Maui to Oahu For A Day
To See Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, Diamond Head, Polynesian Cultural Center
You can island hop from Maui for a day, without being away overnight or needing a hotel on another island, to go to Honolulu on the island of Oahu. There you can visit Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, the Polynesian Cultural Center, Punchbowl, or any of the many other sights on that island, about a hundred miles away from Maui. You can’t fit all those parts of Oahu into just one day trip, but you can choose which ones you want to see. There is no boat from Maui to Oahu, so you need to fly between the islands to do this one-day excursion.
It is possible to do this day-trip on your own, but it is difficult to arrange the timing to fit in everything you want to see. So my suggestion is that you take a pre-arranged package that includes your flights to and from Maui, transportation on the island of Oahu, and admissions to some of the attractions such as Pearl Harbor.
If you prefer everything arranged for you, there are tours from Maui that bundle the whole experience into one easy day. You meet at Kahului Airport in the morning, fly to Oahu with reserved tickets for sites like the Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri, ride in an air conditioned coach with a guide who manages timing and parking, then swing through Waikiki and the Punchbowl area before your evening flight back. For many visitors this is the simplest way to see another island, absorb some history, and still end the night in your Maui bed.
I recommend you book your day trip from Maui to see Oahu using this one:
Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri, Punchbowl, Waikiki, & city tour, details, prices, reservations.
Or click for more things to do on Maui.
Oahu Pearl Harbor photos
More to see!
For Maui visitors planning an island-hopping day trip to Pearl Harbor, it also helps to remember that Oahu has plenty to offer once the history and sightseeing part of the day is done. If you have time before flying back to Maui, or you’re turning the excursion into an overnight stay, The Magical Mystery Show in Waikiki is an easy evening option that feels completely different from the daytime lineup of memorials, museums, and city touring.
Held at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, the show is known as Honolulu’s #1 evening experience and combines comedy, close-up illusions, and world-class magicians in a small Hawaiian Victorian theater setting that feels much more personal than a big production. It’s family-friendly, runs about 90 minutes, and works especially well for travelers who want to end an Oahu day with something entertaining, relaxed, and memorable before heading back into the usual rhythm of a Maui vacation.
Waikiki and Polynesian Cultural Center
See the page of Things To Do In Maui for luaus, whale watching, snorkeling, tours, helicopters, horseback riding, ATV, dinner cruises, parasailing, fishing, zipline, biking, golf, hiking, sightseeing, aquarium, the road to Hana, volcano, Lahaina, lavender farm, beaches, kids and family fun, and more.
