As we begin, we'll cruise along Kalakaua Ave for approx. 15 minutes, first passing Kapiolani Park. This large public park offers a variety of recreational activities, including tennis courts, and a large grassy area for picnics. An interesting fact about Kapiolani Park is that it is the site of the first ironman triathlon, which took place in 1978 and has since become a world-renowned annual event. We'll also pass by Queen's Beach, the Waikiki Aquarium, and Kaimana Beach before arriving at the Diamond Head Crater Lookout.
For our first stop, we'll visit The Diamond Head Crater Lookout, which is a must-see destination for its history and breathtaking panoramic views, perfect for photography and sightseeing. You'll learn about the volcano's origin and its role in Hawaiian history while enjoying the perfect spot to capture some beautiful photos.
Once we get back on the road, we'll take an approx. 15 minute cruise through The Kahala neighborhood along Kahala Ave, which is located on the south shore of Oahu and is a prestigious area known for its luxurious homes, exclusive beaches, top-rated schools, and upscale amenities, making it one of the most sought-after neighborhoods on the island.
As we depart the Kahala neighborhood and hele (go) on, we'll cruise along Kalanianaole Hwy for approx. 15 minutes, heading east toward the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Located on the windward side of Oahu, this must-see destination features a crystal-clear lagoon with an array of marine life including over 400 species of fish. Along the way we'll have breathtaking views of Maunalua Bay, as well as cruise past the Aina Haina, Niu Valley, and Hawaii Kai neighborhoods.
Approx. 5 minutes past Hanauma Bay we'll visit the Halona Blowhole, where you'll be treated to this natural attraction on Oahu's Ka Iwi coast, where waves create a stunning spray of water up to 30 feet high. It is a popular spot for photography and is easily accessible, located next to the Halona Beach Cove.
Once we depart the Halona Blowhole area, we'll cruise by Sandy Beach Park approx. 5 minutes further down Kalanianaole Hwy. This public beach is known for its wide sandy beach and strong waves, popular for bodyboarding and bodysurfing.
Our next stop, Makapuu Lookout is approx. 5 minutes up the road from Sandy Beach Park and offers panoramic views of the eastern coast of Oahu, including Makapuu Beach and Makapuu Point. It's also home to the Makapuu Lighthouse, a historic lighthouse that offers even more breathtaking views of the coast.
As we continue our adventure and head toward the Pali Hwy, we'll cruise by Waimanalo Beach, which boasts crystal clear waters and white sand. Waimanalo has many charming local businesses, it's a must-visit destination for those looking to take in the natural beauty of Hawaii. The drive from the Makapuu Lookout to The Pali is approx. 20 minutes.
Next, as we leave Waimanalo Town, we'll cruise down the Pali Hwy for approx. 30 minutes back toward town. "The Pali" connects the windward side of the island to the leeward side, passing through the Nuuanu Pali Lookout. It was the site of the Battle of Nuuanu in 1795, where Kamehameha I defeated the army of Oahu and solidified his control over the island, eventually leading to the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under his rule.
As we arrive back into town, we'll spend approx. 1 hour and 30 minutes in downtown Honolulu, which is the central business district and governmental center of Honolulu. It is home to many iconic landmarks, including the Aloha Tower, Hawaii State Capitol, and Iolani Palace. An interesting fact is that the King Kamehameha statue located in front of Aliiolani Hale, is the only statue of a monarch within the United States.
We'll cruise past The Hawaii State Capitol, which is the official state house of Hawaii and home to the Hawaii State Legislature. This modernist building was completed in 1969.
Next up is Iolani Palace. We'll cruise past this historical palace located in the heart of Honolulu, that served as the official residence of the Kingdom of Hawaii's monarchy. It is the only royal palace in the United States and was completed in 1882. Interesting fact: King Kalakaua, who was known as the "Merrie Monarch," is said to have hosted extravagant parties and events at the palace, including a luau for King Edward VII of the United Kingdom.
Built in the 1870s, just across the street from Iolani Palace is Aliiolani Hale, a historic building in the heart of Honolulu. As we cruise by, you'll catch a glimpse into the history and culture of Hawaii and the building's past, as well as its current function as the Hawaii State Supreme Court.
