Oahu. Home of white sand beaches, amazing hikes, epic surfing, the historic Pearl Harbor memorial, and a. lot. of. traffic. It’s the most visited island as well as the most populous which does lead to more crowds and traffic than you will see on the other Hawaiian islands.
BUT, don’t let this deter you from visiting. It’s busy for a reason. There are so many fun things to do and see that a vacation to Oahu will soon be one of your favorites. This guide will show you how to spend ONE weekend on Oahu. In my (slightly biased) opinion it’s the best 3-day Oahu itinerary for adventure-lovers.
Tip! I know one weekend isn’t enough in Hawaii, that’s why you need to take advantage of the cheap inter-island flights and spend time on the Big Island or Maui as well!!
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Table of Contents
How do you get to Oahu?
You can get pretty affordable flights to Honolulu (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) from most major US airports. After landing, you can pick up your rental car right at the airport and head towards your stay. It’s about 30-45 minute drive from the airport to Waikiki Beach (where you’ll find most hotels).
When is the best time to visit Oahu?
There’s never a bad time to visit Oahu. The weather typically hovers right around 80 year-round…and you can always (well almost always) find sunshine at some point around the island.
If you are wanting to avoid crowds and save a bit of money, then you should visit in the off-season (April, May, September, October). Although rare, hurricane season falls between June and November.
For all you whale enthusiasts, make sure to plan your visit between December-April. The chance of spotting whales during your vacation makes it an even better warm winter getaway!
It’s important to note, that you will likely experience rain during your visit (especially if hiking in the rainforest or mountains). Do not let the extended forecast scare/stress you out as it typically always will give a chance of rain.
The best time to visit Hawaii truly depends on what you are hoping to see, do, and enjoy! I’m confident you’ll enjoy your time no matter which month you choose!
Where should you stay during these 3-days on Oahu?
Booking.com- Luxury Option $$$: Turtle Bay Resort– Situated away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki and Honolulu (in Kahuku), Turtle Bay Resort will go above and beyond your wildest dreams. With ocean-front views, beach dining, a golf club, a luxurious spa, and a plethora of other things to do onsite, you may never want to leave.
- Mid Range Option $$: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach- Located right on Waikiki Beach, this beautiful hotel has rooms with great views, live entertainment, and vibrant cultural events and programs.
- Budget-friendly Option $: Ala Moana Hotel (Where we stayed)- “Budget” needs to be taken lightly when visiting Hawaii. BUT, you can typically find rooms at this hotel for less than 200 a night. It’s not right on the beach, but a short walk away.
- Hostel Option: Polynesian Hostel Beach Club– For those who do not mind sharing a room, you can find affordable options at this beach hostel!
- Unique Option: Manoa Valley Inn– A unique bed and breakfast with Victorian-style rooms and a rainforesty pool.
One Weekend on Oahu: A Complete 3-day Itinerary
Day 1 on Oahu: Hikes, hikes, and more hikes!
Morning:
Rise and Shine for a day full of amazing hikes and adventures! First on the list is the picturesque Makapu’u Point Lighthouse trail.
After you snag a parking spot, head up on the clearly marked trail to the overlook. It’s just over 1 mile to the top, but you will be sharing this paved trail with a LOT of other people. No worries though as it was wide enough for us to pass and walk at our own pace AND the views are worth it.
Once at the top, you can watch for nearby hang gliders, check out the lighthouse, and even watch for the migrating humpback whales (if visiting in the winter).
Afternoon:
Next on the list is the Lanikai Pillbox hike. It’s about 20 minutes from the Makapu’u Point trail.
After arriving, you’ll quickly realize there is not a parking lot, so you do need to find parking along the residential streets. Just be sure to pay attention to signs and not block any driveways.
After snatching a parking spot, head to the trailhead (google maps will lead you there if you are lost) and start the climb. After less than a half mile, you’ll first see the first Pillbox, but if you keep going a bit further you’ll reach the second. It’s a great place to relax, have a snack, and enjoy the view.
After your hike, I recommend spending some time at Lanikai Beach (since you already have a parking spot). Spend an hour or two soaking up the rays or having a picnic along the shore!
Evening:
This next trail on the agenda may be short, but it is a killllllaaa. Koko Head is a challenging 1.6-mile (round-trip) hike straight up old abandoned railroad ties.
To get to this trailhead to Koko Head District Park on Anapalau St where you will find two large parking lots with restrooms available. From the parking lot, there’s a short paved trail heading to the base of the stairs. I do recommend planning this hike for early mornings or a cooler day as there is no shade and you will get HOT.
