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101 Free and Exciting Things To Do on Oahu
An article about Oahu Island entitled
101 Free and Exciting Things To Do on Oahu.
Also includes activities that cost under $10 USD.
See also more
Article About Oahu
and our
Oahu Travel Guide.
Oahu is an affordable, family-friendly tropical destination with over a hundred exciting things to do, see and experience for FREE or less than $10 per person. Discover the energizing sights, sounds, art, culture, history, nature, and adventure of the island of Oahu. Load up on family fun without having to unload your wallet!
Art, Culture and History
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Enjoy one of more than 100 festivals and events throughout the year that celebrate culture, community, music, and art, such as the Okinawan Festival, Chinese New Year lion dances, Lantern Floating Hawaii, Waikiki SPAM® Jam, and the Ukulele Festival, just to name a few.
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Visit the Hawaii State Art Museum (HiSAM), one of the few state-sponsored art museums in the country, and view the finest collection of works from Hawaii’s best artists.
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Learn about the history of Waikiki on the Waikiki Historic Trail walking tour.
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Visit the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa on any Friday to experience its weekly “Aloha Friday” Polynesian show featuring hula dancers, lei making, fire knife dancers and music.
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Discover the history of surfing through photos and memorabilia on the walls of Duke’s Waikiki at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach.
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Walk through Chinatown for a fascinating look at noodle factories, herbal shops, markets, and gift shops, or take a guided walking tour hosted by the Hawaii Heritage Center. (Tours are offered Wednesday and Friday)
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Attend one of the many arts and craft fairs held at Thomas Square, Kapiolani Park and Ala Moana Beach Park.
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Witness the culture and beauty of the islands as you watch a traditional torch lighting and hula performance on Waikiki Beach near the Duke Kahanamoku statue at sunset.
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Experience the best of urban island culture at the Honolulu Night Market which takes place on the third Saturday of every month. The evening event features local artists, designers, musicians and chefs.*
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Stop in at the lei stands that line Maunakea Street in Honolulu’s Chinatown and see firsthand how these intricate lei are created.
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Head down to Eat the Street, Oahu’s largest food truck rally. The event features 40 food trucks and food vendors on the last Friday of every month in the Kakaako district.*
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Explore the history of Waikiki on a historical tour of the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort. You’ll see old pictures and collectibles lining the lobby of Waikiki’s oldest hotel, dating back to 1901. (Tours are offered Monday, Wednesday and Friday)
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Learn about Princess Kailuani, Hawaii’s last and most beloved Princess, on Thursday mornings at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel.
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Take a scenic drive over the Pali Highway stopping at the historic site with panoramic views at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout.
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Visit the ancient fishponds and loi in Heeia and Kahaluu on the windward side.
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Travel around the world through the diverse art exhibits at the Honolulu Museum of Art.*
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Learn about Hawaiian culture through Na Mea Hawaii’s weekly classes. These classes offer lessons on the Hawaiian language, the art of lau hala weaving, playing the ukulele and lei making.*
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On the last Friday of the month, visit the Honolulu Museum of Art for ARTafterDARK, a monthly, themed event featuring art, cocktails, pupu, and entertainment.*
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Walk through the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives to see how the first missionaries lived when they came to Hawaii.*
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Visit the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, a monument built to honor the men who died on the USS Arizona the day before World War II began.
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Discover the people and faces of Hawaii and the plantation era at the Hawaii Plantation Villages.*
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Experience the fun and excitement of the Aloha Festivals’ celebrations each September.
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Learn how to make traditional Hawaiian quilts and lei using fresh tropical flowers at the Royal Hawaiian Center.
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Visit the Spalding House on the first Wednesday and third Sunday of every month for free admission.
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Visit the Honolulu Museum of Art on the first Wednesday and third Sunday of every month for free admission.
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Honor soldiers from the Spanish American War to the Vietnam War at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, formerly known as Punchbowl.
vLearn about the history of pineapple in Hawaii through the multimedia “James Dole Story” at Dole Cannery Square.
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scend to the 10th floor observation deck of the Aloha Tower, Honolulu Harbor’s famous clock tower, which at one time was the tallest building in Honolulu.
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Shop the creations and collections of local artists at Art+Flea. This hip and unique monthly urban shopping experience takes place on the last Thursday of every month.*
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Visit Iolani Palace, the only royal palace on American soil, or visit the Queen Emma Summer Palace.*
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Visit Fort DeRussy Beach where in addition to picnic tables, volleyball courts and excellent surf, you’ll find the U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii.
