Where to start?
The first thing that you will need to know is that you will need to drive counter-clockwise around the island so that the ocean will be on your right. Otherwise, your view will be obscured by the Ko’olau Mountains and oncoming cars on the other side of the road. Leave early as it will take you about eight hours to complete the tour.
Stop 1
http://www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/index.cfm?park_id=15
Beginning at Kalakaua & Kapahulu Avenues at Waikiki Beach, take Kalakaua Avenue and bear left onto Monsarrat Avenue ( which becomes Diamond Head Rd.) & go 1.6 mi. to crater entrance road (right side). Turn Right onto entrance road.
Note: Open daily 6-6, entry fee ($5/car, $1/walk-in), tel. 587-0300, picnic, restrooms.
Caution: Hike is 0.7 mi. one-way/approx.90 min. round-trip. Last hike at 4:30 p.m. Stay on trail; wear hiking shoes; take water. Go early to avoid heat and crowds.
Stop 2
HANAUMA BAY NATURE PRESERVE
http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/facility/hanaumabay/index.htm
Turn Right onto Diamond Head Rd. & go short way (0.7 mi.) to Kahala Ave. (stop sign)
Turn Left onto Kahala Ave. & go 1.5 mi. to Kealaolu Ave. (follow signs to Hwy 72E)
Turn Left onto Kealaolu Ave. & go to Hwy 72E
Turn Right onto Hwy 72E &go 6.3 mi.to entrance road
Note: Entry charge. Open daily 6-7 except Tues. (closed Tues., open ’till 10:00 pm on Saturday), tel.396-4229, education center, free educational tours, snack bar, snorkel rental, picnic, showers, restrooms.
Caution: Parking lot fills early. Taking marine life is prohibited.
Stop 3
SEA LIFE PARK HAWAII
http://www.sealifeparkhawaii.com/
Return to Hwy 72E
Turn Right onto Hwy 72E & continue 4.5 mi. to Sea Life Park entrance (left side)
Note: Entry charge, open daily 9:30-5, tel.259-7933, restrooms. Shops, restaurant, whaling museum are free to the public.
Stop 4
NUUANU PALI LOOKOUT
http://oahu.aloha-hawaii.com/tours/pali+lookout/
Courtesy of author, all rights reserved
Turn Left onto Hwy 61S & go 4.8 mi. to Pali Lookout Exit (right side-0.9 mi. beyond tunnel)
Turn Right onto Pali Lookout Exit & go 1.1 mi. to parking lot
Caution: Strong winds at lookout-dress appropriately. I had my eyeglasses blown off of my face, so be careful. Do not exit overlook the same way you entered-take left exit.
Stop 5
BYODO-IN TEMPLE
http://www.byodo-in.com/
Courtesy of author, all rights reserved
Turn Right onto Hwy 61N & go 2.3 mi. to Hwy 83W (Kamehameha Hwy)
Turn Left onto Hwy 83W & go 2.3 mi. to Hwy 63
Turn Left onto Hwy 63 & go short way (0.5 mi.) to continuation of Hwy 83W (now called Kahekili Hwy-right side)
Turn Right onto Hwy 83W & go 2.6 mi. to entrance
Turn Left onto entrance road & go short way (0.8 mi.) to pkg. lot.
Note: Entry charge of $3.00 per adult, $2.00 senior citizen, $1.00 child, cash only. Open 9:00am – 5:00pm daily , Phone (808) 239-9844, gift shop, restrooms.
Caution: Please don’t disturb the peacocks!
Stop 6
KUALOA PARK
http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/programs/beach/kualoa.htm
Courtesy of author, all rights reserved
Turn Left onto Hwy 83W & go 7.2 mi. to entrance
Note: Lifeguards all year (during winter-on weekends only), picnic, showers, restrooms.
Caution: Swim at your own risk-currents, deep holes.
Stop 7
POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER
http://www.polynesia.com/
Turn Right onto Hwy 83W & go 12.2 mi. to Cultural Center entrance (left side-at Mile Marker 19)
A Hawaiian-style theme park-seven model villages designed to authentically recreate ancient Polynesia.
Note: Entry charge, open Mon.-Sat.12:00-9:00, tel.293-3333, restaurants, luau, Polynesian revue, gift shops, restrooms.
