No travel agent can put a price on natural beauty. Oahu, Hawaii has it in spades, and
you can experience it for free. The island’s beautiful beaches, waterfalls,
volcanoes, and other sites are enough to keep you occupied for your entire trip, but there
are plenty of other experiences for budget-conscious travelers.
Oahu offers a glimpse into the local culture, hiking trails of various difficulties, and
more. A bit of money in your pocket for parking or registration is all you’ll need.
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islands. Watch our video to learn about the top 18 free things to do in Oahu, Hawaii.
1. Waikiki Beach Hawaiian royalty used to visit this string
of connected beaches to relax on its honey-colored sands and surf its high waves. Tourists visit
it for the same reasons today, and it’s now one of the most famous beaches in Oahu.
There are plenty of ways to spend your time at this famous landmark. You can swim through
or ride across the beautiful water in a paddleboard or catamaran. You can also surf the waves.
Waikiki Beach is a coveted photo-op location with a perfect view of the volcanic tuff cone
Diamond Head. You can also visit the shops, restaurants, and designer boutiques at nearby
Kalakaua Avenue. If you prefer a more relaxing experience,
you can park your gear on the beach and watch the surfers and fellow beach-goers. Waikiki
Beach has experiences for all Oahu visitors to enjoy.
2. The Royal Hawaiian Center This cultural center sits in the middle of
Waikiki. It’s a perfect place for shopping but also hosts weekly cultural events, including
ukelele, hula, lei making, and lauhala weaving lessons.
You’ll also enjoy live music and hula dancing performances from the locals. The Royal Hawaiian
Hotel, also known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, is nearby. It offers another memorable
free experience as you explore its unique architecture and design.
3. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial The USS Arizona Memorial commemorates the
1,177 sailors killed during the Pearl Harbor attacks. Visit to catch a glimpse of the sunken
battleship, get a video show, or become part of a docent tour.
This is one of the most popular landmarks in Oahu, so you’ll have to arrive early.
Try for one of the 1,300 walk-up tickets distributed each day. If you manage to get one, remember
to arrive before 7 a.m.
The memorial isn’t completely free to visit; you’ll have to reserve a ticket online and
pay a $1 service fee. This small price is worth it for history buffs and those interested
in learning more about Hawaii.
4. Waikiki Historic Trail
This trail spans 2 miles from Kapiolani Beach Park to Kalakaua Park. You’ll learn about
the history and culture of Waikiki as you walk along.
The path includes 21 bronze-cast surfboard markers that are over 6 feet tall. Each one
sits at an important location like the Hilton Hawaiian Village, International Marketplace,
and Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The more of them you visit, the more you’ll learn about the
culture and history of Hawaii.
The Duke Kahanamoku Statue and the Healing Stones of Kapaemahu aren’t marked out for
you, but they’re worth venturing to while you’re already out walking.
Keep in mind that the Waikiki Historic Trail is a self-guided tour. Be sure to stay on
the path, follow the markers, and bring enough supplies to keep you going.
5. The Duke Kahanamoku Statue
This bronze statue, located on Kuhio Beach, is a perfect photo opportunity. It commemorates
Duke Kahanamoku, an expert surfer, 5-time Olympic medalist in swimming, and WWII military
police officer.
If you want to do more than take a picture, you can place a lei at the statue’s feet.
Don’t place one on the statue itself because the acidity of the flowers can chip away at
the bronze.
6. The Hawaii State Art Museum
This museum is located in downtown Honolulu on the 2nd floor of the No. 1 Capitol District
Building. It’s open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Admission is free to everyone. You’ll only need approximately 30 minutes to an hour to
see all the Hawaiian art it has to offer.
7. Manoa Falls
This 100-foot waterfall sits 5 miles from downtown Honolulu. You’ll need to complete
a 1 ½ mile hike to reach it.
Once you arrive, you’ll enjoy otherworldly scenery that feels like part of an ancient
rainforest. It’s full of exotic plant life such as prehistoric ferns and banyan trees
with snaking roots. Steven Speilberg filmed scenes for Jurassic Park in this memorable
location because it’s reminiscent of the time of dinosaurs.
Set out before 10 a.m. to avoid hoards of tourists that also want to see the impressive
falls.
8. The Haleiwa Surfer Signs
The surfer signs are another worthwhile photo spot for shutterbugs to scope out. They were
designed by Carole Beller in 1996 as a way to attract visitors to Haleiwa Town. The plan
worked because they’re now a popular Oahu landmark.
