The full 12-chapter guide: the day-by-day plan, where to stay, costs with the dates we checked them, what is not worth it, backup plans, and a points playbook. You read it online in your PerkJolt library.

Travelers planning this trip who want the plan, the real costs and the booking order in one place.

Does it cover points and miles?

Yes. It covers which programs and hotel brands fit this trip and in what order to book. It does not quote card offers.

Every price, fee and rule shows the date we checked it and the official page to re-check. Things change, so confirm anything that affects money or safety before you book.

Can I get every guide instead?

Yes. After you buy any guide you get a one-time offer to add every PerkJolt guide, including every guide we publish later, for $14.99.

Oahu North Shore + Lanai/Molokai: A 7-Day Beach Trip Guide

Oahu North Shore + Lanai/Molokai: A 7-Day Beach Trip Guide: free sample chapter

Read the first chapter free. No email or account required.

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Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources; facts checked on the dates shown. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

Things change. Surf, road and trail status, ferry and flight schedules, attraction hours and fees all shift, sometimes within a week. We stamp each fact with the date and page we checked; where a page would not open, we say so and name the page to check. Treat anything labelled "typically" or "last we checked" as a starting point, not a promise.

Cover block

One-line promise: A seasonally honest week on Oahu's North Shore and Windward coast, then a quiet island hop to Lanai or Molokai, on a lean budget.
Trip length: 7 days (3 North Shore, 1 Windward-and-Kualoa, 3 on the neighbor island, with a flex day).
Best months: May through September for swimming and snorkeling; November through March for surf-watching from shore; shoulder months need a daily condition check.
Budget band: roughly budget to mid; add your own lodging numbers on the cost sheet.
Best for: beach and nature travelers who want the North Shore without the crowds-first mistake, and who are happy with one small flight and a slow island.

At a glance

Fly into Honolulu (HNL); rent a car for the North Shore and Windward days.
Waimea Valley: $26 adult, $20 senior and student, $18 child 4-12 (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Waimea Valley hours: typically Tuesday to Sunday 9 AM-4 PM, closed Mondays, varies by season; open daily 9 AM-4 PM on listed December dates, and closed Thanksgiving and Christmas (checked Oct 10, 2026).
TheBus: $3.25 cash per boarding, $7.50 for a 24-hour pass, $2 HOLO card fee (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Honolulu Ocean Safety: 43 lifeguard towers; HNL Info app for ocean alerts (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Mokulele Airlines: Honolulu to Lanai City "from $99"; the page did not show a Honolulu-Molokai fare (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Kalaupapa: guided tours only, ages 16+, no food or medical services on site (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Lanai: reached by air from Oahu or Maui; the state tourism page lists Hulopoe Beach Park and Keahiakawelo (the "Garden of the Gods") (checked Oct 10, 2026).
Swim North Shore beaches in summer only; in winter, watch from sand.