Oahu in 10 Day: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Are you all set to visit one of the best islands in Hawaii? There is a lot to see and do in Oahu and the good thing is that in ten days you can discover all its corners. Although it may not seem like a big place, the distances in Oahu can be very long, so you will find that it is best to rent a car.

Although many people think that Oahu is just beaches, there is so much more. Polynesian, Hawaiian and many other cultures go hand in hand in this territory. In addition, this island is also where the Pearl Harbor naval base occupied a sad place in history. As you can see, you won't get bored during your trip, so take a look at all the things you have to see!

On your first day on Oahu be prepared to see two very different types of scenery: volcano and beach. You'll start the day with a hike to the top of Diamond Head, but don't worry because you'll have time to relax on two great beaches.

Climb to the top of Diamond Head Volcano

Diamond Head, which is located east of Oahu, is a volcano over 200 meters high. You may be familiar with it because it appears in almost every postcard at the bottom of Waikiki Beach. The climb is quite easy (about 30 minutes by Diamond Head Trail) and the entrance is very affordable (access costs about 1 € and parking about 5 €).

From the top of Diamond Head you can see the entire coast of Honolulu, the capital of Oahu. Legend has it that if you make an offering of flowers in the crater of the volcano, you will return to the island.

Stop at Diamond Head Beach Park

When you come down from the top of the volcano, following the marked route, you will arrive at Diamond Head Beach Park, a typical Hawaiian beach. I advise you to rest a while there or swim for a while, as it is one of the best beaches on the island to do so.

Although the whole area of sand and water is incredible, the best place is Cromwell's Beach, where there is much more space.

Have lunch in Kapahulu and discover this traditional district

It is possible that after the morning of hiking and beach you may have gotten a little hungry, so I recommend heading down Paki Avenue (less than 10 minutes drive) to Kapahulu, a good place to try typical cuisine.

When you're done, you can stroll around this district, which, besides being full of restaurants, has a very traditional feel. Strolling around here you will get to know some local businesses and the island spirit.

Spend the afternoon (and part of the evening) at Waikiki Beach

Although you can take the car to go from Kapahulu to Waikiki Beach (about 20 minutes along Kalakaua Avenue), you can walk in about 20-30 minutes. As soon as you arrive you will understand why Waikiki is one of the city's hubs.

Waikiki is a good place to spend a whole afternoon and end the day watching the sun go down the horizon while you have a drink. At dinner time the live music starts.

The second day on Oahu will be dedicated to Pearl Harbor, the naval base that, when attacked, marked the fate of the United States in World War II.

Start your tour at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center

The best tours of Pearl Harbor all start at its Visitor Center, which is actually a museum explaining what happened in the December 7, 1941 attack. Admission to the Center is free, although it is best to reserve a time on the official website.

There are many photographs and videos to illustrate what happened. In total, almost three thousand people died, so the Center also acts as a memorial space.

Discover the exact bombing site at the USS Arizona Memorial

One of the places you cannot miss during your visit to Pearl Harbor is the USS Arizona Memorial, the exact site where the explosion took place. Seeing the inside of this memorial is very interesting and is accessible by boat (there are several trips a day for about €1).

My advice is that when you return to the naval base, take the opportunity to eat something in the surrounding restaurants; being American territory you will feel like you are in the USA.

Cross to Ford Island by boat

From the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center you can easily cross to Ford Island, another very important place during World War II. To get there, you can buy tickets for the shuttle bus, which costs about 20€ and leaves every fifteen minutes from the naval base.

Ford Island is home to the Pacific Aviation Museum, where you can get a close-up look at many of the aircraft used in the war.

Finish the Pearl Harbor tour on the USS Missouri

Ford Island is home to the Battleship USS Missouri, the last stop of the day. What exactly is it? A warship refurbished to be visited.

Access to the USS Missouri alone costs about 25€, but my advice is to buy an organized tour that includes all the tickets to Pearl Harbor and a tour guide. In total it will be about 80€, which is cheaper than taking each ticket individually.

After this day of sightseeing, you just have to go back to your hotel and look for a place to taste the traditional food of the island.

After a second day heavily focused on history, it's time to enjoy one of the central activities of Oahu life: surfing. Get ready to catch some waves!

Take a surf course at Laniakea Beach

Start the day on the North Shore, Oahu's north shore. Specifically head to Laniakea Beach. It is one of the best known beaches for its spectacular waves.

Laniakea Beach is the place to get the best surfing lessons on Oahu, so whatever level you have, rent a board and sign up for a course (approximately 130 €). You'll feel like a real Hawaiian!

