7 days in Honolulu

Day by day

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

   Waikīkī Beach and Surf lesson at Waikīkī, then Sunset catamaran sail in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Waikīkī Beach

      Waikīkī · Half a day · free.

   2. Late morning

      Surf lesson at Waikīkī

      Waikīkī · 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. Evening

      Sunset catamaran sail

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

2. Day 2: Honolulu Zoo and Waikīkī Aquarium

   Honolulu Zoo and Waikīkī Aquarium, then Chinatown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Honolulu Zoo

      Waikīkī · 2 hours · low cost.

   2. Late morning

      Waikīkī Aquarium

      Waikīkī · 1 hour · low cost.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plate lunch

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

   4. Evening

      Chinatown

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

3. Day 3: Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) and Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial

   Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) and Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial, then Waikīkī in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Diamond Head (Lēʻahi)

      Diamond Head · 2 hours · low cost. Out-of-state visitors must reserve an entry time and parking online in advance through the Hawaiʻi state parks system.

   2. Late morning

      Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial

      Pearl Harbor · Half a day with other Pearl Harbor sites · free. Reserve the free USS Arizona Memorial programme online in advance; a small booking fee applies and slots fill weeks ahead in busy months.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Loco moco

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

   4. 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

      In winter, watch big-wave surfers; in summer, swim and snorkel at Shark's Cove.

   3. Evening

      Back in Honolulu

      Dinner: try Spam musubi.

5. Day 5: Battleship Missouri Memorial and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

   Battleship Missouri Memorial and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, then Chinatown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Battleship Missouri Memorial

      Pearl Harbor · 2 hours · mid-priced.

   2. Late morning

      Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

      East Honolulu · Half a day · mid-priced. Entry is by advance online reservation, released a couple of days ahead; the preserve closes on some weekdays, so check the calendar.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spam musubi

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

   4. Evening

      Chinatown

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

6. Day 6: Day trip to Kailua and Lanikai

   About 30 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car or TheBus over the Pali Highway.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Kailua and Lanikai

      About 30 minutes by car (Car or TheBus over the Pali Highway); about 20 km.

   2. Day

      Kailua and Lanikai

      Rent a kayak to paddle towards the Nā Mokulua islets, or hike the short, steep Lanikai Pillbox trail for views over the bay.

   3. Evening

      Back in Honolulu

      Dinner: try Shave ice.

7. Day 7: Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail and ʻIolani Palace

   Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail and ʻIolani Palace, then Kakaʻako in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail

      East Honolulu · 1.5 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      ʻIolani Palace

      Downtown · 1.5 hours · mid-priced. Tours run at set times with limited numbers; book online ahead, especially for guided tours.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Shave ice

      Matsumoto Shave Ice in Haleʻiwa on the North Shore, open since 1951, and Waiola Shave Ice in Honolulu.

   4. Evening

      Kakaʻako

      Breweries, food halls and bars in converted warehouses.

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 7 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 25–28 hours of visiting over 7 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
• 5 days in Honolulu

Questions travellers ask