20 Best Free Things to Do in Oahu, Hawaii

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Relaxing on the beach and hiking are the best free things to do in Oahu, Hawaii
The best free things to do in Oahu, Hawaii, include relaxing on the beach and hiking

Oahu is a Hawaiian island in the United States that's a favorite vacation destination for many. Oahu is home to well-known towns, like Honolulu, and there are many activities to do on the island, from visiting landmarks to surfing and hiking scenic trails.

You can also find an array of things to do in Oahu that cost nothing, including watching hula shows, visiting cultural sites, and spending the day on stunning beaches. If you are looking for activities to do on the island at no cost, check out this list of the 20 best free things to do in Oahu, Hawaii.

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When visiting Oahu, book your accommodations and experiences before you go. See the short list of top suggestions below.

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  • 20 Oahu things to do

20 Free Things to Do on Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu Things to Do Map

A map of Oahu. Use the map to explore all the things to do.

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Bronze statue of a man with a surfboard and leis placed on it
The Duke Kahanamoku Statue commemorates a famous Hawaiian surfer

View the Duke Kahanamoku Statue

The Duke Kahanamoku statue is a bronze sculpture found in Honolulu, Hawaii. This nine-foot-tall sculpture honors Olympic surfer Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, who is referred to as "The Father of Modern Surfing."

The impressive statue is often adorned with leis, and torches around it get lit at night. Located on Kalakaua Avenue, it's free for all to see and is a must-visit landmark.

Explore Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue on a tour

Places to stay near Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue

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A white building with palm trees and a sign in front
Taking hula lessons at Royal Hawaiian Center is a fun free thing to do

Take hula lessons at the Royal Hawaiian Center

The Royal Hawaiian Center is a luxury shopping mall in Honolulu, Oahu. Along with browsing some high-end shops, there are lots of free activities at the mall.

One of these activities is hula lessons. Each week, you can join an hour-long class that will teach you this traditional Hawaiian dance. If traveling to Oahu with children, they can partake in kids-only Keiki hula lessons.

Stay nearby the Royal Hawaiian Center

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A building with lots of palm trees, greenery, and statues in front of it
At Royal Hawaiian Center, you can learn to play a ukulele for free

Learn how to play the ukulele at Royal Hawaiian Center

Another of the free activities in Oahu, Hawaii, to partake in at the Royal Hawaiian Center is learning how to play the ukulele. You'll spend time with a seasoned ukulele player and learn some songs on the traditional Hawaiian instrument.

During the lesson, you can also sing along to well-known songs. Learning to play the ukulele is a great skill to gain to remind you of your trip. As doing so costs nothing, it's well worth it!

Accommodations in close proximity to the Royal Hawaiian Center

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Fireworks in the night sky surrounded by illuminated skyscrapers
The fireworks show at Hilton Hawaiian Village can be seen at no cost

Watch fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village

Hilton Hawaiian Village is a luxury resort near Waikiki Beach. Every Friday night, the hotel hosts a free fireworks show. The show is open to everyone, not just those staying at the resort.

If you do stay at the resort, you can watch it from one of the outside areas. If not, you can see the show from various places around Waikiki Beach, all the way to Diamond Head. Watching the spectacular show is the ideal way to finish (or begin) your Friday night!

Explore Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort on a tour

Accommodations close to Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

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A street in an open air mall with shops either side and greenery in the middle
The Ala Moana Center has many amazing shops and hosts free hula shows

Catch a hula show at Ala Moana Center

Ala Moana Center is a large open-air shopping mall in Honolulu next to Ala Moana Beach Park. Along with finding some amazing shops here, the mall hosts a free hula show every day.

Ala Moana's hula show is just 20 minutes long but is well worth watching! The dancers will incorporate traditional and more modern variations of hula dance for a memorable performance. The shopping mall also hosts an array of other events, so check their calendar to see what is going on before you visit.

Stay nearby Ala Moana Center

Experience Ala Moana Center with a tour

Blue ocean with a sandy shoreline surrounded by buildings and a crater
Waikiki Beach is one of Hawaii's best beaches

Spend the day at Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is one of the most stunning beaches in Hawaii, that's also close to luxury resorts and hotels. The beautiful Waikiki Beach has white sand shores, crystal clear waters, and mountainous surroundings. You can even see Diamond Head on the horizon.

Spending a relaxing day at Waikiki Beach is one of the popular things to do in Oahu for free. While there, you can sunbathe, swim, surf, and more. It's the ideal spot for a chill beach day.

