Aloha my dear readers, my name is Luz Pallares and my favorite price is free.99. Lol, I hope you get my silly jokes because my sense of humor requires an acquired taste. 😂The best things in life are free and I would love to give you a list of my favorite things to do in Oahu for free. FYI some are going to be very obvious but, believe me, if you do not count your blessings you would never know how blessed you are.

Let’s start with the simplest free things to do in Oahu:

1-Breath Pure healthy Ocean breeze 

As obvious as it sounds, have you ever stopped and deeply breathe in the pure ocean breeze in Hawaii. If you have already arrived in Hawaii please do yourself a favor and walk to the beach and take some deep breaths of our amazing fresh air in Hawaii and you will experience by yourselves the great benefits of consciously breathing by the ocean. If you have not arrived on the island please make a note of the must-do things while you are in Hawaii.

2-Do yoga by the beach

This is a great idea for those that enjoy practicing yoga or are just starting to practice yoga, the only thing that you will need is a yoga mat or a beach towel there you are ready to have an amazing experience practicing yoga by the beach in Hawaii! Doesn’t it sound amazing?!

If you are a beginner and don’t know all the yoga poses, do not worry, just use any of the yoga apps or a YouTube video would do, just make sure to take it easy, remember you are in Hawaii so, take it Hawaiian Style and enjoy the free things to do in Oahu 😄

It is plenty of affordable yoga classes by the beach in Hawaii but because we are focusing on free.99 activities I would not mention any of those. The challenge to my readers today is to have a great time for free!! Another day I will write you an article about things to pay for but, not today my friends 😁.

3-Take a walk and learn about Waikiki 

The benefits of walking are well documented throughout history so, take advantage of this opportunity to enjoy a walk by the beach while you are walking please take the time to read all the plaques that you see around the walk paths in Waikiki and educate yourself about the history of our beautiful island.

Walk into the Hotels and ask about each hotel’s history and the concierge will be happy to guide you in the right direction. It is a lot to learn in Waikiki and the best of all is completely Free!!Morning and evening walks can be taken either on Kalakaua Avenue which is the Main Street or by Ala Wai canal which has less visitors  and more local people taking walks every day.

If you want to adventure a little big go to Ala Moana beach or magic island in the evening and enjoy watching couples taking wedding pictures by the ocean. It is a beautiful scene for those that enjoy watching people in wedding dresses or want some creative photography ideas for that special day.

4-Take a Free walking Tour with Tropical Hawaiian Tours, LLC

We offer free one-hour walking tours in Waikiki for those that are interested in Learning about Hawaiian History and how to find some places in Waikiki. We meet at the main entrance of the Honolulu Zoo at 10:00 am Tuesdays and Fridays so grab your water or coffee and take a morning walk with us!

Our tour guides are volunteers and your gratitude is appreciated. If you are a local and you want to volunteer to guide a free walking tour feel free to contact us at tours@tropicalhawaiiantours.com

Now you have it, walk on your own or join us for a walk and learn while you walk! If the schedule for the free tour does not work for you feel free to book the paid version of it including water and snacks and a lei.

5-Sunrise pictures taking 

This is one of my favorite free things to do in Oahu and a lot of you morning sun-gazing people have to agree with me! It is no words to describe the feeling of getting up earlier than the sun and watching this magical event happening in the morning! The color changes in the sky and the beautiful scene of seeing the sun coming up and rising behind the ocean are gorgeous!

To be able to appreciate it better google the sunrise time at the location that you will be staying at.If you are staying at Waikiki you might have to walk a little bit, remember that the sun comes out on the East side so you might need to do a little research on f the best place to go for that amazing sunrise depending on your hotel location! 

Remember to make friends with your hotel concierge they are full of local knowledge! If you have a rental car you might want to plan and be on the road early and plan on traffic because remember that you are on vacation and even though we take it easy on the islands, people still working here so, you might find some traffic. 

One of my favorite places to watch the sunrises is Makapuu and Waimanalu beach, if you have access to Bellows (for those that have military IDs) this place is fantastic too! And after you take those beautiful breathtaking pictures make sure to share one with me😁. If you are a coffee or tea lover please grab that cup of coffee and enjoy by the beach watching that yellow globe rising in the sky, you will have a unique experience that you never forget!

6-Sunset with picnic on the beach 

We all have to eat and drink right? and what a better place to enjoy a romantic or just a casual picnic than by seating on the beach watching an amazing sunset!Waikiki has beautiful sunsets as well as Magic Island! Do not forget to face west to watch the sunset. 😁 For those that have a rental car, Sunset beach is a great option!

