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.

Byodo-in Temple

Visit a beauiful temple

Tropical Farms (The Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet)

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.

Mokoli’i Island

Take a look at this unique little islet at this beautiful white sand beach

Kualoa Regional Park

Stop by and take a ranch tour or drive by

Kahana Bay Beach Park

Lovely mountain views

Laie Point State Wayside Park

Beautiful view of Sea Arch

Polynesian Cultural Center

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!

Laie Hawaii Temple

Neat looking mormon temple

Kahuku Farms

Fruit stands and shrimp trucks

Kahuku

Visit food trucks and try some tasty garlic shrimp!

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!

Sunset Beach Park

Famous surfing spot with great sunset views

Banzai Pipeline

Famous surf spot

Shark's Cove

Great place to snorkel with the family

Pu’u O Mahuka Heiau State Monument

Visit this ancient historic site.

Waimea Valley

Hike to a waterfall!

Waimea Bay

Cliff jumping!

Laniakea Beach

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.

Haleiwa Town Center

Eat and shop

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.

Dole Plantation

Go on a maze and eat some dole whip!

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Drive by or take a visit!

Kapiolani Park

One of the first stops along the Shaka Guide East Oahu Shoreline Tour!

Diamond Head State Monument

One of the popular stops on the tour... We visit the Diamond Head Lookout and Diamond Head Crater!

Koko Crater Arch Trail

Visit the Koko Head scenic lookout and see one of the inactive volcanoes of Oahu.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Take a swim at one of the most well-known snorkeling locations on the entire island - Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve!

Halona Blowhole

The Hālona Blowhole is one of Hawai'i's natural wonders, created thousands of years ago when molten lava tubes were formed from volcanic eruptions.

Eternity Beach

A nice little beach hidden right beside the unique Halona Blowhole!

Sandy Beach Park

Sandy Beach Park is notoriously known for it's powerful shore breaks and fine sand that gets into everything!

Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail

Choose to visit the Makapu'u Viewpoint - featuring an incredible coastal view of East Oahu - or hike up to the popular Makapu'u Lighthouse trail. If you visit during winter months - you might be lucky enough to see humpback whales out in the distance!

Waimanalo Beach

Waimanalo Beach Park on Oahu is a great place for a long beach stroll or a picnic. The 3-mile beach is backed by ironwood trees that provide plenty of shade.

Kailua Beach Park

Kailua Beach Park is rated as one of the most beautiful beaches on Oahu! It's seriously the full package... Soft white sand, towering ironwood trees, and crystal clear turquoise waters! What else could you ask for?!

Lanikai Beach

Much like Kailua Beach - Lanikai Beach is famously known for it's turquoise blue waters, soft white sand, and picturesque islands out in the distance. No better way to spend the day!

Ulupo Heiau State Monument

Ulupō Heiau on the eastern edge of Kawai Nui Marsh in Kailua, Hawaiʻi, is an ancient site associated in legend with the menehune, but later with high chiefs of Oʻahu, such as Kakuhihewa in the 15th century and Kualiʻi in the late 17th century.

Nu’uanu Pali

Just north of Honolulu, the Nuuanu Pali Lookout offers breathtaking views of the Windward Side of Oahu.

Judd Trail is a 1.2 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Urban Honolulu, Hawaii that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking and is accessible year-round.

Honolulu Botanical Gardens

Visit this 400-acre botanical gardens that features plant species from all over the world.

Manoa Falls

Located just 10 minutes from Waikiki, Manoa Falls feels like a world away! Hike along a jungle path that leads to a 150-foot waterfall.

Lyon Arboretum

Visit an artificial lowland tropical rainforest with numerous trails and small water features

Take a walk at the oldest and largest Chinese Cemetery in Hawaii

Manoa Marketplace Farmer's Market

Visit Manoa Marketplace - a neighborhood shopping center in beautiful Manoa Valley

Hike a loop trail that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

Visit a popular national cemetery located at Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu

Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden

Enjoy strolling in the garden made for Hawaiian native plants and flora

Foster Botanical Gardens

Visit the oldest of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens

Shimazu Shave ice

Check out one of our favorite places to get shave ice

Chinatown

Visit a town bustling with traditional dim sum restaurants, noodle shops and hip bars in converted lofts, as well as crowded Asian markets full of antiques and stalls

Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park

Check out the best sunset lookout on Oahu situated in a huge grassy hill and looking out over Diamond Head Crater and all of Waikiki

Waikiki

After your drive through Chinatown, you can choose to pull over and take a look around, or we’ll guide you back to Waikiki where you can hit the beach, do some shopping, or take our Heart of Waikiki Walking tour! When you’re in Hawaii, we ask that you act respectfully toward the locals, land, and wildlife. Please pick up your trash; never touch any marine life, plants, or other animals; and avoid unsafe spots. Hawaii’s natural resources are precious, it’s up to all of us to help preserve these resources.