Just past Aliiolani Hale is the Kawaiahao Church, which is a historic Christian church that is considered one of the oldest and most significant churches in the state. It is also a National Historic Landmark, with an impressive New England architectural style, beautiful stained glass windows, and historic pipe organ
Before we say a hui hou (until we meet again), we'll cruise past the Honolulu Hale (City Hall), known for its Mediterranean Revival architecture with red tile roof and white stucco exterior. It's a government building housing the offices of the mayor and city council, housing and several other agencies.
Mat, our guide, was over the top awesome. Mat was born and raised in Hawaii so it was wonderful to see the island through the eyes of a local. Mat had great food recommendations and the malasadas from Leonard’s were the BEST!! Mat’s personality personifies the aloha spirit and I can’t imagine having a better guide or tour experience.
Thomas was very courteous and friendly. He gave us a great tour explaining the history of Hawaii along the way.
Fantastic tour totally built around what we wanted to see. We told our guide we wanted to see the real hawaii, learn about the people and culture and see some of the famous surfing beaches - and that is exactly what we got, with some lovely thoughtful insights and experiences we'd never have had any where else. I'd thoroughly recommend this tour if you want to get away from the standard touristy experiences on Oahu (but they can also be included if that is what you want)
Our guide(Sean) was a great host and treated us like his Ohana. Sean took us on a 4hr tour from Port to the North Shore and shared history and sights that could not be done without his vast knowledge and experience having been born and raised in Hawai'i. Mahalo, Stew, Laurie & Arlene
We saw lots of Oahu. Our guide Travis was quite knowledgeable about the sites and Hawaiian culture. It’s a good way to start a visit to Oahu.
Sean was so informative and accommodating. Fantastic guide to see beautiful spots in Oahu. We are so glad we did this.
Although our weather wasn’t the best, Shawn gave us a great tour loaded with information about all the sights as well as Hawaiian life. Very enjoyable tour!
We signed up for the semi-private tour, but ended up getting a private tour- just us and the guide! Sean did an amazing job at showing us beautiful places on the island that we may not have otherwise ventured to. He was knowledgeable regarding history, but is also a native Hawaiian who grew up in this island, so we got a great perspective on things he was showing us. He not only showed is great places, he made suggestions about where to find clean bathrooms, where to rent cars by the day for less $, etc, which normally isn’t something you get 😂 We ended up going back a couple days later and spending more time in the spots we liked on the tour (like taking hikes,etc)! This was 1,000 times better than paying to be with a bus load of people, hoping to hear what the guide has to say, or to be able to squeeze in for a picture before the bus leaves... So worth it, I would recommend it to anyone interested in an insider’s perspective-but I do suggest doing it on da 1 or 2 of your trip- so you can generate ideas on things to do!
Thomas was an excellent guide and driver. Took care of all our wants and needs. First private tour we have taken and was above or expectation. Highly recommend.
Travis was an excellent driver and tour guide. The tour didn’t feel rushed and we were able to take a great photos. He was a kind man. Thank you!
Amazing tour! Sean, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the area and took us to lots of great and beautiful spots we wouldn't have gone to otherwise. It was nice to be part of a small tour so we could have some input into the experience. We got to try some delicious doughnuts while we were at it!
Tour guide was outstanding! Would recommend highly. Excellent trip if want scenery and history of the island.
This was not a guided tour. We had a very pleasant driver who was punctual and arrived in an immaculate sedan. He was not a tour guide and was only able to drive us to various Lookout locations without being able to offer much information about what we were seeing. He wasn't trained for this tour and we asked to return to our hotel after three hours, mostly spent in traffic. There were beautiful sights along the way, but we were disappointed in the experience.
Travis was an absolutely amazing guide! He was very interesting, communicable, and super fun. He told tons of personal life experiences living in Hawaii and even took us to a couple local places to get a bite to eat. Absolutely recommend this tour if you want someone down to earth and something that doesn’t completely take up your whole day!
We had a fantastic day out on this tour. It was totally customized to what we wanted to see and do. The pace was perfect. Travis was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. It was my family’s favorite part of our trip to Oahu. Highly recommend!
We had a fantastic time on this tour. It was completely customized to what we wanted to see and do. The pace was perfect. Travis is very friendly and knowledgeable. This was my family’s favorite part of our trip to Oahu. Highly recommend!
Travis was an excellent guide and made our Oahu trip one to remember. He was patient, insightful of Hawaiian history and great at locating and pointing out whales in the ocean. We were lucky enough to witness two whales jumping out of the water. Mahalo!
