To experience even a fraction of Oahu’s charms, you need a minimum of four days and a bus pass or car. The following itineraries will take you to our favorite spots on the island.
First Day in Waikiki
You’ll be up at dawn due to the time change and dead on your feet by afternoon due to jet lag. Have a dawn swim, change into walking gear, and head east along Kalakaua Avenue to Monsarrat Avenue toward Diamond Head. Either climb to the summit (about 1½ hours round-trip) or enjoy the view from the lookout. After lunch—there are plenty of options along Monsarrat—take a nap in the shade, do some shopping, or visit the nearby East Honolulu neighborhoods of Moiliili and Kaimuki, rife with small shops and quaint restaurants. End the day with an early and inexpensive dinner at a spot in one of these neighborhood.
Southeast and Windward Exploring
For sand, sun, and surf, follow H1 east to the keyhole-shaped Hanauma Bay for picture-perfect snorkeling, then round the southeast tip of the island with its windswept cliffs and the famous Halona Blowhole. Watch body surfers at Sandy Beach, or walk up the trail leading to the Makapuu Point Lighthouse. If you like, stop in at Sea Life Park. In Waimanalo, stop for a local-style plate lunch, or punch on through to Kailua, where there’s intriguing shopping and good eating. Lounge at Lanikai Beach until sunset, then grab dinner at one of the area’s many restaurants.
The North Shore
Hit H1 westbound and then H2 to get to the North Shore. You’ll pass through pineapple fields before dropping down a scenic winding road to Waialua and Haleiwa. Stop in Haleiwa town to shop, enjoy shave ice, and pick up a guided dive or snorkel trip. On winding Kamehameha Highway, stop at famous big-wave beaches, take a dip in a cove with a turtle, and buy fresh island fruit from roadside stands.
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Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is almost an all-day investment. Be on the grounds by 7:30 am to line up for USS Arizona Memorial tickets. Clamber all over the USS Bowfin submarine. Finally, take the free trolley to see the “Mighty Mo” battleship. If it’s Wednesday, Saturday, or Sunday, make the five-minute drive mauka (toward the mountains) for bargain-basement shopping at the sprawling Aloha Stadium Swap Meet.
Town Time
If you are interested in history, devote a day to Honolulu’s historic sites. Downtown, see Iolani Palace, the Kamehameha Statue, and Kawaiahao Church. A few blocks east, explore Chinatown, gilded Kuan Yin Temple, and artsy Nuuanu with its galleries. On the water is the informative Hawaii Maritime Center. Hop west on H1 to the Bishop Museum, the state’s anthropological and archaeological center. And 1 mile up Pali Highway is Queen Emma Summer Palace, whose shady grounds were a royal retreat. The Foster Botanical Garden is worth a visit for plant lovers.