Circle Island Tour Pickup in Waikiki: Points and Times

Our full-day circle island tour picks up from six points across Waikiki between 6:50 and 7:15 a.m. The first pickup is at the Ala Moana end near Hobron Lane, and the last is near Kapiolani Park. Choose the point nearest your hotel, arrive a few minutes early, and have your booking confirmation ready.

Below are all six points with addresses and times, how to pick the right one, and what to do if something goes wrong on the morning.

All six pickup points and times

The same list is always on our pick-up locations page.

How the pickup route works

Waikiki is only about two miles long, and the minibus works through it in one direction, from west to east. It starts at the Ala Moana end, near Hobron Lane, and finishes on Paoakalani Avenue, a short walk from the Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Park.

That’s why the times are only five minutes apart. It also means the minibus can’t wait long at any single point without making everyone further along the route late.

Rather than stopping at every hotel door, the tour uses six fixed points. Most places to stay in Waikiki are within a short walk of at least one of them.

Which pickup point is closest to you?

A quick way to choose, based on where you’re staying:

• The Ala Moana end of Waikiki, near Hobron Lane and the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor: Red Lobster, 6:50 a.m.
• Near Fort DeRussy and Saratoga Road: Ka Lai Hotel, 6:55 a.m.
• Along Kalakaua Avenue in western and central Waikiki: La Croix Hotel, 7:00 a.m.
• Central Waikiki, around Seaside Avenue and Kuhio Avenue: Ross Dress for Less, 7:05 a.m.
• Eastern Waikiki, around Koa Avenue: Waikiki Resort Hotel, 7:10 a.m.
• The Diamond Head end, near the zoo and Kapiolani Park: Hotel Renew, 7:15 a.m.

If two points are about the same distance away, choose the later one and you’ll get a few extra minutes of sleep. Put the address into your phone’s map the evening before, so you’re not looking for it in the dark.

Tips for a smooth pickup

• Be there 10 minutes early. The pickup window is tight, and five minutes separate each stop.
• Have your booking confirmation ready, on your phone or printed.
• Sort out breakfast the night before. Most cafes aren’t open yet at 6:30 a.m., so grab something from a convenience store the evening before.
• Dress for the whole day. You won’t be back at your hotel until the late afternoon. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes for Turtle Beach, and bring sunscreen, a hat and a light layer.
• Travel light. A small daypack is plenty. Leave valuables in your hotel safe.

Winter mornings: pickup in the dark

Hawaii has no daylight saving time, so sunrise moves a lot through the year. In June, the sun is up before 6:00 a.m. From about November through February, sunrise in Honolulu is closer to 7:00 a.m., which means the first pickups can happen in the dark or at first light.

On those mornings:

• Wait somewhere well lit, on the main street side of your pickup point rather than in a doorway.
• Keep your phone’s flashlight handy so the driver can see you.
• Leave a little extra time for the walk. Streets that feel obvious in daylight look different at 6:30 a.m.

What happens after pickup

Once everyone is on board, the minibus heads east out of Waikiki toward the first stop, the Diamond Head Lookout, and then follows the coast toward Halona Blowhole. The early start is deliberate. It gets the group out of Honolulu before the morning traffic builds, and it reaches the windward coast while the light is still soft.

If you’re staying outside Waikiki

The six pickup points are all in Waikiki. If you’re staying in Ala Moana, Kakaʻako or downtown Honolulu, a short rideshare to the Red Lobster point on Ala Moana Boulevard is the easiest option.

If you’re farther away, in Ko Olina, Kailua or on the North Shore, you’ll need to allow real travel time to reach Waikiki before 7:00 a.m. Contact us before booking and we’ll help you choose the most practical point.

Running late, or can’t find the minibus?

Call or text us at (808) 294-9906 as soon as you can. The minibus works through Waikiki on a tight schedule, so the sooner we know, the more we can do to help.

Keep an eye on the cancellation terms too. Individual bookings cancelled less than 24 hours before the tour aren’t refundable, so a missed pickup can’t usually be refunded. The details are on our cancellation policy page.

Private group pickups

Private charters for groups of 10 to 29 people run in your group’s own air-conditioned minibus. Pickup details are arranged with your group when you book, so contact us with where you’re staying. You can see private charter pricing here.

Pickup sorted? Book your seat. The full-day circle island tour covers nine stops in about 9.5 hours, from the Diamond Head Lookout to 75 minutes at Turtle Beach. The Standard tour is $59, with a free malasada and snorkel gear. Check dates and book

For what happens after pickup, see the complete circle island tour route, stop by stop.

Good to know (checked September 2026)

Pickup points and times are taken from our current schedule. Always check your booking confirmation for your exact pickup time, and call (808) 294-9906 if anything is unclear.

FAQ

Start the day in the right place

The pickup is the one part of the day you have to get right yourself. Choose your point the night before, set an early alarm, and let the rest of the day take care of itself.

Ready to go? Book the $59 Standard full-day tour, or see the $49 Promo Full-Day Loop and current offers.

Aloha Fantasy Tours has run circle island tours on Oahu since 2010.