Kauai/Oahu

Question

Hi. We have 6.5 days and deciding if we will stay put on Oahu or squeeze in Kauai for 3 days. This is what we want to do:

O’ahu:

Pearl Harbor - 1/2 day

Waimea waterfall, botanical garden, Toa luau, Haleiwa, sharks cove (maybe snorkel), - 1 day/evening

Diamond hike early, then Drive up the east coast to north shore stopping at the lookouts, temple, Maybe swim -1 day

Waikiki area, maybe swap meet, poke around town - 1 day

Kauai:

Napoli boat cruise, drive around, Kapa - 1 day

Maybe short hike in the canyon, haven’t research this yet - 1 day

Does this look crazy?

Answer

Your outline shows you’ve already thought through the major highlights of both islands, but trying to split 6.5 days between Oahu and Kauai will feel rushed. Each inter-island flight eats 4–6 hours when you include packing, airport time, travel to/from the airport, and picking up a rental car. Below is a detailed breakdown of how your plan looks, what’s realistic, and whether squeezing in Kauai is worth it.

If you prefer a more relaxed pace, staying on one island (Oahu) is the simplest and most enjoyable. If you’re okay with a fast-moving trip and want a taste of two islands, it is possible—just very compressed.

Here’s a detailed look at your plan:

OAHU PLAN (about 4 full days)

This portion is doable and well-structured. Each of your activity blocks fits naturally into a day, though some days will still feel full.

Pearl Harbor (½ day) — Very reasonable. Most people spend 3–4 hours here. If you want to add the Bowfin or Aviation Museum, it becomes 4–5 hours.
Waimea Valley + Toa Luau + North Shore exploring (1 full day) — Good combo. Many travelers spend the morning at Waimea Valley (walk to waterfall, botanical gardens), then head to Haleiwa, then the Toa Luau in the evening. This is a long day but flows naturally.
Diamond Head + East Coast drive + North Shore (1 day) — This is doable, but long. Diamond Head at sunrise is perfect; the east coast drive (Makapuʻu, Kualoa, Kāneʻohe, etc.) is beautiful. Trying to reach all the way to the North Shore again may feel repetitive since you’re already going earlier in the trip.
Waikiki day + swap meet + casual exploring (1 day) — Good rest day. Works well before or after heavy sightseeing days.

Verdict for Oahu: Your Oahu plan is realistic, well-balanced, and already fills 4 full days comfortably.

KAUAI PLAN (2–2.5 days)

Here’s where things get tight. Kauai is an island that rewards slower exploration, and inter-island travel will cut into your usable time.

Napali boat cruise + drive around Kapaʻa area (1 day) — Napali cruises take 4–6 hours, usually mornings. After that, you will have time to explore the east side or Kapaʻa. This is feasible.
Waimea Canyon short hike (1 day) — You can do a short lookout-based visit or a light hike. The drive alone is 1–1.5 hours each way from the east side. Plan for at least a half-day minimum.

But… moving between islands means:

Packing up the hotel
Returning rental car
Arriving ~1.5 hours before your flight
Flight itself (~40 minutes)
Waiting for luggage/rental car pickup on the next island

You will lose ½ to ¾ of a day just in transit. That means your Kauai time will feel very compressed.

Verdict for Kauai: Your activities are possible but fast. You won’t have extra time for beaches, Hanalei, waterfalls, or slow-paced exploring.

OVERALL REALISM

Your itinerary isn’t impossible, but it will feel like a “sampler” rather than an enjoyable vacation. You’ll be packing, unpacking, driving, and jumping from one thing to the next. Many travelers with 6–7 days regret splitting islands because they spend too much time in airports and cars.

If you stay on one island (Oahu), you’ll have:

More downtime
No wasted inter-island travel hours
Flexibility for weather changes (important in Hawaii)
Ability to add beaches, snorkeling, cultural sites, or shopping

If you split between Oahu + Kauai, you’ll gain:

A taste of two very different islands
Napali Coast (a world-class highlight)
Waimea Canyon’s scenery

Recommendation: With only 6.5 days, staying on Oahu is the better experience for most travelers. If seeing the Napali Coast is a “bucket list must,” then splitting is worth it—but understand that Kauai will be rushed and you won’t see much beyond your two main activities.

Final suggestion: Choose one island unless Napali is a priority, in which case shorten one Oahu day (maybe the East Coast + North Shore repeat) and give Kauai at least 2.5 full days.

Kauai/Oahu

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