Majestic Circle Island Tour
Circle island stops
The Oahu circle island tour gets you off at seven places, in this order, instead of driving past them.
Most cheaper circle island days keep you in a seat. This one is built so you spend the time at the places. Your guide may adjust the route for your enjoyment and safety. Pick your date and check availability on the booking page. Full tour details
01
Nuuanu Pali Lookout
You get out into the wind at the notch in the Koolau Range, where the cliffs drop toward Kaneohe and the windward coast. On a clear day the view runs over the bay and the green valleys below, and the trade winds are part of the stop, not a footnote. This is the pass where Kamehameha's forces won the Battle of Nuuanu in 1795, the fight that brought Oahu under his rule. Parking is included, so you are here for the view.
02
Byodo-In Temple (admission included)
Byodo-In is a replica of the Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Japan, set in the Valley of the Temples in Kaneohe, and it was built in 1968 to mark a century of Japanese immigration to Hawaii. You walk the grounds and see the temple hall across a reflecting pond, a quiet windward stop a drive-by never gives you. Admission is included.
03
Tropical Macadamia Nut Farm
Hawaii took the macadamia to heart after the trees arrived from Australia in the late 1800s, and this windward farm is where you meet that crop in person. You get off the bus here, which is the difference between a story over the loudspeaker and a place you can actually stand in.
04
Lunch (included)
You sit down for a real meal instead of eating in your seat while the island goes by. Lunch (and a drink) is included; the lunch spot is confirmed when you book.
05
North Shore community & coastline scenic drive
This stretch is a scenic drive along the North Shore's coastal towns, beaches and surf breaks.
06
Waimea Valley (admission included)
Waimea Valley is a North Shore botanical garden with a walk that ends at Waimea Falls, and admission is included so you are on the path, not waving from the highway. Waimea Valley has occasional seasonal closures; your guide may adjust the route on those days. Swimming at the falls depends on the weather, so bring swimwear and a towel if you hope to get in. That is a chance, not a promise the water will be open.
07
Haleiwa Town / Dole Plantation
Haleiwa is the North Shore's harbor town on the Anahulu River, and it is worth getting out to walk. You also stop at Dole Plantation, on the pineapple country of Oahu's central plain. Stretch your legs, have the famous Dole Whip soft-serve, and look through the pineapple treats and the gift shop.
Ready to spend the day off the bus?
Pick your date and check availability on the booking page.
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