Oahu Circle Island Day Tour: Beaches, Shrimp Lunch & Dole Stop

Summary

Oahu’s coastline, surf breaks, turtles and pineapple treats

You’ll circle Oahu with a local guide from Waikiki, stopping for Diamond Head views, tasting fresh malasadas, eating garlic shrimp on picnic benches, spotting sea turtles on North Shore beaches, and finishing with pineapple treats at Dole Plantation. Expect salty air in your hair and stories you’ll want to remember long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

We rolled out of Waikiki just after sunrise, the van windows still foggy from the night before. Our guide—Keoni—had this way of weaving stories about Diamond Head and Amelia Earhart that made the early start feel worth it. I leaned out at the first lookout, feeling that salty wind on my face while Keoni pointed to the lighthouse and talked about solo flights and old Hawaiian legends. The ocean looked almost too blue to be real. Someone behind me tried (and failed) to pronounce “Makapu’u”—Li laughed so hard she nearly dropped her phone.

The drive along Oahu’s east side was all sudden curves and glimpses of turquoise water flashing between ironwood trees. At Halona Blowhole, we watched spray shoot up like a geyser—somehow louder than I expected—and I could smell sunscreen mixed with fried malasadas from a bakery stop that Keoni insisted we try (“You can’t come to Oahu and skip Leonard’s,” he said). The malasada was warm, sugary, and honestly, I still think about it sometimes. We stopped for photos at Chinaman’s Hat with those wild green mountains in the background—felt like Jurassic Park for a second there.

Lunch was at this shrimp truck in Kahuku where you eat outside on sticky picnic tables. Garlic shrimp everywhere—my hands smelled like it for hours but I didn’t care. Afterward we hit the North Shore: Sunset Beach, Pipeline, Waimea Bay. Surfers were out even though the waves weren’t huge that day; some locals waved as we passed by Haleiwa town (the shop fronts there are all weathered wood and faded paint). At Laniakea Beach we actually spotted two sea turtles sunning themselves—everyone got quiet for a minute just watching them breathe.

Last stop was Dole Plantation. It’s touristy but...I mean, you have to try the Dole Whip at least once (tangy-sweet and cold after all that sun). We wandered under rainbow eucalyptus trees before piling back into the van for Waikiki. By then everyone was sunburned and tired in that good way you get after a long day outside. I kept thinking how each stop had its own rhythm—some loud with laughter or crashing waves, others just soft wind through palms.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Oahu Grand Circle Island Tour

• View Amelia Earhart Marker and Diamond Head
• Optional visit to Leonard's Bakery
• See Halona Blowhole and Halona Cove
• Drive by Sandy Beach for restroom stop
• Visit Makapu'u Lighthouse and beach
• Restroom stop and light shopping at Hawaii's Hidden Treasures
• Take photos at Chinaman's Hat
• Lunch at Tanaka Kahuku Shrimp
• Drive by Turtle Bay Fruit Stand
• Drive by Sunset Beach
• Drive by Bonzai Pipeline surf spot
• Drive by Shark's Cove snorkeling site
• Drive by Waimea Bay
• Drive by Laniakea Beach (Turtle Beach)
• Swim and snorkel at Pua'ena Point Beach Park
• Explore Haleiwa town
• Visit Dole Plantation store and grounds
• Taste free coffee samples and treats

Top questions

How long does the Oahu Circle Island tour take?

The tour lasts around 8-9 hours including pickup and drop-off times from Waikiki.

Is lunch included on this Oahu day trip?

No, lunch is not included—you’ll stop at a shrimp truck or farm where you can buy your meal (bring cash).

Are snorkeling opportunities available during the tour?

Yes, there’s an optional swimming and snorkeling stop on the North Shore; snorkel gear is provided if you want to join in.

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Waikiki?

Yes, pickup and drop-off service from hotels in Waikiki is included.

Can you see sea turtles on this Oahu island tour?

You often can spot Hawaiian sea turtles at Laniakea Beach (“Turtle Beach”) during one of the stops.

Is there time to try Dole Whip at Dole Plantation?

Yes, there’s time to visit the Dole Plantation store and try their famous pineapple soft-serve treat before heading back.

What should I bring for this Oahu day trip?

Bring cash for food stands/shops (many are cash-only), your own towel if swimming/snorkeling, sunscreen, and maybe a change of clothes.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip hotel pickup from Waikiki in an air-conditioned vehicle with narration by a local guide who shares island stories along every stretch of road. Snorkeling equipment is available if you want to swim or paddleboard up north; meals aren’t included but you’ll have plenty of chances to grab local snacks or lunch at roadside stands or shrimp trucks before returning in the evening sunburned but happy.