We decided to take a tour of the island to get an overview instead of just staying in and around Waikeke as per previous trips.
We would seriously recommend this as our driver, Pablo with a P, was superb, knowledgeable and engaging.
It takes around 8 - 9 hours, and points out the main areas, and it a great taste of the rest of the island. A stress free way of seeing the sights and saves driving around without an agenda (hire a car afterwards). We choose the ultimate tour which provided a good lunch at Kualoa Ranch (and a place that offers a lot more when you return).
There were no stops on the North Shore beaches, but Pablo pointed out the better spots for when you have a car.
The tour is not quite a circle tour, as there are not full roads on the west side, but a great tour, with a superb driver/guide.
As for tours, I have never liked them - but this is a good taste into the island giving you the tools to choose wisely when you decide to hire a car. A huge thanks to Pablo with a P....maybe the P was for perfect?