It’s time to fuel up for the day ahead, and what better way than a deep-fried, Portuguese donut, known as a malasada?

Moanalua Gardens

This 24-acre garden is steeped in history. The original Moanalua Gardens was located at a different site, but dates back over a century! When the gardens were moved to their current location structures from the original were preserved and transported to the gardens you’ll visit today. The gardens are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and charge $10 admission for non-resident adults and $7 for children 6-12.

Green World Coffee Farms

Need a quick cup of joe for the day ahead? Stop by Green World Coffee. This shop has a cafe where you can grab a to-go cup. While you’re there check out the shop for its wide variety of coffees using beans from different farms across Hawaii. They also offer free samples of coffee, tea, and chocolate--as well as free tours of their coffee farm. Green World Coffee is open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dole Plantation

Enjoyable activities and best attractions for the entire family, including the Pineapple Express Train Tour & the Plantation Garden Tour

Haleiwa

Visit Oahu's laid-back surf town, Haleiwa

Check out the all-natural Hawaiian Bath and Body hand-crafted skincare products made locally right on the North Shore. The factory is located at the historic Wailua Sugar Mill. One of the best parts? The guided tour of the factory (paid) will show you how the soap is mixed, swirled, cut, and boxed! Call ahead to make reservations. The soap factory is open daily until 4pm.

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.

Laniakea Beach

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. If you do stop at 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.

Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay is an exhibition playground for big-wave riders, including Hawaiian surfing legends

Pu’u O Mahuka Heiau State Monument

Now, we’ll take you to one of our favorite hidden gems on Oahu. You’ll drive up an unassuming road until you reach Pu’u o Mahuka Heiau. This National Historic Landmark might look like nothing more than a series of rock walls, but over 250 years ago, it was a major temple in Oahu. Learn about this heiau and see artist depictions of what it must have looked like from the informational displays near the parking lot. Please remember that a heiau is a sacred place of great cultural and historic significance and should be respected as such.

Shark's Cove

Check out one of the "Top Twelve Shore Dives in the World"

Banzai Pipeline

See some of the biggest, heaviest waves on the planet!

Sunset Beach

Visit a famous North Shore beach famous for big wave surfing during the winter season

At this point you might be hungry for some lunch, but can we suggest some pre-lunch dessert? You’re on vacation, right? We’re about to visit some great food trucks, but first, we’ll stop at Ted’s Bakery for some famous cream pies. The specialty is their chocolate haupia, but they also have strawberry guava, blueberry, and pineapple macadamia nut, just to name a few! If you did want to grab some lunch, Ted’s also has burgers, plate lunches, and sandwiches.

Kawela Bay

Park at Kahuku Fruit Stand and walk across the street to find a pathway that will take you to Kawela Bay -- a picturesque beach with banyan trees, soft sand, and turquoise waters.

Unassuming food truck offering a range of shrimp & local seafood, fried or steamed

Laie Hawaii Temple

On our way to the next stop, we’ll quickly drive by La'ie Temple. No need to get out of the car, just listen as we tell you the story of this site that was designed after King Solomon’s temple described in the Bible. With its gleaming white finish, the temple is dubbed the “Taj Mahal of the Pacific.” Here you’ll find a visitor center with clean restrooms if you want to make a pit stop.

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.

Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of Oahu’s most visited attractions. It features island villages that represent six Polynesian islands: Hawaii Tahiti Samoa Fiji Tonga, and Aotearoa (New Zealand) The center also has a luau, night show, and marketplace. Please note: A visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center is a full-day excursion. We recommend you stop by to check out the marketplace and come back another day if you’d like to do the activities.

Go for a quiet beach walk at Kahana Bay, a gorgeous spot without any crowds. There’s also a public restroom if you need a bathroom break.

Kualoa Ranch

Visit an incredible private nature reserve that has been the scene for a multitude of Hollywood movies and television shows.

Mokoli’i Island

Pull into Kualoa Regional Park for a stunning view of Mokoli'i Island. Known for years by its nickname, Chinaman's Hat, the cone-shaped island is a well-recognized landmark on the Windward side. This is just a quick stop for the view, but if you’re looking for some more adventure, you can come back another day with a kayak and paddle out and explore the island.

Byodo-in Temple

Visit a temple built for commemorating the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaiʻi

Now we’ll begin to make our way back to Waikiki with more stories about Oahu’s rich history along the way! When you’re in Hawaii, we ask that you act respectfully toward the locals, land, and wildlife. Please pick up your trash; never touch any marine life, plants, or other animals; and avoid unsafe spots. Hawaii’s natural resources are precious, and it’s up to all of us to help preserve these resources.