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On the first Friday of every month, art galleries in downtown Honolulu open their doors from 5-9 p.m. at no charge. This event is wildly popular with art enthusiasts of all ages.
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Find inner peace at the Byodo-In Temple, which houses a 900-foot Lotus Buddha. Be sure to ring the Peace Bell before entering the temple for happiness and longevity.
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Visit the Manoa Heritage Center, a beautiful site that consists of Kukaoo Heiau, a Native Hawaiian garden, and Kualii, a historic home. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.*
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Take ukulele or hula lessons at the Royal Hawaiian Center.
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Volunteer at Paepae o Heeia, an ancient fishpond located on the Windward side of Oahu that hosts a monthly volunteer day on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of most months during the year.
Nature and Adventure
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Tour the Waikiki Aquarium and discover the marine life of the Hawaiian waters and the South Pacific.*
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Snorkel among the brightly colored reef fish of Hanauma Bay and look for Hawaii’s state fish, humuhumunukunukuapuaa.*
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Head to Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden for catch-and-release fishing every weekend.
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Race through the “World’s Largest Maze” at Dole Plantation and enjoy its signature Dole Whip on the way to the North Shore.*
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Keep your eyes open for humpback whales off Makapuu on Oahu’s southeast shore or Kaena Point on the northwest side of the island from November through April.
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Boogie board at the local favorite spot in Waikiki called “The Wall.”
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Hike to Manoa Falls beneath the canopy of the tropical rainforest.
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Count the waterfalls along Highway 3 (H-3) after a beautiful refreshing rain.
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In the summer, snorkel at Shark’s Cove on the North Shore, a marine conservation zone with a cove filled with fish, coral formations and lava caves.
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Hike to the top of Mt. Leahi (Diamond Head), Hawaii’s most famous landmark.*
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Sit under a tree at Kakaako Waterfront Park and watch the ships and surfers go by or roll down the hill with childlike abandon.
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Nap under towering trees at Foster Botanical Garden.*
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Hike up to the Makapuu lighthouse passing Madame Pele’s chair and following the dramatic cliff-lined coast.
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Drive to the windward side of the island to the charming beach towns to discover why the soft, white sand beaches here make the list for the world’s best beaches over and over again.
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Visit the Oceanarium Restaurant at Pacific Beach Hotel, where an incredible three-story, 280,000-gallon saltwater fish tank holds hundreds of Hawaii’s tropical fish.
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Soak up the sun and see how many of Oahu’s 125 beaches you can explore.
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Wear reef shoes and in low tide walk to Goat Island in Laie to explore the tide pools teeming with life.
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Hike the Maunawili Trail on the Pali Trail or one of many other well-marked trails throughout Oahu.
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Pick hibiscus and plumeria along the side of the road and wear them in your hair.
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Learn to standup paddleboard with legendary surfer, China Uemura, at Ala Moana Beach Park.
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Feel the awesome power of Waimea Bay in the winter months as you watch the magnificent winter waves, and in the summer as you swim in the calm turquoise waters.
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Enjoy views from Magic Island of boats and outrigger canoes with Diamond Head and Waikiki as the backdrop.
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Build sandcastles for fun family competition or watch student designers compete in the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture’s annual sandcastle building contest in February.
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View world-class surfing competitions at Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach or Waimea Bay on the North Shore.
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Watch the sunset from high atop Tantalus as Honolulu city lights begin to twinkle in the dusk.
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Feel the sea spray from the blast of the Halona Blowhole, just around the bend from Sandy Beach.
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Visit the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort to see its menagerie of exotic birds, fish and turtles located throughout the resort.
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Take a walk along the beach at sunrise and see the ocean come to life with early morning surfers and swimmers.
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Explore the USS Bowfin, a World War II submarine and imagine what life on board must have been like for her 80-man crew.*
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See the daredevil hang gliders make their way off Makapuu Point.
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Trek up to the summit of Koko Head at sunset for sweeping views of the South Shore.
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Keep your eyes and ears out for Hawaii’s colorful birds in Kapiolani Park, Moanalua Gardens and other parks throughout the island of Oahu.
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Watch the sunset from Mokuleia on the North Shore.
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Hike above the leeward side along the Aiea Heights Loop Trail overlooking Pearl Harbor.
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Spend a day at Waimanalo Beach, named the top beach in the U.S. for 2015 by Dr. Beach.
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Find the four Wizard Stones on Waikiki Beach and learn about the legend behind them.
