Five Days on Oahu: The Perfect Budget Itinerary

Oahu, home to over one million people and the third largest of the Hawaiian islands, is one of the most popular of the Hawaiian islands to visit. There are plenty of things to do to keep you busy for five days on Oahu and many cheap and free activities for travelers on a budget.

Full of amazing beaches, hikes, and historical sites, Oahu makes for a fun vacation any time of the year and a great addition to a Hawaii itinerary. Honolulu, the largest city on the island is also the capital of Hawaii. I have now visited Oahu three times and each time I have managed to find new things to do!

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History of Oahu

The island of Oahu was first inhabited in the 200s as the kingdom of Oahu. This first kingdom lasted 304 years. Throughout the years, the kingdom switched hands many times until King Kamehameha founded the official kingdom of Hawaii in 1795.

In 1810 Oahu was unified with Kauai and in 1845, the capital of Hawaii was moved from Maui to Honolulu. In 1778, the island was visited by Captain Cook on his third expedition. December 7, 1941, saw the gruesome attack on Pearl Harbor, which destroyed 12 warships and 188 aircrafts. Finally, on August 21, 1959, Hawaii became an official state in the United States. 

When to Spend Five Days on Oahu

Hawaii is great to visit at any time of the year. Oahu has a pretty consistent climate for the majority of the year hovering around 80 degrees. The dry season is from April to October with November to March seeing a lot more rain. In order to get the best airfare deals and prices, visit in the late fall or the spring when there are fewer crowds. No matter what, anytime is a good time to spend five days on Oahu. 

How to Get to Oahu

Oahu has one main international airport: Inouye International Airport and it is the largest of the Hawaii airports. Many flights arrive directly from Asia and the US Mainland as well as the other Hawaiian Islands. Our flights cost $350 round trip from California which was a fantastic price. Hawaii flights usually cost around $500 and up from California.

Transportation Around Oahu

In order to fully explore the island, I recommend getting a rental car for your five days on Oahu. We found ours by using Autoslash and scored a great deal for $125! Although there are public buses you can use to get around, it is more convenient and saves time to rent a car. If you are only interested in exploring the Waikiki Beach area, there is no need for you to get a rental car.

Where to Stay for Five Days on Oahu

TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Oahu hotels here!

The majority of the hotels on the island are located near Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. This is the most built-up and touristy area. Many things are within walking distance so I recommend staying in Waikiki when spending five days on Oahu.

Ko Olina is another area with many resorts. This is where the popular Disney Aulani Resort is located. However, it is not super convenient to the main attractions, so only stay in Ko Olina if you are planning on mostly staying at the resort or have a rental car.

Check out this post to learn about how I visited Maui using points which you could also do for Oahu!

Great hotel options on Oahu

• Hale Koa (for Military)
• Hilton Hawaiian Village
• Holiday Inn Express Waikiki
• Turtle Bay Resort
• Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort

What to Do During Five Days in Oahu

GoCity Pass

GoCity offers a ton of different sightseeing passes for cities around the world. These passes allow you to visit the best of each city for one low price, rather than paying individually for each attraction. I have used it in several cities around the world and would recommend getting a GoCity pass! Check out the options for the Ohau GoCity pass here.

Day 1: Eastern Oahu

Bogart’s Cafe

Cost: $$

Hours: 7am to 4pm

Bogart’s Cafe is another fantastic breakfast place. They serve a ton of delicious pancakes and Hawaiian breakfast dishes. They also have a ton of fun coffee drinks such as a Taro Latte. If interested in acai bowls, head next door to da Cove for some of the best acai bowls on the island.

Hanauma Bay

Cost: $25

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday 8am-4pm

Hanauma Bay is a gorgeous beach east of Honolulu and is a must-visit site during five days on Oahu. This area was formed by a volcano 32,000 years ago. Now, the area is perfect for snorkeling with views of coral, basalt, and tons of fish. This makes for a perfect day of lounging on the beach and snorkeling. There is a snack bar on-site but plan to bring your own food for convenience. You can also rent equipment from the on-site shop or bring your own. Visitors can opt to park in the parking lot for $3 (which does not open until 8am) or park in the local neighborhoods and walk into the park. 

