When visiting Oahu it can be very easy just to sit back and relax on Waikiki Beach. For most people a visit to Ohau is a vacation, and all we want to do is relax after slaving away at work. But do you really want to go home and not be able to say you explored the island, even a little bit? This is where the Ultimate Circle Island Eco Adventure by Discover Hawaii Tours is perfect. You can see Oahu in a day! They will take you around the island and show you some of the best highlights Oahu has to offer. And then you can get back to relaxing on the beach, happy that you got to experience this beautiful island.
The day starts with a hotel pickup and before you know it your off on your adventure around the island (yes the island does go further than Diamond Head!). You are in for a big day with multiple stops around the island, so make sure you have packed the sunscreen and have a full battery on your camera, because you are going to need it.
For the beach lovers out there there are several stops for you to admire the beautiful waters around the island, from the huge waves you will find off the North Shore to the more tranquil blue waters of Hanauma Bay, there is something for everyone. Sit back and enjoy what Hawaii is most famous for.
There are also a couple of stops along the coastline in areas a bit more rugged. Not all the coast line of Oahu are beaches and that a good thing! A fair portion of the coastline is cliffs and rocks. It is to be expected on a country built from volcanoes. Enjoy the power of the Halona Blowhole where mother nature has created a natural phenomenon as water jets straight up in the air (like a whale blowhole) as the waves crash against the rock. The blowhole affect is dependent on tides, so some times are better than others. The La’ie Point and Amelia Earhart Lookout give you stunning views along the coast from the vantage point of the edge of the rocks.
If you have been to Waikiki Beach, you probably know it can get pretty crowded. The good news is that on this tour you get to visit a secluded beach only accessible by boat. This gives you a much more quite location to enjoy sitting by the sand or taking a quick swim.
The tour is not only about the coastline that makes Oahu so famous, it also ventures inland to some beautiful areas. Waimea Valley is just stunning. Enjoy a short (20-30 minute) walk through the valley to see the equally stunning Waimea Waterfall. The walk will take you through areas containing native plants and flowers, as well as some native sites. The good news is after all that walking you get to jump in for a swim in the cool fresh waters beneath the waterfall. Exactly what you want in the middle of the day.
One of our favorite stops was at the Byodo-In Temple. The Byodo-In Temple is a replica of a 950-year-old Buddhist place of worship in Uji, Kyoto, Japan. Hawaiis Byodo-In is surround by koi ponds and was incredibly built without nails! The temple, with the lush green backdrop of Hawaiian mountains, is incredible. You even get to use the big gong!
The last stop of the day was Nu’uanu Pali Lookout at the top of Koolau Mountains. The lookout gives you views across the north east coast of Oahu. The area is a historical area for the Hawaiians as it is where King Kamehameha led his people to unity in 1795 after his victory at the Battle of Nuuanu.
Our tour was professionally run by a tour guide who knew a lot of history about the island. He also answered questions from any of the guests. What I also liked was the bus wasn’t one of those big tour buses. It was just a medium size bus with maybe 20 people on it felt quite personable, and you didn’t feel lost in the crowd like you can on a big bus where there are 50 plus people for every guide. They also supplied an excellent lunch and there were plenty of stops to buy something extra to eat or drink.
And after all that you will be able to go back home and say you saw what Oahu had to offer!
Oahu in a Day with the Ultimate Circle Island Eco Adventure #LuxeHawaii is a post from: Suitcase Stories
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