Places to stay close to Waikīkī Beach

Explore Waikīkī Beach with a tour

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A Fock face covered in moss and greenery with a waterfall running down
Hiking to see Manoa Falls is free, and well worth the trek

Marvel at the stunning Manoa Falls

Located a short drive from central Oahu, Manoa Falls is a 150-foot-tall waterfall that you can visit at no cost. To get to the waterfall, you must hike a short and easy trail. This hike is through lush jungle and is a scenic and relaxing experience in itself.

Once at the falls, you can find a few more trails to follow and can, of course, appreciate the stunning natural water feature. Taking lots of pictures is highly recommended too! Swimming, however, is discouraged as the water below the falls could cause disease.

Green grass with palm trees on it and a mountain in the background
Diamond Head State Monument is one of Oahu's most famous landmarks

Climb the Diamond Head State Monument

One of Oahu's most famous landmarks is Diamond Head State Monument. This geological feature is a dormant volcanic tuff cone that sits proudly on the Oahu skyline.

A popular and free activity in Oahu is to climb up the Diamond Head State Monument. The trail is moderate; while it does get steep in some places, hiking the trail is achievable for most activity levels. At the top, you can take in the stunning panoramic views of the island.

Discover Diamond Head State Monument on a tour

Places to stay near Diamond Head State Monument

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Walking around Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is scenic and relaxing

Stroll around Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden in Honolulu covers 400 acres and features an array of flora and fauna. Interestingly, the gardens were constructed in 1982 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a form of flood protection.

Despite the garden's practical beginning, today it's a much-loved attraction. When visiting, you can see a variety of tropical plants from across the world. A trip to Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is for sure one of the best things to do on Oahu for free.

A white memorial building with an American flag and water in front
The USS Arizona Memorial is part of the historic Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial

The tragedy at Pearl Harbor was one of the United States' worst acts of war. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial commemorates those killed by the attack on Pearl Harbor and is now a naval base and National Historic Landmark. While in Oahu, visiting this North American landmark in Honolulu is a must.

There are three areas to see with no admission fee: the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. There is an admission fee for the USS Arizona Memorial, but it's definitely worth it.

Greenery covered cliffs with ocean to the side under blue sky
You can get the best views of Hanauma Bay for free from Koko Head District Park

Enjoy views of Hanauma Bay at Koko Head District Park

Hanauma Bay is one more of the incredible Honolulu landmarks. However, there is an admission fee to access the marine conservation area. If you want to view Hanauma Bay for free, you can do so from certain places in Koko Head District Park.

When here, you must try the Koko Crater Railway Trail. The hike features over 1,000 stairs, and you'll encounter incredible views all the way up. At the top of the trail, you'll get panoramic views of Hanauma Bay and the rest of Oahu. This hike is quite challenging and may not be appropriate for all activity levels.

Join a tour to see Koko Head District Park

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Waves crashing onto a sandy beach with blue sky and clouds above
Sunset Beach on the North Shore is one of the best places to surf in Oahu

Surf at Sunset Beach

Sunset Beach is located on the Oahu North Shore. It's a scenic sandy beach known for being a top big wave surfing spot. If you love to surf, this is one of the best places in Oahu to do so!

Even if you don't want to surf, it's the perfect beach to relax on and watch those who do surf hit the waves. Sunset Beach is a little less known than popular spots like Waikiki Beach, so it's unlikely to be overly crowded.

As the name suggests, this beach is also the ideal location to watch the sunset. Of course, visiting is completely free.

See Sunset Beach Park on a tour

A building with arches and orange drapes in a garden with a taller building behind
Visiting the Hawaii State Art Museum is a fun and free cultural activity

Get creative at Hawaii State Art Museum

A visit to the Hawaii State Art Museum is a great idea for a fun cultural day out in Oahu. Best of all, admission to the museum is always free. Exhibits on display feature a range of artworks, with many by American artists.

There is additionally a whole section of the museum featuring Hawaiian-themed artworks and pieces by Hawaiian artists. If you enjoy Hawaii State Art Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art is also free to check out every third Sunday as well.

Accommodation nearby the Hawaii State Art Museum

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Aerial view of a beach with blue ocean, a pier, sand, and trees
Kuhio Beach is a stunning Oahu beach where you can watch free hula shows

Watch a hula show at Kuhio Beach Hula Mound

Another great place to watch a music and hula show for free in Oahu is at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound. The hula mound is close to the Duke Kahanamoku statue.

