The Hawaiian Islands are notoriously expensive, and whether you live in Hawaii or are attempting to plan your next vacation, it can be difficult to stay on budget. Luckily, the Hawaiian Islands are home to more free or cheap activities as expensive helicopter rides and boat tours. Just take a look around – Hawaii is home to more natural beauty than any other American state, most of which is free to explore. Here are 17 of our favorite free activities – from the highest peaks of Kauai to the shores of Hawaii Island.
- Lace up your hiking boots and hit the trails.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr Who needs a gym membership when you can go for a nice, long hike?
- Drive to the Tantalus lookout.
Keppet/Flickr Everyone loves a good drive - and there’s no beating the view of Honolulu from the Tantalus Lookout. Oh, and this is the best “roller coaster-esque” drive on Oahu.
- Watch the professional surfers that flock to Hawaii in the winter months.
Kanaka Rastamon/Flickr So, you can’t surf. No problem - simply opt to hang out at the best north shore beaches during the winter months and admire the experts.
- Relax under Lahaina’s Banyan tree.
Mark Faviell/Flickr This big, beautiful Banyan tree is the oldest in the state - and an excellent place to simply sit and think about the world.
- Go on a self-guided tour of Hawaii’s many natural wonders.
Armin Rodler/Flickr Tours in Hawaii are expensive, but taking your own driving tour of the sites means that all you have to pay for is gas and snacks.
- Witness Waikiki’s fabulous friday night fireworks.
Tim Wise/Flickr Every Friday night, there is a fabulous fireworks show on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and it is an absolutely beautiful way to end your week for free.
- Visit Kauai’s Spouting Horn Blowhole.
Tucker Hammerstom/Flickr Perhaps the most spectacular blowhole in Hawaii, Spouting Horn can shoot as high as 50 feet in the air, and is surrounded by a striking landscape.
- Head to Puuhonau o Honaunau National Historical Park.
urasimaru/Flickr Located on the Big Island is this park, full of archaeological sites and reconstructions of an ancient Hawaiian “place of refuge.” The site, once home to Hawaiian royalty and those who broke a law or defeated military, features a self-guided tour.
- Visit the USS Arizona Memorial.
U.S. Pacific Fleet/Flickr This incredible piece of American history will simultaneously leave you breathless and break your heart for the 1,102 sailors and marines who were killed during the fateful and tragic Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Visiting the memorial is a somber experience, and one that will certainly remind you not only of the delicacy of life, but also of the monumental sacrifice made by the United States Armed Forces.
- Go on a sunset picnic.
steven_n_maher/Flickr Is there anything better than a sunset picnic on the beach? We certainly don’t think so!
- Drive the famous Hana Highway.
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr Maui’s Road to Hana is perhaps the most popular scenic drive on the island – and possibly all of Hawaii. This infamous 64.4-mile highway stretches from Kahului to Hana is popular not for the destination – Hana Town – but for the incredible journey it takes to get there. The highway passes over 59 bridges and features a whopping 620 turns.
- Bask in the wonderment that is Waipio Valley.
Andy Gippetti/Flickr The sacred Waipio Valley was once the boyhood home of King Kamehameha I, and is an important site for Hawaiian history and culture. But history aside, “The Valley of the Kings” certainly appears as though it was made for royalty – the valley is full of tropical vegetation and surrounded by 2,000-foot tall cliffs.
- Dip your toes in the water at one of Hawaii’s beautiful black sand beaches.
Laika ac/Flickr The Hawaiian Islands are home to multiple striking black sand beaches, and a trip to the Big Island isn’t complete without a stop at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach.
- Explore Maui’s Waianapanapa State Park.
Scott James Remnant/Flickr Located on Maui’s Road to Hana is this amazing state park, with an absolutely stunning black sand beach, hikes, a blowhole, ocean caves, sea arches, fresh water pools and cliff diving. What more could a true explorer want in a park? Camping, perhaps? Oh yeah, they have that too.
- Go whale watching.
