Hello. We are going to rent a car for a day and drive the "Circle Island Drive" while in Oahu in December. Not sure how to plan this. The guidebook recommends 2 scenic highways through the middle of the island, Pali highway and H-3. It looks like we can start out counter clockwise around the island and after the North Shore beaches turn onto 99 and head for Waikiki, but take a detour after Pearl Harbor area to take scenic H-3 and then hook up with Pali Highway, stopping at the Pali lookout and then go on to Waikiki. Is this detour worth it scenically at the end of a long day? Alternatively we can take Pali Highway to the Pali Lookout early in the day when we get near Kailua, then return to Kailua to continue our drive around the island, and skip H-3 completely. Any suggestions on which might be better, whether H-3 is worth it, and what do you think the travel time would be from Kailua to Pali Lookout, and the travel time in the detour H-3 to Pali Highway? Thanks.

The H-3 is absolutely stunning. We took it from Kailua to Haleiwa and were definitely wowed.

My island drive is usually counter clockwise, driving along Kalakaua Ave (Waikiki) and then go on around the ocean-side drive below Diamondhead, where there are some really nice photo ops. You will see lots of cars parked (surfers) along this road, and there are a few places to pull over and park for a few minutes.

From the oceanside base of Diamondhead I head out to the big highway that goes past Aina Haina and Hawaii Kai, past Hanauma Bay and then continue on that route around some very scenic bends and beaches (also good places to stop). This southeast 'corner' (route 72) has some of the best scenery on Oahu, IMO.

I continue on around the island on the route that hugs the coastline (83), which you pick up where route 61 comes in to the Kailua area.

Following the coast, I stop at a shrimp truck (there are a number of them) for lunch, and continue on into Haleiwa, where I will have a walk around. I have yet to have shave ice at the 'famous place' (what's the name???) as the lines have always been way out the door!! I don't want to wait that long for shave ice. At some point I'll be there when the line is short... fingers crossed....!!

When you head back inland after Haleiwa, you pass Dole Plantation. Might be worth a stop. If you need a restroom and cold drink (even if you don't want to do tours), it's a nice place to stretch your legs for a little bit. There is a big store/dining place there.

OK, now if I have time, when I approach Honolulu, I will take the H3 at Halawa over to Kaneohe for the view, backtrack south a bit, and do a turn around and take the Pali back over the mountain again, for the view.

The reason I do it this way is because I really don't want to miss that southeast corner of Oahu where there are so many great photo ops. Yes, the Pali is great, but in some ways, I'm more 'wowed' by the seascape on route 72!

Take a look at a map of Oahu and I think it's pretty easy to see what sort of route I always drive. One day is plenty of time to do it all!!!

Lorenky, I just read your drive for a second time, and I see that what you are planning is pretty much exactly what I do!! I should have read it more closely the first time. I thought you might be omitting the southeast 'corner' that I really love love love. Sorry......

Well great minds think alike! Good to know I'm on the right track. Was thinking of cutting out Highway 3 adn taking the detour to Pali Lookout early in the trip from Kailua, what do you think of that idea? Also, was thinking of hiking Diamond Head when we pass it first thing that same morning as we start the drive. Do you think hiking Diamond Head is adding too much to the day? Our full itinerary for Oahu is arrive around 1 PM, just orient and walk around Waikiki and beaches on the first day, Circle drive second day, Dolphin/snorkel tour with Ko Olina third day, free fourth day to do whatever we feel like, and head to the seoncd part of our trip in Kauai day 5. We could take the bus to hike Diamond Head on the free 4th day if it's too much to add to the circle drive, but I'm reluctant to start planning things on that free day. What do you think?

On your circle drive, be sure to stop at both Haunama Bay even if you don't go down to the water and the Haloma Blowhole for wonderful photos. We always stop at the Macadamia Nut factory for lots of good free samples and a purchase of our favorites, but don't buy the lotion--it's cheaper at the ABC stores.

We get our shave ice at the General Store in Haliewa rather than the place with the famous name. My favorite is half pineapple and half coconut with ice cream in the bottom.

You can also break it up into two days if you like, which we prefer to do. Go early to snorkel at Hanauma Bay and then on around to Kailua (check out the Valley of the Temples, etc) - and take the road back to Hono from Kailua (and you can turn around if you like and go back to the Pali lookout - or do it another time if you come one of the other "tunnels").

And then - for the bigger "circle" - from Hono - head up the middle of the Island through Schofield Barracks to Haliewa, and then around Turtle Bay and down to Kailua and back over to Hono, or continue on around toward Hanauma Bay if you are still game.

