There are so many sources and suggestions for what to do when visiting Oahu that it can be overwhelming. Oahu (and Honolulu specifically) is one of the most highly sought-after vacation destinations in the US. If you are in travel planning mode, how do you make sense of it all? After all, you’d love to be able to see Waikiki beach, a Honolulu attraction or two, some beautiful views, that famous north shore, and fuel up with yummy local eats too. Is it possible to do all that? The Oahu loop is the answer.
If handled correctly, it actually takes less time than you think to get a real taste for Oahu’s flavor. Give me one day and I’ll show you how to drive the Oahu loop – it’s the perfect one-day itinerary, whether you are traveling as a family, a couple, or solo traveling. Most people allot a good 7 or 8 hours for this drive because you are pulling off the road to take pictures several times in between each of the major destinations you choose.
Perfect Transport for the Oahu loop
First, the perfect day starts with the perfect transportation. Plan ahead so the rental car agency won’t be out of convertible Mustangs. You’re in paradise: you gotta rent a convertible. We were on Oahu in late February so spending a day tooling around the island in a convertible was beyond pleasant. I do, however, have two notes. First, if you are there in summer, you might need to skip the convertible. It could actually be too warm to be enjoyable. Second, if you are follically-challenged, wear a hat as you drive the Oahu loop. Sunscreen might not be enough to protect you.
We rented our pretty Ford Mustang from the car rental place at the airport (which is on the south end of the island). After acquiring our new horsepower, we started the Oahu loop early in the morning (8:00am). We drove 25-minutes east to Diamondhead on Kalaniana’ole Highway (Highway 72).
Diamond Head
OK, so hiking up to the top of Diamond Head State Monument is rather iconic in Honolulu, but I confess that I didn’t do it. There were a combination of factors at play here. I goofed when I did my research and didn’t remember that you need reservations and there is a charge. Having said that, when we arrived at 8:30am, it was already packed with tourists. I was shocked at how mobbed it was that early in the morning. The sun can be intense, so the common advice is to do it early. I knew the trail opened at 6:00am, but I didn’t think it was necessary to start quite that early. Apparently though, if you want the experience to be even remotely enjoyable, you really would need to begin closer to 6:00am. I was happy to get some pictures from the ground and move on to our next location.
Know before you go: Parking is $10. Entry is $5. More information is available at the state’s website here: gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead
Makapu’u Point Lookout
Continue driving east on Kaliana’ole Highway for approx. 30 minutes to the eastern-most point of the island and you’ll arrive at my favorite Oahu vantage point. Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail and Lookout will make you swoon. These Instagram-worthy views will make your friends back home jealous. There is a 2.5-mile paved trail that takes you to the lighthouse, but if you aren’t in a walking mood, or have anyone in your group with mobility issues, fear not. The lookout has a parking lot and a paved overlook with views just as sigh-worthy.
Know before you go: Remember to take sunscreen and water. This parking lot is a high-theft area, so hide all your stuff and lock your vehicle. If you’re there between November and April, look for whales. I wasn’t lucky enough to spot any on my visit, but you might.
Optional Stop: Valley of Temples
About 45 minutes north of Makapu’u Point is the Valley of Temples. At this stop along the Oahu loop you can visit the Byodo-In Temple. This temple was built in 1963 and is a smaller-scale replica of a 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan. Regardless of your chosen faith, this stunning location is one of the most peaceful spots on the island. Take pictures, breath deeply, find a moment of reflection. Remember, travel is about cultural exchange and it makes us better people, so if you aren’t Buddhist, take a few minutes to learn a little something.
Know before you go: General admission is $10 and parking is $6.00 per hour. The only reason I have this marked as an optional stop is because some people may want to control the vacation budget by making this day a low-cost day, and therefore, might skip this stop on the loop.
The Best Lunch Spot on the Oahu Loop
About 50 minutes north of the Valley of Temples is Kahuku on Kamehameha Highway (Highway 83). This little town along the Oahu loop has one yummy claim-to-fame. There is a food truck park here that you can’t miss! Let’s face it, half the fun of a road trip is the food. This place has something to please absolutely anyone in your group. You can actually googlemap “Kahuku food trucks.” I’m not kidding.
If you do a search for some of the most famous (or best) food trucks on Oahu, you’ll often see the name Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. Their garlic shrimp is so famous that lines start early.
