Oahu
Oahu Circle Island Tour with Pearl Harbor (combo)
Highlights
- Pearl Harbor - Hawaii's most popular attraction
- Scenic circle tour through the center of the island, along the North Shore, and down the eastern coast
- 30+ sights include pineapple & coffee farms, beaches, mountains, scenic lookouts, military cemetery
- Small group of 8 max (often less), or private tour
- Includes expert local guide, hot lunch, and door-to-door transport
Overview
Experience the highlights of Oahu on a full day “circle island” tour with knowledgeable local guides in a small group setting.
In newer premium vehicles, you will be picked up from your lodging and start the day learning about famous Honolulu sites and Hawaii's most visited attraction, Pearl Harbor. At Pearl Harbor, you will watch a moving 20 minute film, travel by boat to the Arizona Memorial* where you will disembark on this hallowed gravesite for over a thousand U.S. service members, and explore various exhibits about the surprise attack that shaped world history.
After a couple of hours at Pearl Harbor, you'll head up through the middle of the island, where you’ll first stop at Green World Coffee Farm (with coffee and chocolate tastings) and then at the popular Dole Plantation, the last remaining farm for pineapples which have an important history in Hawaii. After a tasty made-to-order hot lunch at a highly rated local food stand, you’ll visit the famous North Shore beaches, including possible turtle sightings on the beach.
During the afternoon, you'll head down the eastern side (“windward side”) with stunning coastal views on one side (including of Chinaman’s Hat) and scenic farms and mountains on the other, with many picture-taking stops and a chance to purchase some local fruit.
Additional afternoon highlights include a Macadamia Nut Farm (with tastings), a historical Hawaiian place of worship (Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau), Pali Lookout, and the National Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater (over 53,000 veterans laid to rest there), before returning to your lodging in the early evening.
Looking for a more in-depth Pearl Harbor Tour? Check out our full Pearl Harbor experience which also includes the Missouri battleship and Bowfin submarine; you can then pair with one of our Circle Island Tours on a separate day.
TravelShack's Choice
Why this tour is recommended over others
- For the shared tour, the smaller group (4-8 people, whereas others are often more than 25) means more personalized attention from the guide, better group camaraderie, less time waiting around for everyone to get on and off, and more time for stops
* Arizona Memorial Tickets
Limited Arizona Memorial tickets are procured through a lottery system 2 months and 3 days prior to a tour date. If they have already been successfully obtained, the date will have the (with AZ) option ($219) available to book. If they haven't yet been obtained, the (AZ if possible) option ($199) will be bookable; in most cases (~90%+), tickets will eventually be arranged (at no extra cost to you), but in rare cases if they are not then the tour would still spend a similar amount of time at Pearl Harbor -- to view the historical film, see the AZ from shore with commentary from your guide, and with more time to visit multiple exhibits and memorials. When booking this option, you can also make a note to contact you about 3 days prior to the tour if the ticket lottery is unsuccessful so you have the option to possibly change dates or cancel if you wish.
Alternatively, our more in-depth Pearl Harbor Tour includes guaranteed AZ tickets for all dates. You could then book our similar Circle Island Tour (but without Pearl Harbor) for another date, since there is no overlap, and you'd get the most complete Circle Island and Pearl Harbor experiences.
Key Details
Traveler Reviews
Customer Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Also rated on:
Guidebook Reviews
Lonely Planet guidebook:
Pearl Harbor has a resonance for all Americans. The site is accessible, evocative, and moving. It’s the top site for visitors to Hawaii.
Oahu in 1 Day: Best Driving is Circle Island Tour.
Fodor's guidebook:
Pearl Harbor: Top Reasons to Go to Oahu. A sobering, don’t miss sight.
Guided tours on Oahu are convenient; you don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot or getting admission tickets.
Moon guidebook:
The Pearl Harbor Historic Sites are a must-see to grasp.
Oahu Revealed guidebook:
The USS Arizona Memorial is the single most popular visitor attraction on Oahu. One of those must-dos on Oahu and for good reason. It makes WWII real for the rest of us. Parking can be difficult at peak times.
Punchbowl Cemetery is an immensely moving place, guaranteed to put a lump in your throat.
FAQ
Where does this tour pick up from and at what time?
For those staying in Waikiki/Honolulu, the tour picks up from virtually all lodgings in this area.
Lodging pickups are around 6:30-7 am (the exact time will be included in your confirmation email) and drop-offs 5-6 pm, depending on your exact lodging, traffic, pace of group, etc.
For those staying in Ko Olina, Kapolei, Ewa Beach, or Waianae, please meet at Pearl Harbor (~15-30 min via Uber/Lyft, or free parking) at 7:20 am. Or you can book a private tour to include pickup/dropoff at your lodging (except Waianae).
If you are staying on the eastern coast (e.g., Kaneohe, Kailua), the North Shore (e.g., Turtle Bay Resort), or elsewhere, you can meet at Pearl Harbor or you can meet in Honolulu, at the Ala Moana Shopping Center (6:30 am), which also has free parking.
