While getting to and staying in Hawaii can be expensive, the good news is that there are tons of cheap or free options that allow you to explore the beauty, stunning views and pristine waters of Oahu without breaking the bank. Here are a few that we loved.
1. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay
You can snorkel almost anywhere in Hawaii and be sure to see wildlife. In fact, Chris saw a sea turtle within his first 5 minutes of snorkeling on a busy beach filled with locals on Martin Luther King Day. BUT if you’re looking for a shallow, kid friendly and unbelievably rich place to snorkel, I highly recommend Hanauma Bay. The sheltered bay had beautiful, calm, crystal clear water and the variety of fish you see while snorkeling left me speechless. Even though it was very busy (they average 3000 visitors a day) it never seemed to be overly crowded in the water and the beach is long and sandy so there is lots of space for everyone.
Cost: The fee is 7.50$ to enter and kids under 12 are FREE. You can bring your own snorkel gear or rent there.
Tips: Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays and is especially busy on weekends and holidays. Get there early! We got there around 8 a.m. and the parking lot was filling up quickly. If you don't have a car there are lots of tours that will arrange transportation for you. Alternatively, there is a public bus stop right at the entrance to the park.
You can snorkel almost anywhere in Hawaii and be sure to see wildlife. In fact, Chris saw a sea turtle within his first 5 minutes of snorkeling on a busy beach filled with locals on Martin Luther King Day. BUT if you’re looking for a shallow, kid friendly and unbelievably rich place to snorkel, I highly recommend Hanauma Bay. The sheltered bay had beautiful, calm, crystal clear water and the variety of fish you see while snorkeling left me speechless. Even though it was very busy (they average 3000 visitors a day) it never seemed to be overly crowded in the water and the beach is long and sandy so there is lots of space for everyone.
Cost: The fee is 7.50$ to enter and kids under 12 are FREE. You can bring your own snorkel gear or rent there.
Tips: Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays and is especially busy on weekends and holidays. Get there early! We got there around 8 a.m. and the parking lot was filling up quickly. If you don't have a car there are lots of tours that will arrange transportation for you. Alternatively, there is a public bus stop right at the entrance to the park.
2. Go For A Hike at Manoa Falls
There are lots of beautiful hikes on Oahu but my favourite was Manoa Falls. It is short, 2.5 km round trip, and the terrain is easy enough for little feet to manage. You start hiking under a lush canopy and before long you are in the middle of bamboo forest. There are eucalyptus and guava trees and you scamper over rocks before ending up at the base of a waterfall, 150 feet high! While you can't swim at the base of the waterfall anymore, the hike is still a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours.
Cost: The parking fee is 5 dollars per vehicle and the parking lot is located at the very end of Manoa Road.
Tips: The Manoa Falls area can see sporadic rain, in fact it's one of the rainiest spots on the island, but much of the trail has good cover. Bring a light rain jacket, water and a bag to protect your camera in case you encounter a bit of a downpour.
3. Search for Turtles along the North Shore
Take your time driving up the coast to the North Shore because you never know what you’re going to see! We were lucky enough to see a pregnant monk seal sunning herself on the beach and learned about this amazing, endangered animal from a local volunteer conservation officer. We stopped for lots of cheap eats (and treats) along the way and ended up at Lanikea Beach where we got to see Oakley the sea turtle.
There are lots of beautiful hikes on Oahu but my favourite was Manoa Falls. It is short, 2.5 km round trip, and the terrain is easy enough for little feet to manage. You start hiking under a lush canopy and before long you are in the middle of bamboo forest. There are eucalyptus and guava trees and you scamper over rocks before ending up at the base of a waterfall, 150 feet high! While you can't swim at the base of the waterfall anymore, the hike is still a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours.
Cost: The parking fee is 5 dollars per vehicle and the parking lot is located at the very end of Manoa Road.
Tips: The Manoa Falls area can see sporadic rain, in fact it's one of the rainiest spots on the island, but much of the trail has good cover. Bring a light rain jacket, water and a bag to protect your camera in case you encounter a bit of a downpour.
