Hawaii

HONOLULU'S BACKYARD RAINFOREST TOUR

DurationDuration 2-4 hrs
DirectionTour Directions 1
tour Tour Stops 11
$9.99

Description

See a rarely explored corner of Honolulu! Hawaii's bustling capital may be known for its beaches and high-rise buildings but did you know just a few minutes away there's a lush forest with hiking trails? On this tour, you'll visit a waterfall hike, a 200-acre garden, Honolulu's historic Chinatown district, and a lookout with stunning views of the city's skyline.

Here are just a few of the fun things you can do on the tour!

•⁠ Hike to Manoa Falls
•⁠ Visit Tantalus Lookout
•⁠ Try local Poke
•⁠ Stroll through Lyon Arboretum
•⁠ Take a walk through Chinatown

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Recommended Start Time: Before 11:00 a.m.
Tour Starting Point(s): Waikiki
Direction: Loop, ending where you began

All Shaka Guide tours come with customer support and a satisfaction guarantee. Tours never expire.

Tour Stops

Preview Audio

Start Of Tour Waikiki
MOUNT TANTALUS

Tour Route

Important Travel Info

Safety & Etiquette
Budgeting, Fees & Reservations
Time & Schedule
Suggested Packing List

In Hawaiian the word malama means “to take care” and the word aina means “land.” When you’re in Hawaii, we ask that you practice this and pick up your trash; respect the marine life, plants, and animals; and avoid spots that are unsafe. Hawaii’s natural resources are precious, it’s up to all of us to help preserve these resources for generations by respecting the aina when you visit. 

  • $5: parking at Manoa Falls (cash only)
  • $5 per person: Foster Botanical Garden
    • Children 6-12: $1, children under 5: free
  • $1 - $10: Donation at Lyon Arboretum (no official entrance fee)
  • $5: Shave Ice at Shimazu Shave Ice

We recommend you start the tour before 11am to make sure you get to all the stops before they close!

  • Expect to spend 3-5 hours on the tour.
  • Lyon Arboretum is open from 9am – 3pm on weekdays and is closed on weekends. There’s no admission fee but a donation is recommended.
  • Tantalus Lookout is open daily from 7am – 7:45pm
  • Lili’uokalani Botanical Garden is open daily from 9am – 4pm.
  • National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is open daily from 8am - 6pm.
  • Foster Botanical Garden is open daily from 9am - 4pm.
  • Very Important: Car Charger
  • Sneakers 
  • Hiking Clothes 
  • Water Bottle 
  • Bug Spray (rainforest = mosquitoes) 
  • Towel 
  • Bathing Suit 
  • Sandals 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Sun Glasses and/or Hat 
  • Snacks 
  • Cash 
  • Phone Mount

Tour FAQs

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
  • Foster Botanical Garden
  • Shimazu Shave Ice 
  • Chinatown 

For help planning your day check out our Honolulu Backyard Rainforest Tour suggested itinerary and here's everything you need to know before you go!

Here’s our packing list for this tour. It may seem a little long, but remember, what you bring depends on the activities you choose to do for the day. 

  • Sneakers 
  • Hiking Clothes 
  • Water Bottle 
  • Bug Spray (rainforest = mosquitoes) 
  • Towel 
  • Bathing Suit 
  • Sandals 
  • Sunscreen 
  • Sun Glasses and/or Hat 
  • Snacks 
  • Cash 
  • Car Charger *Very Important*
  • Phone Mount 

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.

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



Do you have other questions that we didn’t list here? 

Feel free to message us through the in-app chat box, Facebook Messenger, our emailor give us a call at 1-888-250-2261. We will be glad to help and answer your questions as soon as possible!


