Offbeat Honolulu and the Islands: 7 Days
Seven days is the full version of this series: three nights on Oahu to clear Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, and Pearl Harbor, then a 35-minute flight and three full nights on Maui, the most honest split between the domestic gateway and an actual neighbor-island stay. Swap Maui for Kauai (25 minutes) or the Big Island (45-55 minutes) using the same spine; the full guide has the flight-time comparison.
| 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: Road to Hana or Haleakala | on Maui |
| 6 | Second full day on Maui, beach time | on Maui |
| 7 | 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 three Maui nights
Day 1: Arrival and the domestic reality check
No passport, no customs, USD throughout, and the only extra step at security is a REAL ID check, same as any other domestic flight. Even the shortest mainland nonstops run 5 to 6 hours, so keep today to a Waikiki settle-in. TheBus routes 20 or 303 reach Waikiki from HNL in 45-60 minutes for a $3 fare, a rideshare in about 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 on top of the free ticket. In the afternoon, Iolani Palace downtown, 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, a 10-minute drive from Waikiki. Follow it with Hanauma Bay in the afternoon, a 20-30 minute drive southeast, unless your reservation lands on the Monday or Tuesday closure.
Day 4: Fly to Maui
Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest both run this route often; the flight itself is about 35 minutes, though airport time on both ends roughly doubles the actual door-to-door total. Land at Kahului (OGG), pick up a rental car, and settle into Kihei or Wailea.
Day 5: Road to Hana or Haleakala sunrise
With three nights on the ground, pick one big Maui day: the full Road to Hana drive, a genuine full-day commitment with dozens of one-lane bridges, or a Haleakala sunrise trip that means leaving well before dawn. A guided Maui day tour covers either without you driving the whole thing yourself.
Day 6: A slower Maui day
Use the second full day for whichever beach or town got skipped, Wailea, Kihei, or a stop in Lahaina. This is the day that separates a real Maui visit from a rushed add-on; resist the urge to pack it with a second big drive right after Day 5.
Day 7: Maui morning, then home
Spend the morning on one last Maui stop, then fly home directly from Kahului rather than routing back through Honolulu first. For the shorter, tighter version of this same trip, see the 5-day itinerary ; for an Oahu-only trip that skips the neighbor island entirely, see the 4-day itinerary .