ALOHA!
There is totally enough to do on Oahu for 2 weeks, especially if you like hiking, snorkeling, and taking in amazing views!
This 2 week Hawaii itinerary is kind of heavy with hiking, but they include among the best hikes on Oahu with ocean views!
There’s also a bit of beaches and a bit of snorkeling too, along with a little bit of Hawaiian culture involved.
Consider it a well-rounded 2-week Hawaii trip!
Even if you have (much) less time on Oahu, hopefully you can still use this itinerary for ideas on how to spend a few days on Oahu or how to spend 10 days or 1 week on Oahu without a car! (And on a budget!)
The thing about being in Hawaii without a car and getting around Oahu by bus is that it just takes extra time!
But with the more days (weeks) you have on Oahu, time is less of an issue as you’re not trying to cram everything into one day… and you can take it more slowly to get a bit more of a feel for slow island life! 😉
And if you want to do the more touristy things on Oahu… well, there’s more time for that too.
And with more time in Hawaii, you have more chances to see turtles!
In March 2017, I spent 2 weeks on Oahu without a car, and below is basically an outline of the what I did!
I have been back to Hawaii a few times since then, which has includes the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Lanai.
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Day 1: Waikiki
Waikiki historic trail
Cost: FREE
Waikiki Beach
Cost: FREE
Diamond Head Hike
Cost: $5
You need to make a $5 per person reservation before you go to Diamond Head.
Here is the official Diamond Head reservation website.
It’s easier to get tickets if you don’t have a car, since parking requires an extra reservation (+ $10 parking fee) and is more limited.
More official Diamond Head information.
Waikiki hula show
Cost: FREE
Side note!
Things to buy on Amazon for your adventures!
I am an Amazon Associate. I may earn a commission.
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking shorts (comfortable shorts that are good for movement!)
- for women: hiking shorts | for men: hiking shorts
- Lightweight quick-dry hiking pants
- for women: hiking pants | for men: hiking pants
- capris for women
- Some of the best outdoor travel brands:
- When you fly: If you have an iphone, you can put an airtag tracker in your luggage so you can better keep track of it! Buy just one, or buy a pack of 4. (Read the reviews!) This also makes a good travel gift!
How to get around
Walking!
Waikiki is very walkable. There are lots of things to do without a car for VIEWS near the beach!
Day 2: Snorkeling
Hanauma Bay
Cost: $25
You will want to make a $25 per person reservation before you go to Hanauma Bay.
Here is the official Hanauma Bay reservation website.
You can only buy tickets 2 days before, and they go quick. (If you look at recent tickets that have been sold, it tells you when they sold out.)
Hanauma Bay is closed Monday and Tuesday.
More official Hanauma Bay information.
How to get around
There used to be a direct bus to Hanauma Bay.
You can still get from Waikiki to Hanauma Bay by bus if you don’t mind a lot of walking with your beach gear. It’s a 20 minute walk from the bus stop to Hanauma Bay.
But there’s local food near the bus stop to make up for your effort!
The bus stop you’ll get off for Hanauma Bay is near Koko Marina Center, which is where you can find local food like malasadas at the Leonard’s Bakery food truck or a Hawaiian plate lunch at Fatboy’s. (map)
🌴
Top Oahu tours
Read the reviews at partner website Viator!*
Things you might want to pack for your Hawaii vacation
Read the reviews on Amazon! I'm an Amazon Associate.*
- For women: Search for a rash guard for swimming and you won't have to worry as much about putting on sunscreen!
- Search for a rash guard for men
- Water shoes for snorkeling if you won't be wearing fins, or just generally for the beach!
- Cheapo waterproof phone case so you can capture pictures of colorful fishies swimming underwater!
- I always have a camera float attached to my phone case that I put around my wrist
- Snorkeling set: mask and fins
- Fins allow you to propel further faster (aka see more in less time and energy!)
- Go cheap if you accept that you need to come up for air frequently: regular swimming googles. They are not as fashionable but if you get swimming goggles, make them the clear kind so you won't be seeing dimmed colors of the colorful fishies!
- If you are able, I recommend trying out the mask at your local lake (in summer) or pool so you will be good to go in Hawaii when there's actually stuff to see!
- Travel-friendly turkish towel for the beach (lightweight compared to regular beach towels)
- For women: Teva walking sandals (one of the best sandal brands for the outdoors, perfect for lots of walking around outside - that's not a lava field!)
