Honolulu may be paradise, but it’s still a major metropolitan city with traffic and parking challenges. For clients who want to explore its visitor highlights without the driving logistics, Pedal Bike Tours’ Hidden Honolulu itinerary is a breezy solution.
Dubbed a “no-spandex ride,” the three-hour tour appeals to cyclists of all stripes. Pedal Bike Tours provides all the necessary gear, including helmets, bottled water and easy-to-ride bicycles with pouches for carrying small items. Guides keep the cycling speed manageable for everyone. The flat, 12-mile route runs along sidewalks or protected bike lanes, making it a scenic, relaxing way to see some of Honolulu’s key sites.
Guests check in at Pedal Bike Tours’ headquarters in Waikiki, across from the Honolulu Zoo. After a safety briefing and riding instructions — including testing each bike’s bell — the group heads off toward some of the city’s landmarks, with lots of stops for conversation, information and photo ops.
Beautiful Beaches and Creative Graffiti
A spin along Waikiki’s Ala Wai Canal takes the group to the Hawaii Convention Center, where they will pause to admire its architecture and landscape. A tree-lined path leads to the beach and the recreation mecca of Ala Moana Park; then, guests cycle to Fisherman’s Wharf, which is evolving into a food-truck hub. Next, clients ride to Point Panic, a local surf spot with views of Diamond Head.
The group wheels through the neighborhood of Kakaako, where guides talk about its past identity as an industrial center and its current status as an urban art center. As participants peruse colorful street murals filling entire walls of old buildings, they learn about the area’s future as a residential and commercial center.
Historical Sites and Open Markets
Throughout the tour, it’s easy to roll right up to Honolulu’s historical landmarks. The group stops at Mission Houses Historic Site, where Oahu’s first missionaries lived. Clients see the gold-leaf statue of King Kamehameha fronting Aliiolani Hale, home of Hawaii’s supreme court. They also pose for pictures by Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on U.S. soil.
A cruise through Honolulu’s downtown sector leads guests to Chinatown and its exotic open markets, with time out for a fresh fruit smoothie. The final stop downtown is the Hawaii State Capitol building, whose distinctive open-air design was inspired by Hawaii’s volcanoes.
Paddling Clubs and Community Gardens
The last leg of the tour runs through local neighborhoods with singsong names such as Moiliili and Kapahulu. A jaunt along the other side of Ala Wai Canal passes an outrigger canoe club, community gardens and a popular city golf course. As the group rides down Kapahulu Avenue toward Waikiki, guides point out some of their favorite eateries.
At the end of the tour, participants come away with an in-depth, insider’s knowledge of Hawaii’s most vibrant city. For clients who want to extend the pedal party, the company rents road bikes, tandems, kids’ bikes and trailers.
Rates for the Hidden Honolulu tour are $69 per person, and agent commission is 20 percent.
The Details
Pedal Bike Tourswww.pedalbiketours.com
