The Oahu circle island tour follows a loop from Waikiki around the southeast shore, up the green windward coast, across the North Shore and back through the center of the island. Our full-day tour makes nine stops along the way, from the Diamond Head Lookout to the Dole Plantation, in about 9.5 hours.
Here is every stop in order, how long you spend at each, and what’s worth doing while you’re there.
The route at a glance
| Stop | Where it is | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Diamond Head Lookout | Southeast shore | 15 minutes |
| 2. Halona Blowhole | Southeast shore | 15 minutes |
| 3. Leonard’s Bakery | Malasada stop | 20 minutes |
| 4. Macadamia nut farm | Windward coast | 20 minutes |
| 5. Mokoliʻi Island | Windward coast, off Kualoa | 15 minutes |
| 6. Tanaka’s Kahuku Shrimp | North Shore, Kahuku | Lunch |
| 7. Turtle Beach | North Shore | 1 hour 15 minutes |
| 8. North Shore fruit stands | North Shore | 20 minutes |
| 9. Dole Plantation | Central Oahu | 40 minutes |
The timed stops add up to 3 hours and 40 minutes, before lunch. The rest of the day is the drive: a loop of a little over 100 miles that shows you almost every side of the island.
Before the first stop: pickup in Waikiki
The day starts early. Pickup runs from six points across Waikiki between 6:50 and 7:15 a.m., working from the Ala Moana end of Waikiki toward Kapiolani Park. The full list, with addresses, is on our pick-up locations page.
An early start is deliberate. It gets the minibus out of Honolulu before the morning traffic builds, and it puts you on the windward coast while the light is still soft.
The southeast shore
Stop 1: Diamond Head Lookout (15 minutes)
The first stop is the view most people picture when they think of Oahu: the crater of Diamond Head, or Lēʻahi, rising above the ocean. It formed about 300,000 years ago in a single explosive eruption.
This is the lookout, not the summit hike. The hike needs a reservation and 1.5 to 2 hours of its own, while the lookout gives you the classic crater-and-coast photo in a few minutes.
Stop 2: Halona Blowhole (15 minutes)
Farther east, the coast turns to dark lava rock. At Halona, the ocean pushes through a lava tube and can blast water up to 30 feet into the air when the swell is right.
Just beside the blowhole is a small sandy cove known as Eternity Beach, named after the famous beach scene in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity. Stay behind the railing: the rocks around the blowhole are slippery, and the surge is stronger than it looks.
From November through April, keep an eye on the open water here. Humpback whales spend the winter in Hawaii’s waters, and this stretch of coast is a good place to spot a spout.
A sweet stop
Stop 3: Leonard’s Bakery (20 minutes)
Leonard’s Bakery has been making malasadas since the 1950s. It opened in 1952, and the Portuguese doughnut, fried and rolled in sugar, became its signature. Malasadas came to Hawaii with Portuguese immigrants who arrived to work on the sugar plantations, and Leonard’s helped make them an island staple.
On the Standard tour, your malasada is free. On the Promo loop, the stop is included and you buy your own.
The windward coast
Stop 4: Macadamia nut farm (20 minutes)
Past Makapuʻu Point, the island turns green. The windward coast catches the trade winds and the rain that comes with them, and it’s farm country.
At the macadamia nut farm, you can taste roasted nuts and coconut coffee, and pick up local gifts to take home. It’s a relaxed stop, and a good one for anyone who wants to bring something back for people at home.
Stop 5: Mokoliʻi Island (15 minutes)
Mokoliʻi is the small, cone-shaped islet just off Kualoa, with the steep green ridges of the Koʻolau range rising behind it. It’s one of the most photographed views on Oahu.
In Hawaiian tradition, the islet is the tail of a giant moʻo, a lizard-like creature, killed by the goddess Hiʻiaka. You may hear an older English nickname for the island. Mokoliʻi is its proper name.
