South Shore Driving Tour: A Guide to O'ahu’s Scenic Beaches and Hiking Trails
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About the Tour
About the Tour
The South Shore of Oʻahu is one of the best parts of the drive during any Circle Island Tour. On this driving tour from Diamond Head to the Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to take in the scenery at sites like Makapuu Lookout. En route, you’ll learn about the Hawaiian Kingdom, Prince Jonah Kūhiō, and the golf course (now the Kahala Resort) where his adopted father, King Kalākaua, used to spend his time enjoying a horse race or lūʻau. As we travel the coastlines, you’ll also hear about Hawaiian fishponds, local lore, and the traditional names of the places we pass by.
Movie and television lovers will recognize spots from their favorite productions. These include the Bayer Estate from Hawaiʻi Five-0 and the Sea Life Park where Adam Sandler worked in the movie Fifty First Dates. Classic movie buffs will recognize Hanauma Bay from Elvis Presley’s Blue Hawaiʻi and the beach near Hālona Blow Hole from the movie Here to Eternity, where you might even choose to re-enact the famous love scene with Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr. On this tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to:
- Drive through the caldera of the Koʻolau Volcano (don’t worry, there’s no lava anymore!)
- See volcanic tuff cones like Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, and Koko Crater, to name a few
- Take in the surfers and body surfers from Sandy Beach
- Enjoy a dip at Kailua or Lanikai
- Hike some of the island’s marvelous trails including the Makapuʻu Lighthouse and Lanikai Pillbox trails
This 45-mile tour will take at least an hour and a half to complete. However, guests will want to budget a minimum of four hours from start to finish to get the most out of each lookout, including a bathroom break, a drink at Koʻolau Distillery, and time to explore Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden. There are a wide variety of ways to experience this tour, from less active with an easy drive and a few handicap-accessible lookouts, to spending multiple days enjoying every hike and beach along the route. The choice is yours.
We have pointed out restrooms, parking spots, rest stops where you can get food and drinks, and other points of interest along the way to try to keep you as comfortable as possible. This island is famous for its traffic. Along the route, we have given a few easy options to avoid any peak traffic spots, in case your time is limited. Of course, the tour does not include admission costs, reservations to attractions, or any food and drinks.
Your guide on this adventure is Uncle Eddie. Born and raised on O’ahu, he grew up in Waimānalo Town. When heʻs not guiding visitors, he loves the ocean and spending time with his wonderful wife, children, and grandkids.
Donʻt forget about the free and fun scavenger hunts and quizzes that accompany every tour. There are Easy(ish) 10 Question versions and Hard(er) 25 Question extras to enjoy. Now you donʻt have to worry about pulling the kids off their phones to enjoy the day!
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Audio Tour Hawai'i : AT.Hi
Audio Tour Hawaiʻi, or AT.Hi for short is presented by Haliʻa Private Tours, a 5 Star Hawaii private tour company. The goal is to provide accurate information from reliable sources while bringing professional tour guides' fun and local insight.
Audio Tour Hawaiʻi helps ensure you enjoy your vacation to the islands and stay safe and respectful. AT.Hi includes favorite spots from traditional sightseeing tours with spots you can only access via rental car.
You are sure to love exploring the islands with GPS, VoiceMap, and Audio Tour Hawaii or AT.Hi as your guides. Who knows, you may even want to do a private tour as well.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 91
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens Visitor Center Information
View locations and route
How VoiceMap Works
Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Makapuu Lighthouse
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Makapuu Lookout
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Waimanalo
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Lanikai Pillbox Hike
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Lanikai Beach
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Kailua Beach Park
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Kailua Town
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Manoa Chocolate
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Koolau Distillery
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Kaneohe Scenic Lookout
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Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens
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Sandy Beach
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Halona Blow Hole
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Koko Crater
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Hanauma Bay
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Hawaii Kai
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Bayer Estate
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Kahala Resort
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Diamond Head
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location3584 Diamond Head Rd, Honolulu, HI 96816, USA
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Total distance71km
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Final location45657-45675 Luluku Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA
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Distance back to start location16km
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins at 3584 Diamond Head Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815, and the Amelia Earhart Lookout parking lot by the rock monument.
