Having a great time in Oahu does not necessarily have to be expensive (although it could be)! The truth is, you’ll find a lot of inexpensive, or even free, activities on the island. For Oahu, you can definitely explore the military history and the beautiful scenery. Here’s our top five suggestions on how to make the most out of this island without being so hard on the pocket:

1. Visit the USS Arizona National Memorial in Pearl Harbor

The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii is the resting place of over a thousand sailors and marines killed on USS Arizona during the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The memorial, built in the year 1962, is visited by more than two million people in one year. It can be accessed only by boat. General visitor services are available at the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. If you want to learn a lot about history and have a moving, close-to-the-heart-trip, we strongly suggest a visit here. It’s beautiful, in a poignant sort of way. It is a good idea to book in advance via their online site, as it can get full easily during the busy times.

2. Watch the sea turtles at Laniakea Beach

Also known as Turtle Beach, Laniakea Beach (not to be confused with Oahu’s best beach Lanikai beach) is home to honu or sea turtles! This beach is found on the North Shore, between Haleiwa and Waimea Bay, off Highway 83. To find this beach, all you have to do is look for the southern end of Pohaku Loa Way and spot the many cars parked off the mountain side. (Note: As such, parking may be difficult in this beach!) Also, this beach is definitely a good place to have a picnic. One must simply be careful when dealing with sea turtles (honu); they’re protected and definitely must not be touched.

3. Watch the fireworks from Waikiki Beach at the Hilton Hawaiian Village

When on a vacation on Oahu, make sure to spare time to watch the fireworks by the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki Beach! This happens on Friday evenings, beginning around 7:45pm and lasting for about ten minutes. Take note that the fireworks display isn’t visible at all points of Waikiki, so we suggest finding a spot early! You can also opt to have a picnic and relaxing time, as there are lots of nice places on the grass and sand nearby the fireworks to sit and eat until it’s time for the display. For a special treat (thats not free), head to the top of the nearby Ilikai Hotel to grab friday night dinner! Because the hotel is tall, you will be nearly eye-level with the fireworks, a very unforgettable experience indeed!

4. Watch the tall waves along the North Shore

During winter, it is absolutely breathtaking to watch the tall waves along the North Shore. It just simply makes you feel refreshed, relieved and a bit like all your worries flow along with it. You can either spot this from Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline at Ehukai Beach or Sunset Beach! Don’t forget to take pictures to truly capture the beauty; if you’re feeling even more adventurous, come on and approach an agency and surf!

5. Enjoy a Waikiki Beach sunset picnic

Ahh, the absolute bliss – sunset picnic in Waikiki! You can either buy the supplies from the grocery store or from restaurants. In fact, you can also opt to buy “to-go” picnic baskets from resorts. Just don’t forget that alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the beaches of Hawaii. We suggest some clean, relaxing fun while immersing oneself in the beauty that is Waikiki.

Image sources:

Pearl Harbor (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/US_Navy_020801-N-3228G-001_USS_Abraham_Lincoln_(CVN_72)_passes_the_Arizona_Memorial_in_Pearl_Harbor,_Hawaii.jpg)

Laniakea Beach (https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6198/6057539465_2b6b4b220f_b.jpg)

Fireworks at Waikiki (https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4035/4607532157_d0e39f7d7b_b.jpg)

Large waves (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1e/2010_mavericks_competition.jpg)

Waikiki Sunset (https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1498/24770889022_d2d328e55e_o_d.jpg)