What To Do in Hawaii in 5 Days?

Do you have 5 days, and you wanna enjoy Hawaii? And you are still thinking whether 5 days are enough or not?

If you are still confused either you should make a plan or not. I would say 5 days is not enough, but if you have the right plan, then you can still see some beautiful spots in Hawaii.

In that short period of time, you can do some good activities, such as surfing, snorkeling, short hiking, and whale watching.

If you don’t already have a 5-day trip planned to Hawaii, I’ve designed one for you.

When I get tired of my daily life routine, I mostly follow this plan. And believe I remember each memory after 6 months of visits.

Are you ready to jump in?

Best 5 Days Plan to Hawaii

This is the best plan I follow when I have 5 days, and I wanna enjoy it a lot.

Day#1 Oahu

If you are visiting first time in Hawaii then Oahu is the best destination to spend your holiday.

Oahu is the most famous island in Hawaii, with over 130 beaches and a lot of hiking trails.

Here is how I will spend my first day of the trip

I will go to Pearl Harbor because this place is one of my favorites. When you visit here, you will find memories of WW!! and you will learn the role of Hawaii in World War 2. Don’t forget to visit the USS Arizona Memorial tour.
After some historical places, I will plan my next activity should be entertainment. In that way, you will not get bored. Now it’s time to visit Honolulu. I will visit Lolani Palace and Chinatown. I will spend my afternoon here and have lunch
Then, at the end of the day, I will go to Waikiki. Waikiki Beach is famous for its sunset views, which are breathtaking and even more amazing if you have a beachfront dinner here.

This is how I will plan my first day in Hawaii

Day#2 Oahu

I have already spent my 1st day, And it’s the second day of my trip. Today I will focus on Natural and cultural activities.

I love to go hiking, so I will go to a hiking trail, and the best place to do that is Diamond Head Hike. I will wear hiking shoes and take a ride to Diamond Head Hike. If you have strength in your body and want to have an adventure, then you must go hiking.
After hiking, I will go directly to Hanauma Bay for surfing and Snorkeling. Hanauma Bay is about 13 miles away from Diamond Head, so it will take me 20 to 30 minutes to reach it. You can enjoy all the water activities here.
After a busy day, I will go to watch the traditional Hawaiian dance called Luau. There are many destinations to watch Luau in Oahu.

Day#3: Maui

I suggest you spend your third day in Maui. Maui is a wonderful place to visit. Take a flight from Oahu to Maui. The distance between Oahu and Maui is about 113 miles. If you take a flight, it will take you only 45 minutes to reach here. If you decide to go through the road then it will take you about 2:30 hours.

Here is how I will spend my 3rd day in Maui.

First, I will rent a car and spend the whole day on the road to Hana.
On the road to Hana, there are a lot of Spots where you should stop. You will see beautiful waterfalls and Black sand Beaches.
The last thing you can do to visit Haleakala National Park. You can see the sunset at Haleakala Crater.

Then, I will end my day and go back to the hotel to get some good sleep so I can get up early and continue my trip.

Day#4: Big Island

Big Island has a large area. It is one of the biggest Islands in Hawaii. Take a 30 min flight from Maui to Big Island. The distance from Maui to Big Island is about 100 Miles.

You have only one day to spend Big Island, so you have to be a little fast. Here is how you can spend your 4th day on the Big Island.

Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You can experience 3 things at the same time here.
You can go hiking on the Kilauea Lki Trail.
You can see steam vent exploration here. It can be the best experience. But make sure to stay away and keep your drone cameras up.
You can enjoy your road trip too. Chain of craters road drive can be an exciting experience for you.
Spend your night in Hilo. Go for the dinner.

This is how you can spend your 4th day in the Big Island.

Day#5: Kauai

Spend your last day in Nature. And the perfect destination for your 5th day in Hawaii can be Kauai. There are a lot of natural things in Kauai that you can experience. Take an early flight from the Big Island to Kauai. The distance between Big Island to Kauai is 305 Miles.

Here is how you can spend your last day in Kauai.

Go on a helicopter and boat tour. If solo helicopter and boat tours are too expensive for you, you can join a group.
If I am there, my next spot will be Waimea Canyon. You can also hike the Rim Trail, Which Is the best experience in Kauai.
In the evening you can visit Poipu Beach for sunset watching. I will arrange a dinner here and enjoy.
At night I will take a flight and get back home.

This is how I spent my 5 days in Hawaii. You can take things from here and make a plan for yourself.

What are the Top 10 Destinations to see in Hawaii?

If you have more than 5 days or only 5 days, these are the spots you should not miss. The top 4 are my favorite ones.

Waikiki Beach: (For Surfing)
Pearl Harbor: (For Educational Purposes)
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hanauma Bay: (For Natural Beauty)
Na Pali Coast: (Kauai Peradise)
Haleakala National Park
Road to Hana
Polynesian Cultural Center
Waimea Canyon
Lanikai Beach

These are the best and top 10 destinations you must visit in Hawaii.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the questions that can arrive in your mind.

1- Is 5 days enough to Visit Hawaii?

5 Days are not enough to visit Hawaii. But yes, you can visit Top spots in Hawaii. You will always be in a rush if you have only 5 days.

2- Do I need to rent a car in Hawaii?

Yes, you will always need a car in Hawaii when you are doing short trips. However, I recommend using air travel to move from one island to another.

Also Read:

Can I Bring My Baby to Hawaii?

Which Hawaii Island is best for Couples?

What To Do in Hawaii in 5 Days?