We plan on hiring a car just for one day to circle the Island and to see North shore in particular. Can we go around the island easily in a day and really enjoy the highlights or should we just go to one area.
It would be a great help to have the highlights listed on what to look for and suggested stops as I cant find the real detail on the net - just references to how beautiful it is not what where to look out for.
thanks

Cosmo,

Before I respond to your email, I have to put a disclaimer, that the website that I will send you to, I am affiliated with...my sister does vacation rental on the North Shore of Oahu. However, the reason why I'll point to a particular page on our website is that I've detailed different tours of the North Shore. Though all the tours start from where my sister's condos/cottages are located. It should give you an idea of the some of the best stops on the North Shore.
http://www.gigisparadise.com/Oahu%20tours.htm

Thanks Lyb, the website is a great help - (enjoyed the whole site not just the tour)

The front page of the Honolulu Advertiser today 4/4/04 has a whole article on this. You can find it on their online site.

Aloha Cosmo,

Pick up Richard Sullivan's, "Driving & Discovering Hawaii, O'ahu". It's a wonderful guide with excellent photos.

Definitly do the circle drive... there is just so much to see & do...

Experience the Pali lookout... great views... head up the windward coast, SLOWLY for stunning landscape... pull over when you just want to take it all in... photo ops are EVERYWHERE!

The Mac nut outlet is cool... many free tasters including coffee!

For lunch try Giovanni's shrimp truck for the best scampi you've tasted, or treck up the road to Romy's truck for egg roll wrapped shrimp fried w/ hot sweet & sour... ooohhhhhhhh!

Sunset Beach, check out the surfing, stop up the road for a smoothie... just past the house on stilts hit the beach where they do the turtle research... many times you'll catch them napping on the sand (the turtles) other times they frolic in the lapping waves, approaching humans out of curiousity?? I watched a young local girl pull the algea off the rocks & feed it to them... they loved it!

On to Waimea Beach for some swimming...

Haleiwa for funky surf shops, suvies, the Wyland Gallery, shave ice @ Aoki's (it's best)... a wonderful guy up there, Jubran, runs a cool shell shop, Hawaii Moon. If you collect seashells, he KNOWS everything you can imagine about them!

Head back to wherever "home" is thru the interior & enjoy all the "red dirt". Great farms to see & more nice views minus the water, of course. Skip Dole.

Happy planning... have much fun.
Aloha!

Thank you everyone for the wonderful replies - exactly what I needed (and saved me many many many... hours of trying to get that detail bit by bit over the net)!
Having read your answers with your reccommended top spots and checked the newsarticle and circletour website, I am now wondering if we should take 2 days to do the circle. We have booked a package flight/hotel so our accommodation is already paid for in Waikiki but would like some feedback on whether we can really appreciate the circle in one day with an early start in a hire car or if you all think it cant be done well and we should sacrifice the nights accom weve paid and book a night somewhere in the circle tour for a stop (and if this is a resounding yes then where is the best (and hopefully not too expensive) place to stop for a 2 day circle
Im hoping the answer is one day is fine if we leave early - but we really like to enjoy and see things as they should be seen so feedback from those who have already been there done that would be greatly appreciated.
thanks again

Aloha again, Cosmo

One day is more than fine... I wouldn't do a hire though, unless you absolutely hate to drive. It would make perfect sense to rent a jeep wrangler or convertible for a day and stroll around.

If you have the time to stay a night, try Turtle Bay Resort on the north shore, or Ke Iki Beach Bungalows (oceanfront).

If you'll jump into the water at Lanikai or Kailua, or snorkel Sharks Cove on the ns, or swim for awhile at
Waimea Beach, then a couple of days would be really relaxing for the tour.

Happy planning! Aloha.

Thanks Makai1 - As to "hiring" a car - I had to smile as it was a case of "lost in translation" - by hiring I meant "rent" as you suggest - guess its a cultural/language thing ha ha
thanks again for your feedback

Ha!

Don't blame it all on yourself, as I am blonde !!

BTW, out of curiousity, where is
"home" ?

Top this post if you have more questions... just returned from the north shore Sunday. I'm aching to be back on the beach...

Much aloha & happy planning!

Makai1 - Home is Melbourne Australia - back to the plans - looking great!! - but the same old story - need extra days......sigh