OAHU · HAWAII
Oahu’s best days out.
The 15 most popular self-guided tours on Oahu. What each one is really like on the day, what it costs and who runs it.
Chief’s self-guided Pearl Harbor audio tour in Oahu with narrated stops at Pearl Harbor National Memorial and guidance for USS Arizona.
Most Popular“Unable to take the tour due to the storm on Oahu. Unfortunate that they closed all the state buildings due to the big storm.”
Guided hike through Oahu’s Manoa rainforest to Manoa Falls, plus a Honolulu lookout stop at Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a State Park.
“We read several reviews just raving about this particular tour guide named Robert. Every 5 Star Review had Robert as the tour guide. As one can imagine, we were really happy when our driver picked us up and it was the famous “Five Star” Robert! He definitely lived up to his reputation. Funny, knowledgeable, and…”
Self-guided Kailua kayaking to Mokulua Islands with snorkel gear, bike rentals, beach chairs and boogie boards in ~5 hours.
“Recommend that if you have any ailments please be prepared to struggle abit. Go with a strong partner.”
Shuttle from Waikiki plus a self-guided Manoa Falls rainforest hike with water, bug spray, and a walking stick for a scenic 150-foot payoff.
“The hike is very steep, rocky, and may be muddy. Lots of people will be hiking with you, as it's a popular hike. The tour driver was great! He had lots of knowledge about movies along the trail, and also restaurants suggestions for later in the day.”
Diamond Head self-guided narrated audio tour from $8.99. Great history and hike aid, but you must plan separate entry and parking.
“Make sure you have a reservation. Ask for the QR code to reserve if you show up without advanced reservation. I didn’t even get to participate in the hike because I apparently purchased the wrong tickets and got ripped off because they wouldn’t give me a refund.”
Self-guided Pearl Harbor audio plus VR from Oahu’s visitor center. Includes earphones, narrated map, and optional VR experiences.
“Well, I wanted this to be the best experience ever, as I have been waiting for this for many years it was a horrible experience. I was told the boat tour experience was not included, which was fine, but went directly to the website. There were no availabilities when I called they asked me to…”
Skip-the-line entry to Ford Island’s surviving hangars, audio in 6 languages, shuttle included. See WWII bullet holes and MiG Alley.
“I contacted the museum on three occasions asking for timings of the duration of the tour as I had to book transportation, I received no response so I did not attend due to lack of transport. As a visitor that arrived two days ago I was not familiar with transportation details.”
Self-guided kayak + Mokoli’i Island hike from Kailua in Kualoa Regional Park, with instruction, dry bags, and Koolau views.
“The whole team were great, from helping us load the kayak to our hire car to providing great advice about the surrounding areas. It's awesome to look back at photos of Mokoli'i Island and be able to say "yep, we did that trek!". Also appreciated the shout out to us Aussies on their Instagram :)”
Oahu Grand Circle audio tour with offline GPS, flexible stops, and island stories from Byodo-in Temple to Dole Plantation.
“Malasadas at Leonard’s. Would recommend buying only what you can eat fresh as they don’t keep well and are very filling!”
A GPS-driven self-guided Oahu road trip with 230+ audio stops, offline navigation, and flexible itineraries from Waikiki.
“We loved the precise driving instructions as well as the informative details above the island. I would highly recommend this tutorial.”
Offline GPS audio drives across Oahu: six self-guided tours with music, stories, and must-see sights for $34.99 per group, up to 15.
“We loved this app. We used it to guide us around the North Shore. All of the food recommendations were awesome. The instructions were easy to follow, and we enjoyed hearing the history. We plan to use it again during future visits.”
Self-guided kayak in Kaneohe Bay to the sandbar with Ko‘olau views and optional snorkeling beside coral reefs, about 4 hours.
Kayak from He’eia to Ahu’olaka on Oahu’s Windward side with snorkel gear and dry bags. Self-guided half-day sandbar fun.
“Very nice crew. One boat pretty beat up. Far from beach and from marina (5miles). Maps were incorrect.”
A self-guided Oahu road trip with GPS-triggered audio on Pearl Harbor, beaches, lookouts, and more. Pay once per car.
“audio directions were cut off, map on car display did not show the route only where the car was. xxx x”
Self-guided Oahu North Shore audio route with auto GPS narration, classic food stops, turtle beaches, temples, and big-wave viewpoints.
“1. Rather than adding informational commentary or local stories about the area you're visiting, they play music. I can play whatever music I want in my car. Use some local music to introduce a new chapter but don't play long stretches of music when you could be adding interesting stories and information. 2. The narrator…”
Waikiki to the North Shore, and the whole loop in between.
