Need a breather from spending all that hard earned money? There are plenty of free things to do here on Oahu. Get up early in the morning, walk by the ocean, go for a swim, find a rainbow, and say aloha and mahalo to people you meet. Here’s some more things you can do for free with the whole family:
Need a breather from spending all that hard earned money? There are plenty of free things to do here on Oahu. Get up early in the morning, walk by the ocean, go for a swim, find a rainbow, and say aloha and mahalo to people you meet. Here’s some more things you can do for free with the whole family:
Need a breather from spending all that hard earned money? There are plenty of free things to do here on Oahu. Get up early in the morning, walk by the ocean, go for a swim, find a rainbow, and say aloha and mahalo to people you meet. Here’s some more things you can do for free with the whole family:
Snorkeling at Shark’s Cove
Whoa, sounds scary, yeah? But don’t worry, Shark’s cove is a really mellow beach, great for swimming! Nice sandy bottoms, gentle waters, restrooms nearby, food trucks and friendly people. But watch for signs posted about jelly fish, they sting!

Watch the Surfers at Banzai Pipeline
The North Shore is famous for it’s barreling waves, attracting the best surfers from all over the world! As a safety precaution, it’s best to leave the actual surfing at this spot to the professionals. December is the best month to catch pro surfers at Pipeline, but even if you visit in the summer-time this beach is a must-see in Oahu.


Drive to the Pali Lookout
Did you ever try to lean up against the wind? Or see a waterfall, fall up? They call it the windy place because, well, it’s very windy up there. And after it’s rained, sometimes the wind makes the water from the falls fall up. Really! Hang on to your hats!
Visit the Aloha Tower
Located on the Honolulu Harbor about 15 minutes west of Waikiki, Aloha Tower is an iconic symbol of Hawaii. Built 75 years ago, this was the tallest building in the islands and its clock was one of the largest in the U.S.! Today, it’s a welcoming “Aloha” to all who visit by boat. There’s also plenty of places to eat and shop in the marketplace surrounding the tower!


Take a Hula Class at the Royal Hawaiian
Enjoy free live entertainment at The Royal Grove, Waikiki’s gathering place. From hula lessons to authentic Hawaiian performances and ʻukulele lessons to classes just for keiki, the Royal Hawaiian Center offers an exciting array of cultural activities and experiences throughout the year. Check out their events page here.


Ala Moana Beach Park
Where do the locals for a day of sunning and swimming? This large beach park just across the street from the Ala Moana Shopping Center has lifeguards, restrooms, and calm water year ’round. Magic Island right next door offers a cozy, calm lagoon perfect for kids to swim or just be lazy in.


Arizona Memorial
A historical trip every family should take. There’s a museum onshore as well as a short boat ride to the sunken ship USS Arizona. And while you’re there, check out the World War II submarine Bowfin, and the huge Battleship Missouri! All this at Pearl Harbor!



Go Hiking!
Oahu has lots of hiking trails that are perfect for you and the folks. As busy as Waikiki and Honolulu may look, only about 2% of Oahu is built up, leaving a lot of land to explore. Careful, because some trails are easy, and others quite scary! Head to our Hiking page to learn more about the most fun family-friendly hikes on this island!


Visit Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
This beautiful hike in Kaneohe’s Kohala mountain range is both easy and fun. Every other Sunday you can pole fish at the lake in the middle of the gardens. Don’t worry if you don’t have a rod, you can borrow one for free at Ho’omaluhia!


Snorkeling at Shark’s Cove
Whoa, sounds scary, yeah? But don’t worry, Shark’s cove is a really mellow beach, great for swimming! Nice sandy bottoms, gentle waters, restrooms nearby, food trucks and friendly people. But watch for signs posted about jelly fish, they sting!

Watch the Surfers at Banzai Pipeline
The North Shore is famous for it’s barreling waves, attracting the best surfers from all over the world! As a safety precaution, it’s best to leave the actual surfing at this spot to the professionals. December is the best month to catch pro surfers at Pipeline, but even if you visit in the summer-time this beach is a must-see in Oahu.


Drive to the Pali Lookout
Did you ever try to lean up against the wind? Or see a waterfall, fall up? They call it the windy place because, well, it’s very windy up there. And after it’s rained, sometimes the wind makes the water from the falls fall up. Really! Hang on to your hats!
Visit the Aloha Tower
Located on the Honolulu Harbor about 15 minutes west of Waikiki, Aloha Tower is an iconic symbol of Hawaii. Built 75 years ago, this was the tallest building in the islands and its clock was one of the largest in the U.S.! Today, it’s a welcoming “Aloha” to all who visit by boat. There’s also plenty of places to eat and shop in the marketplace surrounding the tower!


