10 Free Things To Do In Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu, an incredibly beautiful city in Oahu, Hawaii, is known for its tropical climate, immaculate beaches, and lush greenery. Vacationers travel to Honolulu to enjoy the scenery, experience the lively nightlife, and get a taste of Hawaii’s culture.

There are numerous things to add to a Honolulu bucket list, including swimming with sharks and viewing the landscape from above via helicopter. When searching for activities to enjoy in Honolulu after dark, visitors often choose to attend an evening luau or embark on a nighttime scuba tour.

While there are plenty of Honolulu luxury resorts, there are also several affordable resorts in Honolulu that are perfect for those traveling to Hawaii on a budget. Another way to save money while visiting Honolulu is to enjoy all the free activities the city has to offer.

10 Visit National Memorial Cemetery Of The Pacific

American memorial cemetery with American Flag — Pixabay

American memorial cemetery with headstones and American flags

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a historic and free landmark to visit while in Honolulu, Hawaii. This cemetery was established in 1948, and close to 10,000 World War II casualties rest in the Punchbowl crater, a crater created from the extinct volcano located inside the cemetery. The cemetery grounds also feature lush green trees, granite headstones, and a large green lawn.

Address: 2177 Puowaina Dr, Honolulu, HI 96813
Hours: 8 am-6 pm daily

9 Explore The Dole Pineapple Plantation

an aerial view of the pineapple garden maze at the dole plantation

Another free thing to do in Honolulu is visit the Dole Plantation. This famous pineapple plantation had a humble beginning, as Dole originally started as a simple fruit stand in the early 1950s. Admission to Dole Plantation is free, and there are several free activities to enjoy once inside. Guests love the pineapple-cutting demonstration and chocolate-making demonstration, as well as exploring the on-site fishpond.

Dole Plantation also features train tours, garden tours, and a 3-acre maze, but these additional activities are not free.

Address: 64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy, Wahiawa, HI 96786
Hours: 9:30 am-5:30 pm daily

8 Plan A Picnic At Kapiʻolani Regional Park

Park in Honolulu, Hawaii, with green grass, palm trees, a beach, and surfers

A budget breakdown of how expensive Honolulu is reveals that a week-long trip to Hawaii for two costs around $3,176. One way to save money while traveling to Honolulu is to skip going out to eat and instead pick up some food from a local grocery store and enjoy a picnic at one of the city’s beautiful parks.

Kapiʻolani Regional Park is not only free, but it is also the largest and second oldest park in Hawaii. Travelers and locals alike enjoy coming to this park to read, relax, play soccer, throw around a frisbee, and admire Honolulu’s beautiful landscape and weather.

Address: 3840 Paki Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Hours: 5am-12am daily

7 See The Iconic Halona Blowhole

Halona Beach Cove with rocky landscape and water near Halona Blowhole

When planning a trip to Honolulu on a budget, add viewing the famous Halona Blowhole to the itinerary. This unique rock formation with a blowhole is free to visit and is located along Oahu’s southeastern shore. The blowhole is actually a lava tube, with ocean waves passing through the tube and shooting out around 30 feet into the air.

View Halona Blowhole from the designated lookout point, found off Hawaii Route 72. The drive to this natural wonder is also very picturesque, so be sure to admire the landscape while driving to the lookout point.

Address: 8483 HI-72, Honolulu, HI 96825

6 Hike Waikiki Historic Trail

Aerial view of the city of Honolulu, Hawaii daytime — Pixabay

Aerial view of the city of Honolulu, Hawaii, with the ocean, greenery, resorts, and hotels

There are plenty of gorgeous hiking trails in Hawaii, but the Waikiki Historic Trail is particularly special due to its purpose. This trail was created to highlight the island’s culture and history. Surfboard-shaped plaques line the trail and contain stories and facts about the island.

Free guided tours along Waikiki Historic Trail take place from 9-11 am Monday-Saturday.

For those wishing to explore the trail themselves, a virtual tour is available online. This online document shares a map of the area, locations to explore, and information on each stop on the map.

5 Hike Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail

Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse via Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail — Pexels

Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse on a rocky cliff surrounded by the ocean in Honolulu, Hawaii

Another free hiking trail in Honolulu, Hawaii, to explore is the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail. This 2.5-mile out-and-back trail takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete, making it easy to fit into a busy schedule of sightseeing in Honolulu. The trail features a paved path that stretches along sea cliffs and leads to a beautiful lighthouse and observation deck overlooking the ocean.

The observation deck is a great lookout spot for whales, so be sure to bring a pair of binoculars.

Address: Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail, Waimanalo, HI 96795
Hours: 7 am-6:45 pm daily

4 Attend A Hula Show At Kuhio Beach Park

Hawaiian Hula dance at Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

A fun way to experience Hawaiian culture while on vacation is to attend a hula show. A wonderful free option is the Kuhio Beach Hula Show. This show features traditional Hawaiian music, torch lighting, a blowing of the conch shell, and a hula performed by Hawaiian dance troupes. The ocean provides a beautiful backdrop to this special hula show, and guests watch the performance from lawn chairs and blankets in the nearby grass seating area.

Shows take place every Tuesday and Saturday 6:30-7:30 pm.

3 Admire The Beautiful Manoa Falls

Manoa Falls is not only beautiful but also free to visit! Manoa Falls is a stunning 150-foot waterfall in Honolulu, surrounded by lush greenery and bright blue skies. Manoa Falls can be reached via the moderately challenging Manoa Falls Trail. This 1.7-mile trail takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes to complete, and the trek through the incredible tropical rainforest is just as lovely as Manoa Falls.

Before visiting, check to make sure the Manoa Falls Trail is not closed due to weather conditions.

Swimming below the waterfall is highly discouraged, as there is a risk of catching Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease.

Address: Na Ala Hele, Honolulu, HI 96822

2 Visit Pearl Harbor National Memorial

an aerial view of the pearl harbor museum

Pearl Harbor National Memorial is free to visit and a great way to learn about World War II, specifically the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Guests also visit this historic site to pay their respects to the heroes who lost their lives during this attack.

When planning a historic trip to Hawaii’s Pearl Harbor, guests should reserve tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial ahead of time, as they sell out quickly. Tickets are free, but a $1 reservation fee is charged per ticket. This program features a movie introduction, a boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, and ample time to explore the memorial.

While the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is free to visit, a $ 7-a-day parking fee will be in effect starting April 15, 2023.

Address: 1 Arizona Memorial Pl, Honolulu, HI 96818

1 Swim At Waikiki Beach

Waikiki beach and Diamond Head mountain peak at sunset, Oahu

No trip to Honolulu is complete without a relaxing beach day at the popular Waikiki Beach. Located on the south shore of Oahu, Waikiki Beach stretches 2 miles and is actually made up of several smaller beaches patched together, including Royal Hawaiian Beach and Queen’s Beach. This stunning sandy shoreline is the perfect spot to swim, surf, canoe, paddleboard, and snorkel. Some people swap out water activities for a lazy afternoon tanning and watching the waves lap against the shore.