The exciting traditional performance is held right by the ocean, so you can enjoy stunning views of the coast as you watch the show. The hour-long show also opens with torch lighting and conch blowing for an authentic experience.

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A pink hotel building with trees in front of it and ocean and blue sky behind it
Getting some pictures of the pretty Royal Hawaiian Resort is a fun free thing to do

Take pictures at the Royal Hawaiian Beach and Resort

The Royal Hawaiian Resort is an iconic Waikiki landmark known for its pink facade. When in the area, getting some pictures of this building is a must!

You can see the hotel from Waikiki beach, so taking some photos is one of the fun free activities in Oahu, Hawaii, to try when relaxing at the beach. Having some snaps of this renowned and pretty hotel will be a great reminder of your trip.

Discover The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, Waikiki on a tour

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Green grass with three palm trees and a green mountain in the back under blue sky
Beautiful Kapiolani Park is a must-visit spot with great views of Diamond Head

Wander around Kapiolani Park

Kapiolani Regional Park is Hawaii's largest park. It's also the second oldest park in Hawaii. There are many attractions in Kapiolani Park, including the Honolulu Zoo. If you want to save money, however, you can simply explore the green public park.

As you wander around Kapiolani Park, you'll get to enjoy vast open green spaces, beautiful trees and plants, and wildlife. The views of Diamond Head from here are also incredible. On Sundays, there are even free concerts in the park bandstand.

Join a tour to see Kapiolani Park Beach

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Black rocks with water spurting out of them and ocean behind
The Halona Blowhole is a geological formation that's free to view in Oahu

Visit the Halona Blowhole

The Halona Blowhole is located just off of Hanauma Bay. The landmark is a rock formation and blowhole that costs nothing to visit. When visiting, you may see geysers of water spurting out of the blowhole high up into the air.

You might even see whales from here during whale season. Halona means "lookout," and you can also take in breathtaking views of the coastline from the blowhole.

Explore Halona Blowhole Lookout with a tour

A gold-covered statue in front of a palace-style building with grass and palm trees
The King Kamehameha statue is one of Hawaii's most iconic landmarks

Check out the King Kamehameha statue

The King Kamehameha statue is located outside of Honolulu's Aliʻiōlani Hale building and opposite Iolani Palace. This historic statue is of Hawaii's King Kamehameha I who aided in the unification of Hawaii.

Although the statue sits in Hawaii, it was constructed in Italy and shipped to Honolulu. The original was actually lost at sea, so the statue you can see is the second commissioned. Viewing this iconic statue is a must-do activity in Oahu.

Three Polynesian statues on grass with palm trees and blue sky behind them
The Polynesian Cultural Center features many free activities

Explore the Polynesian Cultural Center

Visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the best things to do in Oahu. The center honors Polynesian culture and history and hosts many interesting shows and events. There are also a few free activities at the center.

Hukilau Marketplace is open to the public six days a week and is free to look around. There are many fascinating shops, including one selling just Ukuleles. Kids can also get spray on tattoos here at no cost, and there is a Football Hall of Fame with free admission. Checking out the Polynesian Cultural Center is definitely one of the best things to do in Oahu for free.

Visit Polynesian Cultural Center with a tour

Place to stay near Polynesian Cultural Center

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A small lighthouse sitting on greenery covered mountains with the ocean to the side
The Makapu'u Point Lighthouse trail offers amazing views, and you may see whales!

Hike the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse trail

The Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail is located on the east of Oahu and is a relatively easy scenic hike. As you walk along the trail, you'll enjoy breathtaking ocean views. You'll also come across the quaint lighthouse that sits on the path.

Viewpoints along the hiking trail are also the ideal place to spot whales during whale season. If you want to see whales, the best time to visit Oahu, Hawaii, is between December and May. Watching the sunrise and sunset from the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse trail is also well worth it!

In Summary

Oahu is a bucket list destination in the beautiful state of Hawaii. When visiting, there are so many activities to try, many of which are free. From visiting Hawaiian landmarks and museums to hiking scenic trails, watching hula shows, and chilling at the beach, you can have a memorable time on Oahu without spending a penny!

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Written by Alli Sewell

allisewell WRITER Currently based in Canada, Alli has also lived and worked in the UK and Brazil and traveled in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. She loves finding the best photo-ops and food and drink locations wherever she goes.


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