Offbeat Honolulu and the Islands: 6 Days
Six days is the realistic minimum for a genuine Oahu-plus-Maui trip: three nights to clear Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, and Pearl Harbor, then a 35-minute flight and two full nights on Maui instead of the rushed one-nighter in the 5-day version . That extra night is the difference between a Maui day trip with a bed attached and an actual visit.
| Day | Focus | Distance/flight time from Waikiki |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival, domestic gateway logistics, Waikiki settle-in | 20-30 min drive (HNL to Waikiki) |
| 2 | Pearl Harbor, downtown Honolulu and Iolani Palace | 20-25 min drive |
| 3 | Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay | 10 min drive; 20-30 min drive |
| 4 | Fly to Maui, settle in Kahului or Kihei | 35 min flight (HNL-OGG) |
| 5 | Full day on Maui | on Maui |
| 6 | Maui morning, fly home direct, departure | 35 min flight (OGG-HNL or direct) |
Book these before you go:
- Pearl Harbor’s free USS Arizona ticket opens 56 days out: reserve on recreation.gov
- Diamond Head opens a 30-day window: book on gostateparks.hawaii.gov
- Hanauma Bay opens only 2 days ahead at 7am Hawaii time, closed Monday and Tuesday: check dates on hanaumabayhawaii.org
- Compare Waikiki hotel rates on Booking.com for the Oahu nights
- Check Maui lodging on Booking.com for the two Maui nights
Day 1: Arrival and the domestic reality check
No passport, no customs, USD throughout, just a REAL ID check at security like any other domestic flight. Treat today as a travel day; even the shortest mainland nonstops run 5 to 6 hours. TheBus routes 20 or 303 reach Waikiki in 45-60 minutes for a $3 fare, a rideshare in half that for $35-50.
Day 2: Pearl Harbor and downtown Honolulu
Arrive at Pearl Harbor an hour before your reserved USS Arizona Memorial slot; the program runs 45 minutes, and visitor center parking is a separate $7. In the afternoon, Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on US soil, runs about $28 self-led or $34 docent-led.
Day 3: Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay
Diamond Head’s 0.8-mile trail is steep, 1.5-2 hours round trip, last entry 4:30pm. Follow it with an afternoon at Hanauma Bay, a 20-30 minute drive southeast, assuming your reservation doesn’t fall on the Monday or Tuesday closure.
Day 4: Fly to Maui
Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest both fly this route often; the air time is about 35 minutes, though airport time on both ends roughly doubles the door-to-door total. Land at Kahului (OGG), pick up a rental car, since it’s genuinely useful here unlike Waikiki, and settle into Kihei or Wailea for the evening.
Day 5: A full day on Maui
With two nights on the ground, this is the day that actually justifies the flight: a proper stretch of the Road to Hana, a sunrise trip up Haleakala, or a slower beach day in Wailea, whichever matches how the rest of the trip has gone. A guided Maui day tour is worth it if you’d rather not navigate the Hana Highway’s blind curves yourself.
Day 6: Maui morning, then home
Use the morning for whatever got skipped, then fly home directly from Kahului rather than routing back through Honolulu. For the version with a third Maui night, or to swap in Kauai or the Big Island instead, see the 7-day itinerary and the full guide for each island’s flight time from Honolulu.