Tantalus and Round Top Drive: A Winding Retreat Above Honolulu

High above the pulse of Honolulu, where the city dissolves into tropical ridgelines and leafy canopies, Tantalus and Round Top Drive curve through one of Oahu’s most captivating scenic experiences. This narrow, twisting loop road rises from the heart of Makiki and snakes up through the lush slopes of Mount Tantalus before curling back down in a leafy descent. It's a route that delivers sweeping panoramas, the scent of eucalyptus, and a sense of escape within minutes of Waikiki.

1. A Drive Through the Clouds and Trees

The nine-mile loop known as Round Top Drive and Tantalus Drive offers a highland escape with views that stretch from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor. As you ascend, the road narrows and weaves through thick tree tunnels, where the air is noticeably cooler and tinged with the fragrance of guava and wild ginger. The canopy overhead dapples the pavement with soft light. On quieter stretches, the rustle of leaves competes only with the distant call of birds.

Built in the early 20th century, this roadway began as a gravel path in 1917 and was paved two decades later. Today, seven miles of it are listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places—the first road on Oahu to be honored this way. That history is felt in every curve, where ironwood trees, shower blossoms, and jacarandas line the bends with bursts of yellow and purple in the fall months.