Free Things to Do on O‘ahu
1.Listen to the Royal Hawaiian Band at ‘Iolani Palace on Fridays 12:00-1:00 p.m. and at Kapi‘olani Park on Sundays 2:00-3:00 p.m.
2.Relax harbor side at Aloha Tower Marketplace and listen to the island's most popular entertainers from the marketplace's waterfront stage as boats, barges and cruise ships float past.
3.Take a stroll through International Marketplace, a bazaar of clothes, jewelry and souvenirs from the island's colorful merchants set under the shade of a large banyan tree.
4.Stop by Ala Moana Center stage on Sunday to enjoy the keiki (children) hula show at 10 a.m.
5.Take ‘ukulele or hula lessons at the Royal Hawaiian Center.
6.Marvel at the "Honolulu City Lights" which illuminate the sky from the financial district to downtown celebrating the holidays in December and then stop in Honolulu Hale to enjoy the display of decorated Christmas trees.
7.Meet Hawai‘i's local fishermen at the early morning Honolulu Fish Auction at Kewalo Basin, where the fresh catch is displayed and auctioned off to the island's chefs and merchants daily at 5:00 a.m.
8.Enjoy one of over 100 festivals and events throughout the year that celebrate culture, community, music and art, such as the AT&T Hawaii Dragon Boat festival, Chinese New Year Lion dances, Hawaiian rodeo, ‘ukulele, slack key guitar and hula festivals to name just a few.
9.Cheer on the runners competing in the annual Honolulu Marathon in December.
10.Watch top local, national and international athletes compete in any of the dozens of sporting events such as the Hawaiian Mountain Bike Tour, Tin Man Biathlon, Waikīkī Roughwater Swim and Tour O' Hawai‘i Cycle Classic.
11.Learn more about Hawai‘i's melting pot of cultures at any of the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese and Korean festivals held throughout the year.
12.View the work of local artisans at the Art Mart along the fence of the Honolulu Zoo.
13.Wonder at the architecture and say a prayer at any of Honolulu's many spectacular churches: Kawaiaha‘o Church, St. Andrews Cathedral, Central Union Church, St. Clements, and Lutheran Church of Honolulu.
14.Cheer as the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa’s hosted fireworks explode into beautiful colors on Friday evenings in remembrance and celebration of King Kalākaua’s Jubilee.
15.Visit the Hawai‘i State Art Museum (HiSAM), one of the few state sponsored art museums in the country, and view the finest collection of works from Hawai‘i's best artists.
16.Walk through Chinatown for a fascinating look at noodle factories, herbal shops, markets and gift shops.
17.Attend one of the many arts and craft fairs held around O‘ahu.
18.Witness the culture and beauty of the islands as you watch a traditional torch lighting and hula performance on the beach of Waikīkī near the Duke Kahanamoku statue at sunset on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
19.Explore the history of WaikĪkĪ through old pictures and collectibles that line the grand staircase in the lobby of the Westin Moana Surfrider.
20.Take a scenic drive on the Pali Highway, stopping at the historic site with panoramic views at the Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout.
Free Things to Do on Hawai‘i’s Big Island
1.LAPAKAHI STATE HISTORICAL PARK in North Kohala on the coast. A preserved Hawaiian village offering self-guided walking tours to learn about history and archeology.
2.‘AKAKA FALLS above Honomū, 13 miles north of Hilo. Two very large waterfalls, seen from across a gorge. One of the most-visited spots on the island.
3.AHU‘ENA HEIAU fronting King Kamehameha Hotel across the Kailua Pier. Ahu‘ena Heiau was the court of King Kamehameha I and is well maintained today.
4.PU‘UKOHOLĀ HEIAU off Highway 19 below Kawaihae. Pu‘ukoholā Heiau (the temple on the hill of the whale) is an interesting National Historical Park guarding two heiau and the sight of a fomer Hawaiian village with great whale-breaching views during whale season. There is no admission to the visitor center. ($2 per person for a guided tour.)
5.PUAKŌ PETROGLYPH HIKE off Highway 19 just north of the entrance to The Fairmont Orchid Hawai‘i Hotel. A very short hike leads to over 3000 petroglyphs that still stump historians; not to be missed.
6.LAVA TREE STATE PARK off Pahoa-Pohoiki Road is 2.7 miles southeast of Pāhoa. The site is a forest of "lava trees," formed by a lava flow that swept through the area and left behind lava molds of tree trunks.
7.LILI‘UOKALANI GARDENS on Banyan Drive in Hilo. Perfectly serene Japanese-style gardens complete with ponds, bridges, and pagodas.
8.MAUNA LOA MACADAMIA NUT FACTORY just about the 5-mile marker south of Hilo on Highway 11, turn on Macadamia Nut Road to take a drive through scenic orchards. Watch a video then take a self-guided tour to see how nuts are processed and how the candy is made. Open every day, including holidays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
9.WAIĀNUENUE (RAINBOW FALLS) in Hilo, off Waiānuenue Ave., below the hospital. Practically right in downtown Hilo, these falls are picture perfect.
10.WAIPI‘O VALLEY past Honoka‘a Town at the end of Highway 240. The Valley of the Kings is nearly perfect with its stream running through it, stretch of black sand beach and wild horses. You'll have to hike, join a tour, take a 4-wheel drive down, or just enjoy the view from above.
