OAHU
Oahu’s best days out.
The 15 most popular self-guided tours on Oahu. A short list of the ones worth building a day around, with prices, run times and where to book.
A $9.99, self-guided audio tour of Pearl Harbor’s key sites with official narration and USS Arizona viewing options in 1 to 3 hours.
Most Popular“It is hard to resever tickets, stand by gives us opportunities to visit USS Arizona Memorial. We will let friends be aware”
Guided hike to Manoa Falls with Waikiki pickup, plus Pu'u 'Ualaka'a lookout over Diamond Head and the Honolulu skyline.
“They drop you off and you go at your pace. They called to see when you want to be picked up. The walk was nice but the waterfall was disappointing.”
Self-guided kayak tour from Kailua to Lanikai and Mokulua bird sanctuaries, with snorkel gear, bikes, and beach perks included.
“Great experience. The self guided tour came with a water bag, snorkeling gear (which my husband loved because it was prescription googles). It was a great weather. Wish we had gone early to ride bikes. But it was a great experience. Staff was nice and friendly.”
Shuttle to Manoa Falls, then a self-guided rainforest hike with water, bug spray, and a walking stick. Rocky, wet, worth it.
“This experience is literally just a ride to the waterfalls, an hour long hike then a ride back. I don’t personally feel it was worth the $50 per person price tag. I don’t believe there’s an admission fee to get into the entry point either so you could easily drive yourself and pay the parking…”
A self-guided Diamond Head hike with an official narrated audio guide, take-home earphones, and a souvenir map. Park entry is extra.
“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 multimedia and VR on Oahu. Hear survivor stories, use take-home earphones, and choose USS Arizona VR options.
“It was a 2 1/5 wait to get tickets for the boat out to the Arizona because they all get purchased online within seconds by tour companies. I was travelling with my 90 year mother who was not able to stand in that line with the heat and humidity so we gave up. Going to…”
Priority access to aircraft in WWII-surviving hangars on Ford Island, with an included audio headset and shuttle for an 9-hour deep look.
“To me it connects the US Arizona Memorial to the rest of the war in the Pacific. You get to see aircraft that served both the United States and Japan. You may have heard about wildcats and Zeros but here you can see them up close!”
Self-guided kayak and hike from Kailua to Mokoli’i Island in Kualoa Regional Park. Get instruction, gear, and flexible time.
“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 driving tour hits temples, North Shore surf, snorkeling, waterfall hikes, and food stops with offline GPS for one group price.
“Surrounding countryside, ocean views, local cuisine, historical dialog...difficult loading and starting app, but worth the time.”
Drive Oahu with offline GPS audio and local stories, from North Shore surf to Pearl Harbor, with flexible timing and free updates.
“The tour was very informative, but inconsistent in giving directions. As a result, we missed several turnoffs for things we wanted to see, and couldn't find our way back to them. In other cases, the details were perfect, and timed nicely.”
Six GPS-driven offline audio routes around Oahu, with music between stops and flexible pacing for up to 15 people per bundle.
“At the beginning, it was a little bit hectic getting started. Once, we got on track it was great. Your guide was spot on. There was so many attractions it would be hard to choose my favorite.”
Kayak from Kailua to the Kaneohe Sandbar: reef scenery, Ko’olau views, and optional snorkeling in about 4 hours.
“sandbank, 🐢 schildkröten”
Self-guided kayaking to Kaneohe Sandbar on Oahu for a half-day paddle, snorkeling gear, and a wide white-sand ridge at low tide.
“I'm giving the high marks for the tour operator, Active Hawaii, as theywere very understanding and provided great service. Regretavly, we did not ended up taking the tour due to inclement weather. We are hoping to take the full guided tour next time. The independence guided tour offers flexibility, but you must kayak your way…”
Self-guided Oahu driving audio from Pearl Harbor to Dole Plantation with 78+ stories, offline audio, and beaches, history, and lookouts.
“I have mixed feelings about this tour. For the price charged it was excellent value. There were many interesting stories. The app worked well. The reason I’m rating average is I found the navigation could be clearer. For instance it would say “Continue straight”. It would be nice to say the street name. I also…”
Self-guided North Shore audio drive through Oahu with GPS turns, malasadas, turtle spotting at Laniakea, and movie-famous Kualoa. Offline.
“We started at Ko olina - The directions did not line up with the gentleman speaking on the self guide tour. We literally returned to the starting point 4 different times- to try to get on the right path. For example we never got on H2, when the tour said we would be on three…”
From Waikiki to the North Shore, and every way to spend a day on the island.
