Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Circle island tours › Oahu Sunrise and Circle Island Adventure
Oahu Sunrise and Circle Island Adventure
★ #12 of 14 in our list “Circle island tours” Picked from the 176 circle island 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
Oahu Photo Tours starts on Oahu's southeast coast for sunrise before circling the island. The 10-hour trip costs from $175 per adult. You share a minivan with up to seven guests and a photographer guide. Daily starts range from 4:45 to 6 a.m. with arranged Waikiki pickup. Your temple admission is covered, but lunch isn't.
Our check
Oahu Sunrise and Circle Island Adventure at a glance
| Duration | 10 hours |
| Price | from $175 per adult |
| Main stops | Sandy Beach and Byodo-In Temple, with Haleiwa later |
| Swim stop | None scheduled |
| Group | Minivan, maximum seven guests, photographer guide |
| Pickup | Selected Waikiki hotels or parking lot entrance across from Queen Kapiolani Hotel |
| Departs | Daily starts from 4:45 to 6 a.m., pickup arranged directly |
| Fitness | Moderate fitness |
| Main trade-off | A start before sunrise followed by 10 hours of sightseeing |
| 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
- Entrance fees
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Photographer guide
- Live commentary on board
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's not included
- Lunch
- Gratuities
Options
Which option to book
One sunrise route has daily start times from 4:45 to 6 a.m. Your exact pickup needs arranging directly with Oahu Photo Tours.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Departure | every 15 minutes from 4:45 a.m. to 6 a.m., daily |
The catch: You need to be ready for pickup as early as 4:45 a.m., and the day still runs 10 hours.
Route
How does the day work?
Sunrise photography on the southeast coast starts a day of mountain views and temple grounds before the North Shore.
- 45 min
1. Sandy Beach
The day begins here for sunrise photographs. You watch the light reach the coast near Halona.
- 20 min
2. Makapuu Lookout
The viewpoint looks across the bay from the cliffs. The guide can help you spot details in the view.
- 20 min
3. Koolau Mountains
Take time to frame the Koolau cliffs during this mountain photo stop.
- 45 min
4. Kalapawai Market
The market stop gives you time for coffee and breakfast. Food is bought separately.
- 15 min
5. Leonard's Malasada Mobile
A Leonard's malasada is provided during this short stop. You don't need to buy the included pastry.
- 20 min
6. Byodo-In Temple
You can photograph the temple against the mountains. Its grounds and architecture are the focus here.
- 20 min
7. Kualoa Regional Park
Mokolii is the offshore subject for your photos. Your guide can help position the shot from the park.
- 15 min
8. Kahuku Farms
The roadside stop offers fruit and snacks to buy. It's a break along the North Shore drive.
- 20 min
9. Kawela Bay
The bay stop includes a large banyan tree. You can photograph the shore and its tree canopy.
- 20 min
10. Banzai Pipeline
The surf break gives you a chance to photograph waves and surfers. The scene depends on conditions.
- pass by
11. Sharks Cove
The vehicle passes the cove. You don't stop to snorkel here.
- 60 min
12. Haleiwa
Free time lets you explore shops or find lunch. The town visit is on foot at your own pace.
- 20 min
13. Haleiwa Beach Park
The guide looks for turtles at a North Shore beach. Wildlife sightings aren't guaranteed.
Sunrise has 45 minutes and the breakfast stop has another 45 minutes. Haleiwa gets 60 minutes later in the day. The 10-hour trip finishes back at your Waikiki pickup or the zoo meeting point.
Pickup and meeting point
- Arrange collection: Check the exact pickup time directly with Oahu Photo Tours before departure. Only selected Waikiki hotels are served, so your booking alone doesn't settle the meeting point.
- Meeting at the zoo: The meeting point is the parking lot entrance across from Queen Kapiolani Hotel. Guests staying outside Waikiki meet here at Honolulu Zoo.
- Contact channel: Pickup arrangements go by phone or email to the tour team. The booking page's message system isn't monitored for these details.
- Morning clothing: A light jacket helps if you're sensitive to the early chill. Comfortable shoes and a bag you can carry at every stop suit the day.
Before you book
- A phone camera is enough for this tour. You don't need a separate camera to join the photographer guide.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
This fits you if sunrise photographs justify an early alarm followed by 10 hours out. Your group has no more than seven guests. It's suitable for phone photography as well as cameras, with a photographer guide helping during the stops.
The waterfall photo day starts at 7 a.m. and visits Waimea, from $185 per adult. For guide photos during a shorter outing, Aloha Ke Akua's lookouts cost from $77 per adult.
Who it's not for
- Guests unwilling to leave before sunrise
- Travelers unable to manage moderate walking
- Anyone wanting an ocean snorkeling stop
Good to know
Know before you go
A light jacket is useful if you feel cold before sunrise. Your shoes should be comfortable for the stops, with a bag small enough to carry throughout.
Moderate fitness is required for this day of photography and walking. The small vehicle doesn't remove the physical demands of getting around the stops.
Child tickets cover ages 0 to 12, with an adult required in each booking. Ask Oahu Photo Tours about a car seat for a baby before booking.
Check collection directly by phone or email before departure. Unsettled pickup details can lead to a missed tour without a refund, even when you already have a booking.
A full refund requires at least 24 hours of notice before departure. Later cancellations don't qualify, so deciding to sleep in can cost the tour payment.
The mobile booking accepts 1 to 7 travelers. Seven is also the shared minivan limit, though booking fewer places doesn't reserve the vehicle for your party.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
Waterfall photos with a later start
Oahu Day Tour with Waterfalls Food Trucks and Lookout PointsThe waterfall route departs at 7 a.m. with a photographer guide and Waimea admission. It costs from $185 per adult.
★ 5.0 · 1,099 reviews · from $185 per adult
Photos during a shorter outing
Half-Day Scenic Tour with 7 LookoutsAloha Ke Akua includes guide photos on morning or afternoon lookout visits. The price starts from $77 per adult.
★ 4.9 · 1,130 reviews · from $77 per adult
Temple sightseeing without a dawn start
Oahu Circle Island Tour with Byodo-In TempleGo Tours visits Byodo-In Temple on its 9-hour sightseeing circuit departing at 7 a.m. You pay from $159 per adult.
★ 4.9 · 4,334 reviews · from $159 per adult
All 14 tours in the list “Circle island tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- What does Oahu Photo Tours' sunrise trip include for the price?
The price from $175 per adult covers the photographer guide and Byodo-In Temple admission. Transport from the arranged meeting point is included. Your breakfast and lunch need a separate budget during the 10-hour outing.
- Do you need a camera for Oahu Photo Tours' sunrise trip?
No, a phone is enough to take part in the photography stops. The guide travels with up to seven guests over a 10-hour route. You don't need to buy a separate camera just to join the outing.
- How early does Oahu Photo Tours' sunrise route leave?
Starts range from 4:45 to 6 a.m., with your date's pickup arranged directly. The route is built around sunrise, so these aren't interchangeable late-morning departures. Your collection message needs to settle when and where you wait.
- Does Oahu Photo Tours' sunrise day include time in Haleiwa?
Yes, you get 60 minutes to explore Haleiwa on foot. That stop can be used for lunch or browsing the shops. It follows the earlier photo locations, so you don't need to plan a separate town visit into this tour.
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.