Refuel with a meal in Haleiwa Town

A five-minute drive (or a 40-minute walk) along Kam Highway is Haleiwa Town, a surf town with many art galleries. Surely at some point you get hungry, so do not miss the opportunity to order some fish and, of course, a Hawaiian slushie.

Afterwards, if you dare, you can go to the Rainbow Bridge and jump from there to the Anahulu River, you won't be the only one to do it! In fact, it is one of the most common activities.

Admire the force of nature at Waimea Falls

Taking the Kam Highway again, in only 13 minutes you will reach the Waimea Falls, your next destination. These waterfalls in the Waimea Valley are a natural spectacle. The entrance fee to the park is approximately 20€.

The best way to contemplate their strength is to climb to the top. Don't worry because the route is quite short, easy and runs through a natural park.

Take the best photos of the island from the Ehukai Pillbox

To say goodbye to the north coast, nothing like going up to one of its best viewpoints: the Ehukai Pillbox. It is only 8 minutes drive from Waimea Falls and has free parking. Once there, the route to the top is easy (about 40 minutes).

Watching the sunset from Ehukai Pillbox is a luxury, being one of the most visited spots on Oahu.

If you like nature you will love the proposal for this fourth day in Oahu. In the morning you will see turtles and the rest of the day you can also spend it getting to know the natural environment of the island.

Start the day with a swim with turtles at Kailua Beach

Your day will start at Kailua Beach Park, in the northwest of the island. The most remarkable thing about this beach is that its waves are very calm, so it has become the perfect place to see turtles.

In addition to seeing turtles, Kailua Beach is one of the best beaches on Oahu, where you can swim and take pictures.

Taste the best fresh food at the Kailua Farmers Market

Less than half an hour walk (or 10 minutes drive) from Kailua Beach is its farmers market. Walking among the stalls you will see how the local people know how to make the most of the fresh produce they get from their land.

It is usually local families who sell the food they grow themselves. I advise you to walk around, ask for those you don't know what they are and buy some of the ready-made dishes before continuing with your day.

Take a beautiful hike to the top of Lanikai Pillbox

One of the best hikes you can do on Oahu is the Lanikai Pillbox hike, which starts just a 7-minute drive from Kailua Market. This beautiful route, which takes about 45 minutes to complete, leads to a cliff. From it you can see the coast and also, in the distance, nearby islands.

The only thing you should keep in mind is that parking is not easy and you will have to park in a hole in the road.

End the day relaxing on the sand at Lanikai Beach

From the top of Lanikai you have surely seen the beach of the same name. Well, it is your next stop, so go down the cliff (about 25 minutes) to reach this beautiful place.

Lanikai Beach is one of the best beaches in the world, and no wonder, as the blue of the ocean and the sky combine on the horizon.

Oahu is an island of volcanoes, as you may have already realized after five days there. So that you have no doubts, I propose you to visit two craters, although one of them is submerged.

Climb 1,000 steps to Koko Head

If you don't mind climbing stairs, you will like the first stop of the day: the Koko crater. This is located at the easternmost point of the island. From its base (where there is free parking) it is necessary to climb more than 1000 steps created from the timbers of an old railroad track.

As I'm sure you've noticed, the slope is quite steep, so you have to be in good shape to get to the top. Of course, once there, it is quite impressive to look out over the crater and, looking up, see all of Oahu.

Stop to rest your legs and eat lunch at Sandy Beach

After climbing all the stairs to Koko, and back down, you're sure to get a little hungry. When you pick up the car, head down HI-72 to Sandy Beach (only 10 minutes away). The drive will take you along the side of the crater, where lava once flowed.

When you arrive you'll see several food trucks, so pick the one you like best and grab a bite to eat before lying down for a while on the soft sand of Sandy Beach.

Dive down to the submerged crater of Hanauma Bay

In the morning you have been in a crater, but now it is time to go to another one, although this one is special, as it is submerged. It is located in Hanauma Bay (a 10-minute drive from Sandy Beach), a protected bay and accessible only by reservation and entrance fee (approximately 7€).

The best thing about snorkeling in Oahu is that in the same dive you can swim among corals and a crater. The total cost of the activity is about 90€, but includes both the entrance to the bay and the snorkeling equipment.

Watch the sunset from the famous Lanai Lookout

When you are done diving and getting to know the underwater world of Hanauma Bay you can walk (about 20 minutes) or drive (about 5 minutes) to the Lanai lookout point. It is in the middle of the road, so it is convenient to make a quick stop.

