Thinking about planning a trip to Oahu? Here is a sample itinerary for a perfect 7-day escape to add to your Oahu vacation planning...
If you're based out of Waikiki and have a rental car and are interested in both leisurely activities and adventure activities, then this itinerary is for you! It includes beach days, hiking, surfing, snorkeling, a luau, and gives you several days exploring Oahu from the South Shore, North Shore, and Windward side of the island.
DAY 1
SOUTH SHORE OF HONOLULU
Aloha! After checking in, spend your first day getting settled in. Walk along Waikiki Beach and head straight to Duke's Waikiki for a beach-side cocktail to start your vacation. Highly recommend their Mai Tai's!
Listen to the beach-side entertainment and watch the sunset from the beach. It's the perfect way to ease into your vacation.
DAY 2
WAIKIKI BEACH / SURF LESSONS / SUNSET CRUISE
Today is all about the beach! Spend the morning on Waikiki Beach - swim, relax, try some water sports, or just laze on the beach. For lunch head to The Beach Bar (2365 Kalakaua Ave.) located just steps from the beach.
Afterwards, if you're up for a surf lesson, head to the Waikiki Beach Center and sign up!
End your beach day with a sunset cruise - try Holokai Catamaran.
DAY 3
MAKAPU'U HIKE / PEARL HARBOR / LUAU
Begin the morning with a hike up to the Makapu'u lookouts. It's a paved hike and the views of Makapu'u Beach, Rabbit Island and Waimanalo Beach are worth the early morning hike. Plus you may get to see some whales!
Afterwards head to Honolulu for some well-deserved lunch, and then continue on to Pearl Harbor. Visit the USS Arizona, the memorial, and the museum.
Head back to Waikiki and end your day with a tasty meal and some entertainment at Hilton Hawaiian Village's Waikiki Starlight Luau!
DAY 4
LANIKAI PILLBOX HIKE / KAILUA / LANIKAI BEACH
Today is all about exploring the Windward side of the island. Start your day early and head to Cinnamon's for breakfast - try their oversized cinnamon buns. They're delicious!
Afterwards hike the Lanikai Pillbox Trail (or the Ka'iwa Ridge Trail). It has sweeping views of Lanikai Beach and Kailua from the ridge and you can even see the two offshore islands!
Afterwards grab lunch in Kailua and then head to Lanikai Beach and spend the afternoon on the beach.
DAY 5
NORTH SHORE / BEACH HOPPING / FOOD TRUCKS
There are so many beautiful beaches on the North Shore, so today is all about beach hopping and stopping at any roadside fruit stand. To get there take Hwy H-2 to Hale'iwa and head straight to Kono's for their breakfast burritos.
For your first beach, head to Waimea Bay (if you visit anytime in the Winter, you'll be able to see the huge waves and professional surfers!) Next, check out Sunset Beach.
For lunch, head to the food trucks in Kahuku - it's a food truck park, so you'll find shrimp trucks, Korean barbecue, Mexican, and Thai food trucks. Afterwards continue down the coastal Hwy 83 to Kahana Bay Beach. (Pictured above!)
Before your drive back to Waikiki, pull in to the Kualoa Beach Park so you can snap some pics of Chinaman's Hat.
DAY 6
SNORKELING / WAIMANALO BEACH / HONOLULU
Today is another beach today. Head to Hanauma Bay for some snorkeling. It does get crowded, so get there early to avoid the crowds.
Next head to Waimanalo for a quick and casual plate lunch - try Keneke's Plate Lunch & BBQ, it will surprise you. Next head to Waimanalo Beach. End your day back in Honolulu.
After dinner, walk around Honolulu - do some shopping, pick up some Honolulu Cookie Company cookies, and make sure to purchase a lei from one of the lei stands.
DAY 7
SOUTH SHORE OF HONOLULU / WAIKIKI
Make today any easy beach day and go to Waikiki Beach!
And I just want to add that because the weather and ocean conditions change daily that it's always best to check the daily forecast and the local ocean reports before you start each day so you can adjust this itinerary if need be.
If you followed this itinerary (or parts of it), please let me know how your vacation went!
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