Sunset Beach - Beautiful Beach On O’ahu Island
The best beach in North Shore, Oahu is definitely Sunset Beach. The waves are calm and steady during summer months, so it's the perfect place for a relaxing day with your family and friends. However once winter comes around, huge waves break offshore making this spot an amazing surfer's paradise!
When you're driving by Sunset Beach on the Kamehameha Highway, it's almost difficult to keep your eyes on the road ahead of you. Looking out at Sunset Beach is like looking at a postcard come to life, so I guarantee you'll be looking to the side of the beach the whole time.
Sunset Beach History
Sunset Beach, like most of Hawaii's beaches, does not have its original name. Back in the 1920s, a marketing effort for the homes in this region emphasized the area's magnificent sunsets, and the name stayed.
The original Hawaiian name is Paumalu, which means "taken by surprise". According to legend, an octopus-catching lady overreached and was attacked by sharks, who severed her legs. With an old tale like this, it's easy to understand why the marketing team chose the term "sunsets."
Sunset Beach Amenities
Along the beach, there is little street parking. The road exits, and the area may get overcrowded with tour buses and shuttles.
Across the street is the main Sunset Beach parking lot, which is designated with a tiny blue street sign as Sunset Beach Support Park. There are just a few picnic tables, one of which is in the shade, so if you get it, consider yourself very fortunate given Sunset Beach's popularity.
Sunset Beach, on the other hand, does not have much shade. If you're fortunate, you may be able to locate a tree or sit in front of a house if you're in a residential neighbourhood.
