Some links on our site may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
A workable Oahu itinerary runs five days for a first visit. That is long enough to cover Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and the North Shore without a rushed pace. Three of those stops now require advance booking. Diamond Head State Monument charges non-residents $5 per person plus $10 per vehicle, per Hawaii’s Division of State Parks. Hanauma Bay is the priciest single stop, at $25 per person for visitors 13 and older, per the City and County of Honolulu. Book it early in the trip, in case the weather forces a reschedule.
I have traveled in Hawaii enough times to know my packing list always runs long on sunscreen and short on broken-in shoes. A humid island afternoon finds every blister a stiff new sandal was hiding. It usually happens somewhere between the parking lot and the trailhead. That is the kind of lesson a spreadsheet itinerary will not teach you, but a rushed one will. Layer sunscreen the same way: reapply it after Hanauma Bay’s water and before the open sun on Diamond Head’s summit trail.
Oahu Itinerary
| Quick fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Recommended trip length | 5 days for a first visit, per common search patterns for this itinerary |
| Reservations needed | Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, and the USS Arizona Memorial program |
| Hanauma Bay open days | Wednesday through Sunday only; closed Monday and Tuesday |
| Pearl Harbor hours | Visitor center 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last boat to the memorial 3:30 p.m. |
| Diamond Head hours | 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; last entry 4:30 p.m. |
| Getting around | A rental car covers the most ground in five days; TheBus reaches Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head without one |
The table below totals the entrance and parking fees for two adults at the three reservation-only stops, sharing one vehicle. Each total adds the per-person entrance fee doubled to the one-time vehicle parking fee.
| Stop | Entrance fee (per person) | Parking (per vehicle) | Total for two adults, one car |
|---|---|---|---|
| USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor) | $1 booking fee | $7 | $9 |
| Diamond Head State Monument | $5 | $10 | $20 |
| Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve | $25 | $3 | $53 |
How many days do you need in Oahu?
Five days covers the island’s main stops without doubling back too much. Two days handle Honolulu and the south shore: Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, and Waikiki Beach. A third covers Hanauma Bay and the windward coast. The last two are best spent on a North Shore loop. Build in time for the drive back before dark, since the North Shore’s two-lane roads slow down once the sun starts setting. Seven days lets you add a slower pace and a rest day between reservation stops, which matters if anyone in your group struggles with heat or jet lag. Three days is workable if you cut either Hanauma Bay or the North Shore. Fewer than that turns every stop into a drive-by.
What do you need reservations for in Oahu?
Yes, for all three, though the rules differ. The USS Arizona Memorial program is free to attend. The National Park Service still strongly encourages booking through Recreation.gov, since standby tickets are limited. Diamond Head State Monument has required entry and parking reservations for non-residents since 2022, per Hawaii’s Division of State Parks. Hanauma Bay recommends booking up to two days ahead. Only about a quarter of daily capacity is held for walk-ins, per the City and County of Honolulu. Book all three before you land, especially if your five days include a weekend.
How much does Pearl Harbor cost to visit?
The USS Arizona Memorial program itself is free, per the National Park Service. Booking a timed ticket through Recreation.gov adds a $1 non-refundable management fee per ticket. Parking at the visitor center runs $7 per day, paid by mobile app or QR code in the lot. The visitor center opens at 7 a.m., and the last boat to the memorial leaves at 3:30 p.m. Arrive early if you want a morning slot before the heat sets in.
Diamond Head Hike Cost
Diamond Head State Monument charges non-residents $5 per person and $10 per vehicle, payable by credit card only, per Hawaii’s Division of State Parks. The monument opens at 6 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m., with the last entry at 4:30 p.m. An early slot beats the midday sun on the uphill hike to the summit. It also beats the crowds that build once tour buses start arriving.
Hanauma Bay Cost
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve charges non-residents $25 per person for visitors 13 and older, plus an online booking fee, per the City and County of Honolulu. Parking runs $3 per vehicle for non-residents, cash only. The preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday, with entry from 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All visitors must leave by 4 p.m. Since it is closed Monday and Tuesday, build it into your itinerary on one of the open days first, before you lock in the rest of the week.
Do you need a rental car in Oahu?
For a five-day itinerary that includes the North Shore and Hanauma Bay, yes. TheBus, Oahu’s public transit system, reaches Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and the base of Diamond Head. That covers two of your five days without a car. Hanauma Bay and the North Shore sit far enough from town that a rental car saves real time. It matters most if you want to beat the afternoon crowds at the North Shore’s main beaches. If you are only doing Honolulu and Waikiki, skip the rental and save the parking fees entirely.
What should you not do in Oahu?
Skip trying to fit both Hanauma Bay and a full North Shore day into the same 24 hours. The drive between them eats most of the daylight you would otherwise spend at either one. A midday Diamond Head hike is also worth skipping if you are heat-sensitive, since the summit trail has little shade and the monument’s own hours push most visitors onto the same late-morning slots. Renting a car for Waikiki-only days is another easy one to skip, since parking downtown costs more than a short rideshare or a walk. And do not book Hanauma Bay for a Monday or Tuesday by accident; the preserve is closed both days, year-round.
Oahu Itinerary 5 Days
Day one: land, settle into Waikiki, and walk the beach to adjust to the time change. Skip booking anything that requires an early alarm on arrival day. Day two: Pearl Harbor in the morning, before the visitor center gets warm. Add Diamond Head in the afternoon if your reservation window allows it, or the next morning if it does not. On day three, head to Hanauma Bay on one of its Wednesday-through-Sunday open days, with an early entry slot to beat both the heat and the 1:30 p.m. entry cutoff.
Give day four to a full North Shore loop, starting early enough to see the beaches before midday crowds arrive. Grab lunch from one of the roadside shrimp trucks along the way, since that is the North Shore’s signature stop for most visitors. Close with a slower morning back in Waikiki on day five, or a second look at whichever stop you rushed, before an evening flight.
Best Oahu Itinerary
I have planned enough island trips to know the ones that work leave one reservation-only stop per day, not three. Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay are each worth the fee and the advance booking, but stacking them back to back turns every one into a rushed checkbox. Build the five days around those three anchors, and add one full North Shore day. Leave the rest loose enough to adjust for weather or a Hanauma Bay closure day. Our Hawaii destination guides cover more of the islands beyond Oahu.
Frequently asked questions about an Oahu itinerary
Is 3 days enough for Oahu?
Five days covers Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and a North Shore day without rushing; three days works if you cut one of those stops.
Do you need a car in Oahu?
Yes, if the North Shore and Hanauma Bay are on your list; TheBus covers Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head without one. On a five-day plan, the rental earns its keep on the North Shore day and the Hanauma Bay morning, while the Waikiki and Pearl Harbor days work without it.
Do you need reservations for Diamond Head?
Yes. Non-residents have needed entry and parking reservations at Diamond Head State Monument since 2022, per Hawaii’s Division of State Parks.
Is Pearl Harbor free to visit?
The USS Arizona Memorial program is free, per the National Park Service, though booking through Recreation.gov adds a $1 fee and parking runs $7 per day.
What days is Hanauma Bay closed?
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is closed every Monday and Tuesday, per the City and County of Honolulu.
Prices are approximate, current as of publication, and change frequently — confirm the latest price with the park, operator or provider before you go.
Updated September 23, 2026.
Photo credits: (1) Aerial view of Diamond Head crater on Oahu — Forest & Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.