There are 2 signs to see; the surfer girl at 62-330 Kamehameha Highway and the surfer
boy at 62-400 Joseph P. Leong Highway. Carve out enough time to visit and take a photo
of them both to get the full experience.
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destinations. Keep watching to learn about more of the top free things to do in Oahu,
Hawaii, including more beautiful beaches and hiking trails.
9. Sunset Beach
This 2-mile stretch of soft beige sand sits about an hour outside of Honolulu. It’s
a famous wave surfing destination in the winter and a great place to swim in the summer. It
also offers visitors the opportunity to relax and, as its name suggests, watch the sunset.
10. Laniakea Beach
This beach is also known as Turtle Beach because it’s a favorite habitat of the Hawaiian
Green Sea Turtle. These animals are reclusive, so visiting Laniakea may be your only opportunity
to get up close and personal with them.
Free parking spots are available across the street. Walk to the far right of the beach
and come in the summer months between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or around sunset. That’s the
best time to catch a glimpse of the turtles or just enjoy everything the beach has to
offer.
11. The Banzai Pipeline
This North Shore beach is like a magnet to surfers who want to ride its barreling waves.
It’s also a perfect spot to watch them at work if you’re interested in the sport but
not yet confident enough to get on a board. Come in December for the best waves.
12. Shark’s Cove
Despite its name, there are no sharks in this area; the reef surrounding it just looks like
a shark from above. You will find a wide range of marine life, including butterflyfish, parrotfish,
surgeonfish, tang, sea turtles, and eels. It’s one of the best free locations for
snorkeling on the North Shore.
Visit in the summer to avoid the large waves that arise in the winter. Rent or bring your
own snorkeling gear and be sure to arrive early to get the best possible parking spot.
13. The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Ho’omaluhia means “to make a place of peace and tranquility,” and that’s exactly
what the Hawaiians did when they created these beautiful gardens. Relax under the palm trees
and other local plant life.
The gardens are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. Arrive early to make sure you get
a parking spot while avoiding the crowds.
14. Kailua Beach Park and Lanikai Beach
These are the 2 top-ranked beaches on the Windward Coast. They’re located directly
next to each other, meaning you can visit them both on the same day.
The beaches are popular thanks to their warm water that’s perfect for swimming. They
also have important differences to keep in mind before visiting. Lanikai is often considered
the more beautiful of the two but requires you to park on the street and has no public
restrooms. Kailua has designated parking and public restrooms.
15. The Lanikai Pillbox Hike
This 1.8-mile hike takes 60-90 minutes to complete. It’s considered moderate-to-hard
difficulty, but the picturesque views of Lanikai Beach and the Mokula Islands that it provides
make the trek worth it.
16. The Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
Your entire family can hike this trail, pets included. It’s 30 minutes from downtown
Honolulu, making it easy to access. 2 hours and 2.5 miles may seem like a long trip, but
paved paths make it less strenuous and there are plenty of benches to rest on.
The beautiful sights you’ll see are the best part of this trail. You can catch a glimpse
of the nearby Molokai Island on clear days and may even see a humpback whale if you visit
from December to April.
17. Nu’uanu Pail Lookout
This historical landmark offers beautiful views of Oahu’s Windward Kost. It’s only
5 miles from Honolulu and is easy to access.
You’ll get a glimpse of Kaneohe Bay, Kailua, and other important landmarks here. Be prepared
for strong winds because it sits within a natural wind tunnel.
Entry is free, but parking costs $5. You’ll need to bring a bit of cash if you want to
ensure that your car is waiting for you when you come down from the lookout.
18. Ala Moana Shopping Center
A short bus ride from Waikiki will take you to the largest outdoor mall in Hawaii. When
you’re done window shopping, you can enjoy free events and performances.
You may also want to check out Skirokiya, a Japanese village walk. Where else in the
world but the Ala Moana Shopping Center can you get a glimpse into both Hawaiian and Japanese
culture?
Most travelers think of Hawaii as an island paradise and expect to spend a large amount
of money to experience all it has to offer. While some landmarks may cost a pretty penny,
there are plenty of natural wonders you can visit for free on each island, including Oahu.
Have you ever been to Hawaii? Let us know in the comments below. Like and subscribe
to Viewcation for more on the best places to visit during your next vacation.