Oahu Grand Circle Island Experience From Waikiki

Very boring tour! The worst part was the bus— very old and not comfortable. Some windows were leaking when it started raining.

The tour was disappointing. I'll definitely do more research next time. The biggest thing I want to share is the itinerary shows you stop for 1 hour for swimming and you stop for 1/2 hour at the town of Haleiwa but what they don't tell you is that you don't stop at both. It's one or the other. You don't know which stop you will get. We also didn't stop at the bakery which was listed as stop 2 and when I inquired the driver didn't even know what I was talking about. The Dole Plant you learn nothing about how pineapple is grown or harvested. It's just a shopping spot. We stopped at a macadamia location as well and again it's just shopping and no information on how the macadamia nuts grow or harvested. Our bus drive was was nice.

This is a great tour of you're short on time and want to see a lot of places quick. Our your guide didn't give much guidance other than what things were, there was little to no history or antics. They also completely skipped the snorkeling part of the trip without any notification. That was supposed to be the highlight for us.

Poor travel. Poor tour operator. Didn't pick us up at our hotel as promised. Had to meet at a general meeting spot. Driver, who turned out to be our guide didn't even acknowledge us when we stepped onto the bus. The only reason we worked out it was our tour was because the bus had the name and number of the company on it. Missed out on a couple of things listed on the itinerary, because of a stupid detour to see expensive that no one cared about, which resulted in us getting stuck in a traffic jam, delayed by almost an hour AND wasn't on the itinerary. The only reason there's a 2 star is because, well, we did get driven around Oahu. So at least there was that. All in all just a real average experience. Wouldn't recommend it. There are way better ways to see Oahu. Sorry Aloha, you have to do better.

Guide was tactful and informative. Sufficient time was allocated at each point of our stops. We missed swimming in the ocean because of lots of rain.

This was the best experience to start out our trip to Oahu! We decided to take this tour on day 1 of our trip to give us an idea of everything the island has to offer. We went into the tour with the mindset that we can always come back to places that we would like to spend more time in. Our tour guide, August, was so knowledgeable and went out of his way to make sure we had the best experience possible. The tour allowed us time to stop for the famous Leonard’s malasadas and gave us an opportunity to purchase shrimp plates from a place on the North Shore for lunch. It truly was an all day tour sun up to sun down. The price was well worth the experience we had. We will definitely be recommending this tour to any and all friends that plan a trip to Oahu.

It was wonderful. We saw everything. August was a great tour guide, very patient and kind. I loved it.

Will was an excellent guide . Saw all the major points on this tour . Great stop for lunch . Would highly recommend.

