Ahh – Hawaii!!! A place I fell in love with instantly and how could I not? It just mesmerized me with its beauty and brought a sense of serenity that no other place has offered so far.
Oahu is truly a paradise for all those that love adventure and nature. It is known for its beautiful landscapes, pristine beaches, hip streets and pineapples. I have visited three Hawaiian islands so far (Maui, Kauai and Oahu) and I have to say that Oahu is my favorite because it has so much to offer. This island is also home to Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu.
Although we were here for 5 days, you could plan for longer because there’s just so much to do that I promise you won’t get bored. So here’s a curated Oahu itinerary for all those planning a getaway to this paradise soon. Also, you don’t have to follow this itinerary to the tee and you can always change around any of the days as you see fit. I will also try to do my best to link the costs associated with all these experiences to help you plan better.
An important question before we get into the itinerary is – How to get around the island? Because we had a lot planned and we wanted to cover all the key spots on the island in our 5-day trip, we rented a car for the entire length of our trip and driving around the island was fairly easy. The island is pretty spread out so I am sure you’d want an easy way to get around so having a rental car will be a lifesaver.
Now, here goes the itinerary and I hope you find it useful as you plan your trip.
Day 1: Pearl Harbor, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden and Byodo-in temple
9:00 AM – Breakfast at Arvo Cafe || $40 for two people
We started our day with a yummy and fulfilling breakfast at the Arvo cafe. Their loaded avocado toast and Nutella toast are something you cannot miss and their coffees are delicious.
11:00 AM – Pearl Harbor || Free entrance
We then made our way to Pearl Harbor, which is a symbolic tourist attraction on this island. There is no entrance fee to tour the garden and the museum but if you want to visit the Ford island then you need one. We did not book a tour guide and did a self guided tour but if you really want an organized and educational experience, then booking a tour is a good idea.
3:00 PM – Byodo-In Temple || $5 per person
We then stopped for lunch at Build Your Ramen and headed to The Byodo-In Temple. I have always been fascinated by Buddhist temples as I find a different sense of peace and calmness here. And since it was on our way to the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, we decided to stop here first because this temple closes at 4:30 pm on weekdays. So be sure to plan accordingly. As you enter this temple, you’ll see beautiful manicured gardens and a lovely pond in the center. The entry fee is only $5 per person so it’s worth a try.
4:30 PM – Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden || Free entrance
Our final stop for the day was the famous Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. Our drive into the garden was magical, as we passed through lots of flora and fauna. It’s lush and huge. Also, makes a perfect spot for your Instagram pictures. There’s also a beautiful lake and a few lookout points to not miss.
8:00 PM – Dinner at Tane Vegan Izakaya || $50 for two people
We then headed back into the town and our dinner reservation was at Tane Vegan Izakaya. We chose this place not just because we’re vegetarian, but also because they have an extensive and a very unique vegan menu that you will absolutely not regret trying. I know, I know! You’re going to say who eats vegetarian food on a vacation when you have all the fresh and amazing seafood to try? Well, trust me and go here. You will thank me later!
Day 2: Diamond Head Hike and Waikiki Beach
If you ask me the best way to explore the natural landscape of a place, I’d say it’s hiking. And if the idea of climbing a Hawaiian volcanic crater sounds exciting to you, then you have to hike the Diamond Head Trail. Nothing will be able to beat the panoramic view of the island that you’ll get once you reach the summit so do me a favor and add this to your itinerary.
9:00 AM – Breakfast at Hau Tree || $60-$70 for two people
We started our day with breakfast at the Hau Tree restaurant. The reason I chose this place was because it was very close to the Diamond Head Trailhead and had amazing views of the ocean. The food was delicious and their service was fast. We tried the Spinach Benedict and Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and both were great.
11:00 AM – Diamond Head Trail || $10 for parking inside the crater
We then went straight to the Diamond Head Trailhead and started our hike. The hike is a combination of rocky and uneven paths, narrow trails and tunnels. It can easily take up 2-3 hours but once you get to the top, the panoramic views of the island are breathtaking. Once we got back to the start of the trailhead after finishing our hike, we grabbed coconut water from a street vendor which was much needed after all that heat and sweat.
3:00 PM – Lunch at Da Cove Health Bar and Cafe || $30-$40 for two people
We then took a pit stop for lunch at Da Cove Health Bar and Café to grab a healthy bite.
4:00 PM – Waikiki beach
Post lunch, we headed to the Waikiki beach to catch the sunset.
Day 3: Hanauma Bay, Makapu’u Tide Pools & Blowhole, Lanai Lookout and China Wall
8:00 AM – Breakfast at Eggs ‘n Things || $30-$40 for two people
Day 3 started with breakfast at Eggs ‘n Things where we tried the Acai Fresh Fruit Waffle and Veggie Omelet.
