10 Things to Do in Oahu on a Small Budget

The lesser-travelled North Shore of Oahu offers a good retreat for those hoping to avoid the tourist crowds. Located about an hour’s drive from busy Waikiki, the North Shore has laidback beaches and some of the world’s top surfing sites, including Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay Beach. You get a chance to see and marvel at massive waves, along with the gutsy surfers who ride them. 

The luxurious Turtle Bay Resort is the main hotel in the North Shore, but for those on a budget, there’s a good choice of low-key holiday rental condos, hostels and guest houses. You can also enjoy lower hotel rates if you're travelling to Oahu between November and April.

Oahu has an efficient bus service, which is a cheap and easy way to get around the island. Buy a day pass for about $5.50 and climb aboard for a trip to Waikiki and out to the more distant beaches in Lanikai, Kailua or the North Shore. Other sites that can be reached by bus include Bellows Beach, Hanauma Bay, the Halona Blowhole lookout, Sandy Beach and Waimanalo Beach.

Shark’s Cove is a small rocky bay brimming with colourful sea life on the North Shore. Set between Waimea Bay and the Banzai Pipeline, the cove is a snorkeller’s dream location. It has clear waters and marine creatures to see, including parrotfish, keeltail needlefish, butterflyfish and turtles. The best time to go is during the summer months when the sea is calmer.

There aren't any shops at Shark’s Cove, so it’s best to bring your own snorkelling gear. Shops across the road from the beach sell food and drinks. There’s no charge to enter the beach. Free public toilets and showers can be found in the car parking area. 

Honolulu’s Chinatown serves up some great food at budget-friendly prices as well as being an eye-catching place to explore. The neighbourhood has transformed from its gritty past as a red-light and gambler's haven to a thriving centre for art, food and shopping.

Hungry travellers might want to visit Chinatown Marketplace at City Square Shopping Center. Open every day from 8am, it offers a colourful mix of fresh vegetables, seafood and snacks for sale. Maguro Brothers at Kekaulike Market serves cheap and tasty lunches like yellowtail tuna, while the tiny Lam's Kitchen on Maunakea Street is a local favourite for its hearty Hong Kong noodles. 

The Royal Hawaiian Center is an excellent place for delving into Hawaiian art and culture. Make your way to The Royal Grove to take a free course on ukulele, hula, and lei-making. Classes last about 1 hour and accept a maximum of 25 people.

Storytelling sessions by master storyteller, Tom Cummings, take place at the Royal Hawaiian Center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. There’s live entertainment at 6pm from Tuesdays to Saturdays.  

The Diamond Head crater is one of those must-see sights in Hawaii. Its convenient location – a 30-minute drive from downtown Honolulu – makes it an easy climb to conquer. The trail to the top is only about 1 mile long, but it’s steep in places. There are also many stairs to navigate so be sure to wear good shoes and bring bottled water along with you.

Once you reached the top of this extinct volcano, majestic views over the 1-km-wide crater, the Pacific Ocean and the Honolulu city skyline greet you. Entry is around $1 per person, with a $5 charge for parking.

Pearl Harbor has served as a sombre reminder of the horrors of war since it was attacked by Japanese forces in 1941. Daily tours of the harbour’s USS Arizona Memorial site are free but get there early as tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The tour lasts about 75 minutes and includes a boat ride to the memorial site and a documentary film. You could pay a small fee for an audio tour headset. The memorial site is suspended over the wreckage of the USS Arizona, a battleship that was sunk during the attack. 

Hawaii State Art Museum in Honolulu highlights the works of contemporary artists with a connection to Hawaii. Among its eye-catching displays are temporary exhibitions and a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works of art. Visitors have a chance to buy the works of local artists at the onsite shop and relax at the museum café.

On the first Friday of the month, the museum offers guided tours of the museum and evening entertainment. It holds “meet the artist” lecture sessions on every last Tuesday of the month – all for free.  

Kailua, a town just a half-hour away from Honolulu, offers many stunning beaches and lush landscapes for outdoor lovers to explore. Hire a bicycle from a rental shop in town and set off for a ride along scenic stretches of road and miles of bike trails. Many shops will deliver bikes to your location by request.  

With a mostly flat landscape, such sights as Kailua Beach, Lanikai Beach, the Kawainui Marsh and Mokulua Islands are easy to reach by bike. Back in town, you could check out boutique shops and tasty dining spots or browse the Kailua farmers’ market on Thursday evenings.

Aloha Tower has been a prominent landmark in Honolulu since it was built in 1926. Found within walking distance of downtown Honolulu and Chinatown (15 minutes away from Waikiki), it’s easy to include a stop at the tower when you're sightseeing around the city.

Though it’s no longer the tallest building in Honolulu, Aloha Tower remains a standout building with its Hawaiian Gothic design and large clock. Visit the observation deck on the top floor to enjoy panoramic views across the harbour and city for free.