Affordable Luxury Hawaii Travel : Activities Oahu

Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui & Big Island

Circle Island Tour

To get to know Oahu, take a deluxe circle island tour. Explore the wonders and sacred beauties away from Waikiki that make this island a "must see". From the lush, green mountains of the Pali to the crystal, clear blue waters of Hanauma Bay, you will experience the culture and diversity of Hawaii. While on this 120-mile tour, you'll see the most memorable highlights Oahu has to offer. There are lots of photo opportunities and terrific narration.

Grand Circle Island with Dole Plantation Pineapple Express & Garden Tour optional add-on
Includes all the 'must see' sites of the Grand Circle Island Tour plus a 2-hour visit to Dole Plantation where you will board the Pineapple Express train tour. Along the 2 mile route you'll learn about the history of pineapple and the story of James Dole, who pioneered the pineapple industry in Hawaii. Take in the breathtaking beauty of the Ko'olau and Waianae mountains with a narrator.

You can also do this as a self-tour. Plan it on a map. Your narrator will be as good as the guide books (s)he brought and read.

Luaus

There are a few options available. Kick off your shoes and go native! Enjoy all you can eat, multi-course Hawaiian/American Buffet. See the Royal Court Procession and Imu Ceremony. Have fun at the Polynesian Revue featuring a Fire Knife Dancer. Enjoy a standard beverage, or exotic cocktail. Transportation is available.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor remains one of the state's top visitor attractions.

There are 3 main options for touring Pearl Harbor, with multiple operators providing the basic and exrended guided tours. You can also do a self tour, but you will miss the narration.

The guided tours on air-conditioned luxury motor coaches start and finish in Waikiki, with knowledgable driver/guides.

Pearl Harbor/Arizona  Memorial/City Tour

Experience a part of Honolulu and U.S. history by taking a tour of Pearl Harbor and boarding the Arizona Memorial. The Arizona Memorial sits atop the sunken hull of the battleship USS Arizona and commemorates the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, you will be heading downtown for a fully narrated tour of Honolulu's city highlights, aboard a comfortable air conditioned premium motor coach.  
Route/Stops:Pearl Harbor and Arizona Memorial (Museum & Movie),Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, Iolani Palace,State Capitol and Washington Place, King Kamehameha Statue ,Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses

Stars and Stripes Tour

Journey to where the war began and ended for the United States. This tour will allow you to visit Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. Then travel across the Ford Island Bridge to the Mighty MO for a very special guided tour of the most celebrated battleship.
Following your visit to the Pearl Harbor area you will drive through historic Honolulu and on to Punchbowl for an exclusive personalized tour of the National Cemetery of the Pacific** by a veteran from the American Legion.

After the serenity of Punchbowl, enjoy the drive through more Honolulu highlights before heading to Waikiki where you can shop at the International Marketplace or relax on the beach.

Route/Stops: Board Arizona Memorial*, Guided Tour of the USS Missouri Battleship -- Admission Included), No host lunch at USS Missouri, Guided Tour of Punchbowl Cemetery,The National Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii State Capital, Iolani Palace ,Kamehameha Statue,State Library and Archives,Honolulu City Hall, Kawaiahao Church, Mission Houses

Pearl Harbor and area Self Tour If you prefer, you can also drive to Pearl Harbor on your own and visit the Arizona, the USS Missouri and then go to Punchbowl Cemetery and downtown. You'll miss much of the narration, but you can decide how long to stay at each historic site.

The cost is the daily price of rental car, or city bus. and admission to Missouri. No admissioon fee to Arizona Memorial, or Punchbowl)

Polynesian Cultural Center

Daily except on Sundays

Spend all afternoon in villages, have dinner and enjoy fabulous "Horizons" Polynesian show. Experience the 7 south sea cultures that collectively shaped our island home. Within this 42-acre site you can visit Tonga, Tahiti, the Marquesas, Fiji, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Samoa and Hawaii. Each village authentically depicts the lifestyle of its people and offers interactive entertainment and unsurpassed Polynesian- style hospitality that delights visitors of all ages.

