Top 15 Things To Do For Free in Waikiki

By Darlene Panzera | August 20, 2024 |

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If you are traveling to Waikiki on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, you don’t need a lot of money to have a good time! Just being in this beautiful, plumeria flower scented tropical paradise with the soft sound of ukulele music filling the air is wonderful. But what if you want some action and unique things to do? Our post, Top 15 Things to Do For Free in Waikiki, will help you create fun, memorable experiences with your family and friends without draining your wallet.

1) Go for a Beach Swim

All beaches in Hawaii are open to the public, free of charge.

Swim in the warm, sparkling aqua blue water and ride the waves to your heart’s content. Or lay a towel on the sand and sunbathe. Children can play in the surf and build sandcastles. Part of Kuhio Beach is protected by a large concrete pier and has two large, shallow, calm sea pools which are perfect for young children. And yes, there are lifeguards.

From the beach, turn your gaze toward the rim of the Diamond Head Crater, one of Oahu’s most famous landmarks, and take in the beautiful vista.

Also entertaining is to watch the surfers, paddleboarders, the multi-person wave surfing canoes, and the colorful catamarans with their vibrant sails taking people in and out for various short cruises. If you are swimming nearby and hear the boat’s horn, it’s a warning to get out of their way—they are coming in to dock at the beach between the designated sets of ropes!

2) Search for Sea Turtles

The honu, also known as the Hawaiian green sea turtle, can grow to be four feet long and weigh over three hundred pounds. They are the largest hard-shelled sea turtle in the world. Although visitors should not venture too close or ever try to touch these creatures that many Hawaiian families consider sacred, there are places you can go to try to catch a glimpse of the turtles in their natural habitat.

One great spot is at the end of the Waikiki Wall, a 500-foot concrete pier on Waikiki Beach that extends out into the ocean. Walk out on the pier and gaze into the rolling, crashing waves and see if you spot any sea turtles diving down to the reefs for food. If driving to the pier by car, it is across from the Honolulu Zoo.

Address: 151 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu

After you park, the Waikiki Wall is just a quick walk across Queen Kapiolani Park. You can also fish off the pier if you have your own pole and gear but be sure to follow local fishing regulations.

You might also try to see turtles by going out on the jetty pier at Fort DeRussy Beach Park or if you walk out on the piers of the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor Marina (located near the Hilton lagoon.)

The month of September seems to be great for spotting sea turtles. Our family has taken several trips to Oahu and the first few times we never saw a single turtle, but since we started to go in September, we see them every time. We’ve even spotted some swimming in the water right alongside us!

3) Stroll Kalakaua Avenue to see nightly Street Performers and Musicians

This main street through Waikiki, referred to as the “Rodeo Drive of the Pacific,” comes to life in the evening with a variety of free entertainment. Some performers dance in the street, others play musical instruments and sing, some performers spin inside large hoops. Or see artists draw caricatures of those who wish to pay for their cartoon sketch.

Often, you can see a vendor with several parrots sitting on his head, shoulders, and arms. You can pay to have your picture taken with these birds or stand a few feet away and watch others have birds climb onto them. Fascinating if you have children!

In addition to the brightly lit luxury storefronts and palm trees, Kalakaua Avenue also has several beautiful man-made streetside ponds with waterfalls. Plumeria trees and exotic flowers sweeten the air. And there are several huge banyan trees and bronze statues.

Speaking of statues, don’t forget to see the Duke Kahanamoku statue near Kuhio Beach. Duke was an Olympic gold medalist, the “father of modern surfing,” a Hollywood actor, and Hawaii’s first ambassador of goodwill. Many people hang their flower lei on the Duke Kahanamoku statue’s outstretched arms.

4) Walk the Beachside Pathway to the Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon

This shallow man-made lagoon with a small island in the middle is fun for small children! Officially named the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, this beautiful oval-shaped lagoon right off Kahanamoku Beach is open to the public but run by the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Swimming in the lagoon is free but to swim in the Hilton’s other pools, you need to purchase a day pass.

