Which tours are best to take on Oahu in May?
We have never stayed on Oahu before except to stay overnight and back out again. So, we have done nothing on Oahu.
Tours, tour companies or just do it all on our own?

If you choose to do a tour the one company that stands out in my mind is Roberts Hawaii Tour--see link.

http://64.29.213.202/roberts/home.as...QPQ30G9NPQ3GUC

Every morning last week I watched their tour bus pull into the Royal Hawaiian and their were smaller shuttle vans picking up passengers outside our hotel--the Sheraton Waikiki. I don't know if it's the best but it appeared to be very popular.

icee,

I visited Oahu in October 2003. So not sure what it is like in May. Because there was one other person with me, I rented a car and did everything on my own. Read many of the posts on this board to figure out what to do. Drove the island counter-clockwise and visited pretty much every where a tour would take you. Was there five days and did not have to put gas in the car until it was time to return it. Stayed in Waikiki for 3 nights and Ihilani the remainder of the trip.

So again, my recommendation is to rent a car. Hope you have a wonderful stay.

You don;t need a tour company - just a rental car and a guide book. Counter clockwise is also the way I'd recommend, unless you're planning to visit the Arizona Memorial that same day. I do NOT recommend combining a visit to the Memorial with the round the island trip.

ttt

Hi, I did the island circle tour with Enoa Tours while in Oahu and enjoyed it. Hope you have fun in Hawaii

Don't know what kind of tours you have in mind.

There are several tours available for Chinatown, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Honolulu's Chinatown was the first, and at one time the largest, ethnic settlement in the United States.

The least expensive guided walking tour is provided by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii every Tuesday, 9:30 am to noon, $5 per person, telephone 533-3181. A culinary tour can be arranged by calling the Chinatown Historical Society, 227=6008, $15 includes a narrated dim sum lunch.

Historic and artsy stuff in Honolulu:
Bishop Museum 947-2458
Iolani Palace 538-1471
Mission Houses Museum 531-0481
Queen Emma Summer Palace 595-3167
Doris Duke Shangri La estate
532-DUKE or 1-866-DUKE TIX

Roberts Hawaii mentioned above offers a "Discover Historic Honolulu" guided walking tour 539-9400

I can't imagine doing a full-blown organized tour for Oahu, although certainly they are available because I saw enough huge jam packed tour bus/coaches last week when I was there. Seems like a guidebook and a rental car at the airport would be the way to go. Or it is even possible to base yourself in Waikiki and do day trips on public transportation, if you prefer.

I just learned that you can take free tours of historic Aloha Tower, which is at the Honolulu Harbor near Chinatown. Go to www.alohatower.com or call 808-566-2337 for information. Isn't Aloha Tower one of the things you see in the opening scenes of "Hawaii Five-0?"

My guess is that for an ideal frugal tour day in downtown Honolulu, you'd take a $5 tour of Chinatown with PakePorkChop ([email protected]) and then come over to Aloha Tower for your free tour.

If you are going to be in Honolulu and want to see Peral Harbor and the other military bases in a way no other tour has I HIGHLY recommend Home of the brave Tour www.pearlharborhq.com

My husband said this was the highlight of the whole trip for him. It was unforgettabe. Be sure to check out their web site and if you do the tour ask for Olaf as your tour guide.