Back-to-back Kona Low storm systems in March brought heavy rains to the Islands that triggered flooding and power outages, prompted evacuations and caused damage — and battered O‘ahu's North Shore.
To help North Shore businesses recover from the storms, Hawaiian Council, in partnership with the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau, E Noa Tours and Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, this week launched North Shore Huaka‘i, a 90-day pilot program that began June 29 with the intent to drive economic activity for local businesses, and connect visitors and kama‘āina with culture and community.
For $5 round trip, passengers can take a shuttle from Waikīkī or Ko Olina for a full-day experience, which last about six hours. It includes a 1-hour stop in Waialua to explore the historic Waialua Sugar Mill district and about 2.5 hours to explore Hale‘iwa, a recent announcement noted.
A North Shore Passport highlights participating businesses and to board the return shuttle, riders must show proof that they supported a participating business.
"Recovery is also about restoring the economic vitality of our communities,” Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of Hawaiian Council, said in the announcement. “The North Shore is home to dozens of small businesses that provide local jobs and serve as the backbone of the community. The North Shore Huakaʻi encourages visitors and kamaʻāina to spend time here, support local businesses, and learn about the history, culture, and people that make this place so special. Every dollar spent locally helps support families, strengthen our communities, and move recovery forward.”
Nick Carroll, chief of staff at Hawaiian Council, told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions that following the Kona Low storms in March, Hawaiian Council was on the ground supporting recovery efforts and raising assistance through its Kāko‘o Mai Fund. In April, it opened the Waialua Recovery Center to help residents access recovery resources.
"As we met with residents, business owners and community leaders, one message came through consistently: while cleanup was progressing, customer traffic had slowed significantly, leaving many North Shore businesses struggling to recover," Carroll says.
North Shore Huakaʻi was born directly from those conversations, he told ASD.
"This was not an idea developed in a boardroom or marketing meeting — it was a community-driven initiative shaped by the people most affected by the storms," Carroll continued. "Together, we asked a simple question: How do we bring people back in a way that benefits the community first?
"The result is more than a transportation program or marketing campaign. It is a managed visitor experience designed to strengthen the local economy while sharing the history, culture, and values that make the North Shore so special."
As it did in Lahaina following the 2023 wildfires on Maui, Carroll says Hawaiian Council "intentionally hired North Shore residents to help lead their own recovery."
"Local community members serve as cultural guides, ensuring that visitors experience these communities through the voices of the people who call them home," he continued. "The Huakaʻi is curated by respected cultural practitioners, including Kumu Mehanaokalā Hind and Kamaka Pili, who share the history, moʻolelo, traditions and cultural significance of the places along the route.
"The North Shore Huakaʻi is ultimately a model for community-led recovery — one where residents help shape the visitor experience, local businesses benefit directly from increased economic activity, and visitors leave with a deeper appreciation for the people, culture and places that make Hawaiʻi unique."
With this initiative, Carroll says Hawaiian Council hopes to see local businesses welcome more customers, and both visitors and kama‘āina leaving with a greater appreciation for the North Shore and those who call it home.
"Success isn't measured simply by how many people ride the shuttle. It's measured by whether local businesses benefit, whether visitors form meaningful connections with the community, and whether every dollar spent locally helps strengthen families and support long-term recovery," he says. "More importantly, we hope this initiative demonstrates that there is a better way to approach tourism in Hawaiʻi. By managing visitor flow, reducing traffic and parking impacts, and creating authentic, community-led experiences, we can address many of the concerns residents have expressed while still realizing the economic benefits that visitors bring. We believe the North Shore Huakaʻi can serve as a model for how tourism and community can thrive together."
Hawaiian Council, formerly known as the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, is a member-based nonprofit that works to advance the cultural, economic and community development of Native Hawaiians.
Where to go
The North Shore Huaka‘i will operate daily during the 90-day pilot. Advanced reservations are recommended and can be made online at NorthShoreHuakai.com or by calling 808-591-2561.
Pickups in Waikīkī begin at Prince Waikīkī at 8:30 a.m. and continue along Kalākaua Avenue before leaving for the North Shore at 9 a.m., the announcement notes. The Waikīkī route accommodates up to 40 passengers and also includes pickup locations at the ABC Store near the Ilikai Hotel, Hale Koa Hotel, Ka La‘i Waikīkī Beach, Waikīkī Shopping Plaza, the Duke Kahanamoku statue and Twin Fin Hotel.
Meanwhile, in Ko Olina, the first pickup is at 9 a.m. at the Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina and the shuttle departs for North Shore at 9:20 a.m. The Ko Olina route accommodates up to 25 passengers and also includes pickup locations at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Beach Villas at Ko Olina and Ko Olina Beach Club.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
