Honolulu’s Backyard Rainforest Tour

Duration
2-4 hrs
Audio Points
78
Tour Stops
10

About The Tour

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, ...

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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

Sample Tour Audio

Manoa Falls Intro
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Lyon Arboretum Intro
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Chinese Cemetery
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Tour Stops

Waioli Bakeshop
Chinatown, Honolulu
Foster Botanical Garden
Lyon Arboretum
Tantalus Lookout
Manoa Falls Hike
Punchbowl Memorial Visitor Center
Manoa Chinese Cemetery
Liliuokalani Botanical Garden
Tantalus Arboretum Hike

Tour Route


Customer Reviews

(76489)

The best!

Why go on a tour of the Hawaiian islands stuck in a bus with a ton of strangers when you can ride with your family in your rental car with an excellent narrator, guided by your exact GPS location. I use this when visiting Maui and again this week in Oahu and both were so well done and worth every penny.

SkiPow54 | 5 days ago | iOS

Oahu No Sho Tour

Love Shaka but rough start from Ko Olina with the app’s directions to the starting point. It tired to have us do 2 illegal u turns as directed to Apple Maps and did not guide us about staying out of express lane to exit 8B. It just played happy music while we got 30 min off track.

CO Mtn Family | 1 month ago | iOS

Great Travel Partner

We used Shaka tours on Oahu and Maui and loved having a tour guide. The directions were accurate and extremely helpful. We got a great overview of both islands, learned a bit of history, and enjoyed the music. We'll take them with us again soon!

Selmoseven | 2 months ago | iOS

Best Tour & App!

So glad we were told of Shaka Guide Tours when we visited Oahu! So easy to use, directions were spot on, locations were all the popular ones & local treasures that you’d never find on your own. And you hear stories, legend, history, & location themed music while traveling between points of interest. (If for some reason you don’t want to hear anything but directions you have that choice. I’d recommend enjoying all that is included in your tour.) I have done all of the Shaka Guide’s Oahu tours every time I go visit my family that moved to Oahu, and love it each time! I’ve also done other locations that Shaka Guide has done, and all have been Grrreat! They are expanding to many other locations, & I’m very excited about that bc I’ve never experienced a travel tour like Shaka! 😎🤙

BigkidTam | 2 months ago | iOS

Oahu North Shore

The best! We found Shaka on our trip to Maui a few years ago and we couldn’t imagine another trip without him! Driving in unfamiliar areas can be so stressful and distracting. The directions and suggestions keep us on track and stress-free. 🤙

Smomz | 2 months ago | iOS

Amazing!

Such a fun way to explore somewhere new! We used it on Oahu and got to just relax and follow along on our drive. Gave us all the tips on places to eat and explore and even kept our little one engaged. Highly recommend!

NattyPNW | 2 months ago | iOS

Great trip today

My wife and I did the loop around the North Shore today and decided to use the Shaka Guide to fill in things we may have missed in the past. The narration was spot on, directions were clear, and the narrator was delightful. In between narration we were treated to wonderful Hawaiian music. Great way to spend the afternoon. Thank you.

The Duke of Wainright | 2 months ago | iOS

Best Tour Guide

This was a great tour. We started on Waikiki and it was as if a guide was with us. We’ve been to Hawaii more than 3 times and we learned things we never heard before. We appreciated being able to stop and pause and resume later. The GPS on the app was fantastic and the best part was when the tour ended the guide directed us back to our start point. We highly recommend this app. If we could, we would have left a tip. lol

Shina B | 3 months ago | iOS

Excellent tours!

We’ve used Shaka Guide on Maui, Kauai, and Oahu and it’s absolutely wonderful. Very entertaining and take the guesswork out of taking a road trip!

MehtaFamily2003 | 3 months ago | iOS

I don't usually care that much about the history of the places I travel to as I enjoy natural scenery but this guide exceeded my expectations, I just did the Kauai North shore tour and it was great and worked well. I just hope they can get it working in Android Auto soon.

Matthew S. | 4 months ago | Android

Where is Honolulu located?

Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii, USA. Situated in the central Pacific Ocean, it is the capital and largest city of Hawaii. With its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and historical significance, Honolulu is a popu...

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What to do in Honolulu?

Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii, USA. Situated in the central Pacific Ocean, it is the capital and largest city of Hawaii. With its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and historical significance, Honolulu is a popu...

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Which Hawaiian island is Honolulu on?

Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu, one of the major Hawaiian islands. Oahu is known for its diverse landscapes, including pristine beaches, lush mountains, and vibrant urban centers. Honolulu serves as the cultural, economic, and political...

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What is an Audio Tour Guide?

Think of us as your personal tour guide in an app. Our tours provide everything a guided tour does, but with the freedom to explore on your terms. Here's how it works:

  • GPS triggers audio narration to play automatically as you drive or walk.
  • Listen to stories, get local insights, visit must-see stops and get turn-by-turn navigation.
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Tour FAQs

Where does the Honolulu Backyard Rainforest tour go?
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 TrailNational Memorial of the Pacific Liliʻuokalani Botanical GardenFoster Botanical GardenShimazu 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!
What should I pack for the Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Tour?
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 
Can I join the Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest tour along the route?
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.
Can I take the Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest tour in the opposite direction?
No, this tour can only be done counterclockwise, beginning and ending in Waikiki. 
Other Questions? Contact us!
Still have questions? Send us an email at aloha@shakaguide.com or give us a call at (808) 201-8138.

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