5 days in Honolulu

Day by day

1. Day 1: Waikīkī Beach and Surf lesson at Waikīkī

   Waikīkī Beach, Surf lesson at Waikīkī and Honolulu Zoo, then Chinatown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Waikīkī Beach

      Free hula shows are held at the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound on several evenings a week around sunset. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Surf lesson at Waikīkī

      Book a morning lesson, when the wind is lighter, and wear a rash guard to avoid board rash and sunburn. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Poke

      Supermarket poke counters such as Foodland, which locals swear by, and specialists such as Ono Seafood on Kapahulu Avenue.

   4. Afternoon

      Honolulu Zoo

      Go in the morning when the animals are most active and before the afternoon heat. (2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Chinatown

      Buy a fresh lei on Maunakea Street for a fraction of the hotel price, then walk to Foster Botanical Garden nearby.

2. Day 2: Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) and Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial

   Diamond Head (Lēʻahi), Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, then Sunset catamaran sail in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Diamond Head (Lēʻahi)

      Book the earliest entry slot: the trail has little shade and the heat builds quickly by mid-morning. Bring water and closed shoes. (2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial

      No bags are allowed beyond the entrance, so bring only a phone and wallet or use the paid bag storage near the gate. (Half a day with other Pearl Harbor sites, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plate lunch

      Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu, open since 1961, and plate-lunch counters and food trucks across the island.

   4. Afternoon

      Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

      Bring reef-safe sunscreen and your own snorkel gear if you have it, and never stand on the coral. (Half a day, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Sunset catamaran sail

      Sit on the bow nets if you don't mind getting splashed; it is the best seat on the boat.

3. Day 3: ʻIolani Palace and Battleship Missouri Memorial

   ʻIolani Palace, Battleship Missouri Memorial and Bishop Museum, then Waikīkī in the evening.

   1. Morning

      ʻIolani Palace

      Combine it with the Kamehameha I statue across the street and the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, a short walk away. (1.5 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Battleship Missouri Memorial

      Allow a full day for Pearl Harbor if you want the Arizona, the Missouri, the USS Bowfin submarine and the aviation museum. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Loco moco

      Diners, drive-ins and local chains such as Zippy's, and on most plate-lunch menus.

   4. Afternoon

      Bishop Museum

      Start in Hawaiian Hall, then catch a planetarium show to learn how Polynesian voyagers navigated by the stars. (3 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Waikīkī

      Beachfront bars with live Hawaiian music at sunset, plus clubs and late bars along Kalākaua and Kūhiō avenues.

4. Day 4: Day trip to North Shore and Haleʻiwa

   About 1 hour by car each way. Getting there: Car, tour or TheBus.

   1. Morning

      Travel to North Shore and Haleʻiwa

      About 1 hour by car (Car, tour or TheBus); about 55 km.

   2. Day

      North Shore and Haleʻiwa

      Drive through pineapple country to the North Shore for the surf beaches of Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach, green sea turtles resting on the sand at Laniākea, garlic-shrimp trucks and shave ice in the plantation town of Haleʻiwa. Best for beach, couples and families.

   3. Evening

      Back in Honolulu

      Dinner: try Spam musubi.

5. Day 5: Honolulu Museum of Art and Kakaʻako street murals

   Honolulu Museum of Art, Kakaʻako street murals and Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island, then Chinatown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Honolulu Museum of Art

      Have lunch in the museum café's courtyard, then look for the Hawaiian art galleries that most visitors skip. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Kakaʻako street murals

      Walk the side streets around Auahi and Pohukaina streets in the morning light, then stop at the SALT at Our Kakaʻako block for coffee. (1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spam musubi

      Convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and ABC Stores in Waikīkī, and local delis and musubi shops.

   4. Afternoon

      Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island

      Come for sunset with takeaway poke from a nearby supermarket and watch the canoe clubs training offshore. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Chinatown

      The city's best cocktail bars and small music venues along Hotel Street and Nuʻuanu Avenue.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Diamond Head (Lēʻahi), Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve and ʻIolani Palace before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Waikīkī keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ala Moana and Kakaʻako ($$$) suits shopping, food lovers and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 31–35 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.8 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Honolulu
• 2 days in Honolulu
• 3 days in Honolulu
• 4 days in Honolulu
• 7 days in Honolulu

Questions travellers ask