I can't say enough good things about our tour guide. Leena, she was a real Hawaiian, and what a relief to have a Hawaiian islander, give us a tour. She was so knowledgeable about the island and so wonderful. I cannot say enough good things about her again. She was fantastic. She made the whole tour wonderful. However, the tour bus that we went on rattled like crazy! So much so that it was hard to hear Leena. We really had to strain to hear her. It was the loose rear windows that were making all the noise. Another problem was that I had to sit in a seat over the rear wheel well for the entire trip, very uncomfortable. This was because we were the last ones to be picked up, and that was the only seat left, which leaves me to another problem. The scheduling: we were told to be at the pick-up point at 7:15; so we arrived at 715, but no bus; i looked up my phone and I noticed we had gotten a an email to say the new pickup time was 8 o'clock. So we went to get a cup of coffee and wait for the bus. And while we were at the coffee place, I got a frantic phone call tell us that we were supposed to be there at 7:15. We immediately went back to the pickup point and waited for about 30 seconds, and then we saw the bus, finally pulling up. I'm pretty sure Leena was annoyed with us for holding everybody up, not our fault! Therefore, I got the worst seat in the bus! It was very uncomfortable for me im a 75 year old tall woman, 5 foot 10. The main HORRIBLE other problem, outside of Leena's control was was a VERY cranky 1 year old child, who sat right in front of my husband and I. He cranked, whined, screamed and cried throughout the ENTIRE tour with just a few times when he wasn't crying and screaming. Can you imagine sitting behind for 10 hours? A cranky, screaming child? Not fun, barely tolerable. Now please understand I do understand that little kids can get cranky without their naps or getting up too early. But whether I understand or not, it was extremely unpleasant. His young parents really didn't know what to do. You do NOT take a one year old on an all-day 10 hour noisy cramped bus tour. He probably was made to get up had to get up way earlier then, his usual get-up time, since the bus probably picked them up around 7 (they were already on the bus when we got on). He started cranking right away, and he cranked all the way through the tour, probably because he really wasn't able to get his nap. So that child ruined the tour for us. And if that were not bad enough, when the parents and the chelse, their child were dropped off at their stop, they turned around. And they cussed my husband and I out for grumbling under our breath, to each other, not to them about their cranky child. I'm sure they were coming from embarrassment over their child's behavior and the shame for bringing their child on such a tour, but they took it out on my husband and I. It was a horrible, horrible ending. I would have given 5 stars for yhe tour. If it hadn't been for that child. And that rattling bus! Your company should have a well enforced rule: "No children under 5 years old". I hereby, request my money back because the tour was wrecked by the child, even though Leena was fantastic. Leena gave everybody a calendar as a little gift and she gave my husband and I (who were celebrating our 7th anniversary) a very nice anniversary card. She also took pictures of each and every one of us: couples, little groups or individuals, as an extra special gift. She brought artificial leis and used them to dress us up for the picture! What a great idea, no other tour guide has ever done something like that!! Again she was fantastic! However, because of the rattling bus, the uncomfortable seat and the CRANKY CHILD, I would like a portion of my money back.

After reading more reviews for this same tour, I was shocked to learn that other customers had nearly identical experiences. They described being placed in the same dilapidated, unsafe-feeling bus and dealing with the same angry and disorganized tour guide. In all my years of travelling, I have never encountered someone so unprepared to lead a full-day excursion. The entire operation felt chaotic from the beginning, and it quickly became clear that guest comfort, safety, and the advertised itinerary were not priorities. The condition of the vehicle was especially concerning. The van was visibly run-down and appeared to have received little or no proper maintenance. It had virtually no suspension, so we spent more than eight hours enduring an extremely rough and uncomfortable ride. The driver repeatedly hit the rumble strips, making the ride even harsher, and she often struggled to keep the vehicle between the lines. She was also driving in flip-flops, which did not inspire confidence and left us wondering how that could possibly be acceptable for a professional tour company. The air conditioning was extremely loud yet still inadequate, and the PA system did not work, making it difficult to hear any useful information during the trip. The guide arrived more than 45 minutes late and remained disorganized throughout the day. Instead of professional commentary about the island, we repeatedly heard personal complaints about her ailments and extended remarks about rich people versus poor people. We had to listen to this for much of the eight-hour tour. Her manner was often rude and impatient, yet she still expected tips at the end. At one point, she told everyone to get out of the van and then drove away because, according to her, it was time for her break. This was confusing, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable. The itinerary was also a major disappointment. We spent far more time in souvenir shops than actually sightseeing, even though this was sold as the Grand Oahu Island Tour. One of the scheduled stops was approximately 30 minutes at Walgreens, which made no sense on an island sightseeing excursion. We did not visit or properly experience many of the places that had been promised when we booked. Instead of enjoying Oahu, we spent most of the day trapped in an uncomfortable vehicle, stopping at shops, and trying to understand what was happening next. We booked through Shore Excursions Company for the Grand Oahu Island Tour, and unfortunately this was the tour operator we ended up with. The experience did not come close to matching what was advertised. Between the poor condition of the vehicle, the rough and potentially unsafe driving, the late and disorganized guide, the broken equipment, the inadequate air conditioning, the excessive shopping stops, and the failure to deliver the promised sightseeing, this was easily the worst tour experience I have ever had. I would give this company a negative 10 if that were possible. If you are considering booking with them, I strongly recommend that you do not waste your money. The tour was uncomfortable, poorly managed, and deeply disappointing from start to finish. We did not do or see what the tour promised, and the entire day felt like a complete loss.

