2 weeks in Oahu Hawaii itinerary without a car + the other islands 🌴 Honolulu Hawaii travel blog

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 Oahu many times since then, and I can say that I’m happy with what I did during my first time on Oahu as an adult!

I was also in Oahu as a kid, but that was for a layover! It was memorable even for the short time I was there, though! I still remember swimming with colorful fishies! So if you’re going to Hawaii with kids, be sure to go snorkeling! Well, snorkeling is fun even if you’re going without kids too!

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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

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 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)

🌴

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

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:

• The best of Maui in 3 days
• The best of the Big Island in 7 days

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:

• The best of Maui in 3 days
• The best of the Big Island in 7 days
• The best of Lanai

List of things to do in Hawaii:

• Oahu
• Maui
• Big Island
• Lanai

List of the best hikes in Hawaii:

• Oahu
• Maui
• Big Island
• Lanai

The national parks in Hawaii:

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Haleakala National Park

HAPPY 2 WEEKS IN HAWAII!

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