Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore
Around the east end of Oʻahu from Honolulu, past a crater, a snorkelling bay and a blowhole to the Windward coast and the North Shore surf towns.
- Distance
- 107 km (66 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 11 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 8
- States
- HI
- Updated
- May 23, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 107 km (66 mi) with 8 stops, from Honolulu to Haleiwa. About 1 h 11 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Hawaii
Route description
Start early at Diamond Head State Monument, the crater behind Waikīkī. Out-of-state visitors must book entry and parking online, and the steep trail of 1.6 miles round trip is hot by mid-morning. Then follow Kalanianaʻole Highway (SR-72) east past Kāhala and Hawaiʻi Kai to Hanauma Bay, a sheltered crater bay with reef fish and turtles.
Hanauma Bay requires an online reservation, a short film and an entrance fee for visitors, and it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Just east, Hālona Blowhole shoots spray from the sea cliff when the swell is up. The Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail is a paved walk of about two miles round trip with views of the Windward coast; it has no shade.
SR-72 continues past Waimānalo’s long beach and joins roads through Kailua and Kāneʻohe to Kamehameha Highway (SR-83) along the Windward coast. Kualoa Regional Park faces the islet of Mokoliʻi with the fluted Koʻolau cliffs rising behind. The road here runs close to the water through small villages and fruit stands, and traffic is slow.
Kamehameha Highway rounds the northern tip to the North Shore, where the waves at Waimea Bay reach 30 feet in winter but are calm in summer. Parking is small, so come early. End at Haleʻiwa, a surf town with shave ice and galleries, about an hour from Honolulu via H-2. Camping is allowed only at designated parks with a county or state permit.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Honolulu
HI - 29 km
Diamond Head State Monument
ViewsHonolulu, HIThe tuff crater behind Waikīkī, climbed on a steep trail of 1.6 miles round trip with stairs and old bunkers. Out-of-state visitors must reserve entry and parking online; start early to avoid the heat.
- 314 km
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
NatureHonolulu, HIA sheltered bay in a volcanic crater with reef fish and green turtles, popular for snorkelling. Visitors need an online reservation and watch a short film first; it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
- 43 km
Hālona Blowhole
NatureHonolulu, HIA lava tube in the sea cliff that shoots spray skyward when swells run, at a lookout on Kalanianaʻole Highway. Whales pass in winter; the small car park turns over quickly.
- 54 km
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
ViewsWaimānalo, HIA paved path of about two miles round trip to lookouts above a red-roofed lighthouse and the Windward coast. It is exposed with no shade; go in the morning, and look for humpbacks in winter.
- 637 km
Kualoa Regional Park
NatureKāneʻohe, HIA beach park facing the islet of Mokoliʻi, with the fluted Koʻolau cliffs behind. It has picnic lawns and permitted camping; park along the grass and watch the currents offshore.
- 733 km
Waimea Bay Beach Park
NatureHaleiwa, HIA wide bay on the North Shore, calm for swimming in summer and home to huge surf in winter. The car park is small and fills quickly; do not enter the water when the waves are big.
- 88 km
Haleiwa
HI
FAQs
How long is Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore?
2-day road trip of about 107 km (66 mi) with 8 stops, from Honolulu to Haleiwa. About 1 h 11 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore?
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 11 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore start and end?
It starts in Honolulu and ends in Haleiwa.
Which states does Oʻahu circle: Diamond Head to the North Shore pass through?
Hawaii.