NOTE: Due to COVID, Hanauma Bay is limiting the number of people allowed to visit to 720 people a day. Groups of around 30 are allowed in every 15 minutes. Plan to arrive early to guarantee admission. The snack bar and rental equipment are currently closed. 

You can opt to spend the entire day relaxing at Hanauma Bay or opt to head back to your hotel or Waikiki for the afternoon. 

Momosan Waikiki

Cost: $$

Hours: Daily 6am-10am, 11am-3pm, 4pm-8pm

Momosan Waikiki is one of the top ramen places on Oahu. Although ramen is the main dish they serve, they also offer some other libations such as sushi, and rice bowls. Momosan also offers over 20 different kinds of sake and sake flights. The Tokyo chicken ramen definitely lived up to its hype. 

Day 2: North Shore

Today, you will spend the day exploring the North Shore of Oahu. The North Shore of Oahu is known for its beaches and popular surfing locations. It is also home to the famous Turtle Bay Resort. The North Shore is the perfect area to spend time beach hopping and relaxing. 

Holey Grail Donuts

Cost: $

Hours: 7am-2pm

Holey Grail Donuts was originally founded on Kaui. They are popular due to the fact they are Taro donuts. The flavors change but are almost always fruit flavors and use ingredients from the islands. They also have some coffee choices. Pick some up before heading to the Dole Plantation.

Dole Plantation

Cost: Plantation Garden Tour: $7.25, Pineapple Express Train Tour: $12, Pineapple Garden Maze: $8.25, $25 to do all three

Hours: 10am-4pm, closed Wednesdays

Start your second day of five days on Oahu with a visit to the Dole Plantation. The Dole Plantation is known as Hawaii’s Pineapple Experience. It originally started as a fruit stand in 1850 and has now progressed to a popular attraction, with over one million visitors a year. 

During your visit, opt to hop on the Pineapple Express Train, wander through the gardens, and wind your way through a pineapple maze. The Express Train is a 20-minute tour that takes visitors through the pineapple fields and you learn the entire story of the Dole Plantation. 

A walk through the garden offers visitors an up-close view of various plants such as cacao, bananas, and other tropical fruits and flowers. 

Finally, spend some time navigating through the pineapple maze, the world’s largest maze that takes up over 3-acres of land. Throughout the maze, your mission is to find eight secret states that cover the history of the different Hawaiian Islands. End your visit to the Dole Plantation with a delicious Pineapple Dole Whip, a must for any pineapple lover. 

Grab lunch at the Food Trucks

After your visit to the Dole Plantation, stop at one of the many food trucks for lunch. You can find various food trucks scattered along with the 83 in Haleiwa. A Loco Moco, a beef patty with rice and gravy is always a good choice or if you are a seafood fan, grab some garlic shrimp. 

North Shore Beaches: Shark’s Cove and Turtle Bay

Cost: Free

This afternoon, beach hop around the North Shore. The North Shore offers some amazing options for beaches. Some of the most popular beaches include Shark’s Cove, Turtle Bay, and Laniakea Beach.

Another popular beach is Laniakea Beach. If you want to catch a glimpse of the sea turtles, you will want to stop here. There is an area on the shore where they love to bask in the sun. Please remember to not touch the turtles and keep your distance as they are a protected species. 

Shark’s Cove is a great free place to snorkel on Oahu. This beach is located on the North Shore. It does not have much of a beach, but there are tons of pools a couple of feet deep to swim around it. It is sheltered from the waves, so it is very calm and usually has a ton of fish swimming around. It is a good free alternative to Hanauma Bay.

Turtle Bay and Turtle Beach are connected to the Turtle Bay Resort, but you do not have to stay there to access this beach. During certain times of the year, you may see turtles here out in the water. They have a nice bar you can grab a bite to eat at or a delicious tropical drink.

Shaved Ice

Before heading back to your hotel, grab some shaved ice for an afternoon snack! Matsumoto Shave Ice is one of the most popular places as they were the original shave ice location on Oahu. They offer a ton of variety and are fairly priced. Another option is Aoki Shave Ice, which also has some awesome flavor combinations. 

