4 Days In Honolulu & Oahu Itinerary
Day 3: Manoa Falls & Southeast Coast Road Trip
It’s time to hit the road on this Oahu itinerary and escape Honolulu’s gravitational pull. This day combines “classic” road trip stops along with a couple of short hikes.
Logistics for the day
This is an action-packed day in some of Oahu’s most scenic spots. Don’t stress if you don’t complete everything mentioned here, as you can begin tomorrow’s itinerary where you left off. Aim to start by 8 am and pack both hiking and beach gear.
Tantalus Scenic Drive
This isn’t exactly the Hollywood Hills, but believe it or not, Honolulu has a spectacular scenic drive just minutes away from downtown. Pick up Tantalus Drive and snake your way up the forested mountains, home to million-dollar homes and panoramic views of Honolulu and Diamond Head. The winding road, which is crossed by several hiking trails, becomes Round Top Road and eventually heads back down, completing a loop.
Manoa Falls Hike
I recommend hiking to Manoa Falls only if you aren’t visiting other islands on your visit, such as Kauai, the Big Island, or Maui. The Manoa Falls are lovely but aren’t as impressive as some of the waterfalls on the mentioned islands, and the popular trail is often busy with hikers. The trail to Manoa Falls is a very easy-going 1.6-mile 2.7 km (return) and leads hikers through a pretty forest before reaching the 100 ft (30 m)waterfall.
Coffee in Manoa
Since you’re already in the affluent neighborhood of Manoa, you might as well pause for a refueling stop. At Morning Glass Coffee, not only is the caffeine dose superb, but they also have delicious pastries and proper breakfast dishes. Literally two minutes away, you can also try Andy’s Sandwiches & Smoothies and grab something to go.
Scenic Road Trip
After freshening up, it’s time to hit the road. Pick up Highway 72 and drive along the southeast coast. Eventually, the road will bend north and merge with Highway 61 back to Honolulu.
Lanai Lookout
Stop at Lanai Lookout, a pretty roadside stop slightly reminiscent of Bixby Bridge on California’s Pacific Coast Highway. Technically, you should be able to spot the Island of Lanai from here on a good day, and maybe even Maui and Molokai. Feel free to hop over the fence and inspect the pancake-like lava rocks with their fine layers up close (but not too close).
Halona Blowhole & Cockroach Cove
It’s a very short drive from Lanai Lookout to the Halona Blowhole Lookout. From here, you can admire the natural spectacle that never gets tired. To your right, walk a few steps and look down to Halona Cove – better known as Cockroach Cove. This gem is hiding right beneath the coastal highway and is easy to miss if you don’t stop to watch the blowhole.
Sandy Beach
Unless you’re an experienced body surfer, visit Sandy Beach to admire the colors: turquoise and gold meeting each other with Koko Head in the background. It’s one of the prettiest beaches in Oahu but also one of the most dangerous, so admire the beauty of Sandy Beach with a delicious shrimp plate lunch from the food truck often parked in front!
Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail
The Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail is one of the best hikes in Hawaii. This stop should be a no-brainer because the trail is just a mile in each direction. Park the car at the designated parking lot and begin walking uphill on the paved path that leads to the lighthouse and viewing area. Along the way, you’ll be treated to magnificent views of Koko Head and the valley beneath it, along with sublime coastal views (be on the lookout for sea turtles, dolphins, and whales).
Once at the top, catch a glimpse of the old lighthouse and learn about its interesting history in this strategic and windy location. Before wrapping up this hike, treat yourself to breathtaking views of Makapuu Beach and the bird sanctuary islands off the coast. Makapu‘u Point has to be one of the prettiest, if not the prettiest, spots in Oahu!
Logistics: the trail is paved from start to finish, but it is completely exposed to the elements, meaning you’ll need to protect yourself from the sun, drink plenty of water, and be prepared for windy weather (watch out for your hat and sunglasses).
Makapu’u Lookout
If you hiked to the lighthouse, this quick stop is not a must, but if you opted out, this is your best shot of catching panoramic views of the dramatic coastline in front of you. You can also stop at rugged Makapu’u Beach Park, but I recommend you keep driving to the next stop.
Waimanalo Beach
Ensure you have at least 1-2 hours of sunshine for Waimanalo Beach because it is so pretty out here. Waimanalo is one of the best beaches in Oahu, the island’s version of Hanalei Bay in Kauai due to the generous size of this crescent of white sand.
Waimanalo is good for surfing and swimming; just find your spot and enjoy the last few hours of this road trip before starting the drive back to Honolulu. If you need more time on this beach, you can start tomorrow’s itinerary in Waimanalo or skip the Manoa Falls or lighthouse hikes.
Pali Lookout
For a sneak peek of what’s ahead tomorrow, take scenic Highway 61 back to Honolulu. Known as the “Pali Highway,” this ancient trail was transformed into a main artery that also doubles as a scenic highway. You definitely want to catch the gorgeous views from the Nu’uanu Pali State Wayside. The lookout is also the starting point for the challenging Pali Notches K1 and K2 hikes.
From the 1200 ft lookout, you can get a sense of the unique scenery of the windward coast, with its crowning feature – the eroded emerald cliffs of the ancient Koʻolau Volcano (if you’ve been to Kauai, think of the Na Pali Coast). This exact spot was the site of a violent battle in which the winning forces of King Kamehameha the Great literally tossed about 500 enemy soldiers to their deaths – an act that led to King K’s victory and eventual unification of the Hawaiian Islands under his crown.
Optimal viewing times from the Pali Lookout are in the morning hours when the sun’s rays directly shine on the eroded cliffs. Nonetheless, the views are pretty spectacular throughout the day (even in heavy rain) and you can even start tomorrow’s itinerary at this very same spot.
