Welcome to Hawai‘i—an archipelago shaped by fire and water, where royal history meets modern island life. In one week, you’ll trace the Kingdom of Hawai‘i’s legacy in Honolulu, surf gentle Waikīkī waves, and drive through rainforests to volcano craters on the Big Island. This Hawaii itinerary balances iconic sights with local-favorite eats and time to simply breathe ocean air.

O‘ahu anchors the islands with Iolani Palace, the only royal residence on U.S. soil, and Pearl Harbor’s solemn memorials. Beyond Honolulu, the Windward Coast curves past turquoise bays to the North Shore, a surfing capital where food trucks sling buttery garlic shrimp. On Hawai‘i Island, Hilo’s waterfalls and farmers markets lead to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park—one of the rare places you can witness a landscape being born.

Practical notes: Reserve timed entries for Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay, and book Pearl Harbor tickets in advance (bag restrictions apply). Hawai‘i requires reef-safe sunscreen; pack mineral formulas. Renting a car is optional on O‘ahu but highly recommended on the Big Island. Interisland flights are short and frequent—perfect for a two-island, 7-day Hawaii trip.

Honolulu (O‘ahu)

Honolulu blends beach-city ease with deep history. Waikīkī’s calm surf breaks are ideal for first-time lessons, while nearby Diamond Head offers a sunrise hike over an ancient crater. In town, Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha statue speak to the islands’ monarchy, and Chinatown buzzes with inventive restaurants and tiki-adjacent cocktail bars.

Food is a highlight: from hot malasadas at Leonard’s Bakery to poke bowls from Ono Seafood, and laulau or pipikaula at the beloved Helena’s Hawaiian Food. Evenings glow along Kalākaua Avenue or in artsy Kaka‘ako, where murals and craft beers pair with excellent island fare.

Where to stay (affiliate): Browse stays in Honolulu on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com. Waikīkī is walkable; Kaka‘ako is dining-forward and central.

Getting to Honolulu (affiliate): Book flights to HNL on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical times: U.S. West Coast ~5–6 hours; East Coast ~10–11 hours nonstop or one-stop.

Day 1: Arrival, Waikīkī sunset, and island flavors

Morning: In transit to Honolulu. On the plane, hydrate and set local time to ease jet lag. If you arrive early, grab a flat white and lilikoi cruffin at Kona Coffee Purveyors in the International Market Place.

Afternoon: Check in at your Waikīkī hotel or condo. Stroll Kalākaua Avenue to the Duke Kahanamoku statue, then hit the sand at Kuhio Beach. For a light bite, try spam-musubi and onigiri at Musubi Cafe Iyasume (quick, tasty, under $5).

Evening: Time your first sunset from Kaimana Beach. Dinner at The Pig and the Lady (modern Vietnamese—order the pho French dip and Laotian fried chicken) or Nico’s Pier 38 near the fish auction (furikake ahi, poke, and a breezy harbor deck). Nightcap options: Bar Leather Apron (reservation-worthy Japanese-style whiskey cocktails) or a mai tai at House Without a Key’s courtyard under the famed kiawe tree.

Day 2: Diamond Head, surf Waikīkī, Kaka‘ako after dark

Morning: Sunrise hike up Diamond Head (out-of-state visitors must reserve; bring water). Reward yourself with malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery—original custard or li hing mui sugar if you like tart. Coffee at Island Vintage Coffee (100% Kona pour-over).

Afternoon: Take a surf lesson in Waikīkī; the breaks are gentle and instructors spot you into waves. Quick lunch at Marugame Udon (fresh, chewy noodles; tempura sides) or Ono Seafood for classic shoyu and spicy ahi poke.

Evening: Explore Kaka‘ako’s mural-filled lanes and SALT complex. Dinner at Moku Kitchen (farm-driven—Szechuan fried wings, kiawe-roasted fish) or Side Street Inn (Kaka‘ako; family-style garlic chicken and kimchi fried rice). Craft beer fans can sample at Honolulu Beerworks.

Day 3: Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace, and Chinatown dining

Morning: Pearl Harbor National Memorial: book USS Arizona Memorial boat tickets in advance (tickets free; small booking fee; no bags allowed inside). Consider adding the Battleship Missouri for a deeper WWII arc.

Afternoon: Head downtown to see the King Kamehameha statue and Iolani Palace (the only royal palace in the U.S.). Pop into the Bishop Museum if Polynesian history, ocean navigation, and featherwork fascinate you.

Evening: Chinatown dinner crawl: The Pig and the Lady (if not yet), Fête (Hawai‘i regional cuisine—uni bucatini if available), or Livestock Tavern (American bistro). Grab a creative cocktail at The Tchin Tchin! Bar’s roof terrace. On Tue/Thu/Sat, free hula shows often run at Kuhio Beach near sunset—an easy post-dinner stroll if you head back to Waikīkī.

Day 4: Windward Coast, Kualoa, and the North Shore

Morning: If it’s not Monday/Tuesday, snorkel Hanauma Bay (limited entry; reserve; bring reef-safe sunscreen). On closure days, hike the Makapu‘u Lighthouse Trail for big-ocean views and, in season, whale sightings.

Afternoon: Drive up the Windward Coast to the Byodo-In Temple in the lush Ko‘olau foothills, then to Kualoa Ranch for a movie sites or Jurassic Valley tour (about $50–$150; book ahead). Continue to the North Shore for shrimp trucks in Kahuku—Giovanni’s for garlicky classics or Hono’s for buttery lemon shrimp.

