East Coast Circle Tour

Most of Oahu's visitors spend their days in Waikiki or head straight to Pearl Harbor - the windward coast barely gets a look-in. That's exactly the gap this east coast circle tour fills. Hawaii Rainbow Tours runs a 3-hour private loop that picks you up at your Waikiki hotel (9am or 1pm departures) and works its way around the eastern and windward side of the island before dropping you back where you started. Priced from $225 per group.

The routing covers a lot of ground that feels genuinely different from central Honolulu. Diamond Head Lookout kicks things off, then the tour moves through Kahala - the Beverly Hills of Oahu - and out to the Halona Blowhole Lookout - on a clear day you can make out Moloka'i on the horizon. Sandy Beach (President Obama's favorite beach) and Makapu'u Lookout follow, and then comes Waimanalo, with lush green valleys and ocean front living. The Pali Lookout is a highlight: the site of the battle of Nu'uanu, with views out over the windward plain. The tour also takes in locations used in Lost, Hawaii Five-0, and Journey to the Center of the Earth, among many other movies and TV shows filmed here.

Before the ride back to Waikiki, the tour swings through downtown Honolulu - the King Kamehameha Statue and Iolani Palace make for a solid finish.

In terms of fitting this into your trip: the morning departure works well if you want your afternoon free in Waikiki, while the 1pm slot suits a slow morning. If you've already ticked off Pearl Harbor or walked up Diamond Head, this east coast circle tour covers terrain that's genuinely worth your time, not just a repeat.

Private groups of up to 14 can book together - priced at $225 for 1-6 passengers, or $300 for 7-14. Note that cancellations require 48 hours' notice for a full refund; no-shows will be charged the full price.