Oahu Grand Circle Island Audio Driving Tour
Description
Shaka Guide's Circle Island Tour takes you on a journey around Oahu stopping at famous surf spots, the island's famed North Shore, a quaint beach town and even a waterfall hike! This audio tour uses GPS to give you turn-by-turn directions to popular spots and local gems. With Shaka Guide, you have the freedom to explore on your own terms -- visit the places you want and skips the ones you don't. Shaka Guide is the #1-rated app for Oahu with over 1.5K reviews on the App Store and Google Play Store! ✅ Tours never expire. ✅ Tour work offline. No data needed. ✅ Reliable GPS directions. ✅ A guided tour for a fraction of the price. ✅ Save time planning! We’ve done the work for you. ✅ Your vacation, your terms — freedom to stop and go as you please. ✅ The #1-rated travel app for Maui. ✅ Listen to interesting stories and Hawaiian music! "Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours."
Tour Options
Itinerary
It’s time to fuel up for the day ahead and what better way than a deep-fried, Portuguese donut, known as a malasada? We’ll guide you to Leonard’s Bakery, one of O'ahu’s most famous spots for these delicious treats. Leonard’s features eight different types of malasadas from its original that’s coated in sugar to custard-stuffed varieties filled with flavors like haupia (coconut) guava, and macadamia nut There’s usually a line, but don’t let that deter you -- it moves pretty fast.
Optional stop: Visit the peaceful Byodo-In Temple and explore the grounds at your own pace. If you choose to enter, admission is purchased separately directly from the attraction.
Make a quick pit stop at The Tropical Nut Farm to try a wide variety of macadamia nuts from Maui Onion and Garlic to Kona Coffee Glazed. The farm offers free coffee and nut samples so you can try them before you buy.
Take a look at this unique little islet at this beautiful white sand beach
Optional stop: Take in the dramatic scenery of the Kualoa area or choose to explore Kualoa Ranch on your own. Stop for as long as you'd like, or continue along the tour route.
Optional stop: Enjoy views of peaceful Kahana Bay and learn more about the area's history and significance. Stop for a beach break or continue when you're ready.
Beautiful view of Sea Arch
Stop by or drive by
Stop for a quick view of a breathtaking sea arch at La'ie Point. As waves crash below you’ll see just how this magnificent geologic wonder was formed! See if you can spot the lizard from the story that the tour describes.
Neat looking mormon temple
Fruit stands and shrimp trucks
Stop in Kahuku for some of the North Shore's famous local food, including popular shrimp trucks and other roadside favorites. Choose what sounds good or keep exploring.
At this point, you might be thinking to yourself, is this a food tour? And, in a way it is! This tour has some of the best food stops on the island. We hope you saved room for dessert because you won’t want to miss Ted’s Bakery's famous cream pies. The specialty is their chocolate haupia pie, but they also have strawberry guava, blueberry, and pineapple macadamia nut, just to name a few!
Famous surfing spot with great sunset views
Famous surf spot
Great place to snorkel with the family
Optional stop: Visit Oahu's largest remaining traditional Hawaiian heiau and learn about its cultural and historical significance. Take in the views, then continue when you're ready.
Optional stop: Explore Waimea Valley's botanical gardens and waterfall, or skip it and continue along the North Shore. Some experiences at this stop may require a separate purchase directly from the attraction.
Stop at one of the North Shore's most famous beaches, known for its powerful winter waves and beautiful scenery. Spend some time at the beach or continue along the route depending on your schedule.
Also known as Turtle Beach, this little beach is a natural feeding ground for honu or sea turtles. This beach tends to get crowded, and parking is extremely limited. If you can’t find a spot, just keep driving down the road to the next stop. If you do visit the beach, be careful while crossing the road from the small parking area, and please be mindful to keep your distance from these protected animals. Getting too close to sea turtles will result in a large fine.
Explore Haleʻiwa's shops, galleries, food spots and historic streets for as long as you'd like—or continue when you're ready.
Dating back to the early 1950’s, this dessert spot serves up Hawaiian shave ice in dozens of flavors! It’s a favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. There will most likely be a long line, but don’t let that stop you -- it moves fast. Or--cross the road and check out Aoki's Shave Ice, another local favorite.
Go on a maze and eat some dole whip!
Drive by or take a visit!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour can only be done counterclockwise.
- The tour has two starting points: Waikiki and Ko Olina.
- The Dole Plantation closes at 5:30 p.m. There is an entrance fee to do the activities at the plantation, but you can visit the gift shop and cafe for free.
- Byodo-In is open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. daily. They will only accept credit card and contactless payments.
- Most of the food trucks in Kahuku are cash only.
- Waimea Valley is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday. It's open on Mondays from Thanksgiving to New Years.