We did the half circle tour of the SE corner of the island and up the east side with Travis, who is a very knowledgeable local. We saw fantastic scenery, so unlike Waikiki and learned a lot of local history. He stopped by a local deli for a takeout authentic lunch and threw in an additional stop at a mountain lookout above Honolulu and Waikiki. Breath taking. We are so glad we took this tour. It expanded our conception of Oahu.
A very personal, informative way to learn about the area history and see the lay of the land. Travis was exceptional, personable and kind. We had a fabulous time. Wow how beautiful the areas are! How valuable to have Travis as our own guide!
Excellent tour. Incredibly knowledgeable about his home and culture. Professional but friendly and accommodating. Absolutely recommended!
This was a most memorable 1:1 tour of Oahu. Viewed many non-tourist sites. Excellent guide Shaun. Go
We had Sean as our tour guide and he was amazing. We wished we would have booked the full day tour because we didn’t want the tour to end. Would definitely recommend the tour.
Glenn, our tour guide, was phenomenal!!! Beautiful views of the mountains and beaches. Glenn was born in Oahu and shared in-depth history about the origin of the various islands. Loved it!
Best tour of our vacation!!!! Glenn, our your guide, was phenomenal. He made our experience very awe-inspiring and answered all of the questions we had regarding the history of Hawaii. I now know that I did not stay on the island of Maui!!! Lol
Great view. With great driver. Nice person. Friendly and felt very welcomed. Enjoyed the 70 degree weather. Showed us where Alaska was at and where the little cave during War time.
We had Matt drive around today. Our first time to the islands and let me tell u this tour was amazing. Matt knew where to go and what to see, knew everything about the island , surfing and the waves , he showed us the most beautiful views and took tons of pictures for us and very personable. Do this tour , you won’t be disappointed. Thanks for a great day💕💕
Best tour guides Shawn and Lanai! Very Knowledgeable very Personable, they felt like your brothers taking you out. Jeeps were great and we saw alot beautiful places lava tubes, secret beaches. Went to a local place to eat. It was great and fun. All the locals hang out there. I had the Loco Moco for lunch. Ate the whole darn thing. Even had a MC Donalds next door for my Dr Pepper Craving . They didn't hurry us. In fact they gave us a little extra time. Mahalo to our Boys!!
Today we had pleasure of Matt driving us around the island. Matt was a bundle of knowledge, friendly, informative and such a professional. We had an 11 year who loves Jeeps and Matt was so great in including her in our conversations. Well worth the money, better than a bus tour anyday. Thanks Matt we loved it.
This was a great jeep ride are guide was very invested in what he was doing and made it fun I would recommend this as a must do item on your trip. This was a great jeep ride are guide was very invested in what he was doing and made it fun I would recommend this as a must do item on your trip. This was a great jeep ride are guide was very invested in what he was doing and made it fun I would recommend this as a must do item on your trip.
Awesome tour. Travis took us around the north shore with a lot of knowledge about the places. Stoped over to the best places to eat. We were not rushed at all. He also took us to places that we wanted to see. Great day out. It’s a must do. Thanks Travis
My wife and I are on our honeymoon and booked a private tour with Matt! From the start, he was friendly, funny, and great company. He gave us such great detail into the history of the places we saw and fun facts we wouldn't have known otherwise. The 4 hours went by so quick because we were having an amazing time. I would highly recommend asking for Matt! It was like touring the island with family!
From the moment of pick-up to the longer than half-day tour that ended with lunch on the beach- Matt created a memorable experience for our group of two couples celebrating 25 years of marriage. The tour itself was remarkable, but it was Matt’s knowledge, awesome personality, and great sense of humor that made the day so special. We learned so many interesting things about the places we visited and in between we laughed like old friends. As for the tour company, everything was as promised - communication, vehicle safety, tour flexibility. The cost was comparable to all the other activities in Hawaii. Thanks, Matt, from your new fans!
Was a great private tour (half island), showed us some sites off the beaten path as well as stops we asked for, and can swim at the beach if you like. Our guide Linai was extremely personable and good company, narrating the scenery, teaching some history, and discussing the local culture. The Lilihue Bakery lived up to the expectations - coco puffs were the most delicious pastries, as well as poi donuts and masalas. Wish we had more time for the full island tour. Recommend booking far in advance of your trip to get your choice reservation.
We were lucky enough to have Travis show us around the North Shore. We wanted to see all the local surf spots and Travis was more than happy to turn into streets we would not have turned down to show us his local surf spots. Very friendly and great local history and knowledge. He also took us to a local food truck for lunch and stopped where ever we wanted. Thanks Travis, good luck to you, your wife and new baby.
