Skip to content
TripWalkersTripsDownload on the App Store

Honolulu itinerary

7 days, hour by hour · USAJune–September

Days
7
Stops
34
Per day
≈ $199
First stop
06:30

By TripWalkers · Updated:

Short answer

The TripWalkers Honolulu itinerary runs 7 days and lays out 34 stops, hour by hour, for June–September. The first three days:

  1. Day 1 Waikiki and Diamond Head
  2. Day 2 Pearl Harbor and Downtown
  3. Day 3 East coast: Hanauma and Lanikai

Staying less? Start with the first days — TripWalkers uses the opening days of this plan for shorter trips too. Days 3, 4 and 5 are day trips out of the city. Food, entry fees and local transport come to about $199 a day (excluding accommodation and flights).

Day 1 · 06:30–19:30

Waikiki and Diamond Head

  1. Nature

    Diamond Head State Monument

    The crater hike is 1.3 km (steps and a tunnel); it opens at 06:00. Foreign visitors must reserve 30 days ahead, 5 USD. Go for sunrise.

    ≈ $5 per person

  2. Food

    Leonard's Bakery

    Since 1952, famous for malasada (Portuguese doughnut); eat it hot, expect a queue.

    ≈ $8 per person
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Nature

    Waikiki Beach

    See the Duke Kahanamoku statue; take a surf lesson (75 USD) or an outrigger canoe. Kuhio Beach is calm.

    Free
  5. 1 h · travel, break, free time

  6. Food

    Marukame Udon Waikiki

    Cheap, fresh udon; the queue moves fast.

    ≈ $12 per person
  7. 4 h · travel, break, free time

  8. Nature

    Waikiki Sunset Kapahulu Groin

    Watch the sunset from Duke's bar or the pier; Friday fireworks at the Hilton at 19:45.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Duke's WaikikiBeach bar and hula pie; sunset views.
  • Honolulu Zoo & Kapiolani ParkA park and zoo at the end of Waikiki; an alternative to the beach.

Day 2 · 07:30–16:30

Pearl Harbor and Downtown

  1. Culture

    Pearl Harbor National Memorial

    The USS Arizona Memorial boat programme (recreation.gov, 1 USD) opens 8 weeks ahead at 08:00 HST and sells out. No bags allowed; take bus 20 or 42.

    ≈ $1 per person

  2. Culture

    USS Missouri Battleship

    The deck where Japan surrendered; shuttle to Ford Island.

    ≈ $35 per person
  3. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Culture

    Iolani Palace

    The only royal palace in the US; see Queen Liliuokalani's prison room. Audio guide available.

    ≈ $27 per person

  5. Landmark

    Chinatown Honolulu

    Lei (flower garland) shops and the Maunakea market; The Pig and the Lady in the evening.

    Free

  6. Food

    Tamashiro Market

    A pink fish market in Kalihi; try a poke (raw tuna) bowl. Cash only.

    ≈ $15 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • The Pig and the Lady ChinatownVietnamese-Hawaiian fusion; pho at lunch.
  • Bishop MuseumHawaiian and Pacific culture: feather cloaks and a planetarium. An alternative to the palace.

Day 3 · 07:00–17:30Day trip

East coast: Hanauma and Lanikai

  1. Nature

    Hanauma Bay

    Snorkel inside a crater. Book online 2 days ahead at 07:00 HST (slots vanish in seconds). Closed Monday and Tuesday, 25 USD plus 3 USD parking. Turtles and fish.

    ≈ $25 per person
  2. 1 h 15 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Nature

    Makapuu Lighthouse Trail

    A paved 3 km lighthouse trail; whales (December to April) and views of Rabbit Island.

    Free
  4. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  5. Food

    Kalapawai Market Kailua

    Sandwiches from Kailua's beach market, open since 1932.

    ≈ $15 per person

  6. Nature

    Lanikai Beach

    One of the world's most beautiful beaches: turquoise water, the Mokulua Islands, kayak rental. Parking is hard, so walk.

    Free
  7. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Nature

    Lanikai Pillbox Hike

    A steep 30-minute climb up Kaiwa Ridge; bunker views and sunset.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Kailua BeachLanikai's wider neighbour; easy parking.
  • Buzz's LanikaiA steakhouse opposite the beach since 1962; Obama's favourite.

Day 4 · 10:00–18:30Day trip

North Shore

  1. Landmark

    Haleiwa Town

    A surf town; try shave ice at Matsumoto Shave Ice (1951) and expect a queue.

    Free

  2. Nature

    Laniakea Turtle Beach

    Green sea turtles come ashore here; keep 3 m away. Volunteers on site.

    Free

  3. Food

    Giovanni's Shrimp Truck Kahuku

    The legendary truck for garlic shrimp plates; cash only, in Kahuku.

    ≈ $16 per person

  4. Nature

    Waimea Bay

    A calm turquoise bay with a jumping rock in summer; in winter, 10 m waves (Eddie Aikau), so watch only.

    Free
  5. 1 h · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Sunset Beach

    Sunset views next to Pipeline, with surfers.

    Free
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Ted's Bakery Sunset BeachChocolate haupia (coconut) pie and plate lunch.
  • Waimea ValleyA botanical valley with swimming at the waterfall (life jacket required); an alternative to the bay.

Day 5 · 08:30–17:15Day trip

Kualoa and Windward Coast

  1. Nature

    Kualoa Ranch

    The Jurassic Park valley; UTV, horse or bus film tours (book online), Kaaawa Valley, views of Chinaman's Hat.

