take famous places and sights for granted. There will always be something you’ve never seen before, even here, a place that to many people seems like a city frozen in time. So if you have the time, stop in Wahiawā; the North Shore is still there waiting for you after you pau (done).

This story originally appeared in our Winter 2024 issue. Buy a copy here.