MaxineR

We were in Oahu 2 years ago, and we drove to the north shore. We stopped off at a gorgeous beach, and I believe it is one of the beaches that the Beach Boys sang about. I forgot the name of it. Not sure if this is considered Wai'anae. There were some hawaiian teens hanging out there, and they made me nervous. My husband had dropped me off with my 1 year old while he went to find parking, and one of the young teenage girls came up and asked me for money. I was nervous, and said I didn't have anything. She said okay and went back to her group. They were young Hawaiians, and they had an attitude and did not look friendly. I am sure there will always be people like that around in any area. Just be careful.

chepar

Waianae is on the west shore of the island, not the north shore.

However, both are "rural" areas. You will find more tourists on the north shore than you will on the west - and I think any chances of an unfriendly encounter are greater on the west shore.

As Maxine said, you can find people that are intimidating/have attitude everywhere.

In a situation where there are groups of younger people hanging out that "have attitude" - I would either find another spot to park or go to - or if that's not possible - just stay away, don't really make eye contact (you don't want them to think you're giving them "stink eye") and if there's an encounter, be polite and respectful. You may find that appearances are deceiving.

While I said before I don't think it's necessarily dangerous - there are people like that everywhere. Some people don't like tourists in general and can behave like idiots.

PakePorkChop

I have a part-black "relative" born and raised in New York who now teaches on the Waianae Coast. She says that these rural kids don't know know the meaning of "tough".

It is socialogically more accurate to use the term that the locals use for the coast: the "reservation." Native Hawaiian descendants have been pushed to the western coast of Oahu by harsh conditions of life. Low school test scores, high unemployment, and homelessness are everyday realities.

We can hardly expect these young people to go softly into the darkness of the economic night. It is a real shame that so much frustration and resentment can resonate on such beautiful shores.

Tough? No. Bitter? Maybe. Stay on the grounds of the resort and enjoy the hospitality of people who want you to stay there. Don't venture out to where even the locals have issues about what life should be about.