13 Audio Tours on Oahu to Build a Day Around

1.Diamond Head Official Self-Guided Narrated Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 212 reviews · 1 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $8Our pick

Hike Diamond Head with a narrated audio guide covering Hawaiian legends, military history, plants, wildlife, geography, music, and scenery. You collect the device at the Diamond Head Visitor Center, receive earphones and a color map, then walk the moderate 1.6-mile trail at your own pace. Park entry and parking cost extra.

“Make sure you have a reservation. Ask for the QR code to reserve if you show up without advanced reservation. I didn’t even get to participate in the hike because I apparently purchased the wrong tickets and got ripped off because they wouldn’t give me a refund.”

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2.Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum Ticket with Audio Tour and Shuttle

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $29

Visit Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum in two hangars that survived the 1941 attack. Your $29.99 ticket includes shuttle service, priority entry, and an audio tour in six languages, with aircraft, veteran stories, WWII footage, and MiG Alley.

“I'm an aviation enthusiast and love looking at aircraft, even different entities of the same model. It was a great experience talking to the team and getting a few inside stories about 'Swamp Ghost'.”

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3.Oahu Grand Circle Island Audio Driving Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.)

Drive Oahu’s full circle with the Shaka Guide app as your private audio companion. You’ll follow GPS directions to Byodo-in Temple, Laie Point, North Shore surf beaches, Waimea Valley, Haleiwa, Dole Plantation, and more. Stop, skip, pause, or spread the tour across several days.

“Great tour with directions, Stories and music ! Loved that you could stop when wanted and pick up right away! Loved the tips!”

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4.Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Oahu Hawaii

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 30 reviews · 15 to 16 hours (approx.)

GuideAlong’s self-guided Oahu audio tour turns your rental car into a private sightseeing vehicle. Download the English commentary before leaving Wi-Fi, then follow GPS-triggered stories around North Shore, Windward Oahu, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and more. Stop, skip, or resume whenever you like.

“What a great app to use to travel around Oahu! Full of great information and wish we had it when traveling Maui.”

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5.Amazing Oahu Adventure Bundle: 6 Self-Guided Audio Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 25 reviews · 4 days (approx.)

You get six self-guided Shaka Guide audio tours for one vehicle and up to 15 people. GPS triggers stories, directions, Hawaiian music, and food tips as you drive. Use the tours over four days or save them for later. Download everything on Wi-Fi before setting out.

“The Chief’s Luau was so magnificent from the four opening stations with activities that explained some skills of the Polynesian people through the dinner and the final performances of the 5 different places in that History of Hawai’i through dance and music.”

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6.Best Oahu Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour: Beaches, History & More

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 10 reviews · 4 to 6 hours (approx.)

Use Action’s GPS-guided app to tour Oahu at your own pace, from Pearl Harbor to Dole Plantation. The private tour includes more than 78 English audio stories, offline maps, and lifetime access for one car of up to four people. Plan 4 to 6 hours, plus time for stops and detours.

“This was a really great way to have the island explained to us on our time! We didn’t do all of the tours, but we did do the grand circle island. We were able to divide the tour into two days. Circling backwards from where we had ended the day prior.”

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7.Oahu’s North Shore Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 9 reviews · 8 to 10 hours (approx.)

Drive Oahu’s North Shore with the Shaka Guide app as your hands-free audio companion. Follow GPS directions from Waikiki, hear local stories and music, and stop for malasadas, turtles, temples, beaches, shave ice, shrimp, and movie sites. The tour is in English, works offline, and costs $15.99 per vehicle group.

“We started at Ko olina - The directions did not line up with the gentleman speaking on the self guide tour. We literally returned to the starting point 4 different times- to try to get on the right path. For example we never got on H2, when the tour said we would be on three lanes we were on two, when we exited number 3 for the botanical garden there wasn’t one- because we were not on the right freeway to begin with. The other drawback is the Ko Olina starting point isn’t the beginning of the tour and no where is that stated. It is a great idea -…”

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8.Downtown Honolulu Self Guided Walking Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 6 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $9

Walk from Aloha Tower Marketplace through downtown Honolulu with an audio guide covering King Kamehameha, Kawaiahaʻo Church, ʻIolani Palace, Queen Liliʻuokalani, Patsy Mink, and more. The app works offline, starts stories by location, and lets you pause, skip, or return anytime.

“That finding the app to get the audio was so hard, that I stopped trying and we just walked around. Need to make it easier for those who not techie.”

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9.Honolulu Historic District a Smartphone Audio Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $10

Use your phone to follow a GPS-guided outdoor walk through central Honolulu. Hear stories about Hawaiian royalty, Aliʻiolani Hale, King Kamehameha I, Queen Emma, Iolani-era landmarks, Chinatown’s edge, and unusual public art. Download the tour first, then go at your own pace.

“Longer than expected, but we went early enough in the morning to avoid heat and sunAuto-translated”

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10.Honolulu Rainforest Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 6 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.)

Drive from Waikiki into Manoa Valley with the Shaka Guide app leading the way. You’ll hear Hawaiian stories, music, directions, and stop-by-stop tips while visiting Manoa Falls, Lyon Arboretum, Punchbowl, Chinatown, and Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Park. The tour works offline and never expires.

“Great navigation and history. Folloewd a perfect pace and could stop and start as needed. Wonderful options to stop and experience trails and nature. Narrator tends to undersell the level of difficulty but still awesome. Loved it!!”

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11.East Oahu Shoreline Self-Guided Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 11 to 12 hours (approx.) Top rated

Drive from Waikiki around Oahu’s east shore with the Shaka Guide app as your private audio guide. Follow GPS directions to Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Makapuʻu, Kailua, Lanikai, the Pali Lookout, and more. Stop, skip, or pause whenever you like. One purchase covers your whole vehicle.

“This was an EXCELLENT audio tour. The narration was entertaining and informative and the directions were spot on. One word of caution, be sure to find out the hours of any place you want to visit, as some close earlier than would be expected (ie: you can’t drive to the summit of Diamond Head after 4 pm). Otherwise, this was the best of both worlds because you could enjoy the island at your own pace, but had the knowledge of an experienced guide at the same time.”

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12.Waikiki Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 3 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.)

Use the Shaka Guide app to explore Waikiki at your own pace, from Princess Bernice Pauahi’s statue to Duke Kahanamoku’s beachfront monument. GPS-triggered narration shares local history, surf stories, music, directions, and stop tips. The private tour costs $4 per group of up to 15.

“This is such a great concept and is great way to learn about some of the historic icons in the area. I will definitely use the Shaka guide tours in the future.”

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13.Honolulu’s Waikiki Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · 1 to 2 hours (approx.) · from $9

Walk Waikiki at your own pace with an English audio guide covering healing sites, royal figures, Duke Kahanamoku, famous hotels, beaches, statues, and the Waikiki Wall. The app works offline, uses GPS to trigger stories, and gives you lifetime access with no guide or fixed departure time.

“The walking tour was extremely informative. I learned other things regarding the island that I didn’t learn from in person tours. I’m assuming when the tour was originally created there was a boardwalk, however we was able to walk on the main street to still hear the tour.”

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