    ≈ $55 per person

  2. Nature

    Kualoa Regional Park

    A public park facing Chinaman's Hat (Mokolii); good for a picnic.

    Free
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Culture

    Byodo-In Temple

    A replica of Kyoto's Byodo-In at the foot of the Koolau mountains; bell and koi.

    ≈ $5 per person

  5. Nature

    Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

    A free garden with views of the mountain wall; the famous road photo is not allowed (go on foot).

    Free
  6. 45 min · travel, break, free time

  7. Food

    Ono Seafood Kapahulu

    The best poke in the city; shoyu ahi, cash only.

    ≈ $16 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Waiahole Poi FactoryTraditional Hawaiian plate (kalua pork, poi, laulau); next to Kualoa.
  • Nuuanu Pali LookoutWindswept cliff views and the site of the 1795 battle; a stop on the way back instead of the garden.

Day 6 · 08:30–20:30

Manoa and luau

  1. Nature

    Manoa Falls Trail

    A 2.5 km rainforest walk to a 45 m waterfall; muddy, and a Lost filming location.

    ≈ $7 per person
  2. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  3. Food

    Waiola Shave Ice

    Shave ice since 1940; try the Obama Rainbow in Kapahulu.

    ≈ $6 per person

  4. Food

    KCC Farmers Market

    Saturday farmers market below Diamond Head; on other days, see the Kakaako murals (SALT).

    ≈ $15 per person
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Nature

    Ala Moana Beach Park

    The locals' beach; calm water protected by a reef, and sunset at Magic Island.

    Free
  7. 1 h 30 min · travel, break, free time

  8. Culture

    Luau Evening Waikiki Starlight

    Hawaiian dance, fire knife and kalua pork; at the Hilton or Paradise Cove (Ko Olina).

    ≈ $150 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Highway Inn KakaakoHawaiian food since 1947; try laulau and pipikaula.
  • Kakaako SALT MuralsThe POW! WOW! graffiti district; an alternative to the market.

Day 7 · 07:30–13:15

Morning swim and a gentle goodbye

  1. Nature

    Kaimana Beach Sans Souci

    The quiet end of Waikiki; locals swim here, with views of Diamond Head.

    Free

  2. Food

    Koko Head Cafe

    Lee Anne Wong's brunch spot in Kaimuki; try the cornflake French toast.

    ≈ $25 per person
  3. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  4. Shopping

    Ala Moana Center

    An open-air mall for souvenirs (Kona coffee, macadamia nuts) and Foodland poke.

    Free
  5. 30 min · travel, break, free time

  6. Landmark

    HNL Airport Taxi

    Uber takes 25 minutes; agricultural check (no fruit), then farewell.

    ≈ $40 per person
Plan B — if it's crowded or closed (2)
  • Foodland Ala Moana PokeSupermarket poke counter; a farewell bowl.
  • Ala Moana Beach MorningA long beach run; an alternative to Kaimana.

Good to know: 6 things that make a Honolulu trip easier

  1. A rental car is essential (North Shore, Kualoa); parking in Waikiki costs 40 USD a night. TheBus costs 3 USD (Pearl Harbor: 20 or 42). An Uber from the airport costs 35-45.
  2. Summer is 28-31°C and the North Shore is calm (swimming at Waimea). June to August is crowded and humid; hurricane season runs August to October (rare).
  3. Reservations: Diamond Head (30 days ahead), Hanauma (2 days ahead at 07:00 HST), Pearl Harbor (8 weeks ahead, 1 USD); ESTA visa waiver.
  4. Poke 12-16, plate lunch 15, shave ice 6, malasada 2, luau 150-200 (USD); tip 18-20%, tax 4.7%. An expensive island.
  5. Reef-safe sunscreen is required (oxybenzone banned); keep 3 m from turtles and seals, or face a fine. Aloha and mahalo.
  6. Try Kona coffee, macadamia nuts, spam musubi (at 7-Eleven) and loco moco; look out for the Zippy's chain.

Spending: ≈ $1,400 per person for 7 days

  • Food$520
  • Entry and tours$400
  • Local transport$350
  • Other$120

Excludes accommodation and flights. 2026 price estimate, per person.

We did the planning. You just pick the dates.

TripWalkers rebuilds this route around your number of days, budget and pace — on a map, day by day, in your pocket.

Download on the App StoreFor iPhone · English and Turkish · Free to download

Your next trip

Same city · October–MayHonoluluUSA · June–SeptemberNew YorkUSA · June–SeptemberMiamiUSA · June–SeptemberLos AngelesUSA · June–SeptemberLas VegasUSA · June–SeptemberOrlandoUSA · June–SeptemberSan Francisco

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Honolulu?

This itinerary is built for 7 days. With 3 days, do the first 3 — TripWalkers uses the opening days of the plan for shorter trips too. The day trip is on day 3, 4 and 5; skip it on a short stay.

How much does a day in Honolulu cost?

In this plan, food, entry fees and local transport come to about $199 per person per day. Accommodation and flights are not included. Figures are 2026 estimates.

What time should you start the day in Honolulu?

The first stop is at 06:30. Most days start early so you arrive before the crowds, and evenings end with dinner.

Which season is this itinerary for?

This page covers June–September. There is a separate plan for October–May: opening hours, the sea and the weather change the route.