Buck/Flickr It’s officially whale-watching season in Hawaii, and while you can take an expensive whale watching tour, you don’t have to. There are various hikes and lookout points perfect for catching a glimpse of these gorgeous creatures in their natural habitat.
- Learn about coffee at a free tour of Greenwell Farms.
CHeitz/Flickr Kona Coffee is world-famous, and if you’re the least bit coffee obsessed like I am, you’ll absolutely love learning about the growing process of the coffee bean.
- Hang out at the beach.
Lyn Gateley/Flickr There’s truly nothing better - or more Hawaiian - than spending the entire day lounging at the beach.
For more incredible ideas about how to explore the Hawaiian Islands on a budget, check out these 11 free activities, as well as these 10 things to do in Hawaii that cost less than $10.
Daniel Ramirez/Flickr
Who needs a gym membership when you can go for a nice, long hike?
Keppet/Flickr
Everyone loves a good drive - and there’s no beating the view of Honolulu from the Tantalus Lookout. Oh, and this is the best “roller coaster-esque” drive on Oahu.
Kanaka Rastamon/Flickr
So, you can’t surf. No problem - simply opt to hang out at the best north shore beaches during the winter months and admire the experts.
Mark Faviell/Flickr
This big, beautiful Banyan tree is the oldest in the state - and an excellent place to simply sit and think about the world.
Armin Rodler/Flickr
Tours in Hawaii are expensive, but taking your own driving tour of the sites means that all you have to pay for is gas and snacks.
Tim Wise/Flickr
Every Friday night, there is a fabulous fireworks show on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and it is an absolutely beautiful way to end your week for free.
Tucker Hammerstom/Flickr
Perhaps the most spectacular blowhole in Hawaii, Spouting Horn can shoot as high as 50 feet in the air, and is surrounded by a striking landscape.
urasimaru/Flickr
Located on the Big Island is this park, full of archaeological sites and reconstructions of an ancient Hawaiian “place of refuge.” The site, once home to Hawaiian royalty and those who broke a law or defeated military, features a self-guided tour.
U.S. Pacific Fleet/Flickr
This incredible piece of American history will simultaneously leave you breathless and break your heart for the 1,102 sailors and marines who were killed during the fateful and tragic Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941. Visiting the memorial is a somber experience, and one that will certainly remind you not only of the delicacy of life, but also of the monumental sacrifice made by the United States Armed Forces.
steven_n_maher/Flickr
Is there anything better than a sunset picnic on the beach? We certainly don’t think so!
Intiaz Rahim/Flickr
Maui’s Road to Hana is perhaps the most popular scenic drive on the island – and possibly all of Hawaii. This infamous 64.4-mile highway stretches from Kahului to Hana is popular not for the destination – Hana Town – but for the incredible journey it takes to get there. The highway passes over 59 bridges and features a whopping 620 turns.
Andy Gippetti/Flickr
The sacred Waipio Valley was once the boyhood home of King Kamehameha I, and is an important site for Hawaiian history and culture. But history aside, “The Valley of the Kings” certainly appears as though it was made for royalty – the valley is full of tropical vegetation and surrounded by 2,000-foot tall cliffs.
Laika ac/Flickr
The Hawaiian Islands are home to multiple striking black sand beaches, and a trip to the Big Island isn’t complete without a stop at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach.
Scott James Remnant/Flickr
Located on Maui’s Road to Hana is this amazing state park, with an absolutely stunning black sand beach, hikes, a blowhole, ocean caves, sea arches, fresh water pools and cliff diving. What more could a true explorer want in a park? Camping, perhaps? Oh yeah, they have that too.
Buck/Flickr
It’s officially whale-watching season in Hawaii, and while you can take an expensive whale watching tour, you don’t have to. There are various hikes and lookout points perfect for catching a glimpse of these gorgeous creatures in their natural habitat.
CHeitz/Flickr
Kona Coffee is world-famous, and if you’re the least bit coffee obsessed like I am, you’ll absolutely love learning about the growing process of the coffee bean.
Lyn Gateley/Flickr
There’s truly nothing better - or more Hawaiian - than spending the entire day lounging at the beach.
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