From here, there’s nowhere to go but up. It is important to note that the stairs are NOT maintained and many are cracked and broken so do watch your step. There is a middle section that is much sketchier than the rest (with the railway acting as a bridge). If you are not feeling this (like me), there is a side trail to go around this section.
The way down is definitely less tiring but still challenging. I chose to take it nice and slow while others were zooming past me. It’s definitely not a race and you should most definitely go at a pace you are comfortable with!
After a day full of amaaazing hikes, you are going to be more than ready to relax and chow down on a delish dinner. Head to the beachfront restaurant, Dukes Waikiki for some seafood and live music.
Day 2 on Oahu: Whale Watching & North Shore Road Trip
Morning:
Wake up bright and early on day two for an exciting whale-watching excursion. Humpback whales can be spotted in the waters around Oahu from December through April, which is their breeding and calving season.
There are many tour companies to choose from, but we went with the sunrise tour from And You Creations due to their extra early start time.
During the tour, we were greeted with donuts and juice and then took off in hopes of spotting the magical sea life. In addition to seeing whales, we also saw a pod of dolphins and a sea turtle!
Afternoon:
After hanging out with the whales, head back to the hotel to pack some snacks for a jam-packed road trip around Oahu’s North Shore. The entire loop is about 95 miles from Waikiki beach. If you were to drive it straight through, it would take you just over 3 hours, BUT I highly recommended making a whole day of it.
Depending on the amount of time you have, you can make stops at (in order of east to west loop) The Byodo-In Temple, Kualoa Ranch (tours needed), Ehukai PIllbox Hike, Banzai Pipeline (to watch surfers tackle massive waves), Waimea Falls, the town of Haleiwa, and the Dole Plantation.
You likely won’t have time for all the stops, so be sure to pick and choose your favorites. You can check out a more detailed Oahu North Shore guide here!
Tip!! There are several guided tours that will take you to some of the best stops if you do not feel like driving yourself OR you can check out Gypsy Guide’s self-guided audio tour that you can listen to as you drive!
Evening:
You’ll likely be getting back to Waikiki very late and will not have much more energy left. If you didn’t find somewhere to eat on your North Shore road trip, you can head to Harbor Pub and Pizza for some delicious (and affordable) pizza.
Day 3 on Oahu: Snorkeling & Diamond Head
Morning:
Your last day on Oahu brings some of the best adventures! Hanauma Bay is one of the very best spots to snorkel on Oahu (or maybe even in the entire United States!)
IMPORTANT! You do need advance reservations which can be made online 2 days before visiting at 7 am sharp. I tried one day and they were all sold out by 7:20 am so be sure to have your account made beforehand and set an alarm for 7 am on the dot!
Anyways, after arriving and watching the safety video, you can spend the rest of the day exploring the crystal-clear water. You can bring your own snorkel gear or rent some right on the beach.
Afternoon:
Make sure to pack a picnic lunch so you can spend the entire morning and early afternoon at Hauamana Bay!
After you have spent time with all the sealife, start packing up around 1 or 2 pm and head to your next stop: the famous Diamond Head hike!
Side note: You also need a reservation for this hike and it can be done here up to 30 days in advance.
Diamond Head is an easy (and busy) 1.8-mile round-trip hike to some of the best views of Waikiki Beach and the city. There’s even an old bunker you can go inside!
Evening:
Splurge on your last night in Oahu on a quintessential Luau dinner and show! There are several to choose from with differing start times and food/entertainment options.
If that’s not in the budget or if you do not have enough time, you could always grab a slightly quicker (but still islandy and beachfront) dinner at Hau Tree.
Other Things to do on Oahu:
- Pearl Harbor Tour
- Glass Bottom Boat Tour
- Snorkel at Turtle Canyon
- Historical Dinner Cruise
- Cage Dive with Sharks on the North Shore
One Weekend on Oahu Map
Save this map for easy planning!
One Weekend on Oahu Isn’t Enough
As you can see, there’s SO much to do on Oahu that one weekend would never be enough to see it all. You can customize your 3-day Oahu itinerary based on what interests you. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of entertaining activities to create your own fun-filled, jam-packed adventure weekend on Oahu!
What else would you add to this “One Weekend on the Oahu” Itinerary?
Tip! Make sure to follow me on Instagram for more USA weekend getaways and dog-friendly adventures
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