Hawaii can be a very expensive place to visit. Meals and excursions add up quickly. The cost of a Hawaii trip always deters me from wanting to visit again. However, there are many free and cheap things to do on Oahu, that can help make a Hawaii trip fit your budget. In this guide, all of these things cost less than $15 to do. Looking for an itinerary for your Oahu trip? Check out this post for a five-day itinerary.
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Table of Contents
Where to Stay on Oahu
Looking for a cheap place to stay in Oahu? TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. Search for the best Oahu hotels here! Most of the hotels are in the Waikiki area and can get a little expensive, but with a little looking, you can find a good deal! Another option is to stay in a hostel. This could be great if you have a large group as well.
GoCity Pass
GoCity offers a ton of different sightseeing passes for cities around the world. These passes allow you to visit the best of each city for one low price, rather than paying individually for each attraction. I have used it in several cities around the world and would recommend getting a GoCity pass! Check out the options for the Ohau GoCity pass here. This is a great way to save money on Oahu!
1. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
Cost: $12
Hanauma Bay is the perfect snorkel spot and a great beach to relax at. Hanauma Bay was formed over 32,000 years ago by a volcano. What is left is a crater that now forms a bay with tons of fish and coral. Although it is free for locals, visitors must pay $12 to get in, which is still pretty reasonable for a gorgeous and secluded beach. It is one of the best cheap things to do on Oahu. You can opt to bring your own gear or rent it at the on-site shop. Save some money by bringing your own food. You can opt to park in the parking lot for $3 or park in the local neighborhoods and walk-in.
NOTE: Due to COVID, Hanauma Bay is limiting the number of people allowed in to 720 people a day. Groups of around 30 are allowed in every 15 minutes. Plan to arrive early to guarantee admission. The snack bar and rental equipment are currently closed. Also, please remember not to touch the fish or coral and use reef-safe sunscreen!
**Hanauma Bay is now $25, but sometimes discounts can be found or the price might drop again.
2. Beach Hop around the Island
Cost: Free
Oahu is known for its infinite amount of gorgeous beaches. There is no bad beach on Oahu. The beaches are all free to the public and most have free parking. The following are some of the most popular beaches on the island and one of the best cheap things to do on Oahu.
Waikiki Beach: Waikiki is the iconic beach that everyone has heard about. It is the most popular and can get quite busy, so make sure to get there early for a spot.
Turtle Bay/Beach (North Shore): This beach is connected to the Turtle Bay Resort, but anyone can access the beach for free. During certain times of the year, you may sometimes spot turtles lounging in the sand or swimming in the water. Remember they are a protected species, so you cannot touch or approach them.
Kawailoa Beach (North Shore): Kawailoa is a popular surf spot on the North Shore and is perfect if you want to watch surfers catch some waves.
Lanikai Beach (East): Lanikai beach is known for being the most beautiful beach on Oahu and one of the best for a day of lounging in the sun.
Kualoa Rock Beach (East): Kualoa Rock Beach is a bit of a rockier beach but has gorgeous views and tons of parking.
Ko Olina (West): Ko Olina is located on the western side of Oahu and contains many popular resorts. There are several beaches and lagoons the public can visit.
3. Pearl Harbor
Cost: Free or $1 reservation fee
Pearl Harbor offers a day full of free sites to see and is one of the best cheap things to do on Oahu. Start with a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. Opt to reserve tickets ahead of time online for $1 in order to guarantee your time and a ticket. Plan to arrive at least 45 minutes before your tour time. Prior to boarding the vessel to get you to the memorial are several displays and exhibits you can visit that go over the history of Pearl Harbor as well as the attacks. Once at the memorial, you will have 10 minutes to explore and pay your respects to the fallen.
Another free Pearl Harbor site is the USS Oklahoma Memorial. To get here you will have to hop aboard a shuttle that takes you to Ford Island, the location of the active military base on Oahu. This memorial is dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives aboard the USS Oklahoma Memorial during the Pearl Harbor attacks.
Although not as budget-friendly, there are other Pearl Harbor sites to explore. If interested in visiting all of the Pearl Harbor Sites, save some money and buy the Passport to Pearl Harbor ticket. This is a discounted price that is good for one day and allows unlimited access to all of the sites as well as transportation to and from the sites.