This viewpoint is so named because, if the day is clear, you can see the island of Lanai, but also the neighboring islands of Maui and Molokai.

So far what you have seen of Oahu is its most natural part, but for your sixth day I have prepared a tour of the urban area of Honolulu, the capital of the island.

Start the day with a visit to the Iolani Palace

Did you know that Honolulu was home to the royal family years ago? Their official residence was Iolani Palace, which is located in the center of the city. You can enter for approximately 20€.

The architecture of the Iolani Palace is very curious and somewhat eclectic, as it mixes several styles. The interior is equally luxurious and features many works of art.

Discover the iconic Aloha Tower and dine at its market

Another of Oahu's landmark buildings is the Aloha Tower, just a 10-minute walk from the Iolani Palace, right on the harbor.

Before leaving, take a walk through the market and take the opportunity to eat something, but if you prefer, you can also take a gastronomic tour of Oahu since you are in the center of Honolulu.

Discover the artistic influences of the island at the Honolulu Museum of Art

Oahu, and Hawaii in general, has a close and strong connection with different Asian countries, as shown in the exhibitions at the Honolulu Museum of Art, your next destination. You can walk there in about 15-20 minutes.

Admission to the Museum costs about 20€ and during your visit you will be able to contemplate tens of thousands of works of Hawaiian art.

Tour Honolulu's Art District in the afternoon

To continue discovering the more artistic side of Honolulu, walk about 15 minutes from the museum to the Art District, also known as Kaka'ako. The best way to discover it is to walk through its streets and discover its many galleries and murals.

In addition to the artistic, this neighborhood is one of the best to end the day, because when night falls it becomes even more alive and the clubs are full of people dancing.

The seventh day on Oahu is dedicated to discovering one of its great forest reserves.

Start the day by climbing to Manoa Falls

The Manoa Falls are the most spectacular of Oahu and can be reached in about 15 minutes from Honolulu. Access costs approximately 5€ and the route is not complicated. In total, it will take about 30 minutes to reach the top and, from there, watch the waterfalls fall.

It is clear that getting to the top is the most impressive thing, but I promise you that the path that leads to there also deserves to be seen with all five senses: it is one of the best nature tours to do in Oahu.

Don't leave without visiting Watershed Forest Preserve

On the way down from Manoa Falls I suggest you stop at the Watershed Forest Reserve, with more than four thousand hectares.

This reserve is the largest on Oahu; you can enter (it's free) and briefly contemplate its lushness.

Have a picnic at Ala Moana Beach Park

When you pick up your car at the Manoa Falls parking lot, drive to Ala Moana Beach Park, a large park perfect for a midday picnic. It has picnic tables and plenty of space on the sand, which, if you're traveling to Oahu with kids, you'll appreciate.

After lunch I recommend renting a bike for about 3 € and explore the grounds, which is quite large and has different spaces (volleyball courts, a swimming pool or playgrounds).

End the day with a boat ride along the coast of Oahu

To end the day there is nothing better than taking a cruise on Oahu to watch the sunset. After a day of hiking and biking, head to the beach area to take a boat and tour the bay. The price is about 65€ and I promise it's quite an experience.

If you travel to Oahu in May you might be lucky enough to see some humpback whales during the tour.

The trip is coming to an end, but there are still areas to explore. Today specifically you are going to tour the northeastern part of the island, including the famous Kaneohe Bay and Kualoa Ranch.

Feel like you're in a movie at Kualoa Ranch

Fans of the Jurassic Park movies will recognize this forest enclosure, as the Kualoa Ranch has been the setting for these movies, but it was also a sacred place for the first islanders. It is located in Kaneohe Bay; you can arrive by car and park at the entrance.

Once you are inside Kualoa Ranch you can take different tours and activities (horseback riding, tours for movie buffs, zip lines ...), which vary in price (between 100 € and 150 €).

Visit the Byodo-In Temple and immerse yourself in the island's Japanese culture

The next stop is the Byodo-In Temple, which is located in the Valley of the Temples, accessible by car on HI-83 in 15 minutes from Kualoa Ranch. This site commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the island.

To enter you have to pay approximately 5€, but the most important thing is to ring the gong at the door and ask for happiness and longevity.

Continue the day by entering the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

A 15 minute drive from the Byodo-In temple is the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, a perfect place to eat surrounded by greenery. Access to the park is free; however, I recommend you to bring your own food and sit near the lake to enjoy it.