Travis was a great tour guide. He took us to some fantastic lookouts and places only a local would know. We saw parts of the island we would never have discovered if it wasn’t for Travis. He was very patient with our 2 year old daughter throughout the day, and provided a child seat. Definitely recommend! Thank you Alison, Robert & Zoe
What a fantastic day! Our driver / guide (Travis) met my husband and I at the cruise terminal in Honolulu and took us on an adventure of the North Shore. Not only did we see the "tourist" sights of the island, but Travis also shared some on his secret beaches and hangouts. He shared a wealthy of Hawaiian history and culture with us. This was probably the best excursion we did during of 5 days of traveling through the Hawaiian islands. Travis is the guide you want - you won't miss out!
Lanai met us at our hotel with his Jeep and a big smile. As we drove he told us about growing up on the island of Lanai (hence his name), the history of Hawaii, and the geographical points along the way. We stopped at numerous lookout points during his narrative, and he was kind enough to take pictures of us so we wouldn't have to struggle with selfies! One of our stops was Sherwood Beach, known for its beautiful sand and water color, and as I was standing ankle-deep in the water, something stung me on the ankles! I saw the culprit, which looked like a baby jellyfish with a blue "kite string" coming out of it, and picked it up with a small piece of wood and showed it to Lanai. He said it was a Portuguese man o' war and immediately got the attention of a beach guard, who sprayed vinegar on the stings. As we continued on our tour, Lanai continually asked me how my ankles felt and, fortunately, the sting began to subside almost immediately. I appreciated his quick identification of the culprit, instinctive action to flag the beach guard, and concern for my well-being, as I had no idea if the creature was dangerous or not. Throughout the tour we talked about many aspects of Hawaiian culture, and Lanai allowed us to lead the conversation with questions. He gave us many suggestions for good restaurants, as he has had significant experience in that field, and even hosts his own food show, "Cooking Hawaiian" on the Lifestyle channel. At the end of the tour he stopped at a supermarket and got us tastes of poke (ahi tuna) in 3 different seasonings as well as a sample of musubi (block of spam and rice held together with seaweed). Everything was delicious and our horizons were broadened! Lanai is a great ambassador for Hawaii. He radiates pride in its rich and diverse blend of cultures, its history and cuisine, and its "aloha spirit" of love and respect for others. He was informative, kind, and funny, and I recommend booking a Jeep tour with him. Mahalo, Lanai!
Very nice and private tour. Local guide knew all the spots that normal tours don't go to. Places had very little tourists and the tour guide allow us to take as much time as we wanted to spend during the stops. Highly recommended.
Whatever you do don’t do the bog standard advertised options - take this one as it was fantastic! Travis - brilliant local guide - comes and picks you up and then shows you all you need to see and know about the island, top beaches, do’s and donts of surfing to avoid losing your swim wear, top places to eat, secret beaches and how to avoid being stung by man of war jelly fish and picking the right places to swim/surf, beautiful mountain lookouts and all about local culture and history. Seriously if you don’t take his trip you have mega bog one missed out and messed up! You do all Of the above and stop off at prime lookout sites to get the beauty of the coastline and mountains. An absolute must!!! Loved it!!
We have been to Oahu many times before, so we were very pleasantly surprised with all of the new places that our guide, Matt, brought us to! He was a wealth of information and was a very fun guide at the same time. He brought us to try local portugese donuts, and also for lunch at the marina where all the fresh catches are brought in and sold. He also took lots of candid photos for us, and showed us some stunning idyllic views that I had never visited before. I would definitely book with Matt again on our next visit to the island!
This was a highlight of our trip and worth every penny! Matt was an absolute awesome guide and it was so relaxing and fun to spend the time getting to see and learn about the island. I would totally recommend this, especially for anyone who’s on their first trip to the island!
We had a large group (17), so they arrived at our VRBO with 4 Jeeps and took us around the Southeast and Central parts of Oahu. All of our guides were phenomenal and were versed in both local history and pop culture. We went on this tour at the beginning of our trip which worked out great because they gave us recommendations for places to eat, which beaches were best for various interests, and helped us decide what to do and which places to visit with the rest of our time on the island. Every person enjoyed the experience and all of us seemed to think that our guide was the best of the four - I guess that means they were all great. Highly recommend!