This was such a fun experience from start to finish. Our tour guide was both entertaining and super knowledgeable. I’d recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see more of the island. I traveled solo but was in really great company with everyone else on my tour bus.

It was long shuttle bus ride that made too many stops at tourist traps. Bus driver, Henry, was not very good. He had water for us in a cooler that he didn't bother to ice. He talked on the phone while driving. He made us get out at one stop when we didn't want to. He had a live mike on when he talked to other drivers and using the F bomb over 20 times

First off, a bus pulls up two people waiting with us gets on and the driver days be has no more room and pulls off. Shortly after a second bus pulls, the company logo has been painted over. The driver starts calling names so we know it's our ride. Harrison begins by informing us it is his first trip with the company and begins to give TMI about his personal life. The speaker system has static from the radio the entire time and he is so busy talking about his personal business instead, I feel, of giving us more info about the locations we were passing. Mind you this is a 10+ hour tour, a lot of places covered during the tour (some a let down), advertised stopping at Tanuka Shrimp truck, instead taken to The Shrimp Bomb, the last straw was driving 10 miles over the speed limit returning us back to Waikiki .

You see a lot but due to poor water quality we couldn’t swim or snorkel which was really disappointing We arrived at the dole plantation at 330 it closes at 4pm don’t get to do the train through the plantation Our guide Lina was very nice and knowledgeable about the island but we couldn’t hear what she was saying a lot of the time

Great tour experience. The length was about 10 hours. Mild walking. Bus was clean, comfortable, with good air conditioning. Great driver—guide. Some people were allowed to swim in the beach for maybe 45 min, while the rest were drop off in near shopping stores, Nothing really negative to write.

Great comprehensive tour of the island! Our tour guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the island!

Amazing experience! Our two tour guides, Wil and Harrison were incredible! Would definitely recommend them and would want to tour with them again!

Covered the highlights of the island with frequent stops. Driver was very friendly and lunch was amazing

It's great value for the money. The driver was entertaining and knowledgeable and we saw a lot of sites. Wish the tour had been even longer so we could've had more time at some stops. The lunch was good.

This was unequivocally the worst tour experience that I have had in my life. The tour failed to deliver the promised itinerary and was managed by an extremely unprofessional, erratic, and aggressive guide. - Schedule Delays & Unprofessional Behavior: The guide gave conflicting timing instructions (e.g., telling us at 11:15 AM to be back on the bus at 10:40 AM). When we politely asked for clarification, she screamed at us. At another stop, the bus left 20 minutes ahead of schedule, nearly leaving a guest behind. - Inappropriate Content & Poor Communication: Rather than providing commentary on the sights, the guide spent time ranting about personal views on vaccines and medication. Furthermore, she rarely used the microphone, making her impossible to hear. - Substituted Itinerary: We missed numerous scheduled sights. Instead, we were taken to four separate souvenir shops not listed on the itinerary. When I asked why we were visiting unscheduled shops instead of the sights we paid for, the guide screamed at me and walked away. - Curtailed Stops: The Dole Plantation stop was strictly limited to its gift shop, with no access to the plantation or gardens. The coffee plantation stop was similarly reduced to a brief stop at a coffee shack. - Erratic and Threatening Conduct: At one point, guests witnessed the guide screaming, growling, and physically punching and kicking a trash can. Her hostile behavior left us feeling unsafe and considering taking an Uber back early. - Final Incident: Near the end of the tour, after handing out promotional calendars, my sister (also a paying guest) was left out. When I politely asked if she could receive one, the guide screamed at me again. We paid for a guided tour of Oahu's key landmarks, but instead received a highly stressful experience dominated by multiple unscheduled shopping stops and abusive behavior from the guide. DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY.

Trip is very long, wish it were shorter. Guide Lena was great and it was timely pick up and drop off in order.

