If you’ve been dreaming about a family trip to Oahu, Hawaii but feel overwhelmed by all the planning, this Oahu itinerary is for you! I put this together for moms who want real connection with their families but don’t have the time or energy to figure out every detail. This 5 day plan takes you from Waikiki and Pearl Harbor to the North Shore, with stops that are fun, doable, and totally worth your time. Whether you’re traveling with younger kids, teens, grown kids, and even elderly parents- this will help you slow down, see the best of Oahu, and make memories you’ll still be talking about long after you’re home!!

This ended up being one of those trips we’ll talk about for a long time. Not because we did everything, but because we were together in a way that’s hard to recreate at home. When we went to Oahu, it was to gather for my mother in law’s 80th birthday. All of her 7 kids + spouses came and it was a really special time. All of the activities we did will also work really well with kids. If you’ve been thinking about taking a trip like this, let this be your sign to go for it. Keep it simple, use what works for your family, and make it your own.

Let’s get started!

This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links, meaning that if you choose to click through and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for sharing at no cost to you.

My beautiful mother in law celebrating her 80th birthday with us in Hawaii!

Oahu 5 day Itinerary

Day 1 Waikiki & Pearl Harbor

Flying into Honolulu, this line up naturally gets you up to the North Shore (where we recommend staying) without a lot of back and Forth. We stayed in condos at Turtle Bay next to the Ritz Carlton Hotel and loved it. There are also a lot of nice places in Haleiwa.

Leonard’s Bakery for Malasadas
Malasadas are Portuguese doughnuts similar to beignets, that are a round shape. You can have them with or without filling. Get the original & the custard filled!!
They have their flagship location in Waikiki, but have a food truck we loved in Pearl City. They made them to order for us, so they were super fresh and heavenly!!
Pearl Harbor
You need to book your tickets ahead of time to see the USS Arizona Memorial. They are only $1 per person. Parking is affordable at $6 per car.
We did Pearl Harbor on our final day in Hawaii and were so tired walking around the museums. I think it would have fit better for us at the front end of the trip when we had more energy.
Dole Plantation
Get Dole Whips with fresh pineapple & Teriyaki Chicken. So good!
Take the Pineapple Express Train Tour of the plantation, and then go explore the beautiful gardens. Our favorite part was the food!
Diamond Head Hike
This is easily swapped out for the Dole Plantation if you are looking for something more physical and less touristy.
Costco
If you are looking to eat in Hawaii for a little cheaper, this is your stop to load up on items for breakfast, sandwiches and snacks.

Teriyaki Chicken at the Dole Plantation Grille- so tasty

Day 2 Beach Hop & Gorgeous Gardens- Haleiwa

These beaches are all super close together. You can find one to hang out at, or you can do what we did, and hop from beach to beach to see as much as you can and see how they are all unique. Also included in this day is a beautiful botanical garden to explore with an easy hike.

Waimea Valley
Hike through a gorgeous botanical garden! There is a small waterfall at the end of the trail where you can swim. They have life jackets you can use! This is a great spot if you have someone elderly or with a physical disability because it is paved all the way up and they even have golf carts people can pay to ride up on.
Matsumotos Shave Ice - Most popular shave ice on the island!
Seven Brothers
We stopped at Seven Brothers a couple times on the trip. There are several locations. Their burgers are awesome and their bakery is delicious! Check out our copy cat recipe of their Coconut Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips!
Sunset or Pipeline Beach- super fun to watch the surfers here!
Sharks cove or Pupukea Beach Park - great for snorkeling especially for families
Waimea Bay - good snorkeling and has a fun rock you can jump off

Coconut Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips - Seven Brothers Copy Cat Recipe - Oahu, Hawaii

Polynesian Cultural Center, Oahu, Hawaii

Day 3 Laie- Polynesian Cultural Center & Temple

I was a little skeptical about the Polynesian Cultural Center. I knew it was iconic on Oahu, but wasn’t sure I’d enjoy it. I was very surprised by how much I LOVED it!! When I bring my kids back to Oahu, I definitely want to make sure the PCC is somewhere we go together! Plan to be there from open to close. It is an all afternoon affair and their show at night with the fire throwing is unmatched!

Laie Temple & Visitor Center - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The grounds are immaculate, impressive and so peaceful. I would do this in the morning, head to the food trucks at the Polynesian Cultural Center (right next it) for lunch, and then continue to the PCC activities.
Polynesian Cultural Center
Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of six Pacific Island cultures as you wander through authentic Island Villages while participating in exciting cultural presentations and fun hands on activities.
We did the luau in between the PCC activities and evening show. It was a fun experience, but we liked the food better at the food trucks. *The pina coladas in the fresh pineapples were top notch! My favorite part of the meal.
I highly recommend the evening show with the fire throwers. WOW!!

Laie Temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Oahu, Hawaii - next to PCC

Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii - Jurassic Park & Movie Tour

Day 4 Kualoa Ranch & Kaneohe Bay

Kualoa Ranch- Movie Set of Jurassic Park
This was a super cool stop that has movie tours (so much more than Jurassic Park was filmed here!) in so many different ways: horseback rides, bike riding, ATVs, or a bus. It’s gorgeous and very well done!
Kaneohe Bay
You can play on the beach and even take a glass bottom boat to the sand bar.
Pali Lookout
It is super windy but has gorgeous views. Bring a trash bag and jump up and fly with the wind!

Day 5 Turtle Bay- North Shore

Turtle Bay - swimming and snorkeling- calm protected waters
Kahuku Food Trucks
This is a great stop for lunch and also for souvenirs. We had so many people say they loved Giovanni’s Shrimp. We thought it was fine, but didn’t like that the shrimp came with the peels on.
Our favorite food truck in this area was Get cha Roll On. They served gourmet egg rolls that were incredible. We recommend the NY Cheesecake & Philly Cheesesteak.
There’s also a Seven Brothers and many more choices here.
If you are looking for a great place for souvenirs- this is the best we found! Great prices, large selection of t-shirts, jewelry, and other fun things to bring home.
Foodland Grocery Store
This was the best place to find chocolate covered macadamia nuts to bring home for family and friends. People rave about the poke here, but we didn’t have a chance to try that out. Let me know if you do there and order poke. I want to try it next time! This was a great stop for us to load up on breakfast items.

Roy Yamaguchi’s Beach House - for dinner
Now fare warning- this is a fancy, expensive dinner. But if you have the means and the time, this was the best meal we had on the island!! Truly the most delicious food ever! Get reservations.

Crowd Sourced Recs On Oahu…

We polled countless friends and followers on our social media. These were all the most popular recs. We’re going to break down our recommendations into where they are geographically, that way if you find yourself hanging out longer in a certain area, you can just browse our list to see what is nearby!

Print Friendly Version

This is a little map to give you a general idea of where things are on the island:

If you have more time- Island hop to Kauai!!

We LOOOVED spending a few days in Kauai before we hopped over to Oahu.

It was a totally different Hawaii experience- slower paced as well as adventurous. It reminded me a lot of our trip to Costa Rica (that itinerary here!).

check out our kauai itinerary!

If planning a trip like this has felt overwhelming, I hope this shows you it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need a perfect plan to create something really special for your family. Just a simple starting point and a willingness to be together. Oahu has a way of slowing you down and bringing everyone a little closer, and I hope this trip does exactly that for you.

Your friend for all things family travel,

Hillary

PS: You can’t have a trip to Hawaii with out their island staple: macaroni salad. Grab our version here: Auntie Dee's Macaroni Salad- A Hawaiian Classic!