So much packed into our day with Charlie our driver and guide. He was knowledgeable with a twist of fun. We taste-tested our way around the island with local fruit and nuts. A great day!!
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Waikiki Pick-Up & Drop-Off
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Professional Guide
- Admission to Byodo-In Temple
Excludes
- Gratuities
- Guest should bring money for food and drinks
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- We'll pick you up at 7:20 AM from The Twin Fin Hotel trolley stop
Return
- We'll pick you up at 7:20 AM from The Twin Fin Hotel trolley stop
Itinerary
Our semi private shuttle will arrive at 7am for pick up in Waikiki, with a local guide to help you prepare for a day of exploring the island of Oahu. Pick up times vary by hotel and will be automatically assigned when you input your information into our online booking platform.
Kapiʻolani Park is Honolulu’s largest and oldest public park, originally gifted by King Kalākaua in 1877 and named after his wife, Queen Kapiʻolani. As we drive by, you'll see its lush greenery, towering banyan trees, and open fields, all set against the stunning backdrop of Diamond Head, a volcanic crater known as Lēʻahi in Hawaiian. Once a gathering place for Hawaiian royalty, the park remains a cherished spot for locals and visitors alike.
The Waikīkī Aquarium, founded in 1904, is one of the oldest aquariums in the U.S. and sits along the shores of Kapiʻolani Park. As we drive by, you'll see this historic marine research center, home to vibrant coral reefs, Hawaiian monk seals, and tropical fish, continuing its mission of ocean conservation and education.
The first lookout we visit is an elevated view perched on the eastern side of Waikiki’s famous Diamond Head Volcano, This lookout grants us a great opportunity for pictures of the south eastern coastline of Oahu, with notable sights as far as Hanauma bay and Maui on a clear day. The location is more formally known as Amelia Earhart Lookout, known for where bystanders gathered to watch Earhart make her first solo aviation journey from Hawaii to North America.
Koko Head is a striking volcanic crater known for its rugged ridgeline and famous hiking trail. As we drive by, you'll see its towering peak rising above the eastern coastline, a breathtaking sight showcasing Oahu’s dramatic volcanic landscape.
Hanauma Bay is a stunning marine sanctuary known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant coral reefs. As we drive by, you'll catch a breathtaking view of this crescent-shaped bay, a protected paradise that showcases Oahu’s natural beauty.
Molten lava tubes from volcanic eruptions that occurred from Oahu’s Koko Head crater formed the natural occurrence known as the Halona Blowhole. This lava tube extends into the ocean with a very narrow opening at the top, and when the surf is just right, water pressure builds up within the lava tube and erupts through the narrow opening creating a special Hawaiian Geyser for your viewing pleasure.
Eternity Beach, officially known as Halona Cove, is a secluded, picturesque spot framed by rugged lava cliffs. As we stop at Halona Blowhole, you'll see this famous filming location, best known for the iconic kiss scene in From Here to Eternity. Its golden sand and turquoise waters make it one of Oahu’s most scenic hidden gems.
Sandy Beach is a stunning stretch of golden sand known for its powerful shore break and bodysurfing waves. As we drive by, you'll see its dramatic coastline, where the ocean crashes onto the shore, making it a favorite spot for experienced surfers and thrill-seekers.
Witness Waimanalo’s dramatic sea cliffs as we turn into Oahu’s windward side as we begin our journey to the North Shore of Oahu. Look off into the azure blue waters of the bay and you will see Oahu’s famous Manana Island also known as Rabbit island due to its Rabbit like shape.
Waimānalo Beach is a hidden gem with powdery white sand and turquoise waters, stretching along Oahu’s windward coast. As we drive by, you'll see its breathtaking shoreline framed by lush mountains, a peaceful contrast to the island’s busier beaches.
The Temple grounds are a lushly landscaped paradise nestled in a cleft of the pali and are home to wild peacocks and hundreds of Japanese koi carp. The beautiful grounds include a large reflecting pond, meditation niches, and small waterfalls. Our guests describe this destination as beautiful, peaceful, and restful. Admissions is included with the price of tour.