Evening: Sunset at Sunset Beach or Hale‘iwa Beach Park. Finish with shave ice at Matsumoto (get azuki beans and mochi balls if you like traditional toppings). Return to Honolulu; late bite options include Izakaya Torae Torae for yakitori and sashimi.

Hilo (Hawai‘i Island)

Hilo is lush, laid-back, and wonderfully local. Daily rainbows arc over Hilo Bay, while banyan-lined streets lead to old-school diners and mom-and-pop bakeries. It’s the perfect base for waterfalls, orchid farms, and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park—where steaming vents, lava fields, and native forests reveal the island’s living geology.

Don’t miss Rainbow Falls at sunrise, the Japanese-style Lili‘uokalani Gardens, and a poke bowl from the Suisan Fish Market counter. Evenings are for starry skies—either a guided Mauna Kea summit experience or astrophotography from lower elevations when conditions allow.

Where to stay (affiliate): Search Hilo vacation rentals on VRBO or hotels on Hotels.com. Top picks with affiliate links: Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo - a DoubleTree by Hilton (bay views and golf next door), Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (classic waterfront), and Hilo Reeds Bay Hotel (budget-friendly near the lagoon).

Getting from O‘ahu to Hilo (affiliate): Morning interisland flights HNL→ITO take ~50–55 minutes and often cost ~$50–$120 one-way. Compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Pick up a rental car at ITO; most Big Island sights require driving.

Day 5: Fly to Hilo, bayfront strolls, and local eats

Morning: Fly to Hilo. Grab coffee and a mac-nut scone at Just Cruisin Coffee, then check in at your hotel.

Afternoon: Explore Lili‘uokalani Gardens and the arched footbridges of Coconut Island (Mokuola). Visit Rainbow Falls and the Boiling Pots a few minutes uphill—short walks with big payoffs.

Evening: Dinner at Hilo Bay Cafe (order the crispy pork belly appetizer and the day’s fresh catch) or Pineapples Island Fresh Cuisine (live music, lilikoi margarita, island fish tacos). Dessert run to Two Ladies Kitchen for fresh-fruit mochi—strawberry with anko is the local legend.

Day 6: Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park—craters, steam vents, and sea cliffs

Morning: Drive ~45 minutes to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (entry ~$30 per vehicle, valid 7 days). Start at the Kīlauea Visitor area, then walk the Steaming Bluff to Sulphur Banks trail for otherworldly colors. Hike the Kīlauea Iki Trail (4-mile loop across a cooled lava lake rimmed by rainforest; allow 2–3 hours).

Afternoon: Picnic or lunch at Volcano House, then cruise Chain of Craters Road through lava fields to the Hōlei Sea Arch. Keep an eye for nēnē (Hawaiian geese) and respect closures—conditions change with volcanic activity.

Evening: If an eruption is visible and accessible, ask rangers for the safest viewpoints before dusk. Otherwise, return to Hilo for a casual dinner at Hawaiian Style Cafe (hearty local plates; try the loco moco) and a tasting flight at Ola Brew’s Hilo taproom.

Day 7: Hāmākua waterfalls, Hilo Farmers Market, and departure

Morning: Drive the Hāmākua Coast. Stop at Onomea Scenic Drive and continue to Akaka Falls State Park for the 442-foot plunge amid ferns and bamboo. If time allows, visit Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden for rare palms and ocean vistas.

Afternoon: Back in town, graze the Hilo Farmers Market (best on Wed/Sat, but open daily): sample apple bananas, liliko‘i, and local honey. Early lunch at Cafe Pesto (wood-fired pizzas with island flavors, seafood pastas) or Suisan Fish Market’s poke counter (get half-and-half shoyu and spicy ahi over warm rice).

Evening: Depart from Hilo Airport in the late afternoon. If you have extra time, relax at Richardson Ocean Park’s black-sand cove and watch honu (green sea turtles) from a respectful distance.

Local tips and notes

• Reservations: Book Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Kualoa Ranch, and Pearl Harbor in advance—prime slots go fast.
• Etiquette: Give wildlife (turtles, monk seals) 10–15 feet of space. Don’t touch coral; reef-safe sunscreen is required in Hawai‘i.
• Driving: O‘ahu traffic is real—start early. On the Big Island, fuel up before remote stretches; cellphone signal can dip along Saddle Road.
• Costs (est.): Interisland flight $50–$120; Kualoa tours $50–$150; Volcanoes NP entry $30/vehicle; Hanauma Bay entry ~$25 (closed Mon–Tue); Diamond Head entry/parking fees apply.

Alternate eats to bookmark: Koko Head Cafe (brunch in Kaimukī; cornflake French toast), Liliha Bakery (cocoa puffs pastry), Helena’s Hawaiian Food (pipikaula ribs; go early Tue–Fri), Rainbow Drive-In (plate lunches), Matsumoto Shave Ice (North Shore), Ken’s House of Pancakes in Hilo (open late; mac-nut pancakes).

Getting home: Compare return flights from ITO or consider returning to HNL for more options via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Where to stay recap (affiliate): VRBO Honolulu | Hotels.com Honolulu | VRBO Hilo | Hotels.com Hilo | Hilo picks: Grand Naniloa Hotel, Castle Hilo Hawaiian, Hilo Reeds Bay Hotel.

Seven days in Hawai‘i delivers a vivid mix of surf, story, and volcano-forged landscapes. With smart reservations and a little island-time flexibility, you’ll weave together Waikīkī sunsets, North Shore flavors, and Hilo’s rainforest calm into a trip you’ll talk about for years.