In the Ho'omaluhia there are many plants and they are divided into different plots according to where they come from (Malaysia, Polynesia, Sri Lanka, etc.).

Go kayaking and reach the Kaneohe Sandbar

The last stop of the day is quite an adventure and is located in Kaneohe Sandbar, a 15-minute drive from the Botanical Garden. To get to this sandbar you can take one of Oahu's famous kayak tours (approximately 100€).

The only thing to consider is the tides, because when the tide is high Kaneohe Sandbar disappears underwater momentarily.

Oahu is a wonderful island that is next to other equally beautiful islands, so before the trip is over I recommend a trip to Maui from Oahu.

The easiest and fastest way to get there is by plane; it costs approximately 50€ round trip and takes 30 minutes. Once there, my advice is to rent a car (it costs about 80€ all day).

Start your drive along the Hana Road in Paia

When you get to Maui from Oahu I recommend you to take the Hana road, the most famous and incredible road of the island, and start a route along it.

The first stop will be Paia, a small town 15 minutes from the airport that will surprise you with its rustic houses with colorful facades.

Drive to and swim in Twin Falls

Driving 20 minutes along Hana Road you will reach the Twin Falls, a waterfall that I highly recommend you to visit. Access is free and easy (about 10 minutes walk to reach the top), although you have to pay about 9 € for parking.

As you can guess from the name, they are twin waterfalls. The best thing is that the whole area has been very well cared for over the years, so it is a pristine landscape in which you can also take a dip.

Taste the fresh fruit and food at Huelo Lookout

Continuing along the Hana road for about 5 minutes you will find the most famous fruit stand on the island: Huelo Lookout. It is a good time to have a bite to eat; the taste of the best fresh produce of the island surprises, and pleases, everyone.

Huelo's fruit stand is located on a lookout, so while you eat something you can take the opportunity to observe the bay and take some pictures.

Don't leave without a visit to the Garden of Eden

Before turning around along Hana Road to return to the airport, I suggest you continue to the Garden of Eden, a private botanical garden located at mile 10 of the road, 20 minutes from Huelo. It costs about 14€ to enter.

The Garden of Eden is the place that appears in the opening scene of the first Jurassic World movie. On your visit you won't see dinosaurs, but you will see exotic plants from the South Pacific.

For your last day in Oahu there are still some surprises, many of them almost magical, and a farewell in style.

Explore the Mermaid Caves in the morning

The Mermaid Caves are a hidden treasure of Oahu that you can not miss. They are caves where light, water, rock and vegetation create a unique spectacle.

My advice is to take the car to Nanakuli Park (west of the island), park and from there walk about 10 minutes to the caves (access is free). Be careful, wear proper footwear because you will have to walk through rock tunnels to enter.

Arrive at Ko Olina beach for a bite to eat

When you leave the Mermaid Caves, take the car and drive about 13 minutes along the coast to Ko Olina Beach. This beach is semi-artificial and is perfect for the last swim of the trip. In addition, the sand was brought from the neighboring island of Lanai, so it will be as if you were there.

Ko Olina Beach is home to one of the most important hotel resorts on Oahu: the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa. Even if you are not a guest, you can enter its gardens and have a bite to eat at its beach bar, where there is usually live music.

Fly high above Oahu with a helicopter tour

To see the island one last time I suggest you take a helicopter tour of Oahu. It is a unique experience for about 250€.

In total, it will be almost an hour flying over places like Waikiki, Pearl Harbor or Diamond Head; an opportunity to relive your trip from the heights with the explanations of a guide.

Finish the trip to Oahu by attending a luau

Were you thinking of leaving Oahu without attending a Hawaiian show? The also called luaus celebrate life through dances, music and traditional food. There are places where tourists can participate, paying about 130€, to feel part of the ohana (family in Hawaiian).

During a luau there is a lot of music, but also many typical Hawaiian dishes. Among them, roast pork stands out. To cook it a whole ritual is followed, the imu.

Although apparently it is not very big, to move around Oahu it is best to rent a car. Otherwise, the distances on foot or even on the island's public bus (which runs mainly in Honolulu) are very long.

To get a car, which costs about 70€/day, you will need an international driver's license, insurance and a credit card to make the payment. Driving on the island is easy and so is parking.

Another quite accessible and affordable option is a tourist bus around Oahu, especially for the days you are going to move around the busiest areas of the island, such as Waikiki or Honolulu.

For approximately 20€/day you can get on and off as many times as you want between several fixed stops along the route.