The parking area is on the outside of Diamond Head Crater on the Ocean Side. You can approach the lookout from either direction, however, it is easiest to come from the Waikīkī side of the Diamond Head Crater. Pull into the parking lot with the view, find a space, and make sure that the first story finishes before beginning the tour and moving your vehicle.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
A few great additional options on or along the Scenic South Shore GPS Guided Audio Tour:
- Hiking Options: Diamond Head, Koko Crater, Makapuʻu Lookout, Lanikai Pillbox
- Swimming Options: Hanauma Bay (Reservations required), Lanikai, Kailua
- Shopping Options: Hawaiʻi Kai Shopping Center, New Hawaii Hidden Treasures in Waimānalo, Kailua Town
- Food & Drink Recommendations: Leonardʻs Malasadaʻs, Koa Pancake House, Onoʻs Steak & Seafood, Teddyʻs Bigger Burgers, Mānoa Chocolate, Koʻolau Distillery
- Scenic Lookouts on or near tour: Amelia Earhart Lookout, Lānaʻi Lookout, Hālona Blow Hole, Makapuʻu Lookout, Kāneʻohe Scenic Lookout
- Botanical Gardens options: Kapiʻolani Cactus Garden, Koko Crater Botanical Garden, Breathtaking finale at Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens.
The Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens close the gate at 4 pm whether you are inside, or outside of them. There are camping permits available for those wishing to stay the night. We recommend arriving by 3 pm at the latest so please plan accordingly. In addition, the Koko Botanical Garden located nearby the tour route is free, but also has an opening and closing hours.
The Koko Crater, Makapuʻu Lighthouse, and Lanikai Pillboxes do not have admissions, hours, or reservations required. However, Diamond Head Crater does have opening and closing hours, as well as a small fee. Guests wishing to snorkel in Hanauma Bay must reserve a ticket time online in advance on the Cityʻs official website. These are all completely optional hikes located directly along, or nearby the tour route.
Of course restaurants like Leonard's Malasadas, Teddyʻs Bigger Burgers, Nicos, Buzzʻs Steak House, and more famous local restaurants along the route have operating hours. Passengers can sample some Old Pali Road Whiskey at the Koolau Distillery and even take a tour that can be reserved online in advance.
While we highlight restrooms and parking areas along the way, they may be closed for a variety of reasons like power outages or inclement weather. Please check local weather sources before beginning your tour.
Parking on the island can be quite difficult to find sometimes. Please be patient, courteous, as well as following and reading any and all signage. However, a good way to avoid busy parking lots is taking this tour on a weekday, instead of a weekend.
Best time of day
It depends on what you want to do! Sunrise is about 6 am in the summer and about 7 am in the winter and is beautiful. You can sleep in and start to explore up until about noon if you want to do mostly a drive-through and go to Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens. Donʻt forget to save time for lunch if you want to try some local food. If you have time, donʻt want to rush, and want to see and do as much as possible, you could easily spend a few days on this tour!
At Audio Tour Hawaiʻi, we have found that for most groups, however, the ideal time to begin the tour is about 8 am.
Precautions
Remember try to be friendly and courteous in Hawaii. This includes behind-the-wheel by letting people merge, using turn signals, and following other rules of the road. Itʻs never a good idea to leave valuable unattended in your car anywhere in the world so we do not suggest you do so here.
Please do not undertake this tour in any hazardous weather conditions and check for any advisories or warnings before beginning the tour. When in doubt, donʻt go out.
One other thing to remember that you may not have thought of, when you are on an island you often live in close quarters. So where we can give space, like the beach, hiking trails, or parking, we do and hope you will do the same.
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