Buses were scruffy outside and very untidy inside. I say buses because it took 3 of them to get around the island. The several hours delay meant we were too late to get access to some venues - e.g. Dole Plantations. Very little opportunity to take photos. No snorkeling offered as agreed. Lunch very poorly organised. No apologies. A horrible experience. Avoid this operators all costs!

Enjoyed the beautiful scenery as we drove along the coast. The host August kept us entertained and informed. I learned a lot about Hawaii. He called our names after each stop to make sure we were on board. Wonderful tour!

This is a great tour to take if you have limited time on Oahu and want to see as much as possible. Never having been to Hawai’i, & having only 2 days before leaving on a cruise, we wanted to “get the most bang for our buck”. This tour took us all over the island with lots of stops. There was so much to see. And don’t worry about getting hungry on this long tour! There were plenty of opportunities to pick up a snack, a tasting, & of course lunch. We had no issues with our reservations. Aloha Sunshine Tours contacted us the day before with a slight change in time and location of our pickup, even providing a link with a map for our convenience. Will, our guide, was very knowledgeable about Hawaiian history and the island with great recommendations for lunch and snacks. There were many stops with rest room opportunities along the way. Will was so friendly and entertaining with lots of narrative and really made our day fun. This was a full day tour and is a great way to see alot of Oahu if you have limited time on the island.

First off, our Tour guide Will was terrific! Very personable, knowledgeable and fun! There were alot of stops, (often connected with food) as well as beautiful scenery both on a drive by and various stops. It is a great way to see an overview of Oahu. Pick up at our hotel was seamless. Would recommend if you are interested in a full day tour and have a short time in Honolulu to see as much as you can.

My niece and I thoroughly enjoyed our first full day on Oahu with Will guiding us (and a bunch of other folks) through many, many points of interest. Will knew so much about so much! He gave us great advice at every stop on how and where to get the best view, best coffee, best fried banana, etc., but he wasn't giving an uncomfortable spiel, just good guidance. We had many, many laughs, too. Mahalo Will!

Great day, missed the beach because of the high surf but otherwise excellent. The garlic butter shrimp lunch was amazing.

This tour involved a lot of driving with limited stops and mainly at shops. The itinerary on Viator stated a snorkelling stop for 45 minutes. The tour did not do this as we were told the water was to dirty due to recent rain. Whilst this was correct there was plenty of nice spots we could have stopped for a swim around the island. This was one of main reasons we chose this tour as we were travelling with young kids. The advertised itinerary also stated a 45 minute stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation we got 25 minutes which meant we were unable to do any of the attractions. We were also not happy with aircon in the bus as hardly worked and spent 6 hours on there in the Hawaii heat. Would not recommend this tour unless you after a lap around the island and some shopping.

Darcy was an absolute wealth of knowledge, cruising in a small tour van he took us to some off the beaten track stops making sure we got the most out of our day. We were lucky to have a great group that was on time getting back to the bus so we are able to experience as much as possible. Highly recommend.

We spent the day with Darcy. He was amazing. We learned so much about the islands. He is truly one of a kind. He will be on our list when we come back for a visit. Christi Settegast

Leena was an informative tour guide who had a vast knowledge about the island, its history, its geography, the flora, etc. She made it a very enjoyable day for us.

We had a really good time well worth the money! Lena did a good job and was informative 😊!!

The tour was well planned and they guide was very knowledgeable and accommodating. Not once did we feel rushed but yet she kept on track!

Johnny Cage was our tour guide and he was fantastic. He narrated with enthusiasm and humor. He had songs ready for numerous sites and occasions throughout the the tour. He knew the stops and made the trip memorable. We had a blast !

