Last October, my husband and I utilized our Southwest Companion and points to travel to Oahu for a week. It was our first time traveling to Hawaii and it will not be our last! We intended to take our 4 children this past spring, but #COVID. Someday my friends. Someday.
Any way you slice it, Hawaii can be pricey. Even if you manage to fly and stay for free, the food and adventures can cost you a pretty penny. I am going to cover in the future, ways to see the pricey things for less, but for today, let’s pay our respects to some of the free and cheap things that my husband and I enjoyed.
- Aloha Swap Meet. You guys, this swap meet is LIFE. My friends, the Beeson family, raved about this experience and I, quite frankly, was skeptical. Why would I want to go all the way to Hawaii to walk around a flea market? Oh. My. Goodness. In a nutshell, because it is freaking awesome.
Shaved ice to the rescue on a hot day at the swap meet.
The aloha swap meet is held at the Aloha Bowl parking lot. It costs $1 per person to enter. Once parked, you walk through rows and rows AND ROWS of goods for sale. I purchased some souvenirs before going, and I regretted that. I saw all the same items at a fraction of the price. Key chains, jewelry, bookmarks, Hawaiian shirts, purses and so on.
In addition to common souvenirs, there are random things too! My mother requested Hawaiian quilting squares. Would you believe that I found them?! She has since made a gorgeous quilt from the Hawaiian fabric squares. I even found our dogs Hawaiian dresses (yes, I am THAT person). In case you were wondering, they hated them.
The swap meet is currently open on Saturdays from 8 am – 1pm and Sundays from 6:30 am to 1 pm. I assume they will bring back Wednesdays as tourism increases again.
- Hiking. There is so much hiking to do, with the perk of a gorgeous view at the end. We hiked Waimea Valley and it is DIVINE. The cost, unfortunately, does not make it one for me to really plug as cheap.
Paved hikes are my favorite kinds of hikes!
John and I took a leisurely hike one evening on a trail in the Mokuleia Forest Reserve. It on the Northwestern side of the island in Oahu. It is not only paved, but it is FREE. We parked just off the road and walked in.
The view from the top was gorgeous and the entire hike took maybe an hour round trip. Lots of locals were walking their dogs at dusk on this same path, so it’s clearly a local favorite.
- Snorkeling. John and I stayed most of our trip in Kapolei area of Oahu. One day we ventured over to Kahe Point Beach Park. This is near the famous Electric Beach. From the bank of Kahe Point, you can venture into the water and enjoy some of the best snorkeling to be found in Oahu. There were boats out in the same area that tourists had paid to deliver them to this specific area to snorkle and we went for free. YAY! Warning: we were there in October and the waves were rough. I watched multiple people get knocked down while entering at the shore. Proceed with caution and then be prepared to enjoy an array of tropical fish. John LOVED this. I read a book and people-watched from the shore, because I have not warmed up to snorkeling yet. The breathing situation is a little weird to me. Still, if you are a snorkeler, this is a sure bet freebie.
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A lone pineapple growing among many at the Dole Plantation on the Island of Oahu.
- Various Farms. We toured a Macademia Nut farm and the Dole Plantation while in Oahu.
The Macadamia Nut farm was a gift shop full of various samples from cinnamon flavored macadamia nuts to sour cream and onion chive flavored. Behind the shop you could shell macadamias using a rock on a tree stump. This simple activity is surprisingly satisfying. The samples are delicious, so the only danger is walking out spending money on some bags of specialty macadamias.
The ever-popular Dole Plantation is not one that would initially be identified as a free or cheap. There are charges for riding the train, going through the maze and taking a garden tour. HOWEVER, there is no charge to enjoy the garden near the gift shop and restaurant. There is a lovely patio to relax on an enjoy a famous and refreshing Dole Whip.
Both these activities could be enjoyed on the same morning while taking a drive and basking in the beauty of Oahu.
- Beaches. ALL beach access in Oahu is FREE. Yes, even the beaches attached to fancy resorts. If you do not spend a ton of time on the beach in Hawaii, then I really have nothing to say to you. Some of our favorites were Sunset beach up on the North Shore, Electric Beach, and the beaches near the Marriott in Ko’Olina with lagoon access.
Have you been to Oahu? Share in the comments below some of your free or cheap favorite sights to savor!