Ultimate Circle Island Tour ($105, discounted to $65)
In the review that follows I mention the attractions listed on Circle Island Tours advertisement in “This Week Oahu”. (I toured 5/28/24.). Please note that I skip around some on order of sites and don’t comment on every site.
First we saw Diamond Head, from a side lookout, not the top. Soon afterwards was Halona Blowhole, the nicest site I saw on the tour. It was non-touristy and I liked it.
Then came a long list of stops for food and souvenirs, interspersed with attractions I would have liked to have seen, but we just drove by them, as mentioned after the next paragraph.
Food and souvenirs include Souvenir 1 (I’m not sure of the name); it’s the first stop with coconut sales. A Malapagos (donut) food truck, Macadamia Nut Farm (no macadamia trees seen); Tanakas Shrimp Farm (tasty lunch with minimal services—no TP in the restroom); Kahuku Fruit Stand, Dole Plantation (gift shop only—pineapples seen only as we drove by them). I think at the end was what the ad lists as “Green World Coffee Farm”, which was just a coffee stand. The sight of coffee trees was as our van whizzed by them.
We drove by Sandy Beach where Obama used to bodysurf as a young man. Other things worth a stop, that we just drove by were Waimea Bay and Laie Temple. I am not sure what Makapu’u Lookout is—it wasn’t pointed out by the van driver. We also drove by the Banzai Pipeline and Haleiwa Town.
I liked the brief stop to see Chinaman’s Hat, a nearby island. The other ‘nature’ stop was Turtle Beach. I think I saw two or three turtles swimming. The beach was too rocky for swimming, for me. (No snorkeling equipment was offered.). It was pleasantly underwhelming.
The van driver was knowledgeable about Hawaiian history and movie stars homes. He kept up a somewhat interesting running chatter, but the van trip overall had too many touristy sites (one after another after another) and not enough natural attractions.
Response from Host
Jun 2024
Aloha monap312,
Thank you for sharing your detailed review of the Ultimate Grand Oahu Circle Island Tour with Snorkeling and More. We appreciate your feedback as it helps us enhance our tours and provide better experiences for our guests.
Regarding your visit to Diamond Head, we want to clarify that our website and advertisements clearly state that the tour includes a stop at the Diamond Head Lookout, not a hike to the top of the crater. We aim to provide a scenic and accessible experience for all our guests, and the lookout offers a beautiful view of this iconic landmark without the physical demands of the hike.
We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the Halona Blowhole and its non-touristy charm. We strive to balance our tour with a mix of well-known attractions and hidden gems to showcase Oahu's natural beauty and cultural highlights.
While we aim to provide a variety of experiences, we understand that the mix may not always align with every guest's preferences. We appreciate your positive remarks about our knowledgeable driver and are pleased you enjoyed the commentary on Hawaiian history and movie stars' homes.
Much Mahalo again for your feedback. We will take your comments into consideration to improve our tour itineraries. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back and provide a tour that better aligns with your expectations.