Hawaii is an amazing place with sun, sand, beaches and palm trees. But interestingly enough a lot of people seem to be under the impression that it’s an expensive place to vacation. To be honest, from my experience I can tell you that this assumption is dead wrong. Hawaii is a place where the cost really depends on how you choose to travel. There are heaps of 5-star gated resorts which can go for upwards of $700/night, as well as shopping malls chock full of stores you can’t even afford to set foot in. Thankfully there are also options for budget-minded travellers like us who might not want to blow their whole budget in a night or two. So let me go over a few options that you might want to consider.
Getting Around:
If you’re going to Honolulu, you’re 99% likely to be staying in Waikiki. This is THE tourist area - most if not all people walking around you will be tourists. Walking around you’ll notice trolleys, LOTS of trolleys. Many cater solely to the Japanese tourists which make up a large portion of the tourists. This seems like a great option as they go to all the tourist sites, make life simpler for you. Well folks so does TheBus, Oahu’s public transit system. Trolley prices range from $19 for a day pass to $49 for a 7-day pass. Fares for TheBus are $2.50 which includes one transfer. Think about it, you’ll most likely be visiting one site per day, two at most (but that’s pushing it) that require getting around the island. Two round trips on TheBus - $10, day pass on the trolley - $19. The math is simple really, suck it up and take TheBus. 4-day passes are available in Waikiki at any ABC Store for $25 if you plan on extensively exploring the island.
The Aloha Tower:
Diamond Head Crater
Pearl Harbor:
As you can see, you don’t need bags of money to enjoy Honolulu. Quite frankly I wouldn’t even describe this as being on a budget - but really just travelling smart and doing research. A lot of activities are surprisingly available at a minimal cost or even free, you just have to do a bit of research. Hopefully this helps you as Hawaii is an amazing place that I would definitely go back to in a heartbeat.
Getting Around:
If you’re going to Honolulu, you’re 99% likely to be staying in Waikiki. This is THE tourist area - most if not all people walking around you will be tourists. Walking around you’ll notice trolleys, LOTS of trolleys. Many cater solely to the Japanese tourists which make up a large portion of the tourists. This seems like a great option as they go to all the tourist sites, make life simpler for you. Well folks so does TheBus, Oahu’s public transit system. Trolley prices range from $19 for a day pass to $49 for a 7-day pass. Fares for TheBus are $2.50 which includes one transfer. Think about it, you’ll most likely be visiting one site per day, two at most (but that’s pushing it) that require getting around the island. Two round trips on TheBus - $10, day pass on the trolley - $19. The math is simple really, suck it up and take TheBus. 4-day passes are available in Waikiki at any ABC Store for $25 if you plan on extensively exploring the island.
The Aloha Tower:
| Free! Also not overly crowded - or in our case deserted. This tower was built in 1926 and is one of the most iconic structures on the island of Oahu. The tower is located on the edge of the CBD along the Harbor and is attached to a small shopping centre which for the time being is quite bare. The tower offers amazing views of the harbor and Honolulu’s CBD. The best part about this site is that it’s 100% free. I was pleasantly surprised when the security guard said the site was free. I was even more shocked at the fact that there was NOBODY around. We were seriously the only people in the whole building, I couldn’t believe it. While downtown Honolulu I highly suggest stopping in here - why not? It’s free right? |
Diamond Head Crater
| Isn't this view worth the $1? |
Diamond Head is the second most iconic site on Oahu. You’ll see it on any postcard of Waikiki was the big brown cliffside in the distance. Diamond Head is an old volcanic crater but obviously no longer active. During WW2 machine gun posts were installed at the top. You can hike up a donkey trail to get yourself up to the machine-gun post which offers some of the best views of Waikiki and Honolulu. The hike itself should take about 45 minutes but keep in mind that it’s all uphill and the last 20% of it is extremely steep. At one point you do get the choice of either continuing the donkey trail or using the stairs. The trail is a lot easier but will take longer whereas the stairs will go faster but are extremely steep. Admission to the park is $1. Bring lots of water, sunscreen and a hat.
Pearl Harbor:
| USS Arizona Memorial |
Obviously when you think of Hawaii, Pearl Harbor comes to mind. Now it was definitely not the happiest place to be, but its historical significance makes it a definite must see while in Honolulu. Now walking around in Waikiki you’ll see a bunch of touts offering you tours of Pearl Harbor usually averaging $25-$30. Well if you do your research you’ll find that visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial is actually FREE, but you do have to reserve or else you risk getting there and it being booked up. Reservations can be done online through the National Parks Service at recreation.gov and costs $1.50 per ticket. We also opted for an audio tour which cost $7.50 per person but is quite informative and well narrated. TheBus will take you right to the visitor centre. For two people doing it the smart way it cost us $23 rather than the $50-$60 we could have paid the tout offering tours.
As you can see, you don’t need bags of money to enjoy Honolulu. Quite frankly I wouldn’t even describe this as being on a budget - but really just travelling smart and doing research. A lot of activities are surprisingly available at a minimal cost or even free, you just have to do a bit of research. Hopefully this helps you as Hawaii is an amazing place that I would definitely go back to in a heartbeat.
