T&L contributing editor Tom Austin puts out an entertaining (albeit somewhat hyperventilated) impression of life on the North Shore of Oahu. Me, I've never met any "Hawaiian hillbillies with welding shops in their garages". But his point about how this part of the islands is remarkably democratic -- with millionaire Hollywood-types hobnobbing with humble locals and everyone bumping into each other on the bike paths -- is one of the things I love about the North Shore. Still, having lived on the North Shore myself its hard not to poke a little fun so....

* Grandma would never surf Waimea, Tom. Waimea only breaks when its big as a house.
* Haole does not mean tourist. It means Caucasian. You can grow up in Hawaii and be haole
*Tom, learn the Jameson's rule. Sunset drinks, not dinner.
* Barnfield's as a shopping Mecca on the North Shore? Um, sure.

Useful North Shore Links: Special Places, Good Eats, Good Article

—Alex, 08/15/06