4. Take a Hike
Cost: Free and up
There are quite a few hikes you can take on Oahu and many of them are free or you pay a few dollars for parking. Diamond Head and Manoa Falls are two of the more popular hikes on Oahu. Diamond Head, a moderate 1.6-mile hike offers gorgeous views of Waikiki and the surrounding area. It is part of Diamond Head State Monument, which offers a visitor’s center and a few displays about the surrounding area. Expect to pay $5 to enter.
Mana Falls, an easy 1.7-mile hike through the rainforest, ends at a 150-foot waterfall. Plan to pay $5 for parking to complete this hike. Other popular hikes include the Ehukai Pillbox Hike, the Judd Trail, and the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail. Most of the hikes only take an hour or two to complete and makes for the perfect cheap thing to do on Oahu.
5. Visit the Makapu’u Tide Pools
Cost: Free
These tide pools are located on the eastern end of Oahu and are reachable by a short and moderate hike. Opt to pair this with the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail if you want a couple of cheap things to do on Oahu. It takes about 15-20 minutes to get down to the tide pools from the parking. Make sure to have good shoes as some of the rocks can be slippery. These tide pools and blowholes are formed in black lava rock. Check out this post to read more about the Tide Pools.
6. Walk around the Ala Moana Shopping Center
Cost: Free
The Ala Moana Shopping Center is the most popular mall on Oahu and contains every store you could want. Although shopping obviously costs money, it is a great place to walk around and look at decorations, especially during the holiday season. Ala Moana also has two different stages that put on various performances throughout the year. Check their website for more information.
7. Visit the International Marketplace
Cost: Free
The International Marketplace is another popular shopping area that stretches across downtown Waikiki. Throughout the year, various events and demonstrations are hosted here. They usually have some sort of hula or luau demonstration. The area also offers some fun and unique places to eat at.
8. Snack on a Shave Ice
Cost: $3 and up
There are endless options on Oahu of places to grab a Shave Ice. Many of them are very inexpensive and it makes for a great midday snack. Some of them are so big I would advise sharing. Check out this post for some of the best shave ice on Oahu.
9. Grab a drink and watch the sunset at Duke’s Waikiki
Cost: $7 and up
Duke’s Waikiki is a classic place to grab a meal and one of the many cheap things to do on Oahu. However, to save some money, opt to grab a drink from the Barefoot Bar right on Waikiki Beach and watch the sunset. Non-Alcoholic Drinks start at $7 with mixed drinks being around $13.
10. Eat Lunch at Zippy’s
Cost: $7 and up
Zippy’s serves classic Hawaiian fare for an inexpensive price. There are tons of locations scattered around the island. It makes for an easy and cheap meal as I would consider Zippy’s a fast food place. Loco Mocos and Chicken Katsu are two of the popular options. Do not forget to get a side of mac salad!
11. Look for Turtles at Laniakea Beach
Cost: Free
Laniakea Beach is known as the home to many turtles on the North Shore of Oahu. You will often see many Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles lounging in the sand or swimming in the water. Please remember to not disturb or touch the wildlife as the turtles are protected. You will have to pay a huge fine for disturbing or touching them. The best time of year to spot the turtles is during the summer season. Note you will have to park across the street to access Laniakea Beach and parking is limited. Looking for sea turtles is one of the best cheap things to do on Oahu.
12. Pineapple Maze at the Dole Plantation
Cost: $8.25
One of my favorite cheap things to do on Oahu is the Pineapple Maze at the Dole Plantation. The Dole Plantation is known as Hawaii’s Pineapple experience and grows pineapples for places all over the world. The Pineapple Maze is the world’s largest maze and it takes up over 2-acres of land.
Your mission is to find eight secret stations that are scattered throughout the maze. Each of these stations covers the history of one of the Hawaiian Islands. You can opt to trace a decal at each station or scan it on a virtual passport. Plan to spend around an hour navigating through the maze. Visitors can also add on a visit to the Plantation Gardens ($7.25) or a ride on the Pineapple Express Train ($12).
13. Honouliuli National Historic Site
Cost: Free
Although not yet open to the public, Honouliuli National Historic Site is dedicated to telling the story of the internment, martial law, and prisoners of war during World War II. It is the site of Hawaii’s largest internment camp that was open from 1943-1946. It was designated a National Monument by President Barrack Obama in 2015. Honouliuli NHS is currently being refurbished and set up for visitors. It will be one of the perfect cheap things to do on Oahu once it officially opens.
14. Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
Cost: Free
The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens is a free alternative to Kualoa Ranch. It feels like Kualoa Ranch where Jurassic Park was filmed, but you do not have to pay to get it. There is a lake, various hiking trails, and tons of grassy areas great for picnics.
15. Halona Blowhole
Cost: Free
The Halona Blowhole is a rock formation with a large blowhole. From the lookout, you can view the blowhole in action. It is a great place to stop and stretch your legs and one of the free things to do on Oahu. Nearby is also a great beach for relaxing.
16. Visit the Disney Aulani Resort
Cost: Free
On the western side of the island lies Ko Olina, where there are several large resorts and some lesser-known beaches. One of these is the popular Disney Aulani Resort. Did you know you can visit the resort without actually staying there? You can use the same lagoon as the resort guests (just not the roped-off area) as well as eat at some of the resort restaurants and snack bars. You can even get a Mickey-shaped shave ice. Visitors can also stop in the gift shop as well.
17. Donuts from Holey Grail
Cost: $12 for 4 donuts
Holey Grail donuts originated on Kaui. These are popular donuts because they are made from Taro and continually change their flavors. If you have a larger group, get all the flavors and have a taste of each. This is one of the fun cheap things to do on Oahu you will not want to miss.
18. Hit up a Brewery
Cost: $4 and up
Oahu has tons of breweries scattered around the Waikiki area. Grabbing a beer and some food is one of the great relaxing and cheap things to do on Oahu. Waikiki Brewing Company and Hana Koa Brewing Co are two great breweries to grab some food and a drink at.
19. Malasadas from Leonards
Cost: $2 and up
Another popular Hawaiian treat is Malasadas. Leonards is one of the original Malasada places on the island. A Malasada is a Portuguese donut usually covered in sugar. They have the option to come filled with different creams. My favorite is the cinnamon sugar Malasadas. Make sure to get there early to beat the rush.
20. Snorkel at Sharks Cove
Cost: Free
Another awesome snorkel spot on Oahu is Shark’s Cove. Unlike Hanauma Bay, you do not have to pay to snorkel at Sharks Cove. This area is protected from the waves making it very calm and not too deep. It is a nice place to spend a couple of hours on the North Shore and one of the best cheap things to do on Oahu.
Shaka Guide
Shaka Guide is a GPS self-guided audio tour that you can download to your phone. Currently, they have one for each of the Hawaiian islands. They provide great background information about the area. The best part is you do not need the internet to use them. Click below for the Shaka Guide for each island.
Other Free and Cheap Things to do on Oahu
Hawaii does not have to be an expensive place to visit if you do some of these free and cheap things to do on Oahu. Looking for more budget-friendly vacation ideas? Check out these guides to cheap things to do on the Big Island and Hilo, in Los Angeles, New York City, and Albuquerque. You can also take one of these Hawaii road trips!
9 thoughts on “20+ Exciting Free and Cheap Things to do on Oahu”
The price break down really helps with planning a trip! Amazing how many free options. I’ve never been to the Pearl Harbor site, but must be a special place.
That are some fun almost free things to do on Oahu. Hopefully a visit to Oahu is in my future.
This post brings back some great memories when I spend the most amazing week exploring Oahu. I was broke but it was still the best week as there are so much to do for free or very cheap there!
Oahu looks like paradise! What a magical place! I’d love to go snorkeling in those blue waters at Hanauma Bay! Hiking also sounds like a beautiful way to see the island for little to no money! Thanks for the great guide!
The pineapple maze was one of my favorites when I visited as a kid! But I second your beach hopping idea; on my last trip, I just drove around stopping at all the beaches. It was such a great way to see different parts of the island.
It’s great to know that there are some fantastic things to do for free here. I like to travel as budget friendly as possible so this is really helpful for me.
Hawaii is one of the first place we want to visit once we can. That’s great to know there are budget-friendly activities to do on the island.
What an amazing list Francesca! It is good to know that Oahu has a lot of cheap things to do. Definitely keeping this handy for when I go next month. 🙂
Some really great trips. I love the idea of snorkelling and looking for turtles. If snorkelling can combined with turtles then I’ll be in heaven!
I have to ask, what is Shave ice cream?