Visiting the North Shore Soap Factory: Everything local, organic and hand-made with Aloha

Courtesy: NSSF

Nested midst the majestic Waianae mountains, on the North Shore of Oahu lies the sleepy town of Wailua. It is located just a few miles from the historic town of Haleiwa and was famous for the Waialua Sugar Mills.

Waialua Sugar Mills were established about 1898 by William Hooper and accounted for nearly 8% of sugar produced in Hawaii. But the old sugar mill complex was abandoned when operations stopped in 1996, and is now home to Waialua coffee plantation and North Shore Soap factory and many other local artisan people displaying variety of local products.

The old sugar mill gear 

The North Shore Soap Factory is located in the Bagasse bin and houses the Hawaiian Bath & Body works, selling a wide array of home products- bath-body and skin care range. The unique company was started by Debora & Jerry Driscoll some 20 plus years back when they started making soaps from their home in Pupukea and eventually moved into the old sugar mill building in 2004 as the business boomed and the products acclaimed international and national fame.

Debora & Jerry Driscoll family

Courtesy:NSSF

The products are organic, natural and locally sourced and have the tropical scents such as pineapple, coconut cream, kukui nut, mango, Hawaiian coffee, Pupukea tangerines, Waikane ginger root, Maui sugar and Big Island honey and guava. Kukui Nut and Macadamia Nut oils are carefully blended with essential oil and tropical island flavors creating bars that are skin and ocean friendly.

Kukui Nut

Once in the parking lot, follow the little painted rubber duckies to the entrance.

The entire set-up has a rustic, old-world charm, with giant deserted gears from the old mill at the entrance to the soap factory. As soon as you step into the open warehouse like area of the soap factory, you are surrounded by the tropical smells of soap and the aroma is so tempting you will want to eat it.

Get other Hawaiian bath and body products

The rubber duckies

The Waiting area 

Old sugar mill 

The Bagasse Bin

The entrance to the soap room

you can stamp the soap 

The old sugar mill and ocean 

As you sniff your way through the shop,you stumble upon loads of bars of soap bars in various sizes, color and aroma tastefully displayed.

The visitors also see a collection of historic artifacts and photos with a soap stamping station and amazing number of rubber duckies in all shapes, sizes and color.

To the left of the display is a glass partition and visitors can see the soap being mixed, swirled, cut and boxed through the glass panel. There are  many rows of brightly colored soaps in various stages of drying and huge slabs of soaps ready to be cut into custom sizes.

Customers can choose from $1 slivers to fancy gift-packs and other bath products like lip balms, scrubs, oils, body mists, bath salts, body lotions and soap stands. Customers can get their soaps stamped into any island style logos of their choice after purchase. They can save money by buying the unboxed soaps.

The Lip Balms with macadamia and kukui nut oils, organic coconut oil and just the right amount of locally sourced organic beeswax from Big Island are huge customers favorite. They help protect and moisturize your lips. You can choose from eight varieties to soothe, soften, and protect delicate tissue from the harsh elements.

Visitors can also buy a variety of chocolates produced in Hawaii, drinks produced in Hawaii, t-shirts, and beach bags.

coffee at the soap factory 

The company also produces special soaps and lip balms for weddings. Visitors can sometimes watch the artist through the window hand stamping these products with special logos. Visitors can also sometimes watch artists creating special artwork to be stamped onto these bars and balms.

They have a sink at the back of the store to try the different soaps and scrubs.

Visitors can also get a customized, behind the Behind-the-Scenes tour from Tuesday through Friday to learn more about the soap making and it’s also a great family activity. The duration of the tour is 20-30 minutes, and accommodates Min: 2 people; Max: 15 people and costs $12 per person; well behaved kids 4 & under are free.

variety of soaps 

variety of soaps 

The soap bar 

Bath tiles 

soaps 

soaps

the rainbow soap and duckies

soaps 

Bath accessories

stamping the soap

customized stamping of soap

Loofah 

Hours:
 Open daily (except for New Year's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day

Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm

Saturday: 8:30am - 6pm

Sunday: 10am - 5pm

Address: 67-106 Kealohanui St, Waialua, HI 96791

Phone: 808-637-8400

Website: www.northshoresoapfactory.com

Directions to North Shore Soap Factory