Mud Hen Water

Cost: $$

Hours: Wed/Thurs: 5pm-8:30pm, Fri/Sat: 5pm-9pm, Sun: 9:30am-2pm and 5pm-8:30pm, Closed Mon/Tues

Tonight, plan to grab dinner at Mud Hen Water. Mud Hen Water is a delicious small plates restaurant where the dishes are made for sharing. It is open for brunch on Sundays and dinner for the rest of the time. The ingredients are locally sourced to create unique dishes inspired by Hawaii. Popular dishes to try, include buttered ulu and the chicken long rice croquettes. Some of the dishes rotate so the menu might be different from what is posted online.  

Day 3: Waikiki

YogurStory

Cost: $$

Hours: 7am-5pm

Today, start your day with a delicious breakfast from YogurStory. This place is known for its Taro Pancakes, but it has a ton of other delicious dishes as well. I recommend getting a few things and splitting them with your group. This place is quite popular, but you can put your name on the YELP waiting list before you go.

Go on a Hike

Diamond Head

Cost: $5+

Hours: Thursday-Sunday: 6am-4pm

Diamond Head is one of the most popular hikes on Oahu. This hike is just east of Waikiki and offers amazing views of the surrounding area. Overall, the area makes up 475 acres. The trail to the summit is a moderate hike. The 1.6-mile round trip hike ascends 560 feet to the summit. Plan to spend around 2 hours completing the hike. 

Manoa Falls 

Cost: Free-$5 for parking

Hours: 8am-7pm

The Manoa Falls Hike takes visitors along a 1.7-mile round trip trail that ends at a 150-foot waterfall. This relatively mild trail takes visitors through the rainforest. It takes most people around an hour to complete this hike. Note: Do not swim in the pool beneath the falls as you can catch diseases from the water. 

Makapu’u Tide Pools

Cost: Free

Hours: VariesAnother awesome hike to take during five days on Oahu is the Makapu’u Tide Pools. This is a moderate 4-ish mile hike to some awesome tide pools along the coast. Make sure to read this post for all the details and to use caution if you choose to swim in the pools!

Zippy’s

Cost: $-$$

Hours: Varies by location

Today, grab lunch at Zippy’s after your hike. Zippy’s is basically Hawaiian fast food. This quick-service restaurant is perfect for a quick and cheap meal. Zippy’s offers many Hawaiian specialties such as Loco Mocos and Chicken Katsu. The menu is pretty extensive and you can even place orders for pick up if you are in a hurry. There are locations all around Oahu. 

Waikiki Beach

Cost: Free

This afternoon, spend the rest of the day relaxing at Waikiki Beach. Waikiki Beach is popular due to its gorgeous white sand, great surfing, and its location to many of the main sites on Oahu. In the area are a ton of restaurants and great places to grab a drink. It is free to relax on the beach. There are some places where you can rent equipment or opt to bring your own. 

For a less busy area, head to Fort DeRussy Beach which is just west of the main part of Waikiki. It is usually a little less crowded on this beach.

Duke’s Waikiki

Cost: $$

Hours: Daily 7am-9pm

Tonight, grab dinner at Duke’s Waikiki. Although not the most unique meal you will find on Oahu, eating at Duke’s is worth it for its views and is a great place to watch the sunset. Located right in the heart of Waikiki, Duke’s serves typical Hawaiian dishes. It is pretty popular, so make sure to make a reservation to avoid a wait. 

Waikiki Brewing Company

Cost: $

Hours: Mon/Tues: 2pm-10pm Wed-Fri: 11am-10pm, Sat: 10am-10pm, Sun: 8am-10pm

After dinner, head to the Waikiki Brewing Company to grab a delicious brew. This brewery opened in 2015 contains a rotating selection of beers. 

Day 4: Kualoa Ranch

Leonard’s Bakery

Cost: $

Hours: 5:30am-7pm

A trip to Hawaii is not complete without grabbing Malasadas, especially from Leonard’s Bakery. Leonard’s is one of the most popular places to get Malasadas. A Malasada is Portuguese fried dough. The traditional ones are served with sugar but are often filled with fruity creams or chocolates. I personally love the original and cinnamon sugar ones. Make sure to get there super early in order to beat the line and ensure you get a Malasada.

Kualoa Ranch

Cost: $49 and up depending on the excursion

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday

Spend most of your fourth of five days on Oahu exploring Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa Ranch is a 400-acre preserve on the eastern end of Oahu that contains three valleys. This site was sacred to Hawaiians from the 1200s-1700s. During World War II, it was occupied as a military base. Finally, in 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is a popular filming location and offers a variety of tours that take you around the preserve. The most notable movie filmed here was the Jurassic Park series and the TV show “Lost.”