The Koʻolau Mountains are a breathtaking volcanic range that stretches along Oahu’s windward coast, shaped by millions of years of erosion. As we drive by, you'll see their dramatic, steep cliffs draped in lush greenery, a stunning reminder of Hawaiʻi’s powerful natural forces and ancient volcanic origins.
After a beautiful drive along Oahu’s eastern coastline, our next stop is a local shop that finds itself tucked away under aged Banyan Trees with macadamia nut and delicious Kona coffee tastings, along with very tempting Hawaiian chocolates amongst other treats.
Chinaman’s Hat, also known as Mokoli’i, is nestled right next to the Kualoa Valley Mountain range. This location is known for its dramatic landscape filmed in a number of Hollywood movies; most notably and fan favorite Jurassic Park. The island has earned the nickname Chinaman’s Hat from its resemblance to the straw hats that the Chinese immigrants wore when working Oahu’s sugar plantations during the early 1900’s.
Kualoa Private Nature Reserve, known as "Jurassic Valley," is a breathtaking landscape of lush, towering cliffs and open valleys. As we drive by, you'll see the famous filming location for Jurassic Park and other Hollywood movies, a true showcase of Oahu’s untamed beauty.
Kahana Bay & Valley is a lush, unspoiled paradise on Oahu’s windward coast, rich in Hawaiian history and culture. As we drive by, you'll see its tranquil bay framed by the Koʻolau Mountains, once home to ancient Hawaiian settlements. The valley remains a sacred place, preserving native forests, historic taro terraces, and the timeless beauty of old Hawaiʻi.
The Lāʻie Hawaiʻi Temple is a stunning landmark and the first Latter-day Saints (LDS) temple built in the Pacific. As we drive by, you'll see its majestic white facade set against lush gardens and towering palm trees. Known as the “House of the Lord” in Paradise, it stands as a place of peace and spiritual significance on Oahu’s North Shore.
We break for lunch at a local restaurant where you can have your pick of either a famous North Shore Garlic Shrimp plate or other local delicacies. Non-Shellfish and Vegetarian options are available. Please bring cash for lunch.
After lunch we make a stop at a North Shore tropical fruit stand which offers ice cold coconuts to drink from, fresh mangos, and other tropical treats.
A change of pace from the crowded beaches of Waikiki, The infamous Sunset Beach on the North Shore offers tranquility and is the epitome of a beautiful Hawaiian Beach. However don’t lets the summer months fool you, during the winter months, swells of 30 to 40 feet can be seen from the safe confines of shore.
Pipeline Beach, home to the world-famous Banzai Pipeline, is a legendary surf spot on Oahu’s North Shore. As we drive by, you'll see its powerful waves rolling onto the golden sand, a thrilling sight where top surfers compete in some of the biggest surf competitions.
Sharks Cove is a stunning rocky bay on Oahu’s North Shore, known for its crystal-clear waters and vibrant marine life. As we drive by, you'll see this popular snorkeling spot, where lava rock formations create natural tide pools teeming with tropical fish.
Laniakea Beach, also known as "Turtle Beach," is famous for its frequent visits from Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu). As we drive by, you'll see its golden sands and rocky shoreline, a peaceful spot where these gentle creatures often bask in the sun, making it a must-see on Oahu’s North Shore.
Hono is the Hawaiian name for our beloved Green Sea Turtles. Our Honu are very Hawaiian in that they love to lay on the sand and bask under the warm sun. We take you to a beach where we hope to spot this incredible occurrence.
A historic pineapple plantation home to pineapple magnets, pineapple t-shirts, pineapple keychains and most importantly pineapple ice cream aka Dole Whip!! A great way to end the day and get some pineapple themed souvenirs for your friends and family back home.
