Haleiwa is the only actual town on Oahu's North Shore — a strip of old plantation-era storefronts now occupied by surf shops, coffee roasters, açaí bowl spots, art galleries, and the famous Matsumoto Shave Ice. It has managed to maintain something of its original character despite its popularity, partly because zoning protects the low-rise historic streetscape.
Matsumoto Shave Ice has been operating from its Rainbow Drive shop since 1951. The shave ice is finely textured rather than crushed — more like snow than ice — and served with flavoured syrups and, if you choose, sweet azuki beans or ice cream underneath. The queue is always long but moves quickly. Haleiwa is about an hour from Waikiki and makes a natural base for a North Shore day trip that includes Pipeline and Waimea Bay.