- Waves can get rough in winter (October-April). When in doubt ask a lifeguard.
- Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
- The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
- Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
- Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
- Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
Reviews(41)
I really enjoyed using Shaka Guide Oahu audio tour. My mom, son, and I drove around to explore the island. You are in the comfort of your own car, with people that you love. This is a great affordable alternative than using a tour guide and being crammed into a bus full of strangers. The audio tour is self paced, and the guide gives detailed directions before you come across a historical landmark. It gives you fun facts in between and Hawaiian music plays in the background. We stayed in Waikiki and started super early which was not the best idea. My suggestion is to leave around 8-9 am, so by the time you are getting to small businesses, they will be open. We were not able to check out certain spots due to them being closed. I will definitely be using Shaka Guide for my other road trips in the future.
Aloha Acmore, Mahalo for sharing your incredible multi-generational journey with us! It warms our hearts knowing you and your family had such a wonderful time taking in the sights together. Having the freedom to set your own schedule, listen to local tunes, and soak in the scenery in total comfort is truly what it’s all about! Also, mahalo for that fantastic advice on starting times—that insight will be super helpful for other travelers wanting to visit the local shops along the way. We can’t wait to ride shotgun on your next road trip! Mahalo, Shaka Guide Team
This was our first time using Shaka Guide and we loved it. It was so useful while we were driving around Oahu. Hearing the history of the places and then being able to stop and explore them was great. The GPS only hiccup'd once, but it fixed itself pretty quickly. We have used Shaka Guide for a few other places since this trip. Definitely worth it if you are planning on driving the island at your own pace instead of going on a tour.
Aloha Kate, We are absolutely thrilled to hear that your first experience with us made your Oahu drive so memorable, and we love knowing that you've already taken us along on a few other adventures since then. Thanks for rolling with that quick GPS hiccup, too; tech can have its moments, but we're glad it got right back on track for you. We truly appreciate you sharing the Shaka love, and we can't wait to guide you on your next road trip! Mahalo, Shaka Guide Support 🤙
I can't recommend this enough! This seriously was the most amazing tour on your own time. It was like he was a friend in the backseat telling us everything, we were talking to him like if he was there by the end of the trip. I love these tours. This is my second one I've purchase through Shaka Guide. I highly recommend to anyone. I can't wait to explore more of their destinations with them.
Once you started the tour, it was great. Only issue is you need to get to one of the starting points first and then the tour will start. The software will not direct you to the starting point from where you are.
Aloha Richard, Glad once you were rolling, the Grand Circle delivered. That loop really comes together when the timing and stories line up with the drive. You’re right about the start point. The tour is designed to begin once you reach the route, rather than acting like a navigation app to get you there first. That setup works well once you know it, but we can definitely do a better job making that clearer up front. Appreciate you calling it out. Mahalo for exploring with Shaka Guide 🤙
This was a great experience with an even better tour guide/driver! Brett was awesome and so interesting. He even played the ukulele during our lunch by the volcano! 10/10 day!
Very informative on every stop and history about the island help with all the roads to turn on and did not get lost
Mahalo for sharing your experience! 🌴 We’re thrilled to hear the tour helped you explore the island smoothly and learn along the way. Glad you didn’t get lost — that’s what we’re here for! 🤙
Get the lay of the land so you know the locations you might want to day trip to during your time on the island.
Great tip — thank you for sharing! 🌴 Exploring the island with a good overview in mind really helps maximize your trip. Getting the lay of the land early on lets you plan day trips more efficiently, especially when some must-see spots are spread out. Whether it's beaches, hikes, or scenic drives, a little preparation goes a long way!
We enjoyed the information provided, however, the conflicts between Google Maps and this app were a hassle. It was fun driving around the coast line and glad we took the time.
Thanks for sharing your experience! We're glad you enjoyed the coastal drive and the info along the way. Sorry to hear about the issues with Google Maps—we know that can be frustrating. We appreciate your patience and are happy you still made the most of the adventure!
Found this gem and loved it! My husband and I spent a day traveling the island. We did not stop at every stop but most of them. We enjoyed the stories and music and the island history. It was a great intro to our first day on the island and gave us ideas of places we would like to go back to. I don’t think our kids would have enjoyed it as much… lots of sitting in the car.
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We're so glad you and your husband enjoyed the stories, music, and island history. It’s great that it helped you plan future spots to visit! We totally understand that it might be more enjoyable for adults, especially with the time spent in the car. We hope the next time you explore, it’s just as memorable!
Being used to having a car, driver and guide to get the most of our touring, this travel guide delivered an awesome experience. Easy to use and very informative and interesting. We visited sights and locations we would have totally missed without the guide.
We're very happy to hear we've helped you enjoy your Hawaii vacation. Mahalo for your 5 star review! 🤙😍🤙
