There is so much to do and see in Honolulu … and the rest of Hawaii. Where do you begin? A Circle Island tour, that’s where!
I stumbled across a company called Aloha Circle Island on Groupon. The company offers exactly what’s advertised — a circle tour of Oahu. And it turned out to be the perfect way for us to spend the day.
TRAVEL HACK: THE ALOHA CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR IS ONE OF THE CHEAPEST TOURS WE TOOK ON OUR HAWAIIAN VACATION. IT GETS A SOLID 4.5 STARS OUT OF 5!
The offer had a few things going for it right away.
- Pick up would be near our Waikiki Hotel
- The tour was less than $60 per person
- It took us all over the island and actually let us off the bus in several places
- THE PRICE INCLUDES SNORKELING (AND GEAR) AT THE NORTH SHORE
You’ll need to set your alarm clock for this tour. It started bright and early, with hotel pickup at 7:00 a.m!! Arrive at the designated point early if you want the best seats on the minibus.
Your driver will greet you as ours did and explain a little about the tour so you know what to expect. If you aren’t into large tour buses, this is a good option for you. The minibus held about two dozen people.
Iconic Diamond Head is the first stop on this tour. Your driver will pull up at the lookout along the road for a breathtaking view over the ocean. The lookout is at the bottom of the slope, so if you want views from high above you’ll still need to make the climb on your own.
As we snapped selfies and pictures of the view, our driver — John Jr. — pulled out a surprise treat! He’d brought along poi glazed donuts for a morning snack. They are baked on the island at a place called Kamehameha Bakery.
PRO TIP: MAKE THE TREK TO KAMEHAMEHA BAKERY FOR THE POI GLAZED DONUTS. THEY BAKERY SAYS THEY ARE A BEST SELLER — AND IT’S THE TASTIEST POI I’VE EVER TRIED!
After downing purple poi donuts, (YES PURPLE!) it’s time to pile back into the bus and head toward the second stop — The Halona Blowhole. It’s another beautiful scenic stop. Stand along a railing and watch the blue water crash onto the black lava rock coast. You’ll only need to wait several minutes for the water to slosh into the “blowhole” and shoot high into the air.
After leaving The Halona Blowhole, you’ll drive by Sherwood Forest and the Chinaman’s Hat rock formation. Along the way you’ll learn about the Hawaiian culture. Your driver will also point out different sights and even locations of popular movie shoots.
PRO TIP: IF YOU SUFFER FROM MOTION SICKNESS, ARRIVE EARLY FOR THIS TOUR. YOU DON’T WANT TO BE STUCK IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE BUS.
Following the drive you’ll stop at another spot for a snack. The bus will pull up at a macadamia nut farm.
Enjoy free Kona coffee and macadamia nut samples. (The caramel is my favorite!) You can buy some of your own to snack on later during the trip … or to enjoy after you return home. There are also public restrooms available at this stop.
Then it’s on to the North Shore. You’ll stop for lunch at a roadside restaurant called Fumi’s. It’s famous for its Garlic Shrimp, but there are several other flavors available if you don’t love garlic. (But try the garlic … trust me!!). Fumi’s raises the shrimp it serves right there on the same property. The price of this tour DOES NOT include lunch. You’ll need to pay for anything you want to order at Fumi’s.
Fumi’s also offers something called Dole whip. It’s basically pineapple ice cream topped with more pineapple. And it’s very good, especially because it’s so hot outside. As John Jr. will tell you, this treat is also served at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. If you try it at Fumi’s, it’s cheaper and you won’t have to wait in a long line for it!
TRAVEL HACK: TRY THE DOLE WHIP AT FUMI’S INSTEAD OF THE DOLE PINEAPPLE PLANTATION. IT’S CHEAPER AT FUMI’S AND YOU WON’T HAVE TO WAIT IN A LONG LINE.
After an amazing lunch, you’ll continue to the North Shore. Your driver will point out surfing landmarks and explain why the area is such a surfing mecca. Then your bus will stop at a public beach. You’ll have several hours to swim and snorkel.
TRAVEL HACK: SNORKELING GEAR RENTAL IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR. YOU’LL WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU BRING A TOWEL WITH YOU. THERE ARE RESTROOMS TO CHANGE AS WELL AS AN OUTDOOR SHOWER.
A stop at the famous Dole Plantation is the final one on this tour. Walk inside and EVERYTHING is pineapple. Pineapple shirts and pajamas, pineapple sweets and jerky, even pineapple collars and treats for you dogs!
If you skipped the Dole Whip at Fumi’s, you can also order one here. Just be patient and be prepared to battle a line! There are people everywhere!
When you are done at the pineapple plantation, you’ll be returned to the spot where you tour began hours before.
Aloha Circle Island is a company that’s been around for just about a year. Overall I’d rate the tour as a 4.5 out of 5 for the $115-ish we paid for two people!
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