My favorite places to watch sunsets are Electric beach, Ko’olina, and Waianae. Another of my favorite places is Tantalus which is very popular for its amazing city and Diamond head views but, parking can be very challenging so, if you want to have this experience you might want to be extra early and bring some warm clothes( it gets a little chilly in the evening ) bring a  picnic basket and a hotel towel to sit on the grass on top of the mountain to see things from the top you will love the view!

7-Stars watching 

Here is another free things to do in Oahu, some people had this fascination for nature and l am with you all! Nothing compares to watching the stars in the night under the dark sky! For this adventure you need to be a little far from the city and, even though you can do star watching by Ala Moana beach, Tantalus way and Ka’ena Point from the north site drive have some of the best views!

Be aware that either or can be a little bit dangerous due to having very low lighting and traffic so, you want to lock your doors and go in a large group if possible. You can always make friends with other people at the beach and coordinate a caravan of cars to go to watch the starts. 

As a precaution do not pick up people on the road or give rides, remember that not everyone has a good intention these days. Remember that the best adventure in your life is just leaving your best safe life ever so, do not try any adventures outside of the comfort of Waikiki on your own. If you can afford it, take a customized tour with sunset or start watching times to be safe. Your local tour guides are very knowledgeable and will know the best places and times to go. 

8-Go for a swim in the Ocean 

It sounds like a joke but, you will be surprised at how many people come to this gorgeous paradise of clear water and do not get in the Ocean. Jump in the water! Splash and play, be loud and crazy! We do not know you around here and to be honest, we do not care! You are on Vacation! Play, all day long! Enjoy the simple pleasures of life! If you don’t know how to swim stay where you can stand up but, please get wet and wild! If you are afraid of the ocean just get your feet wet and stay close to the lifeguards they will keep an eye on you.

Remember to use your sunscreen even if you are on the caramel color site like me. I got burned before and believe me the vacation is not fun after you get burned or injure on the beach so l highly encourage you to wear water shoes, and not to step on the coral reef or bring glass objects to the beach because they can break and injure someone. Our responsibility as humans is to care for and protect the environment, ourselves, and others. Have a safe fun day at the beach today!

9-Snorkeling for free

This is a challenging idea for those that can not open their eyes underwater and hold their breath underwater at the same time but if you can, go for it! No equipment is required for this specific free things to do in Oahu!

Go close to the coral reef to appreciate more variety of fish and sea animals. If you have the snorkeling equipment please bring it with you or if you can purchase a set at the local store they have a lot of price options. I recommend buying your equipment for a lot of reasons like it would be new equipment so, it would not have any scratches or visibility problems, you will have it available 24/7 ready to go even if you want to use it at night, it will be right by you and, if you lose it, you already paid for it so, you will not have to pay for it on top of the rental fee. To me is a better deal because I use it a lot but, it is up to you. If you want to rent it is always a lot of options around you, depending on the place that you are staying.

My favorite places to snorkel are near The Ward Memorial go down the ramp and enjoy! Waikiki has nice areas for snorkeling too! Sharks Cove is one of my favorite places to go with my visiting friends but, Electric beach is my favorite place to snorkel with people that are strong swimmers and whom l can trust in case of emergency. Remember the ocean can change at any moment so, please don’t get in the water alone. Keep eyes on your swimming partner at all times and make sure to create a communication signal that you can use in case you are in need of help. Keep away from the waves because you are snorkeling not surfing 😂.

10-Take a Hike

Another great free things to do in Oahu, Hawaii is to go for a hike. It is different levels of hiking on the islands and you know your body so, make sure that you hike according to your body’s physical condition. Always have someone with you and take water and protein bars and candy with you in case you need a sugar push on the way. Always eat before you hike and drink plenty of water! Dehydration is very common in Hawaii and you do not want to be the one without water in the middle of your hike. 

My favorite free hikes are From Waikiki to Diamond head monument, if you do not pass the check-in point will be free but, after the check-in point is the pay version of it too if you want to go all the way to the top. Another easy hike from Waikiki is to Diamond head Lookout which has a nice view of Kahala and the surfers down below and you can get to appreciate the Amelia Earhart landmark and look out which is well known and visited on the island.

If you have a car you can go to Koko Head which has a more challenging hike but, you can always do just a bit of it. This hike is free but, is more on the expert and athletic site of hiking. Makapuu is one of my favorite freebies and is easy! I love this hike and as a bonus, you can get to see the whales in the distance when they are migrating.

11- Visit The Queen Kapi’olani Garden

This is a place for those that would like to visit our dear Queen’s Garden, which have a variety of hibiscus flowers, it is very humble and relaxing garden.