This tour can pick up at the Honolulu cruise terminal at 7 am. However, disembarking the cruise ship can take 30-60 minutes, so please factor that in.
Can I do this tour if I am doing the Pride of America cruise?
If you were to do it at the beginning of your trip, we recommend prior to your Saturday departure if possible. If you prefer Saturday, you would need to do a private tour to ensure you get dropped off at the Pride of America by 5 pm, or if it's within the next week and you can't do another day, you can contact us and we may have some flexibility. Alternatively, our Pearl Harbor only tour would drop you off by 3-4 pm.
If at the end of your cruise, Saturday would be too tight, so please choose a later date if you are spending additional nights in Oahu. Alternatively, please book our Circle Island Tour or Pearl Harbor Tour, either which would work due to a later start time.
Please note the tour typically does not like to take luggage due to security & liability concerns.
Can I be picked up or dropped off at the airport?
Yes, but please make sure to arrive in time for pick-up at 7-7:15 am and depart after being dropped off around 6 pm. If you are also spending a night in Oahu, then it is recommended to store the luggage at your lodging prior to the tour. You could also consider storing or checking in your luggage early at the airport (more info here). Due to security & liability reasons, the tour prefers not to take luggage on the tour, although exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis for private tours.
Can I bring luggage on tour?
In general, the tour cannot bring luggage, for liability/security reasons and space constraints. Some options include:
1) Leaving at your hotel front desk even if you've checked out that morning
2) Storing at a location as listed on Bounce
3) Book a date where you are not constrained by luggage
Please note that storing at the airport (more info here) wouldn't generally work since it currently doesn't open until 8 am and airport tour pickup would be 7:15 am. You may want to consider our stand-alone Circle Island or Pearl Harbor tours for later pickup in order to take advantage of the airport baggage storage service.
If necessary, there may be some flexibility with private tours.
What’s for lunch?
Lunch is at a popular food stand, Big Wave Shrimp, on the North Shore. You can order off the menu, and an entree and drink is included in the price of the tour. The menu includes a variety of shrimp styles (Garlic, Crunchy, Spicy, Peeled, Lemon Peppered), Steak and Short Ribs dishes, fried chicken wings, fish & chips, calamari, and veggie spring rolls for vegetarians. Served with rice, salad, and local pineapple. Seasonings have Thai and Japanese influences. Big Wave Shrimp has been featured in multiple tv shows, including on the Travel Channel, and has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence (4.5 star rating).
Gluten-free eaters can have boiled shrimp and request no dressing. They can accommodate those with food allergies, including shellfish allergy and nut allergies (no nuts used). Nevertheless, if this eatery is not a good fit for you, there are nearby food stands you can order from (note: you will be responsible for paying at other places).
What is the age minimum?
There is no age minimum.
Hawaii law requires children under age 4 to ride in a child safety seat and children ages 4-7 to ride in a child safety seat or a booster seat. You may bring your own, or please select during checkout for the tour to provide ($20).
Please consider the length of the tour, much of it in a vehicle, in determining whether this tour is a good fit for your child and that your child won't significantly detract from the experience of any other passengers (if non-private tour). The guide does make an effort to engage and customize the tour for any children on the tour.
How much physical exertion is on this tour?
There are some short walks, but these are optional and the tour guide will use their judgment in determining which stops are most appropriate for the guests on the tour. At the time of booking, there is a question to indicate any physical limitations.
Is this tour appropriate for wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, or strollers?
Although the tour is generally accessible for most physical abilities, wheelchairs / scooters / walkers are generally not permitted on the shared tour; however, if you are a group of 4+ and have only 1-2 items (collapsible), an exception with the shared tour may be possible. Private tours can take collapsible versions. However, please note that some of the stops are not suitable for such items and therefore you may have to stay back at the van if you are dependent on a wheeled assistance device, although with private tours there can be some flexibility on stops Please note any significant physical limitations by answering the question at online checkout.
Will I be on the same van as others traveling with me if they book separately?
If booking separately (to pay separately), please answer the question at checkout about you being with another party to ensure you are on the same van.
Are there restrictions on what I can bring to Pearl Harbor?
For Pearl Harbor, you are welcome to bring cameras, water bottles, wallets, and other small items, but bags are not allowed on site for security reasons. Exceptions to this include bags for medical necessities and clear see-through bags. You may bring bags on the general tour for the day, but they will need to remain locked in the van during the Pearl Harbor portion (~2 hours).
Is there swimming on this tour?
This is more a sightseeing tour, with a lot of ground to cover. There is a good amount of time outside the van, including visiting a few beautiful North Shore beaches, but there aren't swimming opportunities due to time constraints and liability/safety concerns (note: the North Shore beaches can also be quite rough and are more for surfing, especially during the winter). The beach stops are more for the scenery than sunbathing or water play.
How long has this tour been operating?
The tour operator has been running highly rated private customized tours for groups through high end resorts on Oahu for a decade. Starting in Fall 2018, TravelShack partnered closely with them to develop an optimized standard itinerary and small group tour to allow more people to have a VIP experience at great value, with easy booking through TravelShack. More recently we've also added a private tour option.
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