The lagoon was renovated a few years ago and is now partially drained and cleaned each day. You can see some small fish swimming in there, so you may want to bring a snorkel mask for an even better view.

Address: 2005 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815

Parking: You can find free parking along the side of the lagoon from 4:30 am -10:30 pm. (However, there is a 6-hour maximum stay.)

Better than driving to the lagoon is walking the beachside paved strip from the Steak Shack (behind Outrigger Reef Beach Resort) to the Hilton lagoon. Our family loves taking this pathway (part of the Fort DeRussy Beach Park) in the evenings when the sun is setting.

Directions: We walk from the heart of Waikiki down Beachwalk and turn right on Kailia Rd. Right before the light intersecting Saratoga Road (with the triangle island crosswalk), there is a path to your left that takes you to the beach. The Steak Shack will be at the end on the left. The getty straight ahead. Turn right on the paved walk that runs parallel to the ocean and it will take you down to the Hilton lagoon.

Often you will see people selling beautiful fragrant flower lei’s benefitting local charity groups or see kids flying the newest light up toys into the air on the beach. The walk is beautiful with all the lit tiki torches along each of the hotels and their poolside restaurants. The palm trees along the beach are spectacular.

5) See Fireworks on Friday Night

Every Friday night, the Hilton Hawaiian Village has a free fireworks show at the beach. Visitors line the oceanside walkway along the Fort DeRussy Boardwalk all the way from the rock getty outside the Steak Shack (behind Outrigger Reef Beach Resort) to the Hilton lagoon.

The dazzling light show starts at approximately 7:45 pm and lasts 10 minutes.

Sit on a blanket on the sand or lawn, or find a bench seat, or simply stand anywhere along the strip to view the spectacular Friday night fireworks, a thrill for all ages.

6) Spot Exotic Fish at the Marina

If you do not like to snorkel or don’t want to spend the money to go to Hanauma Bay or the beachside aquarium, you can easily spot little exotic fish by walking to the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor Marina next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village lagoon.

Address: 1651 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815

Our family was delighted to see a large variety of different types of fish we had never seen before! There are fish of all shapes and sizes and different colors! Yellow fish, blue fish, rainbow colored fish! If you are lucky, you might even see a sea turtle!

7) Listen to Live Music

Go down to the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort in the afternoon and sit on a towel or in a chair on the sand outside of Duke’s Waikiki restaurant and listen to their live music played on the beach patio.

Address: 2335 Kalākaua Ave #116, Honolulu, HI 96815

Or stroll down the Fort DeRussy Boardwalk along the ocean and venture near the outdoor park-like Hale Koa Barefoot Beach Bar where they often have live musicians playing nightly. The Barefoot Beach Bar is located on the beach near the Hale Koa Hotel.

Address: 2055 Kālia Road, Honolulu, HI 96815

8) Hawaii Army Museum Society/Battery Randoph (Fort DeRussy Beach Park)

It is very interesting to see the old cannons and war memorials in the grassy lawn at the Fort DeRussy Beach Park.

The Hawaii Army Museum resides within the concrete walls of Battery Randolph, which was built in 1911 and was once part of the “Ring of Steel” which encircled Oahu and helped defend Pearl Harbor and Honolulu from attacking battleships.

The artillery battery located along the beach now showcases both ancient and modern military artifacts. There is a gift shop, bathroom, and it is wheelchair assessable. And they do have a parking lot if you prefer to drive.

Admission is free, but they do accept donations.

Address: 2131 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815 in the Fort DeRussy Beach Park.

Opens 10 am – 5pm. Closed Sunday and Monday. https://hiarmymuseumsoc.org/

9) See a Free Hula Show!

There are many free hula shows within walking distance around Waikiki that you can enjoy for free. See the list with all links here:

https://waikikibeachstays.com/things-to-do/hawaiian-culture/hula-shows/

Kuhio Beach Hula Mound

https://kbhulashow.wixsite.com/official

Enjoy authentic oceanside Hawaiian music and hula near the Duke Kahanamoku statue. Opens with the traditional blowing of the conch shell or pu kani.