Giovanni’s is located in this food truck park. We arrived before 11:00am on a Sunday morning and people were already eating there. By 11:15, there was a line 10 people deep.
Delicious Fuel
For us, halfsies was the name of the game here. To facilitate trying more numminess, we split dishes. We ate at a couple of places including, Chef Kale’s where we had a spicy poke bowl (ahi tuna over rice) and Fasay Thai Wagon where we shared Thai fried rice with chicken. Though it is blasphemous to say in Hawaii, poke isn’t our favorite thing. Having said that, I liked it better than my husband did. If you’re a fan of poke bowls, you won’t be disappointed. The thai fried rice was beyond excellent. It was served with generous wedges of cucumber on the side, which was refreshing and added a nice crunch.
Know before you go: Most days the trucks open around 10am. They open closer to 11:00am on Sundays. However, they are all individually owned and operated, so if there is a specific one you have heard about and want to try, be sure you check their hours. For example, I had heard great things about a place called “Da Bald Guy,” but they are closed Sundays, so I didn’t get to try it.
North Shore Beaches
The north shore of the island is a rounded point. Kahuku is considered part of the north shore. There are dozens of beaches to stop and stroll, recline, people watch and take pictures or a quick dip. In most cases, to access the beaches along the Oahu loop, you’ll need to park along the side of the road and walk a short path to the sand and water.
The Banzai Pipeline
As I said, north shore choices abound. For me, though, if I was going to see the north shore, I wanted to see its most iconic portion. . . the Banzai Pipeline! Surfers from all over the world travel to this specific section of the north shore. They come in search of those tubular-shaped waves with dreams of riding them parallel to the shore for hundreds of feet. While you can certainly see some talented amateur surfers at Sunset Beach Park and many other north shore locations, the true Banzai Pipeline is located at Ehukai Beach Park.
Though the waves at Ehukai beach weren’t as big as I expected, I certainly saw some cool surfing that day. Bucket list checked!
Lanikea Beach
I completely forgot (no excuse, really) to stop at Lanikea Beach Park. It’s only about a 10-minute drive from Ehukai beach. If wildlife is your thing, then don’t miss this stopping at this beach along the Oahu loop. Lanikea is known for having lots of Honu (Green Sea Turtles). Just remember that there are strict laws about interacting with them. You are required to stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from them.
Time for Dessert
After the north shore, Kamehameha Highway heads south right through the center of the island. You’ve supported local business by lunching at a food truck and you’ve worked it off by strolling on a couple of beaches. Now, it’s time for dessert! Thirty minutes south of Ehukai beach is the Dole Plantation. There are multiple activities here. For example, for $15 per person you can take a 20-minute train ride around the grounds and learn about how the Dole company’s famous pineapples are cultivated and harvested.
Eating a “Dole Whip” should be your main goal, though. This is a yellow, pineapple-flavored, soft-serve ice cream. I had mine with slivers of fresh pineapple on top too. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting it to knock my socks off like it did. I figured it would be one of those touristy things that didn’t live up to the hype. Wrong! It was phenomenal and the perfect way to end our journey around the Oahu loop. From the Dole farm, we drove south to the airport because we were headed back to our own island that evening.
Know before you go: Dole is open 7 days/week, but they close at 5:30pm, so don’t leave it too late in the day or you’ll miss your dessert.
A Final Note
If you’re looking for a stunning scenic walk on the mainland rather than an island drive, check out this one in Alabama.
As you do your Hawaii research, you may find other stops along the Oahu loop too. The ones I’ve listed here are the ones that worked for me. I had an unrushed and relaxing day. A convertible + a sunny day + awesome food + a scenic drive + photos galore = one perfect day.
March 11, 2026 at 11:44 am
Great post. There is definitely a lot to see and do on the loop, but you CAN get a great overview in a day. You always have the option of splitting it up by spending the night somewhere, which wouldn’t be a horrible idea.
The thing that I love about islands is that everyone has their favorite beach spot, these seemingly random stretches of sand and surf to call their own. At least this has been the case for the places I’ve been. It always makes me wonder how they find them and how they decide to which to return.
March 11, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Yes, to be clear, there are dozens of little beaches (short stretches of sand) all along the way. Maybe one of my readers will find their own hidden paradise.