With your Polynesian Cultural Center Regular Package Admission only you'll explore the 7 Villages, watch the famous "Pageant of the Long Canoes" and visit the IMAX Theater.

With the Luau Packages. You'll enjoy all the fun-filled day activities followed by a feast in one of the Luau settings where you will take part in a luau, complete with the tradition of removing the pig from the 'imu' (underground oven) if you arrive early enough, a Polynesian feast buffet, and entertainment by native singers and dancers. Their highlight is the spectacular show-"Ha!" with over 100 performers

You can also choose from a couple Ambassador" packages which have tour guides, and upgraded meal options.

Dinner Cruises:

There are lots of options and each is a nice early evening cruise. Meal quality goes up with the price.

Ali'i Kai Regular Dinner Sail

Dine, dance and enjoy a Polynesian show on the Ali`i Kai, the world's largest Polynesian catamaran, as it carries you into the sunset along the Waikiki shoreline during a 2 hour and 15 minute dinner cruise, and round-trip transportation from Waikiki. Take in the Honolulu city lights from its main deck and the bridge above. Enjoy a well prepared meal, and be entertained. Join the dancers as they invite passengers onto the spacious floor and lead dances from around the world - folk, rock, line dancing and Hawaiian hula. Age and nationality disappear as young and old from many countries join in the festivities.

Starlet

Choose among several options: Starlet Deluxe Dinner;Starlet Dinner;Starlet Waikiki Show Combo; Sunset Grill; Premier Whale Watch Cruise; Diamond Head Snorkel and BBQ Cruise; in addition to morning sail or afternoon sail from 1-4:15 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Star Of Honolulu

Again, you get to choose from among a variety of options: Five Star Dinner (a real treat); Three Star Dinner; Star Dinner; Star Waikiki Show Combo; Hawaiian Cultural Cruise with fish feeding, lei making, palm frond weaving, hula & ukulele lessons. Available daily except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Round trip transportation is available from the Waikiki Area.

ADA approved facilities are available on selected cruises.

Evening Shows

Society Of Seven Show

Magic Of Polynesia

Experience the Magic of Polynesia,  a show that's mystical, romantic, majestic and exotic all at the same time. Witness expert hula, chanting and song by one of Hawaii's most talented performing troupes. Sit mesmerized as they illustrate the history and lore of the Islands. Absorb the Polynesian experience conveyed with the magic of internationally acclaimed illusionist John Hirokawa as his subjects appear, vanish and reappear, are trapped and escape. Enjoy Hirokawa's humor and the grandeur of his world-class performance. Options include: Magic Combo with cruise, the Magic Show alone, Dinner Cruise and Magic Show, and Magic Show with Dinner

Snorkeling:

Wild Side Specialty Tours

Wild Side Specialty Tours offer 4 hour morning, or 3 hr evening cruises with a team of marine biologists on 42 ft catamaran from Waianae Boat Harbor. You will enjoy sailing and snorkeling in Hawaii's remote areas and communing with the wildlife there. Proceeds are donated to the Wild Dolphin Foundation to help conserve the animals that we encounter (as gently as possible) and their habitats.You have room, comfort, and an intimate journey for four full hour tours with a prime time 7 am departure.  Continental Breakfast and refreshments served onboard, private bathroom and fresh water shower available. It is the chance of a lifetime to observe, interact, photograph and snorkel with and learn about the marine life here in our own backyard, the Pacific Ocean. Encounters may seasonally include green sea turtles, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, humpback whales, flying fish, rays, tropical fish, coral reefs and more! Allow approximately one hour driving time from Waikiki.Private charters available for 15 to 35 people.

There are Barefoot Fun Cruises off Wakiki that are a lot of fun for kids of all ages.

... from Frommers...