12-Get some free entertainment and samples at Ala Moana mall 

Ala Moana mall is not only a beautiful outdoor mall but a nice place to enjoy free performances and Hula shows for free! You can go to their website and find out about their free events and you can walk to it from Waikiki and hotels nearby. In addition, the food court has free samples as well as the cookie and tea stores in the mall that way you can try them before buying them.

13-Swim in a waterfall after a hike. 

Manoa has a nice hike with a waterfall as a reward at the end of it. If you have a car you can enjoy this nice hike which is close to Waikiki 

14-Enjoy all the free activities that your Hotel has to offer to their guests

A lot of visitors do not take advantage of all the things that are offered for free to the hotel guests either because they did not know about it or because they were not easily accessible.

Please go to the hotel website and find out what is included in your stay. Some hotels have free breakfast, free yoga classes, free ukulele classes, free lei-making classes, free walking tours, and free hula classes and performances. Your hotel concierge should be able to give you a schedule of the free activities that they have to offer to their guests.

15-Watch Fireworks for free

One of the things that l look forward to seeing every Friday evening is the free 4 minutes fireworks show that the Hilton hotel is very generous to provide for all of us to enjoy at 7:45 PM. Get your towel and walk to the beach in Waikiki and get comfortable with your phone ready to take amazing pictures of the show. A lot of people will be doing the same thing so please be early to get the best spot on the beach. 

Magic Island has a great view of it so, if walking or driving to the magic island is possible you might want to do that, just make sure that you will be positioned facing the rainbow tower otherwise you will miss it.

16-Visit Pearl Harbor for free

Pearl Harbor is one of the highlights of a lot of people’s vacation so, if you have a car and time you can always drive to the Pearl Harbor visitor center and get in the stand-by line and you can take a boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial for free and walk and read about the Pearl Harbor attack by visiting the free museums. If you don’t have a car you can take a taxi or a bus ride.

The stand-by line can take from 30 minutes to hours and is not warranted that you get in but, it is free. If you want to be sure to get in for the boat ride to USS Arizona,  you might want to reserve tickets for one dollar a person the day before at 3:00 pm. 

17-Visiting Iolani Palace grounds is free 

This visit can be done by walking from Waikiki if you like to walk. Remember to bring plenty of water and comfortable walking shoes. All the area around the palace is rich in history so you can be ready to learn about The Palace and King Kamehameha and take some amazing pictures in the area. 

18-Hawaiian green sea turtles watching for free

I fell in love with the Hawaiian green sea turtles since l saw them on my first visit to the Hawaiian islands. They are gorgeous and fun to watch swimming in the water,  they are fast and playful when they are inside the ocean, and something they look like they are riding the waves. I enjoy watching them in their natural environment and they are easy to spot in the water if you pay attention and look in the water you can see them lifting up their head outside the water and sticking out their flippers as if they were waving at you. 

Hawaiian green sea turtles are all around the island and you can spot them in Waikiki, close to any coral reefs, electric beach, and one of my favorite places to sea down and just watch them swim is Laniakea beach for this option you need to drive but, for sure you will be able to spot at least one if you are patient enough.

19-Free children and adult  Hula performances

Are available at Kuhio beach, Ala Moana, and Royal Hawaiian Center. Getting to go to a Luau is not always possible. A lot of times you can not get in or it is no transportation available. One of the best things about the Luau is the Hula performances and if you can’t get to a Luau, find out which of these free activities are more convenient for you and plan accordingly.! I have been to several of them and they are amazing!!

20-Watch the street entertainment 

A lot of people enjoy watching street entertainment and Waikiki has a lot of it. Come out at night and walk around Waikiki to watch performances that will lift up your spirits. Remember to watch your belongings just to avoid temptation! Some people like to borrow people’s stuff without permission if they see the opportunity. 🧐

In conclusion, it is a lot of free things to do in Oahu, here you got 20 good examples of those, if for any reason you get bored in Waikiki and want to do things outside the Waikiki area and do not feel like renting a car for any reason please visit us at tropicalhawaiiantour.com where we got a lot of options of private tours for you to book. We can customize and build tours according to your needs and wants so if you did not find what you have in mind please give us a call and we will be happy to build a tour that is perfect for you and your family!

If you are not sure if a private tour is right for you please read our blog about the differences between a regular tour and a private tour. We look forward to meeting you on one of our free walking tours or on a private tour. I personally guide some tours and will be an honor to have you on any of my tours or on my free walking tours. 

It was a pleasure writing for you and l hope that you enjoyed reading this article as much as l enjoyed writing it. 

Mahalo for your time 🤙