Pickup changed after payment. I specifically chose this tour for the convenience of a hotel pickup. After I paid, the operator changed the location, so we had to walk to a different pickup point. We were seated in the back of a vehicle not suited to a 10-hour tour, where I spent the entire day with my knees bent over the wheel well. We could not hear the tour. The air conditioning in the back was so loud that we could not hear the driver/guide, who often spoke quietly or mumbled without the microphone. We raised this at the first stop; it improved briefly and then returned. At one point, I had to call out for her to use the mic. It was exhausting just trying to hear. Much of what we could hear was extended personal opinion, including telling passengers to avoid medications in favor of island plants, health-related conspiracy claims, and political commentary, rather than information about the sites. The lunch at the lunch stop was not good. We each paid $20 for bland garlic shrimp that had to be peeled. Viator was no help in securing a requested partial refund.

Aloha Sunshine Tours was terrific. We loved our guide LeeAnn. So knowledgeable about Oahu and the history of the island. We went to awesome places. Book a tour with this company. You will feel like you really saw the island.

We have been on tours all over the world and this was the worst. I think your experience depends on your tour guide and did not have a very good one. He wasn't good at telling you where to look at something he mentioned. We also didn't get much history or information on what were seeing and where we were. There were several "I don't know" or a vague answer, so we quit asking questions and googled. The driver never got out of the bus! The only time he did was at the beginning, otherwise we had to fend for ourselves. (some places he did have to drop us and then come back). I learned more from the description on Viator and Google. He also skipped 2 stops and also made us choose between 2 stops instead of going to both. The bus was not great either. very bumpy ride and very noisy rattle in the back. I should have looked further down the review list as some of our issues have happened before. Aloha Sunshine Tours seems to have problems in many area.

Darcy was very informative and entertaining. You can tell he was enjoying his job, he was very enthusiastic with his knowledge and even went above and beyond by adding stops to the tour.

I was a well rounded tour and we saw many interesting things. I was a great way to see the island. The guide was very knowledgeable

Our driver Darcy was awesome. He went out of his way to show us a good time and explaining the history along the way.

Great tour to look at the sights and see the island. It was raining the day we went so we could not do the swimming/snorkling etc. Too rainy to walk around either unfortunately.

Our tour guide, Leena, made this such a wonderful experience. Being a local, having lived in Oahu her whole life, she knew all of the unique facts that made it a one of a kind experience. It was so relaxed and flexible which I personally think is better than a structured, no fluctuation schedule. This tour shows you all of the gems that would be missed without being from here. It certainly had stops we plan to come back to later in our trip. Although the pickup can be a little confusing, Leena makes sure to wait and call you to make sure you don’t miss out! Thank you for an unforgettable day, Leena!

Our tour guide Leena was terrific and shared a wide variety of essential important and interesting knowledge. Unfortunately her microphone was not working more than 1/2 the time so we missed out on much information. Hoping she gets a new microphone. She deserves to be heard! She was personable, kind, patient, and full to capacity of natural born information of Oahu and Hawaii in general. Highly recommend the tour! Mahalo!

Brian was an amazing local tour guide! He showed us all of his favorite places that are not so touristy! We thoroughly enjoyed our tour and would highly recommend Brian with Aloha Sunshine Tours!

Speaker system did not work. Therefore we missed naration. 😞

Our trip was more like 8 hours than the advertised 10 - 11 hours. We assume this was because of less traffic in a Sunday. Noise from the air conditioner made it very difficult to hear the guide.

Bathroom stops, other than Dole, were not nice. All the tour buses went to the same venues, they all seemed geared for visitors to buy stuff. Lunch was ok, not to be impressed. Shrimp had to be peeled. None of the 6 of us would recommend this tour. Honestly the driver seemed lazy. Didn’t know basic Hawaii information which is why we took it.

Stops were not the same as the listed itinerary. Stops were all just long enough to visit a gift shop or take a photo. Driver was unfriendly and unhelpful.

Our driver was crude, uninformative, didn't follow the agenda, took us to the wrong beach, refused to come back and pick up my wife, said if you don't like it call uber. Hung up on her. Made two negative comments about woman drivers and in the most disgusting of ways, burped into his microphone about 8 times. This guy was horrible. Want my money back. Service was horrible. When asked why he was not following the agenda he said it was old and bulletin. You should be ashamed having a driver like this.