This Oʻahu travel guide loops you around the island from Honolulu and Waikiki to Hawaiʻi Kai, Koko Head, Hālona Blowhole, Makapuʻu, Lanikai, the Koʻolau range, Haleʻiwa, Waimea Bay, and a quiet North Shore beach with turtles. It’s part history lesson, part road trip, and part “how to actually see the good stuff” on a short visit.

Oʻahu Highlights Itinerary

Land at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

Drive into Honolulu and walk Waikiki Beach

Follow H-1 east toward Hawaiʻi Kai

Hike Koko Head Stairs

Stop at Hālona Blowhole Lookout

Continue to Makapuʻu Lookout and Rabbit Island views

Head to Lanikai / Kailua for beach time

Hike the Lanikai Pillbox trail above the bay

Drive through the Koʻolau Mountains back toward town

Take H-2 north past Dole Plantation and pineapple fields

Explore Haleʻiwa town and grab shave ice at Matsumoto

Chill at Waimea Bay (big wave spot in winter)

Finish at a quieter North Shore beach where turtles sometimes nap on the sand

Getting There

Fly into Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

It’s about 20–30 minutes by car from the airport to Waikiki, depending on traffic.

From Honolulu you can reach almost everything in this video within 30–60 minutes by car.

Getting Around

Renting a car is the easiest way to do this loop on your own schedule.

Expect traffic on H-1/H-2 during rush hours.

Parking in Waikiki is often paid; North Shore and lookout spots can fill up on weekends and good surf days.

Spots in This Video

Honolulu & East Side

Waikiki Beach

Hawaiʻi Kai

Koko Head Stairs (Koko Crater Railway Trail)

Hālona Blowhole Lookout

Makapuʻu Lookout & Rabbit Island

Windward Side

Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Pillbox hike

Koʻolau Mountains drive

Central & North Shore

H-2 Veterans Memorial Freeway

Dole Plantation (pineapple fields)

Haleʻiwa town

Matsumoto Shave Ice

Waimea Bay (big-wave surf break)

Quiet North Shore turtle beach (Lost filming vibes)

Quick Tips

Start Koko Head early in the day; it’s steep, hot, and has no shade.

Bring water, sunscreen, and good shoes for the hikes.

Winter = big surf on the North Shore; always respect signs and conditions.

Give turtles and wildlife plenty of space on the beach.

Expect everything to take a little longer than the map says – the views keep making you stop.

Chapters

00:00 Intro – travel on a budget & mission

00:17 Maxwell’s Kitchen bumper

00:37 Opening montage

01:11 Oʻahu overview & island basics

01:29 Ancient kings of Oʻahu

02:11 Kamehameha I & Battle of Nuʻuanu

02:18 Pearl Harbor and World War II

02:38 Landing at HNL & stepping into the sun

02:51 Honolulu and Waikiki Beach

03:01 H-1 east toward Hawaiʻi Kai

03:09 Koko Head Stairs hike

03:39 Hālona Blowhole Lookout

03:50 Hidden path down to the water

03:51 Makapuʻu Lookout & Rabbit Island

03:56 Drive toward Lanikai / Waimānalo

04:10 Lanikai Pillbox trail

04:28 Koʻolau range drive back toward Honolulu

04:40 H-2 Veterans Memorial Freeway

04:49 Dole Plantation & pineapple fields

04:56 North Shore and Haleʻiwa town

05:11 Matsumoto Shave Ice

05:19 Waimea Bay & big-wave surf history

05:40 Cliff jumping at Waimea

05:52 Quiet North Shore turtle beach (Lost vibes)

06:11 Why Oʻahu is worth repeat trips

06:32 Outro & closing shots

Credits

Opening song “Hawaiian Melody" performed by King Nawahi.

All production by Cody Maxwell.

Artwork by Cody Maxwell.

Opening graphic assets by BoxOfMotion.

Maps by Google Earth.

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