Visitors can opt to go on a Hollywood Movie Sites Tour, a Horseback Riding Tour, E-Bike Tour, Raptor Tour, Zipline, Secret Beach Excursion, or go on a Jungle Jeep Expedition. Make sure to book reservations far in advance as many of them do sell out. We opted to do the 2-hour Raptor Tour which I highly recommend. This tour takes you all around the preserve in multi-person ATVs that your group gets to drive. Each car holds 2-6 people and you must be 21 years or older to drive. This was a great way to explore the valley and filming locations. It was super fun driving the ATVs through the jungle. 

Halona Blowhole

Cost: Free

Hours: 24 hours

The Halona Blowhole is a rock formation that contains a large blowhole. There is a cool lookout over the ocean and blowhole that is a great place to stop and stretch your legs. Nearby is also a beach cove which is a great beach to relax at. 

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens

Cost: Free

Hours: 9am-4pm

The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens is a free alternative to Kualoa Ranch as it has a similar feel. It is part of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens and contains 400 acres of gorgeous scenery. The gardens have a lake, hiking trails, and campgrounds. You can also just opt to drive through it.

After exploring Kualoa Ranch and parts of the eastern side of the island, you can opt to head back to the hotel/Waikiki Beach, or opt to visit one of the beaches on the eastern part of Oahu such as Kualoa Rock Beach or Lanikai Beach.

Quiora

Cost: $$$

Hours: Dinner Thus-Mon (Closed Tues/Wed): 5:30pm-9pm, Breakfast daily: 7:30am-11am

For dinner tonight, head to Quiora. This delicious restaurant offers handmade pasta and Italian options. I almost felt like I was back in Italy with delicious food. Quiora offers gorgeous views of Honolulu, so visiting at sunset is a good option. Make sure to make a reservation as the restaurant is not huge. 

Day 5: Pearl Harbor

Basalt Waikiki Restaurant

Cost: $$

Hours: Daily 8am-9pm 

Start out your last of five days on Oahu with breakfast at Basalt Waikiki. Basalt is open for all meals, but they offer some fun breakfast libations. The charcoal buttermilk pancakes and the prime rib moco are two of the most popular options. Opt to make a reservation to guarantee you will not have to wait.  

Pearl Harbor Sites

Cost: Varies by Site

Hours: Daily 7am-5pm

Today, spend the day exploring all of the Pearl Harbor Sites. If you are not interested in visiting every site, you can also just visit the USS Arizona Memorial and then spend the rest of the day relaxing at the beach. As a history lover, I found it well worth visiting all of the sites. It takes about 6-8 hours to visit all of the sites. 

USS Arizona Memorial

Cost: Free or $1 for a reserved ticket

Hours: 7am-5pm

The USS Arizona Memorial is the most well-known part of Pearl Harbor. In order to visit the memorial, you must take a boat out to the site of the USS Arizona. Boats leave every 30 minutes and reservations are recommended as it is not guaranteed you can get tickets the day of. Tickets are released a week before as well as a limited amount the day before. You can book tickets here. Once at the memorial you get 10 minutes to visit the site and pay your respect to those who lost their lives there on December 7, 1941. While waiting for the boat to the memorial, there are several exhibits to view that explain the events of that fateful day.

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park

Cost: $15

Hours: 7am-5pm

Located right next to the USS Arizona Memorial is the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park. Here visitors can go inside a submarine from World War II. The USS Bowfin is one of the few submarines left from World War II. The admission price includes a visit inside the submarine as well as access to the exhibits. Plan to spend about an hour touring the submarine and exhibits. 

USS Oklahoma Memorial

Cost: Free

Hours: 7am-5pm

Located on Ford Island next to the Battleship Missouri, the USS Oklahoma Memorial is dedicated to the people who lost their lives aboard the USS Oklahoma during the Pearl Harbor attack. To get here, you will have to take a 10-minutes shuttle. It is included in the price of the Battleship Missouri ticket. 

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Cost: $30

Hours: Wed-Sat: 8am-4pm

The USS Missouri served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War after its launch in 1944. Present-day, it is a museum dedicated to the story of the USS Missouri and its involvement in the wars. Guided tours are available as well as self-guided exhibits. Opt to make a reservation for a guided tour prior to your visit to guarantee a spot. 