- For men: Teva sandals
- For women: Merrell hiking shoes (one of the best outdoor shoe brands)
- For men: Merrell hiking shoes
- For more ideas, do a search for hiking clothes or swimming clothes!
*As a Viator partner and Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission.
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Day 3: Hawaiian culture
- Polynesian Cultural Center luau and evening fire show
Polynesian Cultural Center
Cost: $90-130
How to get around
I booked a shuttle through the Polynesian Cultural Center when I booked my ticket online.
Day 4: Downtown Honolulu and botanical gardens
- Iolani Palace
- King Kamehameha Statue
- Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
Iolani Palace
Cost: $20
King Kamehameha Statue
Cost: FREE
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
Cost: FREE
How to get around
I got around by bus.
But now there’s a bike sharing program on Oahu, so you can ride a bike from Waikiki to downtown Honolulu!
You can pick up a bike in Waikiki…
And then drop it off in Honolulu.
Bike rides are paid on a 30-minute basis, at $3.50 each half hour. Confirm the prices.
From Honolulu to near Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden I took a bus. The bus stop was not that close to the entrance of the botanical garden park! I stopped by a grocery store afterwards that was in the area.
Day 5: Hikes on east side of Oahu
- Koko Crater Railway Trail (aka Koko Head Hike)
- Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail
- Makapuu Beach
Koko Head Hike
Cost: FREE
Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail
Cost: FREE
Makapuu Beach
Cost: FREE
How to get around
Bus from Waikiki to Koko Crater.
Bus from Koko Crater to near Makapuu Lighthouse Trail.
Bus from near Makapuu Lighthouse Trail to Waikiki.
Day 6: Waikiki
- Queen’s Beach snorkeling
- Waikiki Beach
- Waikiki Friday night fireworks
Queen’s Beach
Cost: FREE
Kalakaua Avenue
Cost: FREE
Waikiki Friday night fireworks
Cost: FREE
Okay, so I saw the fireworks from the place I was staying. 😉
How to get around
This sticks to Waikiki, so…
Walking!
Day 7: Hiking trails
- Manoa Falls Trail
- Waahila Ridge Trail (state park)
Manoa Falls Trail
Cost: FREE
Waahila Ridge Trail
Cost: FREE
How to get around
Bus from Waikiki to near Manoa Falls Trail.
Bus from near Manoa Falls Trail to near Waahila Ridge Trail.
Bus from near Waahila Ridge Trail to Waikiki.
“Near” in these instances might be a bit generous! There was a lot of extra walking involved since the bus stops were not all that close to these trailheads!
Also the bus in these areas is less frequent since they are basically located in an area of residential neighborhoods which meant a lot of wait time.
But, it is possible!
Day 8: REST DAY
I moved from spending 1 week at an airbnb near Waikiki…
…to spending 1 week at an airbnb in Pearl City, closer to central Oahu. This is also more near the airport, and more near Pearl Harbor.
Other than that…
REST!
Day 9: State park
- Keaiwa Heiau (state park)
- Aiea Loop Trail (within same state park)
Keaiwa Heiau
Cost: FREE
Aiea Loop Trail
Cost: FREE
How to get around
Bus to near Keaiwa Heiau State Park.
Again, “near” might be generous.
Day 10: Dole Plantation
- Kukaniloko Birthstones
- Dole pineapple plantation
Kukaniloko Birthstones
Cost: FREE
Dole Plantation
Cost: $8-25
How to get around
Bus to near Kukaniloko Birthstones.
Walk from Kukaniloko Birthstones to Dole Plantation.
There is also a bus stop near Dole Plantation. (It is actually near!)
Day 11: North Shore
- Shark’s Cove snorkeling
- North Shore food trucks
- Puu o Mahuka Heiau
- Waimea Falls
- Waimea Bay
- Lanikakea Beach aka Turtle Beach
Shark’s Cove
Cost: FREE
Puu o Mahuka Heiau
Cost: FREE
Waimea Falls
Cost: $20
Waimea Bay
Cost: FREE
Laniakea Beach
Cost: FREE
How to get around
Bus to the North Shore.
I started this day trip to the North Shore at Shark’s Cove.
I walked the rest of it.
It was a lot of walking!
See more on turtles at Laniakea Beach.
Day 12: Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Cost: $0-30+
How to get around
Bus to Pearl Harbor
See more on things to do for free at Pearl Harbor.
And for another activity on your Pearl Harbor day, you can make it a military day by also going to the Punchbowl national cemetery aka National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. It’s about a 20 minute drive from Pearl Harbor to the Punchbowl crater. The bus stop near the Punchbowl is about a 45 minute walk.