Time: Tuesdays and Saturdays 6:30-7:30 pm (unless Kalakaua Ave is closed for parades or block parties.)

International Market Place, Waikiki

The O Na Lani Sunset Stories Hula Show takes place at the Queen’s Court.

Time: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, 6:30pm

Royal Hawaiian Center

Choose from four different shows, each on a different day: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at the Royal Grove at Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikiki.

Time: 5:30-6:30 pm

Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza

See the Ku Haaheo Music Concert in the Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza, Waikiki.

Time: Tuesdays, 4:30 – 6:00 pm

Kilohana Hula Show at the Waikiki Shell Amphitheater

https://experiencekilohana.com/

Presented by Southwest Airlines, this show features Merrie Monarch Festival dancers bringing authentic Hawaiian hula and culture to visitors. Located a short walk inland from the beach, at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell Amphitheater in Kapiolani Park.

Time: Every Sunday through Wednesday 9:30-10:30 am

Address: 2801 Monsarrat Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Ala Moana Center

See the festive hula show on Centerstage at the Ala Moana Center.

Time: Daily, 5:00 pm

And on Sundays at 1:00 pm, they have a Keiki (Kids) Hula Show, also on Centerstage.

10) See a Parade!

Check the calendar when booking your stay – they have many parades and special events.

https://www.gohawaii.com/islands/oahu/events/annual-festivals

The Honolulu Festival Grand Parade

When: March

A vibrant blend of Asian, Pacific, and Hawaiian cultures, the grand parade is part of a 3-day celebration of local art, music, and dance. Featuring marching bands, hula performances, Pacific Rim dancers, and special appearances from queens and Miss Hawaii. The 1.5-mile-long parade begins at Fort DeRussy Park, travels along Waikiki’s main thoroughfare (Kalakaua Avenue) and ends at Queen Kapiolani Park.

The King Kamehameha Floral Parade

When: June

This parade features decorated floats with Hawaiian flowers, marching bands, hālau hula, civic leaders, and traditional pā‘ū riders (female riders in ornate dresses and lei) on horseback, representing the Hawaiian royal court. The parade starts at Ala Moana Park, travels along Kalakaua Avenue and finishes at Kapiolani Park.

The Aloha Festival Parade

When: September

The Aloha festival is the largest Hawaiian cultural celebration in the United States with over 100,000 attendees each year. The parade showcases Hawaiian culture and includes floral floats, marching bands, hula dancers, and horseback riders. Starting at Ala Moana Beach Park, the parade travels down Kalakaua Avenue and ends at Kapiolani Park.

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade

When: December 7^th

The parade is held each year in remembrance of the lives lost during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7^th,1941. The Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade is a commemorative event held during December each year that honors Pearl Harbor survivors, veterans, active-duty military, and their families. The parade features decorative floats, classic cars, balloons, marching bands, and other performances. The parade route starts at Fort DeRussy Park, travels along Kalakaua Avenue, and finishes at the Waikiki Shell Amphitheater.

11) Visit Duke’s Marketplace

Go for a walk to this outdoor vendor market (just off Kalakaua Avenue) in the evening when it is all lit up (or any time of day) and see all the unique Hawaiian handmade jewelry, local woodwork, floral Hawaiian clothing, ukuleles, and other island crafts. Set up as a colorfully vibrant market-style alley with almost 90 individually owned stalls.

Hours: 9:00 am – 11:00 pm

Address: 5 Dukes Ln, Honolulu, HI 96815

https://www.dukesmarketplace.com/

Local Farmer’s Markets

You may also want to visit one of the various Farmer’s Markets located around the region which feature fresh vegetables, fruits, and local craft vendors. Below are the links to two of them which run every Saturday morning.