Sights and Sounds
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Learn about Hawaii’s culture while listening to popular local musicians as part of Waikiki Beach Walk’s Hawaiian music concert series, Na Mele No Na Pua, “Music for the Generations.” Embassy Suites hosts the concert series, as well as a permanent, extensive exhibit showcasing Hawaii’s rich music history.
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Watch Ala Moana Center’s Fourth of July Fireworks, the state’s largest Fourth of July fireworks display.
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Listen to the Royal Hawaiian Band at Iolani Palace on Fridays from 12-1 p.m. and at Kapiolani Park on Sundays from 2-3 p.m.
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Relax harbor side at Aloha Tower Marketplace and listen to the island’s most popular entertainers at waterfront stages at Gordon Biersch as boats, barges and cruise ships float past.
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Picnic at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. Then stroll through the park and see all of the activities from soccer games to craft fairs to live entertainment.
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Stop by Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage, the hub for more than 500 performances annually, from keiki (children) hula to rock, chorale music and street dancing.
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Enjoy the colorful parades that float down the streets of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki during the Aloha Festival, King Kamehameha Celebration, Honolulu Festival, and Chinese New Year celebrations.
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Marvel at the “Honolulu City Lights” which illuminate the sky from the financial district to downtown celebrating the holidays in December and then stop in Honolulu Hale to enjoy the display of decorated Christmas trees.
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Listen to Hawaii’s best local entertainers performing in the hotels and on the streets of Waikiki.
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Take a self-guided tour through Manoa, Kapahulu and Kaimuki, some of Honolulu’s oldest and most charming neighborhoods.
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Pick a team to root for at a polo match at Waimanalo Polo Grounds.
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Daring designs and edgy colors have taken over the window displays on every corner of Chinatown. Explore the many locally-owned boutiques that have popped up in this otherwise traditionally Chinese area of Honolulu.
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Take a guided factory tour of the Kamaka Ukulele, one of Hawaii’s finest ukuele makers. Learn the history of the Kamaka Family and their dedication to building skillfully-handcrafted ukuleles for nearly a century.
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Watch top local, national and international athletes compete in any of the dozens of sporting events such as the Tin Man Biathlon, Waikiki Roughwater Swim, Duke’s OceanFest, and Honolulu Marathon.
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Visit Ward Warehouse for free hula lessons on Thursdays and country line dance classes on Tuesdays. While there, check out Ward Centers’ great locally-owned boutiques for special and affordable Hawaii souvenirs.
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Spend a day at the Children’s Discovery Center in Kakaako.*
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Learn more about Hawaii’s melting pot of cultures at any of the Chinese, Okinawan, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, and Korean festivals held throughout the year.
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During the weekend, view the work of local artisans at the Art on the Zoo Fence along the fence of the Honolulu Zoo.
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Sit in on a Sunday service conducted in the Hawaiian language at Kawaiahao Church.
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Admire the architecture and say a prayer at any of Honolulu’s many spectacular churches: St. Andrews Cathedral, Central Union, St. Clements, and Lutheran Church of Honolulu.
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Watch in awe as fireworks explode into beautiful colors on Friday evenings on the beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.
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Drive to the North Shore for Matsumoto’s famous shave ice, a juicy Kua Aina hamburger and garlic shrimp from a roadside shrimp truck.*
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Dedicate and float a paper lantern for a special cause or in memory of a loved one at the Lantern Floating Hawai‘i Ceremony, held every Memorial Day at Ala Moana Beach Park.
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Browse the booths at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet for affordable made-in-Hawaii souvenirs on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 6 a.m.-3 p.m.*
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Enjoy locally-grown produce and meats, fragrant flowers and tasty treats at the Kapiolani Community College Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings.
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Watch films made and produced by Asian, Pacific Islander and Hawaiian filmmakers at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival in October.*
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Design your own colorful kite, then let it soar in the breezy winds at Sandy Beach Park.
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Head to Ala Moana Beach Park to find a spot to picnic while enjoying the sunset.
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During the holidays, head down to Honolulu Hale to view the Honolulu City Lights. The month-long celebration kicks off with the Electric Light Parade and annual lighting of the City Christmas Tree.
Resource
Hawaii Tourism Authority / Oahu Visitor's Bureau / July 1, 2015
More Articles About Oahu
Oahu Island Travel Guide
Other Islands of Hawaii
Hawaii for Visitors
See also
Blog With Hawaii Tourism Posts
Facebook "Hawaii for Visitors" Page
Twitter "Hawaii for Visitors" Feed
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