Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › North Shore tours › Ko Olina to the North Shore: Waimea Falls and Dole
Ko Olina to the North Shore: Waimea Falls and Dole
★ #7 of 9 in our list “North Shore tours” Picked from the 43 North Shore tours in the Oahu catalog, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated price re-read every day; listing, times and pickup notes reviewed with it
The Surf Bus takes you from Ko Olina to the North Shore for activity time and a visit to Haleiwa. The resort option lasts 8 hours and costs from $184.29 per adult. You leave from one of three Ko Olina resorts. It runs three mornings a week at 8 a.m. The price covers Waimea admission or rental gear, so the activity choice doesn't include both.
Our check
Ko Olina to the North Shore: Waimea Falls and Dole at a glance
| Duration | 8 hours for the Ko Olina Resorts option |
| Price | from $184.29 per adult |
| Departs | 8 a.m., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday |
| Pickup | Aulani, Four Seasons Ko Olina or Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club |
| Activity area | Waimea and the North Shore coast, with time in Haleiwa |
| Swim stop | Coastal snorkeling or Waimea Falls, subject to conditions and your activity choice |
| Group | Up to 25 guests |
| Children | Infants aged 0 to 3 on laps |
| Main trade-off | Waimea admission or rental gear, plus a separate lunch expense |
| Guide languages | English |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on . Children pay less.
What's included
- Cooler with Ice on board for your own snacks and drinks.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Best of Oahu Tour Guides
- Brief location and equipment tutorial
- Choice of Waimea Valley admission, snorkel gear or a bicycle
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Live commentary on board
What's not included
- Gratuities
Options
Which option to book
The Ko Olina Resorts option runs at 8 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday, with Thursday departures too. Your activity choice is Waimea admission or rental gear.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Ko Olina Resorts | 8 a.m., Mon, Tue, Thu |
The catch: Only one activity choice is covered on the 8-hour trip, and lunch is a separate expense.
Route
How does the day work?
Your Ko Olina pickup leads to North Shore activity time and a Haleiwa visit before the ride back to the resort.
- 240 min
1. North Shore
The North Shore portion gives you room to choose your activity. You can visit the valley or choose coastal time, with cycling another option.
- 20 min
2. Tropical Farms
Macadamia nuts and Kona coffee are available to sample. It's a tasting break between the other parts of the day.
- 15 min
3. Banzai Pipeline
The Pipeline stop is for watching surfers when waves are breaking. It runs in fall and winter.
- ·
4. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach adds a beach stop to the route. Your activity choice determines where you spend time in the water.
- 60 min
5. Waimea Valley
The garden visit leads toward the waterfall at the end of the trail. A swim depends on the conditions that day.
- 60 min
6. Shark's Cove
Shark's Cove is the snorkeling choice among the North Shore activities. This depends on the sea, so a water session isn't assured.
- 30 min
7. Matsumoto Shave Ice
Matsumoto Shave Ice is a food stop within Haleiwa. The surrounding town has galleries and shops to browse during your visit.
- 30 min
8. Haleiwa
Haleiwa gives you time among the old plantation-style buildings. Lunch and souvenir shopping are options before the return ride.
- pass by
9. Dole Plantation
Dole is on the return route. Time off the bus for pineapple soft serve isn't assured.
Plan your activities within the 4-hour North Shore block. Activity stops are choices within that time. Your 8-hour tour ends back at the Ko Olina resorts.
Pickup and meeting point
- Resort meeting: Pickup serves Aulani and Four Seasons Ko Olina. Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club is the other resort. You wait outside your resort lobby.
- Pickup timing: Check the time assigned to your resort. Pickup begins 5 minutes before departure. Missing the bus doesn't qualify for a refund.
- Traveling with children: Strollers can come on this trip. Infants ride on an adult's lap, so your youngest traveler won't have a separate infant seat.
Before you book
- Waimea Valley is closed on Mondays outside summer, so a Monday departure can't include it then.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
The 8-hour trip suits guests at one of the three Ko Olina pickup resorts. You can leave the driving to someone else. Choose it for activities picked on the day, with lunch at your own expense. Your bus may carry up to 25 guests.
The Waikiki Surf Bus serves a Waikiki stay from $167.53 per adult. Seamus's shuttle has a six-guest limit from $150 per adult for 2 to 4. Your pickup address needs agreement for that smaller van.
Who it's not for
- Waikiki guests expecting collection near their hotel
- Guests unable to travel on this option's three departure days
- Travelers expecting both valley entry and rental gear within the price
Good to know
Know before you go
Your meeting place is outside the assigned Ko Olina resort lobby. Collection starts 5 minutes before the scheduled departure. Missing the bus means losing the price, so the resort's assigned time matters.
One included choice covers Waimea admission or rental gear. Lunch comes from your own budget. Choosing the valley uses that allowance, even if you later decide you'd also like a bicycle.
Shark's Cove can be dangerous during winter surf. Choose another activity when the sea rules out snorkeling. The option to rent gear isn't a promise that the ocean will be suitable.
Infants aged 0 to 3 travel on an adult's lap. You can bring a stroller. That allowance doesn't give an infant a separate bus seat for the journey.
The tour won't run if too few guests book. Check the minimum group size with the operator before booking. Your booking can contain up to 25 guests and uses a mobile ticket.
Full refunds apply when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. You'll lose the price if you cancel later. Weather or insufficient bookings can also cancel the trip.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
The activity bus from Waikiki
Oahu North Shore Fun: Waimea Waterfall and Turtle SnorkelingThe Waikiki departure runs daily at 8 a.m. You get Waimea entry plus lunch or rental gear from $167.53 per adult.
★ 4.9 · 2,067 reviews · from $167.53 per adult
A small van with arranged pickup
North Shore and Waimea Falls Day with a Turtle SwimSeamus's van takes up to six guests. Your agreed pickup can be in Ko Olina, from $150 per adult for 2 to 4, with lunch and entry extra.
★ 4.8 · 110 reviews · from $150 per adult for 2 to 4
A short visit with your own car
Bee Farm Ecotour and Honey Tasting in Waialua, North Shore OahuHi Honey Farm needs only 100 minutes on site. You arrange your own ride to Waialua for the hive visit and tasting, from $135 per adult.
★ 5.0 · 83 reviews · from $135 per adult
All 9 tours in the list “North Shore tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- What does the Ko Olina Surf Bus cost?
The tour costs from $184.29 per adult with resort transport and one activity allowance. You choose Waimea entry or rental gear. Lunch isn't part of that allowance. Your return ride goes to the Ko Olina pickup resorts.
- Which hotels does the Ko Olina Surf Bus serve?
It serves three resorts: Aulani and Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina are two. Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club is the third. The scheduled departure is 8 a.m. Your booking identifies the meeting time for your resort.
- Does the Ko Olina Surf Bus run every day?
No, this 8-hour option runs on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Thursdays also available. Waimea Valley is closed on Mondays outside summer. A Tuesday or Thursday trip keeps the valley among your choices. Swimming still depends on the conditions.
- How much activity time does the Ko Olina Surf Bus allow?
The North Shore activity block is 4 hours within the 8-hour tour. That block contains choices rather than a sequence of every advertised activity. You decide how to spend it on the day. Haleiwa also gives you time for food and shops.
- Does the Ko Olina Surf Bus guarantee a Dole Plantation stop?
No, time off the bus at Dole isn't assured on this 8-hour option. The route includes Dole on the return drive. Plan a separate visit for Dole's train or maze. Neither attraction is a promised part of this trip.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Booking happens on the booking page, at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.