Pearl Harbor is a historic site that played a pivotal role in World War II. As we drive by, you can see it in the distance, with its calm waters and memorials honoring those who served, a solemn and powerful reminder of history.
Downtown Honolulu is the historic and political heart of Hawaii, where past and present meet. On the tour, you'll stop at ʻIolani Palace, the only royal palace in the U.S., and the King Kamehameha Statue, honoring the great Hawaiian ruler who united the islands.
Language Offered
Additional Info
Cancellation Policy
Reviews
Worthy the money, will do it again.
Charlie was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable and fun and showed movie clips and video clips about each site we went to and also about Hawaiian facts. Would highly recommend!
Eric(the driver) and Eric(the tour guide) were both excellent!
Charlie was a great guide! Video volume only reaches about half way through the bus.
Nice job on the video clipsà. Enjoyed our trip.
Very informative. Pre arranged lunch, that was delicious at Palmer’s, saw the entire island with video aids. Charlie was great .
We had Rob as our tour guide. He was very nice and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the tour a lot. Highly recommend
Tour was amazing and very knowledgeable tour guide
Great staff Great length of visit Amazing experience Will book again
Amazing tour and guide would definitely recommend
Charlie was a fantastic guide during our tour. In the bus was a video installation showing additional informative clips. Unfortunately the weather was rainy...
Loved the experience! John the tour guide is very knowledgeable would recommend
Trip was full of knowledge and passion of the island!! A must to see and experience Hawaii
A great whistle stop tour of the island.
Very beautiful experience , especially if it’s your first time in Hawaii. The tour guided was very awesome and funny his name was John , highly recommend.
Very knowledgeable people and very nice
Fun long tour of the Ohahu Island.
John was a wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide. Made our circle island tour enjoyable! Lots of stop and lots of opportunities to taste local foods! Worth it!
Fantastic journey. Well worth the time and money
Rocky is an amazing guide and driver!! We couldn’t have asked for anyone better! Knowledgeable and so very courteous! A+ rating!!
Rocky is the best. Thank you for a great experience.
Rocky was an absolutely amazing tour guide, very pleasant, and informative. He gives detailed history about every stop on the tour and even landmarks that we drove past.
My friends and I had the pleasure of “The John’s” being our tour guide and driver. Both are extremely pleasant individuals. Our tour guide John was able to keep everyone engaged and entertained, he is humorous and informative. He did not miss a beat and I learned so much during the tour. It is suitable for all ages that are comfortable with frequent stops. We got a chance to see a lot of Oahu including Jurassic Park scenes, Dwayne Johnson’s home and more notable places. My favorite stop was the final stop, at the Dole Plantation where we got to enjoy pineapple ice cream, which was tastier than I was anticipating. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience!
Excellent tour guide John J. & exceptional driver John G. Knowledgeable with the local history & sites. Smooth driving & helpful with side help. Miigwetch to the TwoJ’s for an excellent day.
Great tour to see the island. Now I know what do do and see when we tour with our car. Great team for our guides
Great experience. Very knowledgeable tour guide
John H. And John J. we're both fantastic! The tour had a little bit of everything.
Robert was on time, very informative, funny, and the tour went by in a flash! He pointed out so many more additional details and knew the roads well. We also felt very safe as he is an excellent driver!
We had an amazing experience with our tour guide, John! He knows Hawaii so well and shared so much interesting information, history, and helpful local tips throughout the tour. We learned a lot and got to see so many beautiful places around the island. The tour was well worth it, and we were able to experience so much in one day! John made the experience even better with his knowledge and great personality. I definitely recommend booking a tour of the island, especially with John, if you want to learn more about Hawaii and see all it has to offer! 🌺🌴🤙
Wonderful tour. Informative on landmarks & history with a passion for the beauty of Oahu
Great experience,the tour guide was amazing… food 10/10..
Tour started promptly on time, we took a different route so that we would have the most time at the waterfall which was great and we still saw everything. The your guide, Rob, was very knowledgeable, funny, and compassionate. We were a full bus but he kept us all included, most stops were not too crowded and we didnt have to wait long to enjoy our experience.
