10 Best Almost-Free Budget Friendly Things to Do on Oahu, Hawaii (Honolulu & North Shore)

If you're planning a trip to Oahu, chances are you've noticed how expensive tours and adventures around the island can be. Even though we love exploring the Honolulu & North Shore areas, prices can add up quick. During our visit, we had a budget to meet, and were surprised at just how many free things there actually were to do around the island. Below, we've listed our favorite free finds in the Honolulu and North Shore areas. Our best tip is to use Oahu's public bus system, which is only $3 per ride or $7 for an unlimited day pass - it's a great, cheap, way to see the island!

Our Essential Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

For flights, we recommend Hopper to compare the cheapest travel dates.
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Car rentals comparisons are best through Discover Cars - just make sure to bring your international driver's permit with you!

We always use Expedia's easy to use platform for hotels.

To keep cell service while traveling internationally, we always use Airalo’s easy eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi.

For fun things to do, we always recommend Viator to find the best tours in the area, otherwise Get Your Guide also does the trick.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for any international or domestic travels.

Best Free Things to Do Near Honolulu & Waikiki

1. Waikiki Beach
FREE beach with beautiful sand and great for swimming

2. Diamond Head
at $1 per Walk-In or $5 per Vehicle, this pretty cheap hike is worth the incredible views, just remember that you'll need a reservation and the park closes at 4 pm!

3. Pearl Harbor
FREE National Park Monument, although there are some things to pay for, we recommend checking out the USS Arizona Memorial (reservations required or wait for stand by tickets), the museums and theaters (it's also important to note they have a strict no bags policy, and they'll make you check in EACH bag for $7 - no matter how small, we even saw a family with 3 young daughters all of each had their own "purse" and they were going to be charged for each one)

4. State Capitol
FREE and quite unique with their giant medallion out front, we also recommend walking by the nearby King Kamehameha Statue and Iolani Palace

5. Friday Night Fireworks
FREE every Friday night on Waikiki Beach (unless you're like us and they blow a fuse)

6. Day Trip to the North Shore
​take the bus for only $3 each way to spend a day on the North Shore

​Our Favorite Tours on Oahu : 
- Oahu Shark Dive
- Paradise Cove Luau
- Circle Island Tour

Best Free Things to Do on Oahu's North Shore

7. Watch the Surfers
FREE and known for having some of the best waves, the North Shore is typically buzzing with surfers and knee boarders looking to catch a wave

8. Visit Sea Turtles
FREE on Laniakea Beach, please be respectful of the turtles and do not approach or touch them!

9. Hit the Beach
Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Beach and Hale'iwa were all beautiful with great sand beaches!
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10. Go Snorkeling
FREE at Shark Cove as long as you have your own gear

Watch our Oahu Adventures here!

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Check out our other Hawaii blogs here!

• Maui, 10 Epic Things to Do
• Maui, Best Places to Eat
• Maui, A Guide to the Road to Hana
• Oahu, Best Places to Eat
• Oahu, Top 10 Things to Do
• Oahu, A Complete Guide
• Big Island - A Complete Guide to Hilo
• Hawaii Ocean Rafting - A Review
• Rappel Maui - A Review
• Stargaze Maui - A Review

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