Check out this map and hopefully you can see what I am trying to convey.

http://www.aaccessmaps.com/show/map/us/hi/oahu

Bellows Beach is my favorite - its a military beach but I believe open to public on weekends.
Great place to body surf and the water is aqua- many fond memories of that place- its on Kailua side of the island

The famous place in Haleiwa is Matsumoto's, but we like Aoki's almost next door.

Diamond Head has nice views, but it's not much of a hike - more of a walk, with 99 steps to climb at the end. Takes about 45 minutes to get to the top.

I answered your question on TripAdvisor.

I agree with those that say tour counterclockwise, split it into two days is best.

Waimanalo Bay Recreation Area is right next to Bellows Beach. It is basically the same white sand beach. Only separated by a few boulders.

The best advice I can give to any Hawaii visitor is to rent a car the entire time & get out & see Oahu or any other island.

You will waste many hours trying to use public transportation to see the island & a rush car rental tour around the island.

You are much better off renting a car the entire time.

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...trip-to-hi.cfm

I always have a car the whole time I'm on Oahu, but for a lot of folks the parking is the problem. It's EXPENSIVE to park a car in and around Waikiki. Hotels typically charge $25 and up, per day.

With the OPs schedule I would not want to do an overnight on the drive. I would plan for Diamondhead on day 4 and not try to include it in the island drive. Hanauma Bay is really pretty, and yes, worth the photo stop.... but the entrance is often CLOSED (full of cars... no space) so I would drive on by if I can't take that picture on that drive. If you want to snorkel, do it on another day (day 4?). But go early! You can take a bus.

Trying to think where route 4 might be (OP mentioned it). I need to get my maps out! I always turn left on 61 (from the road that goes past blow hole and scenic drive) when it gets to the outskirts of Kailua. I've driven into Kailua for a look at the beaches and such, but now I don't go in anymore, unless I'm really wanting a Cold Stone Creamery shake for my drive!! lol From that left turn onto 61, it s a mile or two to get to the right turn, heading north around the coastline. You are driving inland for a short time, but that's OK. You can stop and get a burger, something cold to drink, etc and use a restroom while in this area. There's a McDs, for example.

To the OP, you don't say whether you are going to stop for swimming along your drive. For me, it's the DRIVE and the scenery and photo ops and places to pull off for the view. My regular 'stops' are a shrimp truck and Haleiwa and Dole Plantation.

Great info!

Just remembered another stop I sometimes make. It is in Waimanalo, I think. It's at one of the first stop lights you will encounter on the drive, shortly after you pass all the scenic shoreline, and then you to head inland. There is a Dave's Ice Cream at this stop light, in the little shopping plaza on the right hand side. I think there is maybe a Burger King on the corner, where the light is. Dave's Ice Cream is pretty good!

Thanks to all for the terrific advice. Simpson, I don't remember mentioning route 4, if I did it was an error, I think I was talking at one point about day 4 of our trip, maybe that was it? Also you asked about swimming, as you said, we were thinking of this day as being about the scenery and photo ops and walks in the beautiful surroundings. We may splash around a bit but I doubt we'll really swim, we can save that for days we are in Waikiki.
I can rent a car for 2 days if it's necessary, it's pretty easy from the Ilikai where we are staying, I just wasn't sure it was necessary. I can play it by ear, on our arrival day and on the day we have the dolphin/snorkel tour I doubt we'll need it, but we are open to renting a car again on our last day if we need it. Sounds like the consensus is to leave Diamond Head for a different day, and since it doesn't sound like it takes very long we can probably just do it the morning of our last full day and still have most of the day to be spontaneoous. Thanks, the advice has been very helpful.

A drive on the H-3 is highly recommended. It's a stunning drive with some amazing views on the most expensive freeway ever built in the U.S. It's basically one long bridge that spans over the rainforest then goes right through the Ko'olau Mountains.

TIP: If you drive it on a very rainy day, you may see waterfalls - lots of them! - cascading down the mountains around you.

(BTW, simpsonc510, its a Jack In The Box in Waimanalo, not a Burger King.)

Aloha,
A Hawaii Resident

We are going to Honolulu in just under two weeks and want to break up this same drive into at least 2 days. We figure this way we can stop at every beach if we want, at the towns, walk around the shops in the towns, etc. NO RUSHING. Our friend's place in Waikiki has parking, so overnight parking's not an issue. Whew!

I'm hoping to spend one day CCW from Waikiki to Kailua; another from Waikiki through Kailua and onto the North Shore; and a third day for Haleiwa and the leeward side. A fourth or even fifth day can be for wherever we want to go that we missed. Playing it by ear a bit.

The first part of our trip will be theBus around Honolulu and walking. We figure it'll be easier (and cheaper on local parking) that way.