9:30 AM – Hanauma Bay || $25 per person
Our first stop from there was Hanauma Bay. An important tip for visiting Hanauma Bay is that you need to reserve your spot here as soon as the reservation opens for the day you’re planning to visit. This is because this place is a very famous tourist attraction so it gets booked pretty fast. One blog I read when I was planning this visit said that the tickets usually get sold out within the first 10-15 minutes of opening. The reservation slots open at 7AM local time so mark it on your calendar and set a reminder to not miss it. We booked it through here.
We snorkeled in the beautiful waters at the Bay and the experience was so surreal. Although we have experienced better marine life and coral reefs at other islands, this one was definitely worth an experience. An important thing to note if you’re planning to snorkel is that this place does not rent equipment so make sure you carry all your gear.
1:00 PM – Makapu’u Tide Pools & Blowhole || Free entrance
After spending around 3-4 hours here, we made our way to the Makapu’u Tide Pools & Blowhole. While we had a few spots marked on the way that we wanted to stop at, we didn’t restrict ourselves to just those few. There were many lookout points along the drive so we stopped at pretty much every point as we didn’t want to miss the stunning views that each point offered.
We also visited the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse, Halona Blowhole lookout and beach cove, Lanai lookout and China walls. If you don’t have that much time, you can just visit the Makapu’u Tide Pools & Blowhole and skip the Halona blowout as you will pretty much get the same experience.
7:00 PM – Dinner at Chef Chai || $80-$100 for two people
Finally, our day came to an end with a delicious meal at Chef Chai. One thing my husband and I loved about Oahu is that there’s plenty of great restaurants with extensive and unique menus for vegan and vegetarian food. So we mostly tried the vegan places every day for dinner and we loved them all.
Day 4: Kualoa Ranch, Kahuku Point, Shark’s cove and Old Town Haleiwa
9:00 AM – Kualoa Ranch ATV Tour || $150 per person
During our entire trip, this was the day I was looking forward to the most. Being a die-hard Jurassic fan, I was quite excited to witness the real location where this iconic movie series was filmed. We did what most tourists do, that is drive an ATV through the ranch. Ours was a 2-hour ATV Raptor experience and it took us through the scenic valleys. The ranch is vast and we drove through trails, mud and streams. We also stopped to see the bunkers and the cages that were used in the movie. I simply cannot explain in words how incredible the whole experience was. If you’re planning to visit this ranch, I would recommend driving an ATV as that’s the best experience you can get.
And an important tip when you plan this – Carry headscarves and sunglasses or you will end up getting dust all over your face and in your eyes. Read my blog on Hawaii outfit ideas to get some outfit inspiration.
2:00 PM – Kahuku Point and Shark’s Cove || Free entrance
By the time we got back, it was lunch time so we stopped at the nearby Kahuku farms and they had some decent lunch options. We then made our way to Kahuku point and Shark’s cove.
4:00 PM – Old Town of Haleiwa
Our last stop for the day was the beautiful and quaint Old Town of Haleiwa. This town had a very historic and laid back vibe, and the ambience was very country style. This town is pretty small and there’s just one street that you can actually check out. We leisurely strolled through the street and stopped at the Nalu health bar and café for some beet juice which was quite refreshing given the heat during the day.
8:00 PM – Dinner at TBD by Vikram Garg || $60-$80 for two people
Our final destination was dinner at TBD by Vikram Garg. This place has a fancy ambience and that makes it a perfect spot for a romantic dinner date. I was also amazed at their extensive menu. Their craft cocktails were so good and just the right level of alcohol. And the food menu was so intricate and everything was quite fresh. It was just the right way to end our exhausting and fun filled day.
Day 5: Polynesian Cultural Center
9:00 AM – Kualoa Ranch ATV Tour || $120 per person for islands access and Ha:Breath of Life show
We didn’t plan a whole lot for our last day on this island since we wanted to keep it light and not tire ourselves before the trip back home. So we started our day with the amazing Kona coffee because we loved it so much. We then made our way to the Polynesian Cultural Center to learn more about the history of the island and the culture. This place absolutely has to be on your Oahu itinerary. One important tip when planning a visit here is that try to go as early as you can. This cultural center is massive and it features 6 villages to explore so you will need plenty of time here.
I don’t think I can pick the best village because all of them were so unique in their own ways and had a lot of great cultural experiences to offer. Each village also hosts some of their cultural activities that you can take part in. So we spent a great deal of time exploring each village and interacting with the locals. We ended our day here with the incredible “Ha: Breath of Life” show. It’s one of the most popular shows and we had a great experience.
I hope this helped you plan your Oahu itinerary and gave you some more clarity on what you want to do. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
3 Comments
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