Last Updated on May 27, 2025 by Deanne
If you’ve ever dreamed of visiting Hawaii but felt overwhelmed by the logistics, you’re not alone. When my family of five traveled to Hawaii for 10 days last summer, we learned firsthand how to make the most of our time without sacrificing amazing experiences. From early morning hikes and historical tours to surfing lessons and sunsets on the beach, this Hawaii 10-day itinerary was the perfect mix of adventure and downtime from Oahu to Maui.
(This post may contain affiliate links in which I receive a small commission if you use them at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support.)
First, let’s address 5 common questions people have when planning their Hawaii itinerary:
How many islands can you realistically fit in a 10-day Hawaii itinerary?
This comes down to how relaxed you want your vacation be. Flying between islands chews up valuable time and adds stress, so we recommend no more than two islands for a 10-day trip.
If you try to do more, you’ll just end up spending too much of your vacation in airports and checking in and out of hotels. If you really want to slow down, there’s nothing wrong with spending your entire vacation on just one island either.
We decided to spend 4 days on Oahu and 6 days on Maui – which ended up being the perfect Hawaii itinerary for us.
What’s the best way to travel between Hawaiian islands?
Unless you’re taking a cruise between the islands, the only practical way to travel between the islands is to fly. We flew from Oahu to Maui. While ferries between Maui and Molokai and Maui and Lanai exist, there isn’t a regular ferry system connecting other islands.
Do you need to rent a car in Hawaii?
In Maui, we definitely recommend renting a car since many popular activities are spread across the island. We stayed in Kihei but drove to the Haleakalā sunrise, the Road to Hana, Old Lahaina Luau, and Pukalani golf course. None of that would have been possible without a rental car.
For Oahu, you don’t need a rental car if you’re only going to focus on the Honolulu/Waikiki area. Traffic is bad and parking can be expensive, plus you can get to Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head fairly easily with public transportation or ride sharing services like Uber. But if you want to get beyond the city and explore the rest of Oahu (which we do recommend), then renting a car makes sense.
What’s the best area to stay in Maui?
We enjoyed our stay in Kihei, while Wailea (just to the south of Kihei) is a beautiful part of the island, too. The west side of Maui has some great options including Lahaina and Kapalua.
Rather than considering the best area to stay in Maui, search accommodations across all these areas – they’re all beautiful! – and then choose the hotel/Airbnb that works best for you.
Find a listing of all Maui accommodations here: Maui accommodations
Where to stay in Oahu?
If you’re looking for an oceanfront city vibe with lots of people, there are numerous hotel & rental options around the Waikiki area of Honolulu. If you want a more relaxed tropical vacation look to other parts of the island. The North Shore is known for world-class surfing, and there are also great options to the west (like Ko Olina) and east (Lanikai beach area) of Honolulu.
Find a listing of all Oahu accommodations here: Oahu accommodations
Our Hawaii 10-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Oahu + Waikiki Beach
- Arrive in Honolulu late afternoon, pick up rental car
- Evening swim at Waikiki Beach
- Dinner out
Day 2: Pearl Harbor + Waikiki Surfing
- Morning visit to Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial
- Afternoon beach time & surfboard rentals (Curious about surfing in Hawaii? Check out: Surfing Waikiki)
- Parents out for a happy hour drink
- Ate dinner in
- Ice cream night tradition begins
Day 3: Diamond Head Hike + Windward Beaches
- Early hike at Diamond Head
- Scenic coastal drive with stops at Sandy Beach & Halona Blowhole
- Afternoon swimming at Waimanalo Beach (This beach quickly became our kids’ favorite because of the huge waves!)
- Dinner out
- Stroll along Waikiki beach and watch beautiful sunset
(Have teenagers in your group? Check out: 11 Tips for Traveling to Hawaii with Teens)
Day 4: Surfing Lesson + Manoa Falls
- Beach time, and early morning surf lesson for mom and dad with Kahu Surf School
- Afternoon hike to Manoa Falls (lush, muddy, and worth it!)
- Shopping & smoothies in Waikiki for the girls
- Return visit to Waimanalo Beach for the boys
- Dinner out + ice cream again
Day 5: Sunrise Hike + Fly to Maui
- Parents hiked Makapu’u Lighthouse + swam at Halona Blowhole (Kids slept in!)
- Flight to Maui, pick up rental car
- Dinner at Nalu’s South Shore Grille (We all had the Chicken and Waffles – highly recommend!)
- Sunset beach stroll with shave ice & gelato
Day 6: Haleakalā Sunrise + Beach Day
- Parents got up crazy early (2:45am!) for the Haleakalā sunrise adventure (cold but worth it!)
- Explore crater trails and summit
- Snorkeling right outside of condo on Kamaole Beach (great snorkeling spot!)
- Afternoon golf at Pukalani Country Club
- Dinner at Maui Brewing Co. (good food & fun vibe)
Day 7: Relaxing Day + Family Photos at Ulua Beach
- Morning snorkeling right outside condo again – saw coral, colorful fish, sea urchins, and a black-and-yellow eel; briefly spotted a sea turtle
- TIP: Renting flotation belts makes snorkeling MUCH easier and more enjoyable – even for good swimmers.
- Afternoon walk on the beach
- Evening family photo shoot at Ulua Beach in Wailea with Flytographer – a service that connects you with a local photographer while on vacation!
- Dinner at Roasted Chiles (Mexican food in Kihei – good tacos and quesadillas)
- Early bedtime to prepare for Road to Hana day
Day 8: Road to Hana All Day Adventure + More Ice Cream
- Early start at 6:00am to travel the Road to Hana
- TIP: Read up on the Road to Hana experience. Check out our articles – Is the Road to Hana Worth It? and 7 Best Stops on our Road to Hana Itinerary
- Drive back to Kihei
- Dinner out
- Ice cream for kids; relaxing drink on balcony for adults
Day 9: More Snorkeling + Old Lahaina Luau
- Morning jog and pool swim
- More snorkeling
- Afternoon ocean swim
- Parents enjoyed happy hour drink while kids had more ice cream
- Evening luau at Old Lahaina (Check out our luau experience here: Old Lahaina Luau-Our Honest Review)
Day 10: Final Day – Snorkeling, Shopping + Escape Room
- Best snorkeling of the trip – perfect lighting, amazing visibility (Saw 5 sea turtles up close!)
- Shopped in Wailea and Lahaina (and yes, even more ice cream!)
- Maui Escape Room (Fun!)
- Airport – fly home.
Leave a Reply