Hawaii in 10 Days: A Three-Island Itinerary (Oʻahu, Maui, Big Island)

Ten days is the length of trip that lets Hawaii show you its range. In a little over a week you can stand where the Pacific War began, watch the sun rise over a crater at 10,000 feet, and stand at the edge of one of the world's most active volcanoes. This itinerary links three islands, each with a different personality, and leaves room to slow down on the beach.

3Islands

3 + 4 + 3Nights on each

2Inter-island flights

1Active volcano

The plan at a glance

Day	Island	Highlights
1	Oʻahu	Arrive, Waikīkī, sunset
2	Oʻahu	Pearl Harbor, Honolulu
3	Oʻahu	Diamond Head, North Shore
4	Maui	Fly to Maui, beach afternoon
5	Maui	Haleakalā sunrise, Upcountry
6	Maui	Road to Hāna
7	Maui	Molokini or whales, sunset
8	Big Island	Fly to Kona, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, manta night snorkel
9	Big Island	Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
10	Big Island	Kohala beach, fly home

Drive times are typical without heavy traffic. Bold places need a reservation or ticket booked ahead; see reservations to book ahead.

Days 1–3: Oʻahu

Day 1: Arrival in Waikīkī

Settle into Waikīkī, swim at the main beach and watch the sun go down from the sea wall at Kūhiō Beach.

Day 2: Pearl Harbor and Honolulu

Morning at Pearl Harbor for the USS Arizona Memorial (free, timed ticket) and the Battleship Missouri. Afternoon at ʻIolani Palace and in Chinatown, or snorkeling at Hanauma Bay if it is not a Monday or Tuesday.

Day 3: Diamond Head and the North Shore

Climb Diamond Head early, then drive to Haleʻiwa and the North Shore beaches: big waves in winter, calm snorkeling and turtles in summer.

Days 4–7: Maui

Day 4: Fly to Maui

A 40-minute flight to Kahului, then a relaxed afternoon on the beach in Kāʻanapali, Nāpili, Kīhei or Wailea.

Day 5: Haleakalā

Sunrise from the summit of Haleakalā (vehicle reservation required, warm clothes essential), a walk into the crater on the Sliding Sands Trail, and lunch in Upcountry Kula or Makawao.

Day 6: The Road to Hāna

Start early for the waterfalls, bamboo forests and black-sand beach of the Road to Hāna, with a timed visit to Waiʻānapanapa. Drive slowly and return the way you came.

Day 7: Ocean day

Snorkel Molokini Crater by boat, or go whale watching from December to April. Spend the afternoon at Mākena's Big Beach or Nāpili Bay.

Days 8–10: the Big Island

Day 8: The Kona coast

Fly to Kona (about 40 minutes). Visit Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, the "place of refuge" where those who broke sacred laws could be pardoned, and snorkel next door at Two Step. After dark, join a manta ray night snorkel off Keauhou or the airport, one of the most extraordinary wildlife encounters in the world.

Day 9: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Drive about two and a half hours to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Walk the crater rim, through the Nāhuku lava tube and down Chain of Craters Road to the sea arch at Hōlei. Kīlauea has erupted in episodes since December 2024; since October 2026 some summit trails and overlooks are closed because of earthquakes and inflation, so check the USGS and park updates that morning. Stop at Punaluʻu black-sand beach on the way back, where green sea turtles often rest. Read more in our Big Island volcanoes guide.

Day 10: Kohala beaches and home

Spend your last morning on one of the Kohala Coast's white-sand beaches, such as Hāpuna or Kaunaʻoa, before an afternoon or evening flight home from Kona.

Swaps and variations

Swap the Big Island for Kauaʻi for cliffs and quiet beaches, once its parks reopen fully; see our Kauaʻi itinerary.
Drop Oʻahu and split the time between Maui (5 nights) and the Big Island (5 nights) if you prefer nature to cities.
Stay in Hilo or Volcano Village for a night to see the park at dusk and Hilo's waterfalls.
Fly in to one island and out of another to save a flight.

Inter-island fares rose sharply in 2026, so price both flights before you commit. See island hopping in Hawaii.

When to go

Ten days across three islands works in any month, but each season changes the trip. From December to April humpback whales fill the channels off Maui and the North Shore of Oʻahu has its giant surf, but flights and rooms cost the most around Christmas and spring break. From May to September the seas on north shores are calm for snorkeling and the days are longest, but the islands are busy in July and hurricane season runs from June to November. Late April to early June and September to early November usually give the best value and the quietest beaches.

See our month guides, such as Hawaii in February for whales and Hawaii in October for value, and our guide to the best time to visit.

Pacing three islands

The danger of a three-island trip is spending your holiday in airports. Book the inter-island flights for mid-morning, so that you have time to return your car, check in and still reach a beach on the new island by mid-afternoon. Keep the first afternoon on each island free. On the Big Island, staying one night near the volcano, in Volcano Village, saves about five hours of driving compared with a day trip from Kona and lets you see the park at dawn and dusk, when it is quietest.

Budget for three rental cars, or two if you skip a car on Oʻahu, and for two inter-island flights, which cost far more in 2026 than they used to. If the total looks high, our trip cost guide shows where to save.

Quick answers

What is the best 10-day Hawaii itinerary?

Three islands at an unhurried pace: three nights on Oʻahu, four on Maui and three on the Big Island, with two inter-island flights.

How many islands can you see in 10 days?

Two islands comfortably, or three if you accept two travel half-days. Many visitors prefer Oʻahu plus Maui, or Maui plus the Big Island.

Is Kauaʻi worth including in 10 days?

Kauaʻi is beautiful, but in autumn 2026 Waimea Canyon, Kōkeʻe and several other state parks were still closed after Hurricane Lowell. Check the latest closures before adding it.

How do you get from Maui to the Big Island?

By plane. Direct flights from Kahului to Kona or Hilo take about 35–40 minutes; there is no ferry.

More itineraries: 4 days, 5 days, 7 days, 10 days, with kids, Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi and Oʻahu + Maui.

Facts checked October 2026. Reservations, fees and closures change often, especially after storms, so confirm with the official source before each day out.