Oahu

HONOLULU'S BACKYARD RAINFOREST TOUR

Description

Take a ride with Shaka Guide as we visit some of Honolulu's most iconic spots. On this tour, we will explore the gorgeous and green Manoa valley before driving Tantalus mountain some breathtaking city views. After that, we'll visit the Punchbowl Memorial cemetery and learn about it's unique significance in history. Along the way, we will stop for try some tasty local treats before heading back to Waikiki.

Plan on spending about 3-5 on this tour depending on how long you stop at each place. This tour starts and ends in Waikiki and is taken in a loop.

** Recommended to start the tour before 9 am. Also a good idea to bring bug spray and a jacket in case it rains. (They don't call it a rain-forest for nothing!)
2-4 hour drive 73 Narration Points

​Features

  • Beaches

  • Views

  • Hikes

  • Snorkeling

  • Local Food

  • Storytelling

Highlights

  • Shaka Freebies

  • Ward Village Shopping & Food

  • Chinatown Ono Food

  • Hikes & Lookouts

  • Monuments & Museums

  • Manoa Marketplace

  • Chinatown Parking Options

Tour FAQ’s

Getting started: How do the tours work?

Shaka Guide’s audio tours play automatically based on your GPS location. 

After you purchase a tour, click on “Take the Tour”. From there it will give you some tutorial screens with audio guidance to:

  1. Help get your audio set up and connected to the car

  2. Directions to the start of the tour. (requires Data connection for this)

From there, just follow the directions. Once you arrive at the start of the tour, the audio tour narration will kick on and start talking to you. From there, the tour will give you turn-by-turn directions to an all day of fun!

We use your phone’s GPS to play audio narration at just the right time and place. It’s like having a “virtual” tour guide with you, while giving you the complete freedom to tour at your own pace!

Note: If you are not close to a tour starting point you can also join the tour anywhere along the tour route going in the same direction as the tour. Just drive to the nearest point and the tour will start to play!  If you need technical assistance, please call our support # 1-888-250-2261.

Other Questions? Contact Us!

Still have questions? Send us an email at aloha@shakaguide.com or give us a call on 1-888-250-2261.

Where does the tour go?

This tour starts and ends in Waikiki and travels through the lush forests of the Makiki Valley before visiting Honolulu’s bustling downtown. Here are some of the popular spots you can explore on the tour! 

  • Lyon Arboretum 
  • Chinese Cemetery 
  • Manoa Marketplace 
  • Tantalus Mountain 
  • Tantalus Lookout 
  • Tantalus Arboretum Trail
  • National Memorial of the Pacific 
  • Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden
  • Shimazu Shave Ice 
  • Chinatown 

For help planning your day check out our Honolulu Backyard Rainforest Tour suggested itinerary, the complete list of tour stops here, and tour highlights in the app!



What should I pack and budget?

  • Sneakers & hiking clothes
  • Water
  • Bug spray
  • Towel
  • Bathing Suit & sandals 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Sun Glasses and/or Hat
  • Snacks
  • Car Charger
  • Camera
  • Cash (see budget below)

There are no entrance fees to any attractions on this tour, however you might want to bring some cash for food and souvenirs along the way. How much you spend really depends on the activities you choose to do along the tour route, but here’s a breakdown of some costs. 

  • $9.99: Shaka Guide’s Honolulu Backyard Rainforest Tour 
  • $15.00 per person: Lunch


Can I join the tour along the route?

Yes! Feel free to join the tour along the route. If you don’t begin at one of the tour starting points you’ll miss a few stories, but you’ll still have a great experience.

Can I take the tour in the opposite direction?

No, this tour can only be done counterclockwise, beginning and ending in Waikiki. 

Customer Reviews

  • 5
    1,949
  • 4
    152
  • 3
    43
  • 2
    16
  • 1
    5

maikaʻi loa (excellent)!

Hamptons Critic | June 2020
Loved having this very timely narration, GPS, and great Oahu information at a very fair app price. Wish I had this for other road trips that I’ve gone on.

So helpful and interesting!

Daddy_48 | June 2020
A VP at work learned I was going to Hawaii and highly recommend Shaka Guide. I read Hawaii travel reviews, but I didn’t have the confidence that I had a thorough plan so I gave it a shot. This is the best app I’ve ever used. It took me a little getting used to at first, but after the initial orientation, it was so simple and helpful. I downloaded 2 tours and that gave me 4 days of fun! The guides cover major stops with bonus gems, plus included a lot of background and history of the island. There were stops and recommendations that I hadn’t seen on travel sites that made the trip special. This app will save you hours of planning and put you on your way to a fun-packed vacation. I can’t recommend Shaka Guide enough.

Super helpful!

carolombia93 | June 2020
This was the perfect outline for our trip. We skipped the stops we weren’t interested in but for the most part, this tour pretty much covered all our items on our list. Good parking tips and suggestions for each stop.
3 of 177 ratings Learn more

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