The North Shore
Stop 6: Tanaka’s Kahuku Shrimp (lunch)
Kahuku is known for its shrimp and prawn farms, and it’s where the North Shore’s shrimp-truck tradition took off. Lunch at Tanaka’s means a plate of garlic butter shrimp.
There are vegetarian options, and lunch is paid for separately.
Stop 7: Turtle Beach (1 hour 15 minutes)
This is the longest stop of the day, and for many guests the highlight. Hawaiian green sea turtles, or honu, often rest on the sand or feed in the shallows here.
You’ll have time to watch the turtles, walk the beach, or get in the water when conditions allow. Free snorkel gear is included on the Standard tour. Whatever you do, keep at least 10 feet from any turtle, on the sand and in the water. That’s the guidance from NOAA Fisheries, and honu are a protected species.
See all nine stops in one day. The Standard tour is $59 per person, with free snorkel gear at Turtle Beach and a free malasada at Leonard’s. Pickup is from six points in Waikiki between 6:50 and 7:15 a.m. Check dates and book
Stop 8: North Shore fruit stands (20 minutes)
Roadside stands on the North Shore sell fresh-cut pineapple, mango, coconut water and whatever is in season. It’s the best snack of the day, and a good moment to rehydrate after the beach.
Central Oahu
Stop 9: Dole Plantation (40 minutes)
The last stop climbs inland to the old pineapple country between Oahu’s two mountain ranges. Dole Plantation began as a fruit stand in 1950 and opened as a visitor attraction in 1989. It now welcomes more than a million visitors a year.
Forty minutes is the right amount of time for a Dole Whip, a walk through the gardens and the country store. The plantation’s train ride, maze and garden tour are ticketed separately if you want to come back another day.
The ride back to Waikiki
From Dole, the road runs south through central Oahu to Honolulu, and you’re typically back in Waikiki in the late afternoon. It’s the quietest stretch of the day, and plenty of guests use it for a nap.
Tips for getting the most from the route
- Sit on the right side if you can. The loop runs counterclockwise, so the ocean is on the right for most of the day.
- Wear your swimsuit under your clothes. It saves time at Turtle Beach.
- Bring some cash. Small roadside stands are quicker with it.
- Keep your camera handy between stops. Some of the best views, like the windward coast north of Kualoa, come from the window.
- Eat breakfast early, or grab something the night before. The first pickup is at 6:50 a.m.
For a broader look at the day, read what to expect on a full-day circle island tour.
Good to know (checked September 2026)
The stops and times above are the current full-day itinerary. The itinerary can change on the day for weather or other conditions. If we have to cancel for weather or safety, you choose a full refund or a free reschedule. See our cancellation policy.
FAQ
How many stops are on the Oahu circle island tour?
Nine: Diamond Head Lookout, Halona Blowhole, Leonard’s Bakery, a macadamia nut farm, Mokoliʻi Island, Tanaka’s Kahuku Shrimp for lunch, Turtle Beach, the North Shore fruit stands and the Dole Plantation.
Which stop is the longest?
Turtle Beach, at 1 hour and 15 minutes. The Dole Plantation is next at 40 minutes. The photo stops are about 15 minutes each.
Does the tour include the Diamond Head hike?
No. The tour stops at the Diamond Head Lookout for the classic view. The summit hike needs its own reservation and 1.5 to 2 hours. Private charters for groups of 10 or more can add it.
Does the circle island tour stop at Hanauma Bay?
No. Hanauma Bay needs a reservation made two days ahead and takes a half day on its own, so it isn’t part of the loop.
Which direction does the tour go around Oahu?
Counterclockwise from Waikiki: east along the southeast shore, north up the windward coast, west along the North Shore, then south through central Oahu back to Honolulu.
Ride the whole route in one day
Nine stops, three coasts and the pineapple country in between, without driving, parking or navigating.
Book the loop. See the $59 Standard full-day tour, or the $49 Promo Full-Day Loop and current offers. Traveling with 10 or more? See private charters.
Aloha Fantasy Tours has run circle island tours on Oahu since 2010.
