Guided Tours & Day Trips of Oahu & Honolulu
Things to do > Island Tours - More in this category > Fishing > Hiking > Parasailing > SCUBA Diving > Shopping > Snorkeling > SurfingOahu has no shortage of tours, wether on land or sea. There is a wide array of choices between cruises, bus tours, walking tours and even air tours. Most are relatively touristy (as you would expect) but they can be a fun and a great way to meet people.
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Ocean Tours
On the ocean your best bet is to embark on a dinner cruise or sail tour. Most tours depart from Kewalo Basin Marina or a pier near the Aloha Tower. Dinner cruise's run for about two hours past Waikiki and Diamond Head before turning around and heading home. Most cruises have on board entertainment, buffet dinner, a bar and dancing. Navatek I (973-1311) offers a choice of various cruises and boasts being "the most stable ride on the islands". Try a sunset dinner cruise for around $60 that features gourmet food and some of the best live entertainment around.
Dream Cruises (572-5200) offers a morning dolphin-watching tour along the leeward coast. December to April affords you the opportunity to embark on a whale-watching tour off Diamond Head. The midday Pacific Splash fun cruise takes you to a mooring spot out to sea where the whole family can play with water toys such as a two-storey water slide and a trampoline. This is great for the young and young at heart! Wild Side Speciality Tours (306-7273) include reef snorkelling, whale, dolphin and turtle-watching as well as starlight cruises on its Catamaran "Island Spirit". Guests are limited to fifteen people and the tour runs for three to four hours. The crew consists of biologists, so your time on the water can be educational as well as fun.
Tours on Terra Firma
Bus and shuttle tours are not a necessity because of the excellent public transport system and relatively cheap car rentals. It is purely a tourist luxury, and you pay a lot to be spared the hassle of driving and for a constant narration. Bus tours are all about attitude and if you have the wrong one, don't bother - you will just be irritated. Your leader will take the role of a cheery comedian and instructor, and you are expected to become part of a happy touring family. The up side of these tours is that you do get to meet people and all your homework is done for you. Some reputable tour companies include: Polynesian AdventurE Noa Tourse Tours (833-3000), Robert's Hawaii (539-9400) and (591-2561).
Walking tours are a great way to see the sights up close and personal. Hawaiian Heritage Center (521-2749) offers a historical and cultural 2 hour tour of Chinatown. Walking tour of the historical sights of Waikiki is s self guided tour by following the trail of surf-board shaped markers offering information on various sites. Honolulu Time Walks (943-0371) offers fascinating interpretative tours focusing on the city's colorful past. Expect topics like very popular ghosts of Honolulu and Mysteries of Mo'ili'ili.
There is no better way to see the big picture - the entire island in all its splendour - then from the sky. An air tour of Oahu is definitely worth your consideration. Glider Rides (677 3404) offers exactly what the name states! However, if you prefer the more conservative aerial option consider one of the flowing flight tour companies: Soar Hawaii Sailplanes (637-3147), Eco Air Tours Hawaii (839-1499) and Tora Flights (836-1234). Helicopter tours and hang gliding are also available.
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Oahu Travel Guide