Mahalo,

Shaka Guide

Purchase BundlePurchase Bundle & Save

Oahu Driving & Walking Tour Bundle

$29.99
$59.9850% off

  • GRAND CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR
    GRAND CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR
  • EAST OAHU SHORELINE DRIVE
    EAST OAHU SHORELINE DRIVE
  • HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HONOLULU TOUR
    HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HONOLULU TOUR
  • HONOLULU'S BACKYARD RAINFOREST TOUR
    HONOLULU'S BACKYARD RAINFOREST TOUR
  • HEART OF WAIKIKI WALKING TOUR
    HEART OF WAIKIKI WALKING TOUR
  • LEGENDARY NORTH SHORE LOOP
    LEGENDARY NORTH SHORE LOOP

Hawaii Tour Bundle Collection

$79.99
$159.98 50% off

  • HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK TOUR
    HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK TOUR
  • NORTH ISLAND JUNGLE ADVENTURE LOOP
    NORTH ISLAND JUNGLE ADVENTURE LOOP
  • KOHALA COAST BACKCOUNTRY TOUR
    KOHALA COAST BACKCOUNTRY TOUR
  • SOUTH ISLAND EPIC COASTAL JOURNEY
    SOUTH ISLAND EPIC COASTAL JOURNEY
  • KONA BIG KAHUNA TOUR
    KONA BIG KAHUNA TOUR
  • NORTH SHORE KAUAI DRIVING TOUR
    NORTH SHORE KAUAI DRIVING TOUR
  • WAIMEA AND NA PALI DRIVING TOUR
    WAIMEA AND NA PALI DRIVING TOUR
  • WAILUA VALLEY AND WATERFALLS TOUR
    WAILUA VALLEY AND WATERFALLS TOUR
  • POIPU AND KOLOA DRIVING TOUR
    POIPU AND KOLOA DRIVING TOUR
  • SUNRISE AT HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK TOUR
    SUNRISE AT HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK TOUR
  • CLASSIC ROAD TO HANA TOUR
    CLASSIC ROAD TO HANA TOUR
  • LOOP ROAD TO HANA (Road Closed)
    LOOP ROAD TO HANA (Road Closed)
  • REVERSE ROAD TO HANA (Road Closed)
    REVERSE ROAD TO HANA (Road Closed)
  • SUNSET AND STARGAZING HALEAKALA TOUR
    SUNSET AND STARGAZING HALEAKALA TOUR
  • WEST MAUI COASTLINE TOUR
    WEST MAUI COASTLINE TOUR
  • GRAND CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR
    GRAND CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR
  • EAST OAHU SHORELINE DRIVE
    EAST OAHU SHORELINE DRIVE
  • HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HONOLULU TOUR
    HISTORIC DOWNTOWN HONOLULU TOUR
  • HONOLULU'S BACKYARD RAINFOREST TOUR
    HONOLULU'S BACKYARD RAINFOREST TOUR
  • HEART OF WAIKIKI WALKING TOUR
    HEART OF WAIKIKI WALKING TOUR
  • LEGENDARY NORTH SHORE LOOP
    LEGENDARY NORTH SHORE LOOP
Your purchase gives back
Your purchase gives back
Tours never expire
Tours never expire
Money-back guaranteed
Money-back guaranteed

Customer Reviews

Maui

So helpful to people who want to see the sights and see things we never would have known about!!

McNeal Family

What an excellent way to enjoy the Road to Hana. Excellent tips and details of history to enjoy and explore. This was extremely helpful!

Great app

My mom and I used this on our trip to Maui and we loved it. The guid was fun to listen too and we liked the music.

How It Works

how-it-work-sl.svg

Explore on Your Terms

It's your vacation - what you see and do is up to you. You choose where to stop on the tour and how long to stay.

Authentic Storytelling

Every tour stop, story and song has been carefully curated so you can make the most of your vacation.

Let Us Be Your Guide

We use GPS to give you reliable, turn-by-turn navigation to our favorite spots. We’ve done the research so you don’t have to.

Download App to your iOS or Android device

Tours work offline

Audio tours play based on your GPS location

Turn-by-turn navigation

Listen to interesting stories

shaka guide app qr code

Download The Shaka Guide App

Get The
Shaka Guide App

download-app-sec-img.png