Haleiwa

Haleiwa’s ragged roads and the lack of sidewalks or a sewage system have not deterred business from flowing into the little plantation town on the North Shore.

In fact, those distinct characteristics are part of what keeps people returning to what many call “the country.”

“It’s like an outer-island experience, but you don’t have to leave the island,” said Antya Miller, executive director of the North Shore Chamber of Commerce.

The Haleiwa Special Design District puts a tight grip on land use to preserve the area’s cultural, natural and historical attributes. And it shows.
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KEYAN ADAMS is having the time of his life on a surfboard. True, he’s only 5 years old, which isn’t a long life. And, true, the surfboard isn’t even in the water. But with the help of legendary North Shore waterman “Uncle Bryan” Suratt, little Keyan will be taking on the even littler waves of Chun’s Reef in a few minutes.

It’s a glorious sunny morning, and Keyan is just one of several wannabe surfers Uncle Bryan is teaching to paddle, push up and stand on surfboards, all firmly planted in the sand. Keyan smiles as Uncle Bryan places his feet in the proper position, while Keyan’s dad, Brenner, watches.

“It’s better when the instruction isn’t coming from Dad,” Brenner says.

He brought his son to Sunset Suratt Surf School, run by Uncle Bryan, a buff and bronzed professional surfer who confides, “I’m just a 56-year-old kid myself.” He’s a kid who taught his two kids, Cru and Nainoa, now grown, not only to surf, but to turn pro, too. And he volunteers his time, offering a free surfing experience to the physically disabled.
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