Stop 8
KULIMA COVE
http://www.hawaiisnorkelingguide.com/kuilima_cove_snorkeling.html
Turn Right onto entrance road & go to public parking lot (on right-just before security gate)
A sandy inlet at the Turtle Bay Resort. One of the nicest swimming and snorkeling areas on the north shore.Note: Food concession, showers, restrooms. The cove is located on right when walking toward hotel.
Caution: No lifeguards-swim at your own risk. Inlet has sharp coral bottom, dangerous current beyond buoys.
Stop 9
SUNSET BEACH
http://www.northshore.com/hawaii/sunset-beach-hawaii.asp
Turn Right onto Hwy 83W & go 3.7 mi. to pkg. lot
Note: Lifeguards all year, picnic, restrooms. Caution: Swim at your own risk-very dangerous in winter.
Stop 10
PUU O MAHUKA HEIAU
http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/hiking/puu_o_mahuka_heiau.html
Turn Left onto Pupukea Rd.& go short way (0.6 mi.) to entrance road (first road on right-at heiau sign)
Turn Right onto entrance road & go short way (0.7 mi.) to pkg. lot
Stop 11
WAIMEA VALLEY AUDUBON CENTER
http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/hawaii/honolulu-and-oahu/review-174677.html
Return to Hwy 83W (by Foodland)
Turn Left onto Hwy 83W & go short way (0.7 mi.) to park entrance road (left side)
A historic nature park on 1,800 acres with over 6,000 species of plant life. Hiking trails, picnicking, birdwatching, 45 foot waterfall. Botanical and environmental self-guided tours.
Note: $8.00 entry charge, $2 .00 parking. Open daily 9:30-5:00, tel.638-9199, visitor center, restaurant, snack bar, gift shop, picnic, restrooms.
Caution: Wear hiking shoes on trails.
Stop 12
HALEIWA TOWN
Turn Left onto Hwy 83W & go 4.7 mi. to unpaved pkg. lot in town (right side-opposite Church)
A plantation town that has come of age-old general stores co-exist with modern boutiques, art galleries and eateries.
Note: The “in-spot” on the north shore-great shave ice!
http://www.dole-plantation.com/
Courtesy of author, all rights reserved
Bear Left onto Hwy 99S & go 6.2 mi. to Dole Plantation entrance (left side)
Dole Plantation-showcases varieties of pineapples grown worldwide. Be sure to try their pineapple sorbet for $3.95…YUM!! Helemano Plantation-people caring for people in a “real world” work environment. Enjoy a 8.50 lunch buffet at Helemano Plantation which is 2.08 miles from Dole Plantation.
Note:
Dole-open daily 9-5:30, tel. 621-8408, snack bar, gift shop, maze, train tour, restrooms.
Helemano-open Mon.-Fri. 8-3, Sat.&Sun. 8-2, tel. 622-3929, gift shops, restaurant, bakery, farm produce, restrooms.
END OF DRIVE-RETURN TO WAIKIKI
99S
80SH-2SH-1EEXIT 25A:KING ST
(29.1 Mi./50 Mins.)
**Thanks to Alternative-Hawaii.com for their immeasurable assistance with this report! For the most comprehensive, in-depth resource for all things Hawaiian, please visit them and be sure to patronize their sponsors!
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Juggler on 
FF on 
Stunning photo's. Looks like a place well worth visiting!
Thanks for stopping by, Aaron! Yes, Honolulu is a treasure and I would venture to say it's well worth adding to anyone's bucket list. BTW, I enjoyed your site as well….your photography skills are awesome!
This is a great post. I wish I’d read it before we took our honeymoon there. We flew into Oahu and then right on out to a couple of the other islands (mainly the big island) and spent most of our time there….if only we’d known.
Oh, Danny….I’m sorry about that! I found out about the route days before I left for Hawaii. Don’t worry, you can try it out the next time you guys go to Hawaii.
Hey, there. This is Brandon from freewheelings.com (@dustcantkillme). I just wanted to stop by and tell you how much I enjoy your site and your daily, online paper. My brother is getting married in Hawaii in October and I’m looking to rent an apartment and spend a month there. I’ll definitely be adding this to my bookmarks. Thanks Renee for your continued support of the travel blogger community. We love ya!
Brandon
Oh, Brandon….you are so sweet….you’re going to have a great time and I wish that I could have stayed a month! Take care!