This was an amazing experience for our family (adults and kids ages 7-16)!! Sean and Omar were incredible guides and showed us so much in our 4 hour trip! They are awesome hosts and we had great conversations. We learned a lot about the island and saw breathtaking views that you just don’t see by staying in the Waikiki/Honolulu area. If you’re looking for a top notch tour with amazing people, book a tour now! You will not regret it!!! Thank you for a perfect day!!!!! It is a day we will never forget!!
my 13 year old daughter and I took this tour with Travis. we told him to show us anything he thought was cool. I must say, we saw a lot. it was a great day. we saw a lot and got a little history lesson along the way. we began at the palace and ended getting malasada's at leonards bakery. soooo good. we saw so many little towns, ate some great local foods, met a pro surfer, saw a monk seal on the beach named IPO, leared about samoan people etc etc etc... Travis is a true Hawaiian. he knows it all !! you will enjoy the day. this is something not to miss !! mahalo Travis..
In short, our tour guide Travis (a local Hawaiian) was personable, knowledgeable, accommodating and just plain fantastic!! I’ve been to Hawaii 3 times but this was the first time for my kids (in their 30’s) and my 9-year-old granddaughter Yoninah. Additionally, it was a short 4-day trip so I had to find things to do that would be interesting for all of us and wouldn’t overwhelm their time as they also wanted beach time. This half-day circle island tour was perfect. I chose it simply because it was only 4 hours long but what a treat. Travis took us to some of the tourist places which were absolutely stunning. But he also asked if we wanted to see any place special. Yoninah wanted to see the real Hawaii and how people lived. Travis took us to a place where there were stones piled way high up around the site that separates that part of the land and the entrance had a sign that said “Kuleana” which means something like “take responsibility.” The plants and foliage were breathtaking and the people were to take responsibility for keeping that strong connection to their land and preserving their unique ecosystem and culture. Forgive me that I cannot explain this as eloquently as Travis did but my kids and especially Yoninah loved this part of the tour. We also booked a luau through Hawaiian Aloha Travel in Honolulu which was so much fun. Thanks to Bruce and Yaling Fisher for being so helpful and making this a very special trip for my family. We’ll definitely book through them again. And thank you again, Travis, for the very special memories (oh, and Yoninah apologizes for eating all those lychee berries that you shared with us). Mahalo.
Sean and Omar were excellent tour guides for the half island tour. Sean included some looks at some insider surf spots and was so nice to my wife when she lost her hat in the windy conditions. He climbed down a cliff face to rescue the hat. So cool. He is very knowledgeable and they made the tour very relaxing and highly recommended.
We had a terrific time on the half circle tour. My husband and I were celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. We booked the tour for our first full day on the island and it was the perfect start of an amazing vacation. Touring with Matt is like visiting Oahu with a friend. My husband and I had as much fun seeing the sites as we did listening to and exchanging stories with Matt. Seeing the island this way is so much better than those impersonal bus tours. Matt is funny, fun, and very knowledgeable of the island, its history, and the local customs. He shared with us some great beaches and local sites and we got some great pictures. We definitely recommend this tour and highly recommend that you ask for Matt as your guide.
We booked a half circle tour and were picked up as promised by Travis, our guide. Turned out it was just us on the tour and as we had already visited some of the intended sites we had a more focussed tour of Real Oahu. Travis was not just a great guide but he has a wealth of knowledge and as a true local knew just where to take us for a genuine Hawaiian experience. From pineapples to local fruit stalls - you have to try the fried banana!!! Visiting fantastic sites on the North Shore albeit too windy for real surf action at the pipeline but great photo op's. We had a real desire for local experiences including local food so ended our tour at a 'real' Hawaiian lunch stop for Lau Lau, Poi and sides. This was a truly magical trip and we want to thank Travis for making it so. Sharon & Gareth (UK)
<p>Guide was fine, but operator lost track of our reservation. So we started late and were crammed into Jeep with two others. Since we stayed on highways, don't see what a Jeep added to the experience.</p>
We had an amazing time on our Oahu Island Tour. Our tour guide was Matt and he was awesome. He was flexible and let us personalize our tour, was very knowledgeable about the island, and felt like an old friend from the moment he picked us up at our hotel. The jeep was such a great way to see the island. We got a great overview and Matt's knowledge of the island, people and customs was impressive. We got some of the most AMAZING pictures. We definitely recommend this tour and be sure to ask for Matt as your guide.
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