9 Best Honolulu Local Tours

Aloha Food Tours has been providing tours in Honolulu for almost five years. Customers are able to experience the melting pot of Hawaiian cuisine by visiting a number of eateries while also learning about the local culture and history for an authentic, native experience. The walking tour lasts two and a half hours and features locally-owned, independent restaurants and specialty food shops that are heavily Asian-influenced. Specific tours include the Ala Moana Area Hawaii Local Eats Tour, Best of Chinatown Tour, self-guided tours, and custom private food tours for groups as well. Additional activities people can learn about and book on Aloha Food Tours' website include Hawaiian Watersports, X-treme Parasail, Rainbow Scuba Hawaii, Dolphin Excursions, and Hawaii Shark Encounter. The founder was born and raised in Hawaii with a diverse family heritage and daily cuisine and aims to allow locals and tourists alike a taste of the real Hawaii.

Dolphins and You is a tour company in Honolulu, Hawaii. For more than 30 years the firm has shared Hawaiian culture and natural marine adventures with tourists, becoming the first Hawaiian state-permitted wild dolphin swimming tour. Tours begin by reciting a chant to the gods of the sea for a safe trip with plentiful dolphins. Visitors then swim with dolphins, snorkel with tropical fish, kayak and paddleboard. Trips end with the crew's hula show and group dancing.

Hawaii Food Tours® has been a Honolulu local tour company for almost 15 years. Visitors to the area can take in the local sights and tastes via the Hole-in-the-Wall Tour® with authentic local "comfort foods" or the North Shore Food Tour® with delicious food along with some wondrous scenery. Tours can be booked directly on the company's website, and tour groups include no more than 13 guests for personalized services on every outing. Hawaii Food Tours has won a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor six years in a row as well as the Readers' Choice award from About.com in 2012 and 2013 and has also been featured on the Food Network. Hawaii Food Tours® was founded by famed celebrity chef and food writer Chef Matthew Gray, who is considered one of the first in the Culinary Tourism industry and has had multiple radio appearances as well.

Home of the Brave Tours has been offering local tours in Honolulu since 1991. The group is famous for its tour of the sites attacked at Pearl Harbor back in 1941 as well as other military bases and excursions with options such as Pearl Harbor Remembered, the Majestic Circle Island Tour, Pearl Harbor: Air, Land, & Sea Tour, Waikele Shopping, and the East Oahu Shoreline Tour. Visitors also get to view history via the largest private collection of WWII artifacts and memorabilia in the Pacific, and the museum is home to a micro-brewery as well, which serves up some of Hawaii's finest craft beers and canteen food while paying homage to the WWII era. Home of the Brave Tours is part of Tomlinson Corporation, which runs Home of the Brave Tours, Home of the Brave Brewing Company, Home of the Brave Brewseum, Top Gun Tours, Koa Surf Classics, and the WWII museum as well.

Oahu Tours is a Honolulu local tour company. The group has a reputation for the best deals and widest selection of tours with options such as The Monarch's Tour for some history, various luaus, Oahu sightseeing including a North Shore Adventure, the Oahu Circle Island Tour, and a number of Pearl Harbor tours. Visitors can also take advantage of day trips to neighboring islands such as the Hawaii Volcano Tours, Magnificent Maui, and One Day Kauai Waimea Canyon Tour, and there is an Oahu Ghost Tour as well. Additional activities include Hanauma Bay Snorkel Trip, Dolphin Cruise, a dinner cruise and various night shows, helicopter tours, and also nature excursions to a local waterfall, crater, and other island sights. Oahu Tours is a Member of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, and the company can also assist with needed car rentals, air flights, and hotel reservations as well.

Royal Star Hawaii has been offering local tours in Honolulu for over 20 years. The “Aloha on Wheels®” group provides motorcoach tours and destination services via a first-rate fleet including Deluxe Royal Gold Motorcoaches, Deluxe Royal Gold Temsa Mini Coaches, Royal Silver Motorcoaches, and an Executive Car Division. The company makes driver safety a priority with ongoing quality control checks, and all mechanics complete programs such as ASE certification and MCI factory training. Royal Star Hawaii boasts being the first and only service to offer a fleet that is fully seat-belted along with an On-Time Guarantee® and also offers motorcoaches with on-board bathrooms as well as handicapped accommodations. Airport transports, charters for group outings and weddings, and Lei Greeting services are also available, and visitors can book an Arizona Memorial, City & USS Missouri Tour right on the company's site. Royal Star Hawaii is associated with the United Motorcoach Association and the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, and its parent company, Stars of Paradise Tours & Attractions, offers award-winning cruises, shows, and events as well.

Segway of Hawaii-Kailua has been a local tour company in Kailua for over five years. The family-run group aims to provide an eco-friendly alternative to car and bus tours with fun, safe, and green Segway tours. Guides speak both English and Japanese and take visitors on the Kailua Bay & Lanikai Beach Tour, the Kailua Aloha Tour, the Kailua Historical & Nature Tour, and the VIP Segway Tour, which offers a combo package of different key spots. Tourists can also opt for the Private Segway Glide Tour, which can be fully customized per the client's desires and can include scavenger hunts, obstacle courses, and Segway polo. Segway of Hawaii-Kailua can also make special arrangements for business parties, birthdays, and family outings, and those interested can also purchase a Segway from the company as well. Segway of Hawaii-Kailua won a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor in 2014, and all guests must complete an orientation training before heading out on a tour.

Shaka Tours brings years of experience in local tours to the Honolulu area. The team prides itself on its wealth of local knowledge and expertise on the area and offers a wide range of tours including private custom tours, air tours such as the Hidden Oahu Helicopter Tour, island hopping, and eco tours including the Hawaiian Rainforest and Waterfall Hike. Visitors can also take advantage of various ocean activities, sightseeing, luaus and shows, attractions, and expeditions such as the Maui Haleakala Crater Expedition. Some of the more popular options have included the Hilo Volcano Special Tour, Hawaii Turtle Tours, Polynesian Cultural Center, Wild Dolphin Swim, and Germaine's Luau, and interested parties can peruse details for all tours and activities on the company's website. Shaka Tours is registered in the State of Hawaii, is insured and licensed, and has obtained proper permits as well, and customers can also check the group's website for discounted car rentals.

The Surf Bus handles local tours for visitors to the area of Haleiwa. The family-run team offers a taste of genuine North Shore living on the beaches of Oahu with local guides who live the life every day. Visitors can take a sightseeing/history tour along the coast, stop at famous beaches including Pipeline and Sunset Beach as well as the town of Haleiwa and can then decide to bike ride, snorkel, surf, bodyboard, kayak, paddleboard, or just relax on the beach. Customers can also opt for a surfing or stand up paddle lesson with a licensed instructor, take a nature walk to a waterfall for a swim, or even take a shark dive. All activities are self-guided, but equipment, locations, and safety briefings are provided, and pricing is available on The Surf Bus' website along with a gallery of photos. The Surf Bus is a Member of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau as well.