Hidden Gems of Oahu with Byodo Temple and Turtle Spotting, was amazing! I was here for work, so only had one day to see the island, and I couldn’t have asked for a better tour. Our guide, Charlie, was very knowledgeable and super fun.
Charlie is an excellent driver. He has all the knowledge of the Islands and local places. Supper friendly. I will recommend this tour and Charlie as the driver / tour guide. Charlie THANK YOU for an EXCELLENT EXPERIENCE!! CHEF G!
I have booked the Hidden Gems of Oahu Circle Island Tour, and it was hands-down the highlight of our vacation! If you want to see the entire island without the nightmare of renting a car, navigating unfamiliar roads, and hunting for impossible parking, this is the absolute best way to do it. Our local guide [Charlie] was incredible. He kept us entertained the entire 9 hours with fascinating stories about Hawaiian history, cultural folklore, and local insider tips. The undisputed highlight of the day was the Byodo-In Temple. Walking onto those grounds tucked right against the dramatic Koʻolau cliffs felt completely magical. It is incredibly peaceful, and having the admission tickets included in the tour price meant we got to walk right in without waiting in lines. The rest of the itinerary was perfectly paced. We loved cracking fresh macadamia nuts at the tropical farm, eating world-famous garlic shrimp on the North Shore, and spotting wild sea turtles resting on the beach. Ending the long day with a fresh Dole Whip at the pineapple plantation was the perfect final touch. A quick tip for future travelers: Try to sit on the right side of the vehicle when you board so you get uninterrupted panoramic views of the ocean as you drive up the coastline! Yes, it is a long 9-hour day, and the stops are relatively quick "taster menus"—but it is the most comprehensive, high-value tour you can possibly book on the island. Highly recommended for first-time visitors!
Very fun. Cap was an amazing tour guide and provided a phenomenal experience for my family and I. My one issue was that the entire theme behind the historical narrative was kind of Anti-America. Not really a fan of that.
A very nice and knowledgeable tour. Charlie, our tour guide/driver is so good and seems like he knows everything about the island.
Wonderful trip. Tour guide was very knowledgeable and made the experience educational and fun
Charlie is an excellent tour guide and safe driver. He fills gaps with professional video clips in a wide TV monitor. Charlie is an authentic Hawaiian with wide knowledge of the state and its history. I would gladly take more tours with him.
Nice and wonderful and knowledgeable
Great tour the experience was great and our guide was the best he’s very friendly and great to talk to. Wish this wasn’t his last year because i would’ve booked with him when I come back to Hawaii! Rocky was the best!
Our tour was very informative..the guide big Rob was very knowledgeable and fun. Loved the local info he shares and great insights. Great tour experiance "snap shots" of island
Rob was awesome! He really knows and loves Hawaii. Overall a great tour, we saw a lot and hit a few major spots. One suggestion is in the future maybe bringing people to the food trucks for lunch because those looked great. I loved the videos and commentary. Super great day!
Lovely tour! Great information and tips from Robert.
Rob was the absolute best tour guide. Can’t recommend it enough. Very knowledgeable and personable through the entire day.
This is quite an expensive day out $360 US for a couple but it gives you a good insight into the island particularly if you are first timers Pick up was on time and easy to reach from our hotel Lots of picturesque spots on the tour and our guide John was friendly and very knowledgeable - the Japanese Temple was beautiful the lunch stop at a roadside shrimp van was great and John orders beforehand to eliminate a long wait the only disappointing thing was the advertised "turtle spotting" - they are on the beach but you only get to see them from the bus as it slowly drives by - there was another area where you can alight but the turtles are much smaller and only two or three overall an enjoyable way to see more of the island than just Waikiki
The Johns are the goat. The tour was amazing
excellent both driver guide ...
John and John were AMAZING! Made our day so interesting and fun!
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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