3. Search for Turtles along the North Shore
Take your time driving up the coast to the North Shore because you never know what you’re going to see! We were lucky enough to see a pregnant monk seal sunning herself on the beach and learned about this amazing, endangered animal from a local volunteer conservation officer. We stopped for lots of cheap eats (and treats) along the way and ended up at Lanikea Beach where we got to see Oakley the sea turtle.
There was a conservation officer on the beach to help give Oakley space and to provide education to onlookers. While the surf on the adjacent beach (Sunset Beach/Banzai Pipeline) was high and too rough for us to go swimming we did enjoy playing in the sand and watching the surfers. We finished off the afternoon wandering around Halaweia and indulging in shaved ice from Matsumoto’s.
Cost: FREE! Unless you indulge in all the snacks that we did along the way. If you're interested in some cheap eats that you shouldn't miss, check out our post on 5 Foods You Must Try When You're On Oahu
Cost: FREE! Unless you indulge in all the snacks that we did along the way. If you're interested in some cheap eats that you shouldn't miss, check out our post on 5 Foods You Must Try When You're On Oahu
4. Be a Beach Bum
There is no shortage of public beaches for swimming, some that are calm and sheltered, perfect for snorkeling and for little swimmers, while others have bigger surf best for body boarding or surfing. Our experience was that the different sides of the island (south, windward and north – we didn’t go to the leeward side) had different weather even within the same day!
We swam at Waimanalo and Waikiki which were both calm. Waimanalo was beautiful with clear water perfect for snorkeling and lots of park and beach space. We loved the local vibe and the fact that the guys saw a sea turtle while snorkeling was the icing on the cake. We also had a great experience on the south shore at Waikiki beach and loved that it was walking distance from restaurants (and self serve Dole whip!). The kitschy vibe of Waikiki was fun and the view of Diamond Head was stunning.
The two times we tried to go to Lanakai beach, which is considered the most beautiful beach on Oahu, the weather wasn’t great. We were always surprised how localized rainy and windy weather could be! I would definitely recommend it because the views are stunning and it seemed like a quiet and more secluded beach than the others we visited.
Wherever you’re staying, ask around to see what beaches are the best fit for your family. Some are better for snorkeling, some for surfing and some for relaxing in the sand. Check out this guide for some beach suggestions that might work for your family and interests – I wish we had known about the Ala Moana Beach when we were there!
Cost: Free! Parking in Waikiki can be expensive but we found some great deals where restaurants would validate up to 5 hours of parking for free – we went for happy hour drinks which is a win-win!
There is no shortage of public beaches for swimming, some that are calm and sheltered, perfect for snorkeling and for little swimmers, while others have bigger surf best for body boarding or surfing. Our experience was that the different sides of the island (south, windward and north – we didn’t go to the leeward side) had different weather even within the same day!
We swam at Waimanalo and Waikiki which were both calm. Waimanalo was beautiful with clear water perfect for snorkeling and lots of park and beach space. We loved the local vibe and the fact that the guys saw a sea turtle while snorkeling was the icing on the cake. We also had a great experience on the south shore at Waikiki beach and loved that it was walking distance from restaurants (and self serve Dole whip!). The kitschy vibe of Waikiki was fun and the view of Diamond Head was stunning.
The two times we tried to go to Lanakai beach, which is considered the most beautiful beach on Oahu, the weather wasn’t great. We were always surprised how localized rainy and windy weather could be! I would definitely recommend it because the views are stunning and it seemed like a quiet and more secluded beach than the others we visited.
Wherever you’re staying, ask around to see what beaches are the best fit for your family. Some are better for snorkeling, some for surfing and some for relaxing in the sand. Check out this guide for some beach suggestions that might work for your family and interests – I wish we had known about the Ala Moana Beach when we were there!
Cost: Free! Parking in Waikiki can be expensive but we found some great deals where restaurants would validate up to 5 hours of parking for free – we went for happy hour drinks which is a win-win!
