How to Spend a Perfect One Day in Waikiki
If you only have 1 day in Waikiki, whether it’s a short stopover, a cruise day or a quick add-on to a longer Hawaii trip, you can still experience a surprisingly good slice of Oahu in just 24 hours.
Dave and I spent an entire week exploring Oahu and Waikiki ended up being one of the easiest places to maximise our time without feeling rushed. Everything is within walking distance, there are endless food options and the beach is right on your doorstep so it’s the perfect base if you are only staying one night in Honolulu.
The biggest challenge with 24 hours in Honolulu isn’t finding things to do, it’s choosing what’s actually worth your time. In this guide, I’m sharing exactly how we would spend one perfect day in Waikiki, based on our own experience on the island.
This 1 day Waikiki itinerary includes:
- A realistic plan for seeing Waikiki without overpacking your schedule
- Where to eat, from casual bites to delicious meals
- A simple hotel recommendation that works well for a one-night stay
- Extra tips to help you make the most of limited time in Honolulu
If you’re trying to decide whether Waikiki is worth staying in for just one night, or how to plan a stress free 24 hours in Honolulu, this guide will help you do it the right way.
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Quick Guide to Oahu
Where to stay:
– Budget
– A Little bit fancy (great for a special stay)
Should you rent a car: If you want to explore outside of Waikiki, yes! Our go to for the best rental car deals on Oahu ➡ Discovercars.com
One experience worth booking – Snorkelling at Turtle Canyons is one of the easiest ways to see turtle and tropical fish straight from Waikiki, even if it’s your first time snorkelling.
➡ Turtle Canyons Snorkel Excursion
Things to know about Waikiki before planning your trip
How Far is Waikiki from the Airport?
Waikiki is about a 20 minute drive from Honolulu International Airport (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport).
You can either rent a car, or catch a taxi or public transport from the airport to Waikiki. For this itinerary, you can get away without a car, however, if there are things to you want to see or do that are a little further out from Waikiki, then a rental car might make it easier.
Public transport from the airport will take you around an hour. For the interest of time, I recommend getting a taxi or hotel shuttle (if you are staying the night).
If you do choose to get public transportation, you can catch bus #20 to Waikiki Beach and Hotels.
👉 Your next read: The Ultimate 4 Day Oahu Itinerary
Where to Store Luggage for a Layover in Honolulu
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport provides onsite luggage storage options where you can store your bags for as little as a couple of hours to as long as weeks.
Food to try in Waikiki
There are certain foods that you NEED to try while in Hawaii. Now I know there is only so much food you can actually fit into your stomach in one day, so you will have to be a little picky.
The first is a Poke Bowl (only if you like sashimi style salmon or tuna). A Poke Bowl is a rice bowl with some sort of raw fish or protein which you then can choose from various toppings to add with a sauce. Ever since we visited Hawaii I have become OBSESSED with Poke Bowls.
Another Hawaiian dish to try is the Garlic Shrimp, which you can get from the many food trucks that are scattered all over Oahu and of course Shave Ice which is literally ice that has been shaved and served up with sugary and colourful flavouring. It’s a great snack to have on a hot day in Hawaii.
Best Places to Stay 1 Night in Waikiki
If you have the time, I recommend staying one night in Waikiki to get the most out of your time there. The Wayfinder Waikiki is a great hotel for 1 night as it is only 450m / 1,476ft from Waikiki Beach, it has great service, won’t break the bank, has amazing views and a pool to relax at once you have had enough of adventuring and exploring.
If you are trying to go more budget, you could stay at Castle Bamboo Waikīkī Hotel, which is a bit cheaper but still super close to the beach and has nice rooms.
The Perfect 1 Day Waikiki Itinerary
This 1 day Waikiki Itinerary gives you a plan on how to spend a full day in Waikiki from the moment you land in Honolulu. There are LOADS of things to do on Oahu but I have picked out a few of the very best for the purpose of this itinerary.
This guide is fully based on you getting around and seeing Waikiki and its’ surrounding areas by yourself, however, there are also options to join a tour which I have included after the itinerary. Sometimes a tour is the best way to see the most of a new location when you are short on time.
After arriving in Honolulu and storing your luggage, you will get to choose between visiting either Pearl Harbour or going on a hike.
Morning
Choose your own adventure – Option 1: Pearl Harbour
If you decide to visit Pearl Harbour, here is all of the information you need to plan your visit.
To get to Pearl Harbour from the airport, it is an easy 18 minute bus ride. You will need to catch bus #20 Halawa Station Via Airport-Arizona Mem and get off at Arizona Memorial. If you decide to drive or catch a taxi, it is only 8 minutes to Pearl Harbour or you could book this 1 hour tour to make your day that much easier. 😉
Visiting Pearl Harbour is definitely worth it, however it might leave you feeling quite sad.
