Staff Pick

Road Trip Oahu – Circle Island, Pearl Harbor, North Shore

Honolulu Honolulu (boucle)
180
km
4h
drive
All seasons
season

The Itinerary

Oahu, Hawaii's capital island with Honolulu, is the most populous of the chain but offers remarkable diversity in a 180 km loop. Highway H-1 then Kamehameha Highway make the full circle — the classic Circle Island Tour.

From Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head (volcano to climb at sunrise), head west to Pearl Harbor — USS Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri, aviation museum. The east coast unveils Hanauma Bay (protected snorkeling), Halona Blowhole, and Lanikai Beach (consistently ranked among the world's most beautiful).

The north shore is the world's epicentre of winter surfing: Waimea Bay, Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach host the Triple Crown competitions. Haleiwa, an old plantation town, has become the north's cool crossroads (shrimp food trucks, Matsumoto shave ice). Dole Plantation and the west coast (Ka'ena Point) complete the loop.

Points of Interest

  • ✦
    Pearl Harbor
    USS Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri, aviation museum.
  • ✦
    Hanauma Bay
    Volcanic snorkeling bay, reservation required.
  • ✦
    Banzai Pipeline
    World-iconic surf wave, North Shore.
  • ✦
    Lanikai Beach
    "Heavenly sea," often ranked America's best beach.
  • ✦
    Diamond Head
    Volcanic cone, 30 min hike, panorama over Waikiki.
Practical info
  • Departure Honolulu
  • Destination Honolulu (boucle)
  • Distance 180 km
  • Duration 4h
  • Category Medium (100–250 km)
  • Best season All seasons
Themes
beach surf tropical hawaii history Loop Family Ocean

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