Kicking Back
Getting Lost
Or not, on Oahu’s North Shore.
It’s gotta be Haleiwa Joe’s signature calorie-laden and oh-so-sinful burnt-caramel-macadamia dessert. That’s the only way to explain why portly Hurley (Jorge Garcia) — a lead character on the hit ABC television series Lost — hasn’t lost an ounce despite being stranded on a mysterious tropical island with the other survivors of doomed Oceanic Air Flight 815. Hurley must be the only survivor to have figured out that they’re not lost at all — they’re on the North Shore of Oahu, steps from an Arnold Palmer–designed golf course and a world-class resort, and just 20 minutes (heck, he must hitch a ride) from the harbor-front Haleiwa Joe’s (www.haleiwajoes.com) and its extensive menu of freshly caught seafood, succulent steaks and mouth-watering desserts.I visited the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu in mid-September, completely unaware that its expansive waterfront landscape — much of which has been left in pristine natural condition, criss-crossed by a miles-long network of walking trails — does double duty as a filming location for Lost. Think back to an early episode last season when Jack (Matthew Fox), Charlie (Dominic Monaghan) and Kate (Evangeline Lilly) run like crazy through the jungle after a mysterious monster (are we ever going to find out what’s up with that?) snatches the pilot of the downed flight and summarily does away with him. Turtle Bay. Or when Walt (Malcolm David Kelley) is trapped inside a banyan tree as a giant polar bear lurks outside. Turtle Bay. Or when Charlie is strung up in a tree by mystery man Ethan (William Mapother) until Kate arrives to save the day and cut him down. Turtle Bay.
In this tight-knit community just 45 minutes — but a world away — from the traffic jams and hustle and bustle of Honolulu, “star-spotting” has become a hobby of sorts. (While I’m happy for the actors, I have to admit I was disappointed to learn that my visit coincided with this year’s Emmy Awards presentation in Los Angeles, so the cast and crew were off-island, basking in their victory.) I did, however, discover that Haleiwa Joe’s is one of Terry O’Brien’s (the actor who portrays Locke) regular hangouts. In fact, Haleiwa Joe’s general manager Chris Pirrone told me lots of the Lost cast mix and mingle with locals at the harbor-front restaurant’s friendly bar. The reason? Simple, according to Pirrone. Most of the cast members are looking for peace and quiet when they’re not in front the camera, and they know they’ll find just that at Haleiwa Joe’s, where hero worship is much more focused on the North Shore’s championship surfers than on television celebrities.
So it’s no coincidence that one of the world’s best surfing schools has several locations on Oahu, including one at Turtle Bay. Noted for their finesse with beginners and advanced surfers alike, the instructors at Hans Hedemann Surf School Hawaii (www.hhsurf.com) strive to make surfing an exciting, memorable, fun and successful experience — whether you’re a seasoned surfer looking for local knowledge about Hawaii’s breaks or a brand-new surfer ready to catch that first wave. The school boasts a team of lifeguard- and CPR-trained instructors who guarantee even the newest surfer will be up and riding by the end of a two-hour lesson. A physical ailment kept me out of the water on the day of my scheduled two-hour semiprivate lesson. I did, however, catch up with my almost surf-mate later that afternoon. A absolute beginner, he told me he’d had the time of his life, raved about the instructor, and was looking forward to getting back out in the surf the following day.
More at home driving a golf ball than catching a wave? You’re in luck. Nestled among acres of ironwood trees and unspoiled wetlands, Turtle Bay’s two golf courses combine to offer 36 championship holes amid excellent year-round conditions. The resort’s Palmer Course hosts the annual PGA C
hampions Tour’s Turtle Bay Championship and the LPGA SBS Open, while the Fazio Course (designed by George Fazio) offers duffers a memorable golf experience. Check out the resort’s golf academy for individual instruction, golf school and a junior golf program for students ages 4 to 17.