Choose your own adventure – Option 2: Hike Diamond Head
If you choose to do a hike, the Diamond Crater Trailhead is about a 25 minute drive from the airport. To get there, you can either get a taxi, a shuttle bus or a bus. I don’t recommend the bus because it takes over an hour and is an extremely painful as you will be stopping constantly at Every. Single. Stop.
Alternatively, you could join a tour group which starts from Waikiki.
Distance: 1.9 miles / 3.1km | Elevation Gain: 515ft / 156m | Time: 1-1.5 hours
The Diamond Head hike is one of the best things to do on Oahu and best views around! From the top you can see the ocean, Diamond Head Crater and the Ko’olau Mountains as well as the coastline all of the way from Waikiki to Waianae.
The hike itself will take you around 1-1.5 hours and is fairly short but a little steep as expected to get such insane views.
Lunch
Grab some lunch back in Waikiki
Once you have finished learning about the history of Pearl Harbour or soaking up the views from Diamond Head, you will probably be pretty hungry so it’s time for some lunch!
Now is your chance to try a Poke Bowl! Some of the best Poke can be found at Fish Hook Café in the Luana Waikiki Hotel & Suites, Barefoot Beach Café which is on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki so a great choice if you choose to hike to Diamond Head and the Maguro Brothers in the Pearl Waikiki Hotel.
Afternoon
Take a Surfing Lesson on Waikiki Beach
After your hike or tour at Pearl Harbour, getting in the water is a perfect way to cool down and potentially try something new by taking a surfing lesson.
You can choose between a group surfing lesson and a private one-on-one surfing lesson. Lessons can range from 1-2 hours.
Late Afternoon
Cocktails and dinner
After spending all day in the hot Hawaiian sun and the salt water, you will definitely have worked up an appetite for some yummy dinner and maybe a sneaky cocktail or 2.
There are a bunch of great bars and restaurants along the front of Waikiki Beach. I can recommend Cheeseburger in Paradise for a casual dinner and drinks. This is where Dave and I went on our last night in Waikiki. 😊
Best Waikiki Tours
A tour is the perfect way to experience Hawaii in only 1 day. Here are some of the best day tours that start in Waikiki for you to consider.
Oahu Island Tour
The Oahu Island Tour is a perfect 9 hour tour where you will explore the island, including must see places such as:
- Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
- Kualoa Ranch
- Banzai Pipeline (one of the most famous surf spots on the North Shore)
- Shark’s Cove
- Dole Plantation
- and more!
All Inclusive Ultimate Circle Island Day Tour and Waimea Falls
The All-inclusive Ultimate Circle Island Tour is a great choice of tour to see the island if you also really want to visit Waimea Falls and Diamond Head. You will also get to see:
- Halona Blowhole
- Sandy Beach Park
- Makapu’u Point
- Nu’uanu Pali
- Sunset Beach
- Dole Plantation
- and more!
Turtle Canyons Snorkel Excursion from Waikiki, Hawaii
The Turtle Canyons Snorkel Tour is only a 2 hour long tour but it is a must do in Waikiki!
On this tour, you will snorkel with green sea turtles, tropical fish, and more with all of the snorkelling gear provided. Oh and look out for flying fish and spinner dolphins! Flying Fish are really crazy to see!
FAQs
What is the Difference between Waikiki and Honolulu?
Waikiki and Honolulu are often confused. The easiest way to remember is that Waikiki is a smaller district located in Honolulu. Honolulu is bigger than Waikiki and is a city on the island of Oahu.
Is it easy to walk around Waikiki?
If you are staying in Waikiki, yes, it is super easy to walk around the area to explore the restaurants and bars and to the beach. Dave and I spent 1 night in Waikiki for our last night on Oahu and we found it super easy to walk around.
You will only feel the need for a car if you want to travel further out to see more things on the island.
Is there good shopping in Waikiki?
The best place for shopping in Waikiki is the famous Kalakaua Avenue which is a street lined with palm trees and shops like Prada, Vera Wang, Gucci and so much more!
Alternatively, there is the Ala Moana Centre which is the 8th largest shopping mall in the USA AND the largest open air shopping centre in the world!
Our Thoughts
Dave and I only had one day in Waikiki and I feel like we didn’t really make the most of it. If you have a chance to experience 24 hours or so in Waikiki, try to do as much as you can, or as little as you can if you would much prefer to relax on the beach. 😁
Happy adventuring! 🥾
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