Touring Around Honolulu Prior to Cruise w/Car

[JasmineC]

We'll be in Honolulu 3 days prior to the cruise leaving, and 2 days post-cruise.  We plan to rent a car.  Are there some nice scenic drives/lookout points or locations that are must-see?  Most of our vacations, we just love to jump in a car, drive and see the countryside and go off the beaten path to discover places.   Thanks.

[CruiserBruce]

The North Shore of Oahu is always recommended here.

 

Suggestion...only rent for the day you will do the drive. Parking, particularly in Waikiki can be extremely expensive. You can cab, Uber, or public transit a lot of the sites in the airport/port/Waikiki area. You can even do the North Shore by public transit. In 4 visits to Oahu, we have never rented a car.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

On 10/21/2023 at 9:41 AM, JasmineC said:

We'll be in Honolulu 3 days prior to the cruise leaving, and 2 days post-cruise.  We plan to rent a car.  Are there some nice scenic drives/lookout points or locations that are must-see?  Most of our vacations, we just love to jump in a car, drive and see the countryside and go off the beaten path to discover places.   Thanks.

 

I think the Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout is a must see for scenic drives. Then you can drop down into Kaneohe and head up the Windward Coast. It is hard to believe is the same island as urban Honolulu.

 

You can do a Circle drive, but I'd probably not go further north than Kualoa Ranch and Chinaman's Hat, then turnaround and back track to Kailua Town for lunch, maybe hit up Lanikai Beach and return to Waikiki using the  Kalanianaʻole Highway.

[Halehuaka_i]

Definitely drive around the island! Go west from Honolulu, and if you’re early, stop at the Arizona Memorial. Then continue on to the North Shore, and just keep going clockwise to the Nuuanu Pali. Before you go, pick up a cheap foam cooler and fill it with drinks and snacks so you can stop along the way.