5. Learn a little History at Pearl Harbor
It’s hard to imagine while you’re snorkeling, enjoying the beach and hiking around the beautiful island that this was where World War II started for the United States. Visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona memorial gave us a glimpse into what life was like in 1941 leading up to, and following, the attack on Pearl Harbor. We actually went to Pearl Harbor twice. On the first day we went bright and early but high winds had cancelled the boat the went out to the USS Arizona memorial. We decided to stick around, and spent the better part of half of a day browsing the site. There are two exhibits that you can see for free: one that documents the history leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and one that chronicles the attack itself. The timeline of the attack and the video, pictures and first hand accounts from survivors, both military and civilian, were incredibly moving and we spent lots of time taking it all in.
The trip out to the memorial starts with a 23 minute documentary about the attack on Pearl Harbor followed by a short boat ride out to the memorial. You have about 15 minutes to view the memorial before heading back by boat to the main land. The memorial is located directly on top of the sunken remains of the USS Arizona, where over 1000 of those killed in the attack are still entombed. At the memorial, you can see the names of each of these men engraved and read about how some survivors of the attack are choosing to have their remains brought back to the USS Arizona to be reunited with their crew mates. Some of the portions of the boat above water including two of the gun turrets and if you look along the water you can see oil slicks, sometimes called "tears of the Arizona", from the oil that still leaks from the ship. The whole experience was incredible and it’s definitely a must do if you are on Oahu.
Cost: The tickets to the memorial are timed and there are only a certain number given out every day. While you can go to the visitors centre and get your tickets on a first come first served basis, you can also reserve your tickets 24 hours in advance for a $1.50 charge on the US Government Recreation site.
Tips: Strollers aren’t allowed on the boat or memorial site so make sure you bring either a carrier or plan on holding your baby for a total of 45 minutes. If you are a history buff or you want to check out any of the other museums and monuments on the site, plan on spending a whole day. If you want to go to the bowfin submarine museum, know that children under the age of 4 aren’t allowed on the submarine for safety reasons – this includes infants who are being carried. Check out other FAQ about the visitors centre and memorial site here.
It’s hard to imagine while you’re snorkeling, enjoying the beach and hiking around the beautiful island that this was where World War II started for the United States. Visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona memorial gave us a glimpse into what life was like in 1941 leading up to, and following, the attack on Pearl Harbor. We actually went to Pearl Harbor twice. On the first day we went bright and early but high winds had cancelled the boat the went out to the USS Arizona memorial. We decided to stick around, and spent the better part of half of a day browsing the site. There are two exhibits that you can see for free: one that documents the history leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor and one that chronicles the attack itself. The timeline of the attack and the video, pictures and first hand accounts from survivors, both military and civilian, were incredibly moving and we spent lots of time taking it all in.
The trip out to the memorial starts with a 23 minute documentary about the attack on Pearl Harbor followed by a short boat ride out to the memorial. You have about 15 minutes to view the memorial before heading back by boat to the main land. The memorial is located directly on top of the sunken remains of the USS Arizona, where over 1000 of those killed in the attack are still entombed. At the memorial, you can see the names of each of these men engraved and read about how some survivors of the attack are choosing to have their remains brought back to the USS Arizona to be reunited with their crew mates. Some of the portions of the boat above water including two of the gun turrets and if you look along the water you can see oil slicks, sometimes called "tears of the Arizona", from the oil that still leaks from the ship. The whole experience was incredible and it’s definitely a must do if you are on Oahu.
Cost: The tickets to the memorial are timed and there are only a certain number given out every day. While you can go to the visitors centre and get your tickets on a first come first served basis, you can also reserve your tickets 24 hours in advance for a $1.50 charge on the US Government Recreation site.
Tips: Strollers aren’t allowed on the boat or memorial site so make sure you bring either a carrier or plan on holding your baby for a total of 45 minutes. If you are a history buff or you want to check out any of the other museums and monuments on the site, plan on spending a whole day. If you want to go to the bowfin submarine museum, know that children under the age of 4 aren’t allowed on the submarine for safety reasons – this includes infants who are being carried. Check out other FAQ about the visitors centre and memorial site here.