Snorkeling

Some of the best snorkeling in Oahu is at the underwater park at Hanauma Bay. It's crowded--sometimes it seems there are more people than fish, but Hanauma has clear, warm, protected waters and an abundance of friendly reef fish--including Moorish idols, scores of butterflyfish, damselfish, and wrasses. Hanauma Bay has two reefs, an inner and an outer--the first for novices, the other for experts. The inner reef is calm and shallow (less than 10 ft.). In some places, you can just wade and put your face in the water. Go early. It's packed by 10am, and it is closed for self cleaning on Tuesdays."

Braver snorkelers may want to head to Shark's Cove, on the North Shore just off Kamehameha Highway, between Haleiwa and Pupukea. In summer, this big, lava-edged pool is one of Oahu's best snorkel spots. Waves splash over the natural lava grotto and cascade like waterfalls into the pool full of tropical fish. To the right of the cove are deep-sea caves to explore.

Scuba

Our favorite is Hawaii's oldest and largest outfitter, Aaron's Dive Shop, which offers boat and beach dive excursions off the coast. Oahu's best dives are offshore, so a two-tank dive from a dive boat is a great choice. For those interested in wreck diving, one of the more famous wrecks in Hawaii is the Mahi, a 185-foot former minesweeper, easily accessible just south of Waianae. Abundant marine life makes this a great place to shoot photos--schools of fish and taape are so comfortable with divers and photographers that they practically pose. Eagle rays, green sea turtles, manta rays, and white-tipped sharks occasionally cruise by as well, and eels peer out from the wreck.

For nonwreck diving, one of the best dive spots in summer is Kahuna Canyon, a massive amphitheater, located near Mokuleia, Walls rising from the ocean floor create the illusion of an underwater Grand Canyon. Inside the amphitheater, crabs, octopi, slippers, and spiny lobsters abound (be aware that taking them in summer is illegal), and giant trevally, parrotfish, and unicorn fish congregate as well. Outside the amphitheater, you're likely to see an occasional shark in the distance.

Sea Life Park

Sea Life Park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. A full schedule of shows is provided in the morning and afternoon. A portion of admission price goes towards marine animal rescue and rehabilitation programs. Rates and session times are subject to change without notice. Hawaii state tax will be added to all rates.

Free Or Very Cheap Things You Can Do On Your Own In Oahu:

Try "The Bus: at only $2.00 per person, you can travel around the island.

East Oahu sightseeing

Iolani Palace Grand Tour:

Waikiki Beach

Besides the beach itself, the many shops and places to eat and people watch, enjoy the open space at Kapiolani Park; Honolulu Zoo (fee); Honolulu Aquarium(fee)

Diamond Head Crater (free)

You can visit the inside of the crater and climb to the top. Bring a flashlight and your camera. Lots of stairs. Free.

Koko Head Crater (free)

You can visit the inside of this crater and explore the garden. Free.

Hanauma Bay (small fee at the gate to out of state visitors)

Currently it is open every day except Tuesday from 6a.m. to 6p.m. (winter), 6a.m. to 7p.m. (summer) and 6:00 a.m. till 10:00 p.m. on Saturdays all year around. Changes are possible at any time. For the latest information, call the recorded information line at (808) 396-4229. Plan to get to the bay early. The parking lot often fills early and you will be turned away, if it is full. By getting an extra early start you will avoid long lines at the ticket booth and snorkel concession.

North Shore sightseeing:

Haliewa Town; Waimea Falls Park & Waimea Full Moon Walk depends on current management and ownership); Waimea Beach; Sunset Beach; Pipeline Beach; Dole Plantation and Maze; heiau

Windward sightseeing:

Pali Highway; H3; Lanakai Beach; Kailua; Kaneohe; Chinaman's hat; Kualoa Ranch; Valley of the Temples -- Byodo-In Temple ($2 fee)

Leeward sightseeing:

Pearl Harbor; Arizona Memorial (fee); Missouri (fee); Makaha Surf Beach

Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui & Big Island

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(site last updated November 5, 2010)