Pacific Aviation Museum

Cost: $25

Hours: 9am-4pm

The Pacific Aviation Museum contains many aviation exhibits and covers the attack on Pearl Harbor. The museum contains two hangars full of aircrafts to explore. It is located on Ford Island, one of the sites of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and a current active military base. Visitors can also go for a ride in the flight simulator for an extra fee. 

Note: If interested in visiting every single Pearl Harbor Site, opt to get the Passport to Pearl Harbor ticket. This is a discounted price that is good for one day and allows unlimited access to all of the sites as well as transportation to and from the sites. 

Roy’s

Cost: $$

Hours: Daily 4pm-10pm

End your five days on Oahu with dinner at a classic restaurant: Roy’s. Roy’s offers many classic Hawaiian-influenced dishes that embody the different cultures of Hawaii. They describe themselves as “Hawaiian influenced Euro-Asian Cuisine.” Although not the cheapest meal you will eat, it is well worth the price. 

More Than 5 Days on Oahu?

If you have more than 5 days on Oahu, check out these places as well! You can easily spend over a week exploring what the island has to offer. 

Day 6

Aloha Stadium Swap Meet

Cost: $2/adult, $1 for parking

Hours: Wed & Sat: 8am-3pm, Sun: 6:30am-3pm

The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet is the place to go for any souvenirs you want to bring home. They have every kind of souvenir you can imagine: dresses, hats, local foods, coffee, food trucks, and more. Make sure to bring cash as you will need cash to get in and to buy most of the goods on sale. Go as early as possible before it gets too hot or crowded. 

Ko Olina Beaches 

Cost: Free

Hours: Varies

The Ko Olina Beaches lie on the west side of the island and are a great place to visit if you have more than five days on Oahu. There are 4 “lagoons” you can hang around in. The lagoons are all sheltered and pretty calm waters, so they are great places to snorkel or just lounge around in. Some of the lagoons have areas on the beach reserved for the resorts, but the rest are all fair game! 

If you are a Disney fan, make sure to check out the Aulani Resort. You do not have to be a guest of the resort to eat at some of the food places, check out the resort, or visit the gift shop. Overall, the Ko Olina Beaches are a great way to get away from the crowd of Waikiki. 

Hana Koa Brewing Co. 

Cost: $-$$

Hours: Tues-Thurs: 12pm-9pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm, Sun: 10am-9pm

Hana Koa Brewing Co is located in a cool newer neighborhood popping up in Oahu. There are several breweries in the area, but Hana Koa had a great atmosphere and good beer. They also have some awesome food options and mixed drinks as well. You can even make a reservation ahead of time to guarantee a table.

Himalayan Kitchen

Cost: $$

Hours: 5pm-10pm

Grab dinner at the Himalayan Kitchen. Himalayan Kitchen is a fantastic dinner stop during five days in Oahu. It has some spectacular and delicious Indian food choices. I recommend getting a couple of dishes and splitting with a group. Most of the dishes can feed two people.  

Homeroom Travel’s Must Hit Places on Oahu

If you are on limited time, these are the places I feel you cannot miss on Oahu.

• Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona Memorial
• Snorkel in Turtle Bay
• Relax on Waikiki Beach
• Ride Raptors at Kualoa Ranch
• Shave Ice from Matsumoto’s 
• Eat at Mud Hen Water for Dinner
• Grab a Dole Whip from the Dole Plantation
• Eat lunch at Zippy’s 
• Quiora: Best Place for a Romantic Dinner

Total Cost for Five Days in Oahu

Airfare: $350/person

Rental Car: $125 total ($62.50/person)

Hotel: 5 nights at $139/night, $695 total ($347.50/person)

Total per Person: $760/person

Shaka Guide

Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for each of the Hawaiian islands. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them. Click below for the Shaka Guide for each island. 

If you plan your trip right, you can visit Oahu on a budget and see some pretty awesome places. Five days on Oahu can make for a relaxing getaway. If you have more time, you can opt to spend more time on Oahu or hop over to the Big Island, Kauai, or Maui and take one of these Hawaii road trips. Hawaii is also a great stop when heading to Japan or New Zealand if you want to break up the long flights. 

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