Oahu Nature Tours — Local services in Oʻahu

My wife got the ultimate all inclusive circle Island tour. She tells me that a lot of companies offer the same tour and she had to research tons of reviews to choose the best one so hopefully my review will help others know what to expect.

I will address all the things she told me she would find in reviews.

First off this tour has pick up (and drop off) spots near your hotel so it's easy to get to.

Second, the stops that require an entry fee, are paid from the tour, because she tells me that she read some tours don't actually pay the fee at the various locations.

Third, it has a lot of locations included and some stops are 15 to 20 minutes only, but we found that was more than enough time to get out, get some nice scenic photos, read any informational plaques and get back to the bus. At most of the stops we were seated 5 minutes before the time we were meant to be back. So if the stop is short, there probably isn't much to do there, so don't worry.

Some complaints were that the tour was too long (apparently it's either too long or too short) but considering the amount of stuff you see, I think it's just the right amount of time. We started the day with a 730am pickup and were back by 630pm.

They stopped for lunch which had a decent amount of choices and the lunch was quite good. The choices included, shrimp, chicken, vegetarian meals and pork I believe, so if all those aren't stuff you would like, just bring a sandwich with you. We both had the shrimp and it was really good and fresh.

For dessert they took us to the dole plantation where we got a dole whip which if you have never had one, it's a pineapple based non dairy ice cream. Due to it being made locally with local pineapples, it tastes a lot better than the dole whip we have had before. The plantation also has a shop with a lot of pineapple based things to buy and we spent way too much money there :p

Finally I have to mention our tour guide Branndon (with two n's despite autocorrect trying to change it). He made the tour worth every penny. During the whole trip he was providing us with information about the history of Hawaii and information on various locations we would pass by.

The tour is great as is, but Branndon makes it so much better.

I've added some of the hundreds of photos (had to keep removing till this review would be posted.. So only a few are here) I took so you can get an idea of the photos...

A great experience. A long day but lots of fun stops.

Brandon was a great guide - very knowledgeable, full of history and anecdotes. He was also very helpful and protective of me, as I walk with a cane and have trouble with stairs - he made sure I was supported throughout the entire trip. He also handled an incident with a displeased - and frankly arrogant - passenger who was raising a stink about not being able to sit with his wife or girlfriend or whatever, and refused to get on the bus at one point until someone switched seats so he could. Brandon asked the rest of us a few times if someone wanted to switch, while assuring us there was no requirement to do so. He asked the guy to call the office to discuss it, as he had no ready solution. (Joshua the driver offered to give up his seat!) Brandon kept looking for a solution, until he offered to have someone join him in the front of the bus, which solved the problem. He made sure to reassure the rest of us that week would still be able to do everything planned, even with the time loss caused by the entities a**hole who wouldn’t get on the bus.

Joshua the driver was also terrific - he navigated the narrow and windy roads masterfully, and was my constant support as I carefully picked my way up and down the bus stairs.

And … the destinations were terrific. All in all, a king but very...

Our tour with Oahu Nature Tours was truly unforgettable, one of the best experiences we had on the island! The itinerary was packed with incredible sights, but what really made it special was our guide, Brandon. He was absolutely amazing, so knowledgeable, kind, funny, and fun to be around. He shared so much insight about Oahu’s nature, wildlife, history, and culture, all in a way that was engaging and easy to connect with. You could tell he genuinely loves what he does, and that passion made the tour even more enjoyable.

Some of our favorite highlights were visiting the Valley of the Temples, which was peaceful and beautiful, and taking in the breathtaking views from the Pali Lookout, absolutely stunning! We also got to see sea turtles in the wild, which was a magical moment. And of course, the stop at the Dole Plantation for some refreshing Dole Whip was a perfect treat along the way.

Every stop felt thoughtful and well-paced, and Brandon made sure everyone had a great time from start to finish. If you’re visiting Oahu and want to experience the island’s natural beauty with a guide who’s as informative as he is entertaining, we can’t recommend Oahu Nature Tours, and especially...