The route
All 9 stops on the circle island tour
In order around the island, with the time you'll spend at each. Click any stop for its story and what to bring.
Nine stops, one loop
The tour runs counter-clockwise from Waikiki. The timed stops add up to 220 minutes, plus lunch, in a 9.5-hour day. Along the way it passes Hanauma Bay, Sandy Beach, Makapuʻu, Kāneʻohe Bay, the Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay and Pearl Harbor.
Diamond Head Lookout
Morning light over Waikiki from the seaward flank of Oʻahu's most famous crater.
Halona Blowhole
Ocean swells forced through an old lava tube and blasted skyward, sometimes 30 feet high.
Leonard's Bakery
Portuguese malasadas, fried to order and rolled in sugar since 1952.
Macadamia Nut Farm
Roasted macadamia nuts, coconut coffee and local gifts under the Koʻolau cliffs.
Mokoliʻi Island
The cone-shaped islet off sacred Kualoa, wrapped in the legend of Hiʻiaka and the moʻo.
Tanaka's Kahuku Shrimp
Garlic butter shrimp from a Kahuku truck, a few miles from the farms that raise it.
Turtle Beach
The longest stop of the day: time to swim, snorkel or watch for green sea turtles.
North Shore Fruit Stands
Pineapple, mango, coconut water and farm fruit from roadside stands.
Dole Pineapple Plantation
Gardens, the plantation shop and Dole Whip in Oʻahu's red-dirt pineapple country.
The stops at a glance
| # | Stop | Area | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diamond Head Lookout | Southeast Oʻahu | 15 minutes |
| 2 | Halona Blowhole | Southeast Oʻahu | 15 minutes |
| 3 | Leonard's Bakery | Kapahulu, Honolulu | 20 minutes |
| 4 | Macadamia Nut Farm | Windward Oʻahu | 20 minutes |
| 5 | Mokoliʻi Island | Kualoa, Windward Oʻahu | 15 minutes |
| 6 | Tanaka's Kahuku Shrimp | Kahuku, North Shore | Lunch stop |
| 7 | Turtle Beach | North Shore | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| 8 | North Shore Fruit Stands | North Shore | 20 minutes |
| 9 | Dole Pineapple Plantation | Wahiawā, Central Oʻahu | 40 minutes |
Not on the route: the Diamond Head summit hike, a swim at Hanauma Bay and a visit to the Pearl Harbor memorials. Each deserves its own half day. How to choose the right circle island tour explains what to look for.
The island is ready when you are
Nine stops, four coasts and about 9.5 hours. The Standard tour is $59 per person, with a free malasada and free snorkel gear.