Oahu Circle Island Tour: Byodo-In Temple & North Shore with Lunch

One Day Around Oahu: Temple, Turtles & the North Shore's Famous Waves

You get picked up from your Waikiki hotel at 7am and spend the day circling Oahu in an air-conditioned van with a local guide, hitting Byodo-In Temple (entry included), Halona Blowhole, Hanauma Bay, the North Shore's Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline, and Laniakea Beach where green sea turtles rest on the sand. Lunch at a local restaurant and tastings of macadamia nuts and Kona coffee are part of the route. You're back at your hotel by late afternoon without having to arrange transport, book separate attractions, or navigate timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Waikiki20m
2. Waikiki Aquariumpass by
3. Diamond Head20m
4. Koko Craterpass by
5. Hanauma Baypass by
6. Halona Blowhole20m
7. Eternity Beachpass by
8. Sandy Beach Parkpass by
9. Makapuu Lighthousepass by
10. Waimanalo Beach Parkpass by
11. Byodo-In Temple30m · entry included
12. Koʻolau Rangepass by
13. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm30m
14. Kualoa Ranchpass by
15. Kahana Bay Beach Parkpass by
16. Banzai Pipelinepass by
17. Dole Plantation30m
18. Pearl Harbor National Memorialpass by

Oahu island full day tour

• Pick up from Waikiki at 7am
• Drive by Kapiʻolani Park and Waikiki Aquarium
• Stop at Diamond Head lookout
• Drive by Koko Head and Hanauma Bay
• Stop at Halona Blowhole and view Eternity Beach
• Drive by Sandy Beach and Waimanalo Beach
• Drive by Makapuu Lighthouse and Koʻolau Mountains
• Visit Byodo-In Temple grounds
• Taste Kona coffee and macadamia nuts at Tropical Farms
• Drive by Chinaman’s Hat and Kualoa Ranch
• Drive by Kahana Bay and Lāʻie Hawaiʻi Temple
• Lunch with North Shore Garlic Shrimp option
• Stop at North Shore fruit stand for tropical treats
• Visit Sunset Beach
• Drive by Pipeline Beach and Sharks Cove
• Stop to see Hawaiian green sea turtles at Laniakea Beach
• Visit beach to spot green sea turtles (Honu)
• End day at Dole Pineapple Plantation

The experience

The shuttle pulls up at 7am and you realize you've booked something that actually covers the whole island, not just the postcard beaches near your hotel. A local guide boards with you, and as the air-conditioned van heads out of Waikiki, you pass Kapiʻolani Park with Diamond Head rising behind it, then the Waikīkī Aquarium, then a lookout called Amelia Earhart where the view stretches all the way to Maui on clear days. You're already seeing things most visitors miss, and it's not even 8am. The Oahu circle island tour moves east along the coast, stopping at Hanauma Bay (the crescent-shaped marine sanctuary you've seen in photos), then Halona Blowhole, where seawater pressure builds inside a lava tube and shoots up through a narrow opening like a geyser. Eternity Beach sits just below it: the cove where they filmed that famous kiss scene from the old movie. Sandy Beach, with its powerful shore break, comes next, and then the road curves north toward the windward side.

The landscape shifts once you reach Waimanalo Beach and the Koʻolau Mountains come into view: steep, green cliffs that look almost impossible to climb. This is where the Byodo-In Temple sits, tucked into a valley with wild peacocks roaming the grounds and Japanese koi carp in a reflecting pond. Admission is included, so you walk through the temple grounds at your own pace, and the quiet hits different after hours in a moving van. After that, the tour stops at Tropical Farms, a shop under old banyan trees where you taste macadamia nuts and Kona coffee: the kind of place locals know about. Then comes the North Shore: Kualoa Ranch (the "Jurassic Valley" where they filmed Jurassic Park), Kahana Bay with its taro terraces and Hawaiian history, and the fruit stand where you can grab an ice-cold coconut to drink from. Lunch happens at a local spot where the famous North Shore Garlic Shrimp is the main draw, though vegetarian and non-shellfish options exist. Bring cash for that meal.

After lunch, the tour swings past Sunset Beach (calm in summer, 30-to-40-foot swells in winter), then Banzai Pipeline, where the world's best surfers compete when the waves are right. Sharks Cove comes next, then Laniakea Beach: also called Turtle Beach because Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu) often bask on the sand there. The guide knows where to look, and spotting one is the kind of moment that sticks with you. The day ends at Dole Plantation, where you can grab Dole Whip (pineapple ice cream) and pick up souvenirs before heading back to Waikiki. The whole thing runs from 7am pickup to late afternoon drop-off, and you've gone almost all the way around the island without renting a car or figuring out timing yourself. The van is air-conditioned, the guide handles the stops, and the only thing you need to remember is cash for lunch.

What’s included

• Your day includes Waikiki hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle with a professional local guide.
• Admission to Byodo-In Temple is covered.
• You'll taste macadamia nuts and Kona coffee at Tropical Farms and stop at a North Shore fruit stand for fresh tropical treats.
• Lunch at a local North Shore restaurant is on your own (bring cash), where you can order the famous Garlic Shrimp plate or choose from vegetarian and non-shellfish options.
• The tour covers multiple beaches, viewpoints, and landmarks around the island, including Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline, and Laniakea Beach, ending at Dole Plantation before returning to your hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Go Tours Hawaii

Is this one for you?This works well if you want to see the whole island in one day without renting a car or planning your own route: the fixed schedule and included transport mean you just show up at your hotel at 7am and the rest is handled.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup begins at 7am from Waikiki hotels. Drop-off is in the late afternoon. Exact times depend on your hotel location and traffic.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. You pay separately for lunch at a local North Shore restaurant. The tour stops there, and you choose between the famous Garlic Shrimp plate or other options (vegetarian and non-shellfish available). Bring cash.

Is entry to Byodo-In Temple included?

Yes. Admission to the temple grounds is included in the tour price.

Will I see sea turtles?

The tour stops at Laniakea Beach (Turtle Beach) where Hawaiian green sea turtles often bask on the sand, but sightings are not guaranteed. The guide will know the best spots to look.

What's included in the price?

Waikiki pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned vehicle, a professional guide, and admission to Byodo-In Temple. Tastings at Tropical Farms (macadamia nuts and Kona coffee) and a stop at a North Shore fruit stand are included. Lunch is separate.

Can I bring a wheelchair?

Standard foldable wheelchairs are accepted. You must be able to walk a short distance to board the van, as there is no ramp. Let the tour operator know in advance so they can assign you to a bus with a storage compartment.

Is this tour available every day?

Yes, the tour operates 7 days a week with daily pickups from Waikiki hotels.