15 Oahu Activities for $5…Or Less!

Let’s be honest for a second – Hawaii is expensive. It’s expensive for me to live here and it’s expensive for you to travel here. Anyone can agree on that, right? Right. I constantly have people asking me about my favorite activities to do that are free or relatively inexpensive, because after 4-5 days of spending money eating out and partaking in activities everyone is like….how about we do something that doesn’t cost money! Today I’m sharing all my favorite Oahu activities that don’t cost a ton of money. That’s right – CHEAP FINDS is the name of the game today. Or as we like to say at our house “free 99”. We need to get out more, LOL. So let’s dive into 15 Oahu activities for $5…or less. Spoiler alert: most of them are free!

15 Oahu Activities for $5…Or Less!

1. Going to the beach. This one seems obvious, but the longer I live here, the more I realize that each beach has its own personality. Want soft sand? Head straight toward Waimanalo or Bellows. Want to watch some epic waves? Hit the North Shore. Want to people watch or float in a bright raft ($1 at the ABC store AND they will blow it up for an additional $1 – so $2 total)? Waikiki is calling your name. Plus, the allure of sitting with a good book and zoning out for a couple hours can’t be beat!

2. Go for a hike. I’ve blogged before about the top 10 hikes on Oahu and all the essentials for hiking in Hawaii, but there are so many to explore that we’ve been here nearly 6 years and haven’t even done them all!

3. Visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona.

4. Friday fireworks on Waikiki Beach.

5. Snorkeling is one of the best ways to see the amazing wildlife that call the shores off Oahu home. I’ve shared my favorite spots to snorkel on Oahu so be sure to bring along your fins + mask!

6. Snag a sunset. The best places to watch the sunset on Oahu are here.

7. Walk through International Marketplace and be sure to visit the decades old Banyan tree! Be sure to get the free candy sample from Sugarfina!

8. Enjoy a malasada from Leonard’s Bakery. Leonard’s is part of my Honolulu Instagram Guide, so be sure to check out the other hotspots, too 🙂

9. Walk through Wahiawa’s Botanical Gardens.

10. Enjoy a blast from the past in the basement of The Royal Hawaiian to see artifacts and photos from when the iconic hotel first opened.

11. Visit Chinatown’s markets and vendors.

12. Learn about Polynesian culture through nightly performances at International Marketplace.

13. Swing through Dole Plantation and see all-pineapple-everything. Pick up a Dole Whip if you are okay with a little splurge 🙂

14. In the winter, head up to the North Shore to see the huge winter waves and surf competitions.

15. Stroll through iconic Haleiwa and snag a shave ice at Matsumoto’s. Check out 10 Things You Can’t Miss In Haleiwa for more ideas!