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Matt Rott
Hawaii Local Expert

Last Modified: January 5, 2026

Waialua map

Waialua Neighborhood Overview

Team Tacoma, Sugar Mill Shapers, Lesser-Known Surf

🧭Generally defined as the area: Kaiaka Bay and Waialua Bay, east along Haleiwa Road and Kamehameha Highway into Haleiwa, makai of Kaukonahua Road and the Waianae Range foothills near Helemano, west toward Mokuleia along Farrington Highway past Dillingham Airfield.

πŸ“ŒBest known for: Classic sugar mill, coffee beans, surfboard shapers, tractor sunsets.

πŸ‘•You'll fit in if: You can sand fiberglass or harvest mangoes between swells.

πŸ‘Locals live here because: Backyard lychee, empty dawn lineups.

πŸ‘ŽThe downside to Waialua is: Gusty trade winds and a long way from everything.

✨TLDR: Barefoot agricultural surf town.

Barefoot romantics, quiet surf (when the trades calm down), unapologetically early nights.

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Moving to Waialua - Make Sense Of Your Next Move

Whether you're new to Oahu or deciding which part of the island fits you best, Snappy Scout cuts through the noise and shows you what living here is really like. If you're still finding your way, start with our Moving to Oahu guide for the big-picture view β€” or compare Waialua against other parts of the island in our Oahu neighborhood guide.