KCC Farmer’s Market

Time: 7:30 am – 11:00 am

Address: 4303 Diamond Head Rd, Honolulu, HI 96816

Kaka’ako Farmer’s Market

Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Address: 919 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814

12) Discover all the Banyan Trees

The Banyan trees in Waikiki are massive in size and easily recognizable by the vertical roots that descend from the branches to the ground. One tree can look like a forest!

Go on a quest to see how many you can find! Here’s a list of places to help you get you started:

Banyan trees in Fort DeRussy Beach Park

Along Ala Moana Beach
Near Honolulu Zoo
The bayan tree (nearly 100 years old) at Kuhio Beach Park near the Duke Kahanamoku statue

The sacred tree at the historic Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel (Planted in 1904, the tree is 75 feet high and 150 feet wide.)
A must-see at the International Marketplace, this bayan was planted in the mid-1800s and stands over 60 feet tall. The retail shops circle around it. There is an upper-level walkway leading to the small cabin built in the tree’s branches (looks like a treehouse) and yes, you can go inside! This is an exciting place for children.

13) Picnic at Kapiolani Park

Queen Kapiʻolani Regional Park, located on the east end of Waikiki just past Kuhio Beach, is a 300-acre park where you can also find the Waikiki Shell Amphitheater and the Honolulu Zoo. You can also see beautiful views of Diamond Head.

The Kapiʻolani Regional Park, which is the largest and second-oldest public park in Hawaii, has several large banyan trees, beautiful green lawns, and a bandstand for entertainment.

The park also has tennis and basketball courts, and fields for soccer, baseball, lacrosse, rugby, and an archery range. Home to the Honolulu Cricket Club, the park is also a popular course for joggers and provides the start and finish lines of the Honolulu Marathon.

14) Walk Along the Halekulani Boardwalk

If you would like vast views of Hawaii’s blue ocean, this narrow boardwalk along the backside of several Waikiki hotels is the place to go! Only a half mile long, it is partially paved but sometimes you may have to go down into the sand or around hotel terraces.

Our family started the path from the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort at low tide. (At high tide, access to this path can be submerged underwater.) When facing the ocean, the entrance is to your right on the beachfront. Farther down, the Halekulani Boardwalk becomes the Sheraton Boardwalk.

If you are really adventurous, and want a longer oceanside walk, you can navigate your way past more sand and hotel terraces and reach the paved walkway in front of the Fort DeRussy Beach Park toward the Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon. (However, as stated earlier, sometimes at high tide the path connecting the different sections is a bit tricky.)

15) Go to Magic Island

Between the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor Marina and Ala Moana Beach there is a man-made peninsula, that stretches into Honolulu Harbor called Magic Island. (It’s rarely used official name is Aina Moana.)

Magic Island has picnic tables under shady trees and large stretches of green grassy lawn. This beautiful beachside park is perfect for picnics, barbecues, frisbee, jogging, fishing, and viewing tall palms and banyan trees. At the very end, there is a crescent shaped lagoon protected by large seawalls, which creates calm, shallow water for children to swim. There is also an amazing view of Diamond Head out on this point. And the park is open from sunrise to sunset.

The Magic Island peninsula is part of Ala Moana Beach Park where there is swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, and scuba diving. The park also has three restrooms with changing rooms, food concessions, and a lifeguard.

The Magic Island peninsula is a sprawling 47 acres, and the Ala Moana Beach Park covers another 30 acres.

You can either walk (or bike) to Magic Island, use bus transportation, or drive your own car. There is a free parking lot, but sometimes the 450 spaces fill up fast.

Magic Island is located off Ala Moana Boulevard, in the southeast corner of the larger Ala Moana Beach Park.

Address: 1201 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96815

We hope you have enjoyed our post, Top 15 Things to Do For Free in Waikiki, and have discovered some interesting activities for you to explore with your family and friends. Hawaii is a beautiful vacation destination that has a multitude of events and fun explorations to spark your interest. We wish you happy travels as you create memories on your next trip without emptying your bank account!

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