Waialua

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Waialua, HI Area Guide

A hidden gem on Oahu’s North Shore

Coastal Beach Scenic Tourism Diverse Surfing

The community of Waialua sits on the North Shore of Oahu, about an hour’s drive northwest of Honolulu. Formerly the site of numerous sugar plantations and mills, the community has largely shifted away from agriculture and manufacturing, although many of the old industrial buildings have been repurposed into popular shops and other locally-owned businesses.

While the nearby beaches are popular among surfers and tourists, Waialua enjoys more of a “locals only” atmosphere than many of Hawaii’s coastal communities. With the neighboring town of Haleiwa hosting a much more active commercial sector, Waialua is the perfect place to enjoy the seclusion of a largely hidden stretch of beach without being far from a thriving shopping and dining district.

Getting Around

Somewhat Walkable

Walkability

30 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

Waialua Elementary School

Public

Grades PK-5

442 Students

Waialua High & Intermediate School

Public

Grades 6-12

621 Students

Waialua High & Intermediate School

Public

Grades 6-12

621 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge
  • Kukaniloko Birthstones
  • Wahiawa Botanical Garden

Airports

  • Daniel K Inouye International

Top Apartments in Waialua

Houses for Rent in Waialua

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in February 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.