Waikiki has a reputation for being expensive, but some of its best experiences are free. Here is where the money really goes and how to keep more of it.
Hawaii is one of the most expensive places to visit in the United States, largely because so much has to be shipped in. Still, Waikiki rewards smart planning, and the beach, the sunset and the hula show cost nothing at all.
Where the money goes
| Cost | How to cut it |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | Travel in shoulder seasons; stay a block or two inland; compare totals including resort fees |
| Food | Plate lunch and poke for lunch, happy hour for pupus, a kitchenette for breakfast |
| Transport | Skip the car on beach days; use TheBus with a HOLO card |
| Activities | Mix paid tours with free hikes, beaches and cultural events |
Free things to do
- Sunset hula at Kuhio Beach (check the schedule).
- Walking the Kapiolani Park paths and the Kaimana Beach seawall.
- Snorkeling the Waikiki reef at the Diamond Head end with your own mask.
- Free concerts and cultural activities at shopping centres.
- Watching surfers at sunset from the Kapahulu Groin.
Spend where it counts
Put your budget into the experiences you cannot get elsewhere: a surf lesson, a catamaran sail, a day on the North Shore. Souvenirs from ABC-style convenience stores are cheaper than resort boutiques.
The Vegas comparison
Islanders often compare Waikiki prices with a Las Vegas package, where casinos subsidise rooms and buffets to keep guests near the tables. Waikiki has no casino money keeping rates down, so hotels charge for what they offer. The upside is that nobody is trying to keep you indoors: the ocean is free.
Top photo: The Ala Wai Canal with the towers of Waikiki along its bank. Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
