3 Day Oahu Itinerary

Intro

Spending three days in Oahu may not seem like a lot of time when there are an overwhelming amount of activities to do. As I was making this itinerary, I wanted to make sure that the places that you are seeing aren’t only centered around Waikiki and the Honolulu area. While the city is a great place to explore, it just doesn’t give you the full Oahu experience. With this 3 Day Oahu itinerary, you’ll be able to see different parts of the island, allowing you to absorb as much of Oahu as possible with the three days that you have.

As with every vacation destination, it is hard to only have so many days in a certain place. I had the opportunity to spend ten days in Oahu and it still didn’t feel like enough time. However, I was able to branch out and see as many beaches and state parks as I possibly could within those ten days. Out of all of the places I’ve visited, I wanted to take some of the best of what I saw of Oahu and compile it into a 3 day itinerary so that you not only get to experience some of the must see touristy places but other gems that are also worth visiting.

Here is your 3 Day Oahu Itinerary!

Intro
3 Day Oahu Itinerary
Notes
Conclusion
Additional Information

3 Day Oahu Itinerary

Day 1 in Oahu

Lanikai Beach
Waikiki/Kuhio Beach

Day 2 in Oahu

Drive to North Shore/ Do a snorkeling with sharks tour OR (if you’re too scared) Waimea Falls and Beach
Kualoa Ranch

Day 3 in Oahu

Kailua Beach Park
Hike Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail at Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (this hike is free!)
Pearl Harbor

Notes

Day 1

I attempted to structure the order of the activities so that you wouldn’t be driving longer than you need to. So if you visit Lanikai Beach first, then you can just drive down towards the Waikiki area afterwards instead of having to make an extra trip if you did Waikiki first. But hey, do whatever works great for your schedule! Visiting Lanikai and Waikiki/Kuhio Beach are free, but you might need to pay for parking at Waikiki/Kuhio Beach if you plan on driving there.

Day 2

Snorkeling with Sharks Tour

As for visiting North Shore, I highly recommend doing a snorkeling with sharks tour! I know, it sounds like a death wish, but it’s truly a peaceful and enjoyable encounter. Our tour guides for this excursion explained to us that they have had people do the tour who are beyond terrified of sharks or have never snorkeled before and do amazing. It really does feel like you’re in a nature documentary just watching the sharks swim below you. I didn’t feel in danger or threatened by the sharks there. It was a really fun experience and if you have the budget and can face your fears, it would be a great addition to your Oahu visit. If not, then Waimea Falls is another fantastic option.

Waimea Falls

You do have to pay to get access to the waterfall which you can swim in, but it would be much cheaper than the snorkeling with sharks tour. You also get to read about the rich history of the land and see so many beautiful native and nonnative flowers from around the globe. Across the street is where the beach is. It’s a beautiful beach but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit because of the fact that it’s so popular that it fills up really quickly. I drove by at 8am and the parking lot was full, so if you plan on visiting this beach then you have to commit to getting up very early.

Kualoa Ranch

As for Kualoa Ranch, I really enjoyed this place because of the market that they have onsite. But you can also schedule many different kinds of tours to get the full Jurassic Park experience of the place. I loved their market because all of the products for sale were local Hawaiian vendors. I’m talking about meats, cheeses, teas, juices, fruits and even some skin care products all made on the island. When visiting Hawaii, it is crucial that tourists shop local Hawaiian products because not only is it more sustainable but it keeps the local economy flowing and deters more money going into the corporate pocket. Remember, you want authentic Hawaii, not corporate Hawaii.

Day 3

Your final day will be spent at Kailua Beach Park which is my personal favorite beach. The sand here was perfect. There are no rocks or coral close to the shore. It is just nothing but soft sand and the color of the water was so blue. This beach was just a lot of fun to be at and I would recommend it to everyone visiting. If you’re not too tired from swimming, afterwards you can take a nice hike to Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline. The trail is very easy to find. It is paved and is around 2 miles there and back to complete. It has gorgeous views and it is a great way to spend an afternoon. Just be sure to honor the signs and to not visit the tidepools. Then you can end the day visiting Pearl Harbor which is a must!

Conclusion

While it may not feel like enough time, this 3 days in Oahu itinerary will help you make the most of your time in Oahu. Not only do you get to see some of the best the island has to offer but you will also be naturally surrounded by beaches, mountains and lush jungle. On top of the amazing food, you will be well cared for here. Just remember to shop and eat at local vendors and to leave each natural space better than you found it. And make sure to check out my other articles on Oahu to help with your future planning!