DIY Circle Drive Tour of Oahu: Waikiki to Waimea Valley

There’s no better island than Oahu to do a circle drive tour on your terms. The island is just the right size to complete a round-the-island drive at a comfortable pace.

All you need is a rental car, a sense of adventure, and an open-ended itinerary. This guide will take you around the island, starting in Waikiki and ending at the tranquil Waimea Valley for the authentic and exciting Toa Luau, which starts at 5 p.m.

PLAN TO BE AT THE FINAL STOP—WAIMEA VALLEY—BETWEEN 2-3 P.M.

Tips for a Memorable DIY Oahu Circle Drive

• Start Early: It’s better to get out of your hotel room by 7:00–8:00 a.m. to make the most of the day. The earlier, the better.
• Fuel Up: Gas up before leaving Honolulu. If you already have your rental car, gas up the night before so you have less to worry about in the morning.
• Pack Essentials: Water, sunscreen, swimsuit, towel, and snacks. Get one of those cheap Styrofoam coolers and ice to keep drinks cold. Bring a change of clothes if you need them during your daytime drive. Are those the clothes you will wear to the luau at Waimea Valley? If not, you’ll need those clothes too and whatever shoes or sandals you’ll wear, plus a sweater in case the evening gets chilly.
• Charge Your Cell Phone and Bring Your Charger
• Respect the Land: Stay on paths, don’t take rocks or sand, and always observe posted signs.
• Drive Safe: Roads in rural Hawai‘i can be narrow, winding, and busy—especially along the North Shore. Take your time. You’re on vacation!
• No Rushing: You may not make every stop, and that’s okay. The goal is to experience Oahu, not just check boxes or finish your to-do list.

Let’s hit the road! We are going around the island in a counter-clockwise direction beginning in Waikiki.

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Start: Waikiki (Morning)

Begin your journey early. You will be going against the traffic that is coming into Honolulu, so hopefully you won’t hit any traffic jams that grind things to a halt. Grab a coffee and breakfast wherever it’s convenient for you.

You’re going to be getting onto the H1 Freeway EAST to begin your Oahu circle drive. The simplest thing for you to do is to ask the Front Desk at your hotel where the nearest on-ramp to the H1 EAST is and how to get there.

NEXT STOP: HANAUMA BAY LOOKOUT (20 minutes from Waikiki)

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Hanauma Bay Lookout

The H1 EAST freeway becomes HI-72 (Kalaniana‘ole Hwy), which travels past residential areas. Follow signs for Koko Head/Hanauma Bay. The freeway eventually ends, and you will be on Kalaniana‘ole Hwy. The entrance to Hanauma Bay will be on the right side of the road. Reservations are required to snorkel, but today you’ll be parking in the Parking Lot and walking to the Hanauma Bay Lookout for awesome views and photo ops.

Parking at Hanauma Bay is $3 per vehicle or $1 for a Hawai‘i resident vehicle. (Cash only!)

Length of walk: 1.5 miles (1 to 1.5 hours)

Difficulty: Easy

Elevation gain: 500ft

Operating Hours: Hanauma Bay is open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM but is closed every Tuesday to allow the marine life a day of rest.

 Parking: The parking lot has 300 spaces. Getting there early in the day will give you a better chance of finding an empty one.

What to expect: The Hanauma Bay Ridge trail is an easy walk, but it’s a paved incline to the Hanauma Bay Rock. You’ll start just West of the parking lot for Hanauma Bay on a dirt path right by the road. You’ll hike up this path for about 5 minutes before reaching the concrete paved trail that goes along the ridge. This is the hike trailhead.

The Views: The Lookout provides expansive views of Hanauma Bay, Koko Head Crater, and the surrounding coastline. It’s breathtaking.

The best times for this walk are the early hours. There’s no shade along the way. Bring sunscreen and a hat.

NEXT STOP: HALONA BLOWHOLE & ETERNITY BEACH (5 minutes further)

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Halona Blowhole & Eternity Beach

Continue on your Oahu circle drive along the coast to the Halona Blowhole Lookout. The blowhole shoots sea spray high into the air when waves crash into an underground lava tube. On the left of the blowhole is a secret cove known as Eternity Beach. This is where the “scandalous love scenes” with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr were filmed for From Here to Eternity in 1953.