Day 13: Windward Oahu hike and temples
- Puu Maelieli Trail
- Valley of Temples
- Byodo-in Temple
Puu Maelieli Trail
Cost: FREE
Valley of Temples
Cost: FREE
Byodo-in Temple
Cost: $5
How to get around
Bus to near Puu Maelieli Trail.
Walk from Puu Maelieli Trail to temples.
Day 14: Windward Oahu hike and beaches
- Kaiwa Ridge Trail (aka Lanikai Pillbox Hike)
- Lanikai Beach
- Kailua Beach
Lanikai Pillbox Hike
Cost: FREE
Lanikai Beach
Cost: FREE
Kailua Beach
Cost: FREE
How to get around
I took a bus to near the non-beach side start of the Kaiwa Ridge Trail.
Most people start the Lanikai Pillbox Hike on the beach-side, go up to the pillbox, and then go back down the same way they came up.
But if you want a longer hike, you can hike the whole Kaiwa Ridge Trail. (And back instead of just one way if you want to make it even longer!)
I started on the “inland” or mountain side, and then did a one-way hike to the beach-side.
Then…
Walk from Lanikai Pillbox Hike to Lanikai Beach.
Walk from Lanikai Beach to Kailua Beach.
And there’s a plan for 2 weeks on Oahu!
Is 2 weeks too much time on Oahu?!
So as you can see, if you are into hiking, snorkeling, and beaches, you can totally fill up your time with things to do even if you are on Oahu for 2 weeks!
With 2 weeks, you can do less things per day and spread it out so you can take things more slowly throughout the duration of the time you are in Hawaii!
I generally didn’t feel exhausted after the 2 weeks was over!
Hawaii without a car
Generally speaking, the best Hawaiian island to visit without a car is Oahu.
This is because the bus system goes throughout much of the island and it’s convenient enough to take the Oahu bus to different places, and there’s also a bus from the Honolulu airport.
It might take time, but if you don’t mind that, then it can be fine.
That said, I think it’s possible to do Maui without a car too… IF you don’t mind staying at hostels.
That’s because even though you can’t get to THE best things to do on Maui without a car, there are free group tours available to the best spots if you stay at some of Maui’s hostels.
Or, IF you just mostly want to have some beach time and can do without going to the most well-known spots, then I also think Maui could be fine without a car.
Or if you do stay around a beach town (take a look at West Maui) and want to do the top spots without a car, you’ll want to book a tour for the top Maui experiences.
See more about getting around Maui without a car.
And then also, if you don’t mind tours, that’s something else you can do in Hawaii without a car.
Explore more of Hawaii without a car:
- Things to do on Oahu by bus
- Bike sharing on Oahu
- Things to do in Waikiki
- Getting around Maui by bus
- Maui to Lanai ferry
- Things to do on Lanai without a car
- Bike sharing in Kona
Explore Hawaii WITH a rental car:
Map of Oahu
👆 Map of where Oahu is located in Hawaii. The order of the 4 major tourist islands from north to south (west to east) is Kauai (Lihue), Oahu (Honolulu), Maui (Lahaina), and the Big Island (Kona). Explore the Hawaiian islands map.
Explore other Hawaiian islands:
List of things to do in Hawaii:
List of the best hikes in Hawaii:
HAPPY 2 WEEKS IN HAWAII!
Plan your Oahu hiking day!
- Best Oahu hikes
- Diamond Head hike
- How difficult is the Diamond Head hike?
- How to get to Diamond Head from Waikiki
- South Shore Grill (food after Diamond Head!)
- Queens Beach snorkeling (post-hike nearby snorkeling!)
- Things to do in Waikiki (post-hike ideas!)
- Lanikai pillbox hike
- How to get to the Lanikai pillbox trailhead + parking
- Bus to Lanikai pillbox hike
- Lanikai Beach (post-hike nearby beach!)
- Kailua Beach (post-hike nearby beach!)
- Kailua Beach to Lanikai Beach walk
- Things to do on the east side of Oahu (post-hike ideas!)
- Ehukai Pillbox hike
- Things to do on the North Shore (post-hike ideas!)
- Best Oahu waterfalls
- Waimea Falls Trail
👇 Explore the Waikiki map on google maps!
See the list:
- Things to do on Oahu (for VIEWS!)
- Things to do in Waikiki (for VIEWS!)