Take a Hula Class at the Royal Hawaiian
Enjoy free live entertainment at The Royal Grove, Waikiki’s gathering place. From hula lessons to authentic Hawaiian performances and ʻukulele lessons to classes just for keiki, the Royal Hawaiian Center offers an exciting array of cultural activities and experiences throughout the year. Check out their events page here.


Ala Moana Beach Park
Where do the locals for a day of sunning and swimming? This large beach park just across the street from the Ala Moana Shopping Center has lifeguards, restrooms, and calm water year ’round. Magic Island right next door offers a cozy, calm lagoon perfect for kids to swim or just be lazy in.


Arizona Memorial
A historical trip every family should take. There’s a museum onshore as well as a short boat ride to the sunken ship USS Arizona. And while you’re there, check out the World War II submarine Bowfin, and the huge Battleship Missouri! All this at Pearl Harbor!



Go Hiking!
Oahu has lots of hiking trails that are perfect for you and the folks. As busy as Waikiki and Honolulu may look, only about 2% of Oahu is built up, leaving a lot of land to explore. Careful, because some trails are easy, and others quite scary! Head to our Hiking page to learn more about the most fun family-friendly hikes on this island!


Visit Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
This beautiful hike in Kaneohe’s Kohala mountain range is both easy and fun. Every other Sunday you can pole fish at the lake in the middle of the gardens. Don’t worry if you don’t have a rod, you can borrow one for free at Ho’omaluhia!






Visit the Aloha Tower
Located on the Honolulu Harbor about 15 minutes west of Waikiki, Aloha Tower is an iconic symbol of Hawaii. Built 75 years ago, this was once the tallest building in the islands and its clock was one of the largest in the U.S.! Today, it’s a welcoming “Aloha” to all who visit by boat. There’s also plenty of places to eat and shop in the marketplace surrounding the tower!


Snorkeling at Shark’s Cove
Whoa, sounds scary, yeah? But don’t worry, Shark’s cove is a really mellow beach, great for swimming! Nice sandy bottoms, gentle waters, restrooms nearby, food trucks and friendly people. But watch for signs posted about jelly fish, they sting!

Watch the Surfers at Banzai Pipeline
The North Shore is famous for it’s barreling waves, attracting the best surfers from all over the world! As a safety precaution, it’s best to leave the actual surfing at this spot to the professionals. December is the best month to catch pro surfers at Pipeline, but even if you visit in the summer-time this beach is a must-see in Oahu.

Arizona Memorial
A historical trip every family should take. There’s a museum onshore as well as a short boat ride to the sunken ship USS Arizona. And while you’re there, check out the World War II submarine Bowfin, and the huge Battleship Missouri! All this at Pearl Harbor!




Oahu has lots of hiking trails that are perfect for you and the folks. As busy as Waikiki and Honolulu may look, only about 2% of Oahu is built up, leaving a lot of land to explore. Careful, because some trails are easy, and others quite scary! Head to our Hiking page to learn more about the most fun family-friendly hikes on this island!



Visit Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
This beautiful hike in Kaneohe’s Kohala mountain range is both easy and fun. Every other Sunday you can pole fish at the lake in the middle of the gardens. Don’t worry if you don’t have a rod, you can borrow one for free at Ho’omaluhia!




Drive to the Pali Lookout
Have you ever tried to lean up against the wind? Or see a waterfall, fall up? They call it the windy place because, well, it’s very windy up there. And after it’s rained, sometimes the wind makes the water from the falls fall up. Really! Hang on to your hats!





Ala Moana Beach Park
Where do the locals for a day of sunning and swimming? This large beach park just across the street from the Ala Moana Shopping Center has lifeguards, restrooms, and calm water year ’round. Magic Island right next door offers a cozy, calm lagoon perfect for kids to swim or just be lazy in.



Take a Hula Class at the Royal Hawaiian
Enjoy free live entertainment at The Royal Grove, Waikiki’s gathering place. From hula lessons to authentic Hawaiian performances and ʻukulele lessons to classes just for keiki, the Royal Hawaiian Center offers an exciting array of cultural activities and experiences throughout the year. Check out their events page here.