We absolutely love visiting Hawaii. I’ve been going since I was a kid, and over the years, it’s become a place that feels almost like a second home. Even in my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with the government there, which has given me an even deeper appreciation for the islands. In just the past three years alone, we’ve traveled to Oahu 15 times, and no matter how many times we visit, we always find new places to explore. For us, the perfect Hawaii trip is all about indulging in incredible local food, soaking up the sun on beautiful beaches, and venturing out on hikes to take in the stunning scenery.

On our last trip, we were in search of a quiet, less crowded beach on the North Shore where we could truly relax and unwind. Most of the time, we end up at Waikiki Beach since it’s right across from the hotels we stay at, making it the most convenient option. If you’ve been to Oahu before, you probably know exactly which stretch of sand I’m talking about—Waikiki is famous for good reason. With its swimmable waters, breathtaking views of Diamond Head, and a front-row seat to planes taking off from HNL, it’s a classic spot that never really gets old.

This time, though, we wanted something different, so we started randomly clicking on different beaches on Google Maps, hoping to find the perfect place. That’s when we stumbled upon Ke Iki Beach, and from the moment we saw the photos, we knew we had to check it out.

Getting There & Must Eats

On the way there, make sure to stop at Paalaa Kai Bakery! They have a delicious dessert called the snow puffy. The snow puffy is an amazing flaky pastry with a cold creamy custard, topped with chocolate and tons of powdered sugar. It was so good, a few bites are missing from the photo!

Another favorite of mine is Ray’s Kiawe Broiled Chicken. The chicken is so tender and seasoned perfectly! A plate comes with a half chicken, rice, pineapple coleslaw, and this tangy vinegary shoyu sauce for just $14. Insane deal. I have never had pineapple in coleslaw before and it was amazing. They have two locations depending on which day of the week it is. On weekends you can find them at the Hale’iwa Town Center. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, they are at 130 Mango Street in Wahiawa.

Now that we’ve got our grub, let’s talk about the beach!

Ke Iki Beach

I’ll start out with a disclaimer that this is not a swimmable beach. There are insane waves that crash right at the shore and you don’t want to be stuck in that. There are tons of warnings displayed and even a lifeguard on a beach ATV. Check out these crazy waves! I love this beach because you get to watch these powerful waves.

There is some street parking and you may need to take a short walk to get to the beach.