Booking choice: The Grand Circle Island tour, from $100 per person, half day. Check dates Tour details
On the full day, the bus leaves Waikiki along the south shore, crosses to the windward side, runs up to the North Shore and comes back through the centre of the island. Most of the day is spent driving, with the driver-guide narrating; the stops are short, apart from lunch in Haleiwa.
Stop times below are from the operator's itinerary on Viator. The half day skips everything except Dole Plantation and Haleiwa.
The quick answer
The full day stops at Halona Blowhole (10 minutes), the Nuuanu Pali Lookout (10), Byodo-In Temple (20), Tropical Farms (20), Haleiwa Town (1 hour 30 minutes) and Dole Plantation (30). Diamond Head Beach Park, Kahala, Hanauma Bay, the North Shore beaches and downtown Honolulu are seen from the bus. There is no beach, snorkel or turtle stop.
What stops does the Grand Circle Island tour make?
Six stops on the full day, from Halona Blowhole to Dole Plantation, and two on the half day.
| Stop | Time | What you do | Half day? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halona Blowhole | 10 min | Watch the ocean spray shoot up from the lava rock | No |
| Nuuanu Pali Lookout | 10 min | View of the Koolau Mountains and windward coast | No |
| Byodo-In Temple | 20 min | Temple grounds, koi ponds, the bon-sho bell | No |
| Tropical Farms | 20 min | Coffee and macadamia nut samples | No |
| Haleiwa Town | 1 h 30 min | Lunch and shopping (own expense) | Yes |
| Dole Plantation | 30 min | Pineapple varieties, shop, Dole Whip | Yes |
Want all six stops? Choose a "Full Day" time slot, from $140 per person.
Check dates for the Grand Circle Island tourWhat do you see at Halona Blowhole?
Ocean spray shooting up through the lava rock: it is the first stop of the full day and lasts about 10 minutes.
Ten minutes is enough for photos from the lookout. One small-group operator describes the waves crashing into a lava tube and spraying up to 50 feet in the air; how high it goes depends on the sea that day.
Why stop at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout?
For the view: the lookout sits at the brink of the pali at 1,200 feet in the Koolau Range, looking over windward Oahu.
The guide explains the role the spot played in Hawaiian history. It is often windy up there, which is why one small-group tour sells itself on the "Pali wind bath". On the tour the listing shows the Pali stop as free; non-resident drivers pay $7 per vehicle to park.
What is there at Byodo-In Temple?
A red temple set against the Koolau cliffs, with koi-filled ponds and a sacred bell (the bon-sho) you can ring; you get about 20 minutes.
The listing shows temple admission as free for tour guests. The temple grounds are open 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily. One guest wrote that "the temple was beautiful and the entire route was beautiful".
Is Tropical Farms just a shop?
Largely, yes: it is a macadamia nut outlet where you sample coffee and macadamia nuts for about 20 minutes.
Be ready for that. One guest summed up the day as "you remain mostly on bus, got to stop at 4 spots and two of them were food item sellers". If you want more scenery stops and fewer shops, compare the tours in the last section below.
Fine with short stops and a narrated drive? The full day covers the whole island from $140.
Check dates for the Grand Circle Island tourHow long do you get in Haleiwa and at Dole Plantation?
About 1 hour 30 minutes in Haleiwa for lunch and shopping, then about 30 minutes at Dole Plantation.
Lunch is not included, so Haleiwa is where you eat. At Dole, the Pineapple Express train alone takes 20 minutes and costs extra, so 30 minutes leaves room for one thing plus a Dole Whip. See Haleiwa Town on a circle island tour for how to use your time there.
What do you only see from the bus?
Diamond Head Beach Park, Kahala, Hanauma Bay, the North Shore beaches and downtown Honolulu are drive-bys, with no stop.
The guide narrates as you pass. If Diamond Head or a North Shore beach is a must, choose a tour that stops there: the snorkel grand tour and Hidden Gems both give Diamond Head 20 minutes.
Which tours stop where the Grand Circle does not?
The snorkel grand tour, the Hidden Gems tour and the turtle tour add beach and photo stops; the Majestic tour adds Waimea Valley.
- Grand tour with snorkeling: Diamond Head, Sandy Beach, Waimanalo, Mokoli'i, Waimea Bay and a snorkel stop, from $89.
- Hidden Gems: Diamond Head, Kualoa Regional Park, Kahuku Farms and Sunset Beach, from $159.
- Turtle snorkel tour: a guided snorkel at "Turtle Town" (sightings not guaranteed), from $149.
- Majestic: 30 minutes in Waimea Valley and a lunch stop, from $186.
More in small group vs big bus.
Want beach time on the same loop? The snorkel grand tour stops at Waimea Bay and includes snorkel gear and snacks.
Explore the grand tour with snorkeling Tour detailsFrequently asked questions
Does the Grand Circle Island tour stop at Diamond Head?
No, it drives past Diamond Head Beach Park. The snorkel grand tour and the Hidden Gems tour each stop at Diamond Head for about 20 minutes.
Will I see turtles on the Grand Circle Island tour?
It has no beach or snorkel stop. For turtles, pick the small-group turtle snorkel tour, and remember no operator guarantees sightings.
Which stops are on the half day?
Only Dole Plantation and Haleiwa Town. Halona Blowhole, the Pali Lookout, Byodo-In and Tropical Farms are on the full day only.
Does the tour stop at Pearl Harbor?
No. The same operator runs a separate Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial tour with Waikiki pickup, from $94.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Grand Circle Island & Haleiwa Town Tour
- Full day (from $140): Halona Blowhole, Nuuanu Pali, Byodo-In Temple, Tropical Farms, Haleiwa and Dole Plantation
- Half day (from $100): Dole Plantation and Haleiwa Town only
- Deluxe bus with a restroom on board and a narrating driver-guide
Hidden Gems of Oahu with Byodo-In Temple
Eleven stops, from Kualoa to Sunset Beach
Grand Tour Around the Island with Snorkeling
- Guided circle island tour with a snorkelling stop
- Snorkel equipment, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned bus (25 to 50 seats)
