On our previous trip to Oahu, HI, we took our parents with us. With them being older, we wanted to find easy yet fun activities for them to do. This was when we found out that you can kayak on the Anahulu River in North Shore. Anahulu River is one of the most popular kayaking spots on North Shore Oahu because it is usually calm and has easy access. This is perfect for beginners or those who just want a leisure paddle on their paddleboards or kayaks. If you’re lucky, you can spot green turtles basking in the sun and even manta rays. You can either rent or bring your own kayaks or paddleboards here. Since we couldn’t bring our own kayaks on the plane, we had to rent. There are a few local companies located along the river, making renting super easy.
Stats
Where
If you have your own kayak:
Haleʻiwa Beach Park
62-449 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
If you want to rent:
- Surf N Sea
62-595 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712 - Blue Planet Adventure Co
by river next to bridge, 62-620 Kamehameha Hwy Unit #F, Haleiwa, HI 96712
Parking
Haleiwa Beach Park has plenty of parking. As for Surf N Sea, there is a small parking along the road, right next to their shop.
Restroom
There are restrooms at the shop and at the park.
Fee
Free if you bring your own kayaks or paddle crafts. For rental, the rate starts at $20. For more info, check out Surf N Sea website. You can call them to reserve your kayaks.
Distance
About 1.8 miles R.T.
Level
Easy/Beginner
Time:
45 minutes – 1.5 hours
Pet-friendly
If you’re renting, please check with the rental company to see if you can bring dogs.
Ideal Time
If you just want to stay along the Anahulu River, anytime works fine. If you want to expand to a longer trip out to the ocean as well, go in the summer. Kayaking out on the ocean on North Shore Oahu in the winter is not ideal because of the big swells.
Weather
Video
Getting Start: Rentals Vs. Owned
The Anahulu River is located in the small town of Haleiwa in North Shore, HI. If you’re bringing your own kayaks or paddleboards, you can put them in the water from Haleʻiwa Beach Park. You can easily GPS your way to the park. There is plenty of parking at the park.
If you need to rent like us, there are a couple of companies that are based along the Anahulu River. One of them is Surf N Sea, and the other one is Blue Planet Adventure Co. Surf N Sea’s drop-in point for kayaks is at the small beach area behind their shop, right before the Hale’iwa Rainbow Bridge (shown as Kamehameha Highway Bridge on Google Maps), while Blue Planet Adventure Co.’s drop-in point is right after the bridge. We opted to go with Surf N Sea. Both of these companies are easy to map to using the addresses we listed above.
The Adventure
Checking In
Kayaking on the Anahulu River is the first activity on our to-do list for North Shore Oahu. It is because we wanted to avoid the sweltering tropical heat of Hawaii. Therefore, we got to Surf N Sea almost right after they opened. We didn’t book our kayaks ahead of time. Despite that, the rental process was fast and simple. They gave us a piece of paper and had us go around to the back of the shop to pick up our kayaks. There, we met Koa, a super nice employee who helped us with our kayaks. He showed us where to go and helped us settle into our paddle craft.
Getting Into the Water
After everyone set out onto the water, we made a left toward the jetty, around the bend, and headed inland. If you do this during the summer months, the water on North Shore is usually calm. So, you could also kayak out in the ocean. However, because we went in the winter, the swells in North Shore were very large. Therefore, Koa advised us to stay closer to the shores and along the Anahulu River only. If you’re planning to kayaking on North Shore Oahu in the winter, staying along the Anahulu River is the way to go.
Crossing Over the Rainbow Bridge
The entrance to the Anahulu River is marked by the historic Rainbow Bridge. This double-arch concrete bridge was built in 1921 to replace the original wooden bridge that crossed over the Anahulu River. This bridge was very photogenic. We couldn’t help but took a ton of photos. Apparently, this bridge is a popular bridge-jumping spot. Since we went early on a weekday, we didn’t see anyone jumping though.
Kayaking along the Anahulu River on North Shore Oahu
As soon as our kayak enter the Anahulu River, the water was nice and calm. There are lush vegetation and tall trees lining the river banks. After a short distance, we cross under another concrete bridge. At this point, the river sides became lusher with occasional houses dotted along the way. There were some big trees with interesting roots that reached out to the water as well.
It was pretty cool kayaking along the Anahulu River on North Shore Oahu because we got to see many green turtles, basking along the riverbank. At first, we didn’t even see the turtles because they look just like regular boulders. However, once we noticed these green turtles, it was definitely easier to spot them among the brownish-red clay. Please note that these turtles are protected so don’t get too close or harass them. If you’re lucky, you can also see manta rays here. We weren’t that lucky that day though.
To the End of the Anahulu River
Eventually, we came to the third bridge. Depending on when you go, the water level here might be quite low. If that’s the case, there are a bunch of big boulders right before the third bridge. It might require some navigation before getting to the third bridge. Our family turned back at this point since they weren’t comfortable with their kayaks. Dustin and I pressed on. This bridge is quite low with two narrow openings. After passing the bridge, the Anahulu River thins down significantly. It became too rocky and narrow for us to keep going so we had to turn back.
The Way Back
The way back was quite mellow. Even though there wasn’t any wind, the current helped push us faster. So, we made our way back in just under an hour. It was toward the afternoon so we saw more turtles as well as other kayakers and paddleboarders too. Overall, it was a very relaxing experience. Our parents enjoyed it thoroughly. The 2 miles paddling trip was perfect for them. If you’re looking for a calm spot to do your kayaking in North Shore Oahu, this is it! For more things to do, don’t forget to check out our 10 things to do in Oahu. If you’re up for the challenge, check out our adventure hiking Olomana Trail and Moanalua Valley Middle Ridge.
These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.
adventure gear
A dry bag to store your valuable such as phone, key or wallet. We use this dry bag.
If you prefer paddling with some music, we love this little waterproof speaker.
Make sure to use lots of sunscreens! We use eco-friendly, reef-safe sunscreen, Stream2Sea SPF 30.
Face sunscreen is also important. We love these tinted, organic All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter.
other things to bring
- A hat and sunglasses- to keep the sun off your face.
- Water – it gets hot out there.
- Always good to bring some snacks with you. For healthy and easy snacks, check out some of our recipes.
camera gear
Related Posts
Save your pins:
