The perfect souvenir: Artwork at Haleiwa captures that North Shore vibe

Surf’s up on Oahu’s North Shore and, later this month, artworks will be too.

Haleiwa, a community known for its huge winter waves, will host the Haleiwa Arts Festival July 18 and 19, offering a chance to take home a souvenir of your stay. The event will be in tents at Haleiwa Beach Park.

“We have 140 visual artists – anything ranging from jewelers and furniture makers to painting and photography,” Kathleen Ells, the festival’s executive director, said. When the first fest was held in 1998, 18 artists participated.

Given the town’s beach backdrop, it’s not surprising that many visitors are drawn to works that, in one way or another, incorporate the ocean.

“There’s a lot of surf-themed art, marine and surf photography and painting,” Ells said. “Even a lot of our jewelers use sunrise shells.”

This year’s festival poster features a stylized surfer painted by Hawaii native Garret Kojima. He will be among the artists displaying and selling his work.

The art show, with live entertainment and food vendors, will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 18 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 19. There’s no admission charge.

Haliewa is about a 45-minute drive north from Waikiki.

Info: Haleiwa Arts Festival, (808) 637-2277.

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