Road trip around Oahu

I really wanted to see the North Shore - where "pipeline" forms. If you take the bus from Waikiki it takes about 2.5 hours to get to the North Shore but you don't get to stop where you want - so I decided to rent a car and drive there. Based on Internet advice I walked about 8 blocks from the hostel and rented a SMART car. It was a cute little blue thing! :)
Driving through Honolulu was slow and I was very happy that the car came with a GPS!
It was really an amazing to be able to drive around the island and to experience the drastic changes in the landscape and the flora that grows on it. If you have ever watched the TV series "Lost"... That is exactly what the hills in Oahu look like. Absolutely breath taking.
I stopped at the Dole pineapple plantation before getting to the North Shore. I learned the best way to cut a pineapple and how to grow your own. I also saw about 40 different products made to smell like pineapple. Despite my little addiction to gift shops I didn't buy anything.
Next stop, North Shore - first beach was in Haleiwa where there was a teen surf competition going on. I watched three heats, two of boys and one of girls, all aged 15-17, the stuff they were doing was crazy!
The next stop was Ehukai Beach Park to see Pipe, notorious for huge waves which break in shallow water just above a cavernous reef, forming large, thick curls of water... I didn't quite see that - but it was amazing!