Private Charter: Oahu One Day Grand Circle Island Tour
This private charter tour will take you to the best historical and natural site seeing points on the island. Highlights include Diamond Head Crater, Hanauma Bay, Waimanalo Beach, Pali Lookout, Valley of the Temples, Polynesian Cultural Center, Haleiwa Town, and Dole Plantation. This tour includes pick up and drop off at any Waikiki hotel.
Itinerary: All Admins and parking fee are not included
—9:00am Departure from Waikiki Hotel Zone on Oahu (please be sure to arrive at the meeting place at the time specified)
—9:15am Pass by the world-famous Waikiki Beach and make a short stop at the landmark Diamond Head lookout
—9:30am-11:30am Drive through the high-end residential Kahala area, Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve, Halona Blowhole, Waimanalo Beach, Nuuanu Pali Lookout
—11:30pm-5:00pm Valley of Temple, Byodo-in Temple, Macadamia Nut Plantation, Kahuku Shrimp Farm, Sunset Beach, Haleiwa Town, Dole Pineapple Plantation
—6:00pm return to Waikiki
Waikiki Beach
The world-famous Waikiki is located on the southern shore of Honolulu, and used to be a recreational place for the royal family of Hawaii. In Hawaiian, Waikiki means "Spouting Water". When the first hotel, Moana Surfrider, was established on its beach in 1901, Waikiki officially opened to the world. Today, Waikiki is home to Oahu’s major hotels and resorts, and is a vibrant gathering place that welcomes visitors from all over the world. The main block along Kalakaua Avenue is lined with world-class shopping, dining, entertainment, event venues and resorts.
Waikiki is most famous for its beaches, and each hotel is only two or three blocks away from the sea. The calm sea of Waikiki is a great place for you to learn to surf. In fact, Duke Kahanamoku, the legendary Hawaiian water athlete, grew up here and learned to surf in the waves of Waikiki. The Olympic swimming gold medalist actually taught visitors how to surf at the turn of the century, and he was later known as the "father of modern surfing." Today, "Waikiki Beach Boys" uphold Duke's legacy and teach visitors how to surf and canoe. The Duke Kahanamoku statue has become an iconic symbol of Waikiki.
But the charm of Waikiki is not limited to the beach. Attractions such as the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium can bring you a lot of fun and are suitable for the whole family. Walk along the Waikiki Historical Trail and read the words engraved on the bronze surfboard to learn more about the history of Waikiki. On both sides of Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues, as well as gathering places such as the Royal Hawaiian Center and Waikiki Beach Walk, you will find some great, very distinctive shops and restaurants. After watching the magnificent Waikiki sunset, the excitement is not over, wonderful nightlife and live music await you!
Diamond Head Crater lookout
The iconic outline of the Diamond Head State Monument connects Honolulu’s skyline with Waikiki Beach. This 760-foot (232-meter) high crater is one of Hawaii’s most famous landmarks.
The crater was named “Leahi”, meaning brow of the tuna, by the native Hawaiian people, and was later named "Diamond Hill" by British sailors in the 19th century. They thought they had found a "Hawaiian diamond" on the slopes of this crater. These "Hawaiian diamonds" were actually shiny calcite crystals that Native Hawaiians wore to ward off evil spirits.
This crater was formed more than 100,000 years ago and was used as a strategic military observation post in the early 20th century. It was named a national natural landmark in 1968. Today, Diamond Head is a popular hiking destination with panoramic views of Waikiki and the south coast of Oahu.
Hanauma Bay(Monday & Tue Close admin not included)
Gazing at the annular coast of Hanauma Bay at the southeastern tip of Honolulu in the east, it is hard to imagine that this beautiful bay was once a volcanic crater. Today, this volcanic crater eroded by the waves has become an important nature reserve and the most popular snorkeling destination on the island.
Waimanalo (Sandy) Beach (pass)
Waimanalo Beach, known locally as Sandy Beach, is a surfing destination in Hawaii. While the sand Waikiki Beach was imported, the soft white sand at Waimanalo Beach was naturally and locally generated. The soft sands and energized waves here have made the beach an attraction for locals and visitors alike!
Nuuanu Pali Lookout (parking fee not included)
The Pali Lookout is a site of deep historical significance. Named “Pali” meaning "cliff" in Hawaiian, the Pali Lookout is the site of the Battle of Nuuanu, where in 1795 King Kamehameha I won the struggle that finally united Oahu under his rule. This fierce battle claimed hundreds of soldiers’ lives, many of which were forced off of the Pali’s sheer cliffs.
Valley of the Temples
Deep in a lush valley along the 2,000-foot Koolau Range lies the Valley of the Temples. The resting place for many of Hawaii’s departed, Valley of the Temples’ hilly landscape is scattered with hundreds of freshly placed tropical flowers, like torch ginger and bird of paradise, to remember loved ones.
The main attraction in the Valley of the Temples is a Japanese temple called Byodo-in, which translates to the “Temple of Equality.” A scale replica of a temple in Uji Japan and made entirely without nails, Byodo-in was dedicated in 1968 as a centennial commemoration of the first Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. Famed Kyoto Landscaper Kiichi Toemon Sano planned the Japanese garden complex that houses Byodo-in with extreme attention to detail, from the gravel’s ripple-like design to the small bridges over the fishpond.
Macadamia Farm
Learn about the cultivation of Hawaiian macadamia nuts, guavas, star fruits, and more local produce. You will even get to try them out yourself! This farm is owned by local family, and you can support them by purchasing their agricultural products (and other interesting island souvenirs) from their gift shop!
Kahuku Shrimp Truck
The north shore is home to a large number of shrimp farms breeding the famously delicious Kahuku Shrimp. Eat lunch at the restaurants and food trucks operating in the area, which are favorites of both locals and visitors. Our favorite is Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp Truck. Check it out!
Sunset Beach
This famous beach is popular with locals, especially surfers. In fact, the World Surfing Championships are held here every winter at sunset. The beaches on the north shore stretch for 7 miles (about 11 kilometers) and host the world’s most famous surfing competitions during the best surfing period in winter, including the Vans World Cup and The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, from November to December.
Haleiwa Town(pass-by)
Rich with island history, Haleiwa is now the social and artistic hub of the North Shore. Here, you’ll find locals and visitors winding down with a shaved ice after a day in the sun or shopping at boutiques filled with unique gifts that will allow you to bring back a piece of Hawaii with you. Haleiwa is filled with local style and country ambiance, as well as cool surf shops and boutiques, charming art galleries and understated restaurants housed in plantation-era buildings. Haleiwa is a far cry from the excitement of Waikiki, and that’s exactly how the people of the North Shore like it.
Dole Plantation
Experience the natural scenery of the original Dole Pineapple Plantation, where foodies can taste the famous Dole-Whip pineapple smoothie and freshly picked Dole pineapple. The plantation has a history of 150 years in Hawaii, and is also home to the world’s largest labyrinth garden and a small train (you can visit it at your own expense if time permits).