This quiet little town, nestled comfortably along Oahu's North Shore, is a complete 180-degree turn from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki.

More than a century ago, before Waikiki built its first hotel, visionary businessman Benjamin J. Dillingham opened Hawaii s finest lodging on a small strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Anahulu River. He named the grand Victorian hotel "Haleiwa," which means "House of the Iwa." The graceful frigate bird, he said, best exemplified the ambience he wanted to create for the hotel.

While the Haleiwa was set in the middle of nowhere, Dillingham had a plan. He had laid tracks for an ambitious railroad to serve his sugar plantations between Honolulu and Waialua, and he figured placing a grand hotel at the end of the line would be a way to further capitalize on his investment. For years, visitors and residents alike rode the train to spend some leisure time at the beachside resort. Shortly after, the town adopted the name Haleiwa.

Still, there is much to see here. Haleiwa offers a nice selection of art galleries, surf shops and eateries. Visit the North Shore Surf & Cultural Museum, established in 1999, located at the North Shore Marketplace. The museum features a wide range of surfing memorabilia, including antique surfboards, photographs and videos that chronicle the history of the surfing. Today, this quaint town is the unconventional shoppers' dream for art, crafts, clothes, and surfing items. There are breathtaking paintings by master seascape artist, Walfrido, featured at North Short Art Gallery. There is the Haleiwa Surf Museum and Strong Current Shop that specializes in longboards and surfboards designed by North Shore legends, Dick Brewer and Mike Diffenderfer. Each summer, the town puts on the Haleiwa Arts Festival, a lively event featuring art demonstrations, trolley tours, storytelling and live entertainment.