I recently spent 9 days in Oahu, Hawaii with my husband. It was such a fun-filled trip and we explored as much of Oahu as we could! We had 2 chill days, so the other 7 days are packed with all kinds of fun adventures that I thought I would share with you. Enjoy my one-week travel itinerary for Oahu, Hawaii!
Day 1
Upper Makua Cave
What better way to start your trip than an early morning hike up to Upper Makua Cave. It is a tough but rewarding hike!
There is a small parking area across from Makua Cave. Start walking left until you reach the 45 mph sign. Enter just before the sign. The first little bit of the hike will be hard because it is overgrown and not a clear path. The hike is not that long, but it is steep and there are loose rocks (and large spiders). Be prepared and make sure to wear sunscreen, bring water, and wear proper footwear!
Makua Beach
After the hike, head straight to Makua Beach. Turn left onto the highway and a minute later, you will arrive at a small parking area on the left.
This beach was my number 1 favorite beach on Oahu. We even came back a second time because I loved it so much. It is an hour away from Waikiki and very rural, making it a quiet beach and not very touristy. The water was beautiful and the waves were not as powerful compared to other beaches.
Mermaid Caves
The Mermaid Caves are a cool spot to check out. If you are on google maps, put in Zablon Beach. From that parking area, head straight to the water, turn left, and you have arrived. You can enter the caves and swim, just be cautious and go during low tide as the high tide can be dangerous.
Kalanianaʻole Beach
This beach was right by the Mermaid Cave, so we decided to spend the rest of our afternoon here. It was another beautiful beach that we loved and highly recommend!
Explore Waikiki
End your night walking and exploring Waikiki! It is such a beautiful area with many shops and restaurants!
Day 2
Diamond Head
This hike is a must if you go to Oahu! It is 7 minutes from Waikiki Beach to Diamond Head. The hike is 1.6 miles round trip and the difficulty level is moderate. The trails are open daily from 6 am-4 pm and it is $10 for parking and $5/person.
Waikiki Beach
This is an obvious one. Waikiki Beach is an iconic place that everyone should experience! Just don’t spend your entire trip here because there are so many beautiful beaches to explore on Oahu.
Manoa Falls
Manoa Falls is another beautiful 1.6-mile round trip hike that leads to a 150-foot waterfall. It is only 35 minutes from Waikiki Beach and costs $7 for parking. This trail takes you through the stunning rainforest.
Tantalus Lookout
After Manoa Falls, take a little detour and check out this amazing lookout of Waikiki and Diamond Head!
Day 3
Waimea Falls
Waimea Falls was one of my husband’s favorite things we did on this trip. It was a nice stroll through the botanical gardens that lead to a waterfall and a large swimming area! The water was so refreshing. You are required to wear lifejackets and they have all sizes available. They are open from Tuesday-Sunday, 9 am-4 pm and it cost $20 per adult. I highly suggest going right at 9 am. There were only a few people in the water and it was nice to experience it before all the people came rushing in. By the time we were leaving, it was so crowded and it would not have been as enjoyable.
Check Out Haleiwa Town
Haleiwa town is North Shore’s cutest town with many shops and boutiques!
Sunset Beach
Another stunning beach to chill out for the day is Sunset Beach. After a while on the beach, walk to the famous Sunrise Shack and get a smoothie bowl. They are so delicious. Since it is called Sunset Beach, stay and watch the sunset here!
Waimea Bay Beach Park
As soon as we got to Waimea Bay Beach, it started raining! My husband quickly took off, jumped off the cliff, and we headed straight to the car. If you come on a sunny day, it is a great place for cliff jumping with a beautiful long beach to relax!
Day 4
Lanikai Pillbox Hike
Lanikai Pillbox hike is an excellent moderate hike with stunning views overlooking Lanikai Beach and “The Mokes” (the two islands). At the beginning of the trail, it is steep and has loose gravel, but it gets easier as you climb.
Lanikai Beach or Kailua Beach
Lanikai Beach is a lovely beach with amazing blue water! It is extremely difficult to find parking, so arrive early or check out Kailua Beach.
Waikiki Sunset Swim
My husband and I went for sunset swims any night we could. It was breathtaking every night and it was such a surreal feeling looking around Waikiki Beach. Such a dream come true!
Day 5
Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
This trail has outstanding views of Makapu’u Point Lighthouse and Oahu’s Southeastern shorline. I personally loved this trail and I was mesmerized by the multiple blue colored coastline. It was stunning!!!
Kualoa Ranch
If you are looking for a fun adventure, Kualoa Ranch should be on your itinerary when in Oahu. They have over a dozen different kind of tours and activities. We opted for the Hollywood Movie Site Tour because I am a movie junkie and love seeing where things were filmed. Click here to check out all the tours Kualoa Ranch has to offer!
Kualoa Regional Park
Kualoa Regional Park is known for its view of the Mokolii Island (aka Chinaman’s Hat). It’s a great place to have a picnic and chill at the beach with beautiful views all around!
Day 6
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Hanauma Bay State Park is an amazing place to snorkel and check out fish and marine life. There’s a $3 parking fee and it’s $25/person (12 years and under free). Reservation are now required! You can book here. The park is open Wednesday-Sunday from 6:45 am- 4 pm.
Halona Beach Cove
Halona Beach Cove and Blowhole is a unique scenic place to check out! There’s even a cave to walk through.
Spitting Caves
The Spitting Caves gets it’s name from, you guessed it, the caves sptting the waves back out into the ocean. This is a cool hang out spot, place to eat, watch the sunset, or all three! It is known for cliff jumping, but beware that it is very dangerous and difficult to get out.
Day 7
Pearl Harbor
Take a trip to Pearl Harbor to learn about the tragic history that took place on December 7th, 1941 on Oahu. We did the audio tour and learned so much.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Take a stroll through the lush Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. You can visit any day of the week from 9 am – 4 pm. This park is stunning and definetly worth a visit.
Byodo-In Temple
The Byodo-In Temple is a replica of the original temple in Kyoto, Japan. There is a $5 entry fee. It was so peaceful walking around the temple and exploring the grounds.
Sunset Catamaran Cruise
End your trip with a Sunset Catamaran Cruise! This was my favorite part of the trip and I highly recommend you add this to your itinerary. We booked through Sail Holokai and had a blast with them. They also have an all-inclusive bar!
Hope you enjoyed my Oahu, Hawaii One Week Travel Guide! I had an amazing trip and can’t wait to go back someday!