Tip: The Lookout is a great whale-watching spot between December to March when humpback whales migrate to Hawaiian waters.

NEXT STOP: MAKAPU‘U POINT LOOKOUT (10 minutes away)

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Makapuʻu Point Lookout

The road winds upward, and you’ll reach the Makapuʻu Point Lookout. From here, there are unbelievable views of the coastline, Rabbit Island (Native Hawaiians called it Mānana), and the Makapu‘u Lighthouse sitting on the edge of the cliff. If you feel like walking, the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail is a comfortable 2-mile round trip paved hike with spectacular views and plenty of photo ops.

NEXT STOP: WAIMĀNALO & KAILUA (30 min to 1 hr, depending on stops)

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Waimānalo & Kailua

From Makapuʻu, head north toward Waimānalo. It’s hard to know where north and south are on an island; just follow the signs. Waimānalo is a quiet town with country charm and one of the best beaches on the island. Drive slowly, this is local territory where they appreciate “mellow”. If you’re ready for lunch or coffee, continue to Kailua, a trendy beach town known for its boutiques, eateries, and tourists. Waimānalo and Kailua are only 5 miles apart, but they’re like two different worlds.

Recommended Stops:

• Waimānalo Beach: Wide sandy beach, turquoise water, and fewer crowds.
• Lanikai Beach (via Kailua): Often ranked among the world’s best beaches.
• Over Easy or Cinnamon’s (Kailua): Breakfast/lunch spots loved by locals.
• Island Snow (Kailua): Great shave ice. This is where President Obama came whenever he was in Hawai‘i.

NEXT STOP: NU‘UANU PALI LOOKOUT (optional stop – 8 mi & 15 min from Kailua)

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The Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout (Optional detour)

If you’re a history buff, consider a brief detour inland to the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout. This windy cliffside location offers panoramic views of the Windward Coast. This was the site of a key battle in King Kamehameha’s conquest of Oahu—The Battle of Nu‘uanu of 1795.

Tip: It’s VERY windy. Hold onto your hat, your kids—and your phone!

NEXT STOP: HO‘OMALUHIA BOTANICAL GARDEN (30 min from Kailua)

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Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden

From Kailua, continue north toward Kāneʻohe, home to the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, a 400-acre paradise at the foot of the Koʻolau mountain range. The drive through the garden is a treat, with dramatic backdrops and serene walking trails. You can choose where and when to get out and walk the grounds. Free admission.

NEXT STOP: CHINAMAN’S HAT & KUALOA REGIONAL PARK (15 min away)

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Chinaman’s Hat & Kualoa Regional Park

Continue driving on HI-83 on your Oahu circle drive, and you’ll spot Mokoliʻi Island, better known as Chinaman’s Hat. It’s not something you’ll see as you approach. You’ll turn a corner and all of a sudden it will loom large offshore. Pull over at Kualoa Regional Park for a closer look and maybe even a short beach stroll.

Across the road is Kualoa Ranch, a popular tourist attraction offering ATV tours, ziplining, movie site visits, and horseback rides through Jurassic Park filming locations.

NEXT STOP: HUKILAU MARKETPLACE AT POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER (20 min away)

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Hukilau Marketplace at Polynesian Cultural Center

Hukilau Marketplace is at the entrance of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Lā‘ie. You won’t have enough time to enter the PCC since it is an all-day experience, but the Hukilau Marketplace will give you a taste of Polynesia. It’s free to the public, including free parking. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday – Saturday (Closed Wednesdays and Sundays). There are a variety of unique island shops with souvenirs, home décor, clothing, and artwork. A variety of international food trucks are also available within the Marketplace.

NEXT STOP: KAHUKU SHRIMP TRUCKS (15 min further)

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Kahuku Shrimp Trucks

About 15 minutes from Hukilau Marketplace, you’ll be approaching Kahuku, and you’ll see shrimp trucks lined up along the road. These food trucks are famous for garlic shrimp plates and other local-style foods.

• Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck (famous and covered in graffiti, try the garlic shrimp scampi)
• Romy’s Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp Hut (known for farm-fresh shrimp)

Sometimes there is a fruit stand that is set up nearby. Great place to get a fresh coconut or pineapple smoothie.

NEXT STOP: NORTH SHORE BEACHES (15 to 30 min stretch of beaches)

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North Shore Beaches

When you leave Kahuku, you’re officially on the North Shore. This is Oahu’s surf mecca. This stretch of coastline is home to some of the world’s most well-known surf breaks. During the winter months beginning in November, waves are massive, and the professional surfing competitions occur.

Must-See Beaches:

• Sunset Beach: Iconic surf spot, perfect for sunset photos.
• Banzai Pipeline (Ehukai Beach Park): World-class barrel waves.
• Shark’s Cove: Excellent snorkeling in summer.
• ʻEhukai Pillbox Hike: Uphill hike near Pupukea Beach with great views of the North Shore.

In the summer, the beaches are calm and great for swimming. In winter, monstrous waves keep non-surfers as spectators on the sand.

NEXT STOP: HALE‘IWA TOWN (15 min from Pipeline)

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Haleʻiwa Town

Follow the signs and soon you’ll reach the historic town of Haleʻiwa with its artsy and surfer vibes. This is North Shore’s cultural hub, full of surf shops, art galleries, and locally-owned eateries.

Highlights:

• Matsumoto’s Shave Ice: A sweet, colorful must-try. You can’t leave without buying one of their T-shirts.
• Haleʻiwa Bowls: Killer acai bowls.
• Waialua Bakery: Sandwiches, cookies, and smoothies.
• Surf N Sea: Classic surf shop in a historic building.

Take time to walk around. The pace is slow, the vibes are coastal, and there’s a lot to explore.

NEXT STOP: WAIMEA VALLEY (10 min from Hale‘iwa)

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Final Destination: Waimea Valley & Toa Luau

Your goal is to reach here between 2-3 p.m. so that you have time to see the valley before Toa Luau starts at 5 p.m. The Luau is only held on Mon, Tues, Wednesday, and Friday in the Pikake Pavilion.

Wrap up your day at Waimea Valley, a sacred and culturally significant area. Once here, you can walk through a botanical garden path (about ¾ mile one way) that leads to a beautiful 45-foot waterfall. Swimming in the waterfall pool is often allowed depending on weather and safety conditions, and life vests are provided.

Waimea Valley is considered a sacred place or wahi pana to Native Hawaiians. In ancient times, the valley was inhabited by a priestly class or kahuna.

Waimea Valley Highlights:

• Lush native flora and cultural exhibits
• Ancient Hawaiian archaeological sites
• Peaceful and educational nature walk
• Refreshing swim under the falls

Toa Luau

If you’re looking for an authentic luau without the Waikiki-style glitz and bright lights, then you’re in for a treat.

The price for this luau includes a FREE PASS into Waimea Valley Botanical Garden and Waterfall, and that helps to make it an affordable attraction. On the days that they offer luaus, they offer two – one in the afternoon and one in the evening. The Botanical Garden is closed to the public during the evening luau.

Plan on getting advance tickets for the 5 p.m. luau. It’ll end between 8 and 9 p.m. That may be a bit late to head home towards Honolulu, but the fire knife dancing is so much more dramatic once night falls. This will be a perfect end to your Oahu circle drive.

The luau is held in a large open-air pavilion that is in a quiet, secluded area surrounded by nature. This venue provides a more authentic, personalized, and intimate luau experience.

Toa Luau Highlights:

• Watch them use a Samoan umu, which is an above-ground method of cooking food.
• Unlike most other luaus, there isn’t a buffet. You don’t have to stand in line for your food. Everybody gets served at their table.
• Flower lei and pre-show cultural activities are included.
• Inspiring island dancing and exciting fire knife dance finale.

Follow this link for more information on Toa Luau!

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Parting Thoughts

An Oahu circle drive is more than a road trip—it’s a journey through diverse landscapes, cultures, and histories. From the jam-packed streets of Waikiki to the serene Waimea Valley trails, each stop tells part of the island’s story.

It’ll take about an hour to drive back to Waikiki from Waimea Valley. Follow the signage and drive safely!

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