11.PUNALU‘U BLACK SAND BEACH between Volcano and Nā‘ālehu on Highway 11. Even if you aren't planning to swim, you must visit this easily accessible black sand beach if you haven't seen one before. It is stunning in its contrasts and the home of many large sea turtles.
12.HONOKŌHAU HARBOR off Highway 19 between the airport and Kailua town. Hang out at the Honokōhau Harbor main building around 11:00 a.m. or in the afternoon to watch the sport fishing boats bring in and sell their catch.
13.VOLCANO WINERY at the back of Volcano Golf Course, past the entrance to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Free wine tasting at this winery on top of a volcano.
14.HĀMĀKUA MACADAMIA NUT COMPANY located in Kawaihae, offers self guided tours and samples at its new factory store. The company grows, markets and processes 100 percent island macadamia nuts and other delicacies.
15.KA LAE, the remote and windswept southernmost part of the island, is where Polynesians first arrived in Hawai‘i and settled. Now a National Historical Landmark district, it is a beautiful place to look out to sea and contemplate what caused Polynesians to outfit their voyaging canoes and set out purposefully seeking new lands, as well as their arrival in Hawai‘i.
16.KALŌPĀ STATE RECREATION AREA off Highway 19 at the end of Kalōpā Road, southeast of Honoka'a. This beautiful and cool park, situated at 2,000 feet, has picnic areas, an easy nature hike in a native 'ohi'a forest, and additional trails in the adjoining forest reserve.
17.KOHALA HISTORICAL SITES STATE MONUMENT off Hwy. 270 near 'Upolu Airport, consists of two historic sites. Mo'okini Heiau, a National Historic Monument, is the most famous sacrificial heiau (temple) in the state. The adjacent site is Kamehameha's Birth Place, a memorial to the 18th-century chief who united the islands under one rule.
18.KONA HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S TRADITIONAL PORTUGUESE BREAD-BAKING every Thursday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. See how Portuguese families in Hawai‘i traditionally baked their weekly supply of bread in large, wood-fired "fornos" (stone ovens) and sample some, too! Call 808-323-3222 or email khs@konahistorical.org for more information.
19.MAUNAKEA, above the clouds at 9,300 feet, the Visitor Information Station offers displays about the mountain's world-class astronomical observatories. Every evening of the year, even on holidays, its volunteer astronomy buffs roll out telescopes for an outstanding stargazing program.
20.PANA‘EWA RAINFOREST ZOO & GARDENS is a 12-acre rainforest zoo located south of Hilo on Mamaki Street. Namasté, its white Bengal tiger, gets fed daily at 3:30 p.m, and there's a children's petting zoo on Saturdays from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The zoo is also known for its beautiful botanical gardens which have more than 100 varieties of palm trees and other plants. Open 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily, 808- 959-7224.
Free Things to Do on Kaua‘i
1.WAIMEA CANYON. Hike any of dozens of trails in Waimea Canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". There is a river, dozens of waterfalls, and countless unique attractions.
2.CAPTAIN COOK MONUMENT in Waimea in Hofgaard Park where Captain Cook first landed in the Islands in 1778. Waimea town also has a number of other historical buildings.
3.KAUA‘I COFFEE COMPANY. 1 Numila Rd., ‘Ele‘ele, HI 96705, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., 808-335-5497. Hawai‘i's largest coffee estate welcomes visitors to learn about coffee growing and sample estate roasted coffee.
4.HIKING TRAILS:
The Moalepe Trail
This 5-mile (round trip) trail drops 2,000 feet into spectacular Waimea Canyon, and offers the shortest route to the canyon floor where there is a large swimming hole. The trail begins off the Iliau Loop Trail.
The Kuilau Ridge Trail
This 4.2-mile (round trip) hike offers dramatic views of small waterfalls and a wealth of flora. The trailhead is about a mile beyond the University of Hawaii Agricultural Experimental Station on Route 580.
The Kalalau Trail
This is the original Hawaiian trail into Kalalau Valley and offers dramatic views of Nāpali Coast and Kē‘ē Beach. It begins at Kē‘ē Beach where Highway 56 ends. Two miles inland is Hanakāpī‘ai Falls, which cascades 300 feet to a pool below, where many hikers camp overnight before continuing on the trail through Kalalau Valley. The entire trip is best made by experienced hikers.
5.SPOUTING HORN on Lāwa‘i Road near Po‘ipū, just past the Allerton Garden Visitor Center. This natural attraction was created by two holes in the lava tubes. One makes a low dragon-like moan when water rushes in. The other one causes the ocean spray to shoot up in the air, sometimes 30 feet high.
Free Things to Do on Maui
1.TEDESCHI VINEYARD. If you're into wine, take a tour of the Tedeschi Vineyard. Tasting room open to the public 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tours at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. 808-878-6058.
2.HAWAIIAN ISLANDS HUMPBACK WHALE NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY. Brilliantly displayed with murals of undersea life, the center offers educational displays, artifacts, reading and video materials on the Humpback Whales and their habitat. Lectures and free educational materials. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 808-879-2818.
3.HALE PA'AHAO. Lāhainā’s prison from the whaling days of the 1800's. Hale Pa'ahao was built from coral stone from a demolished waterfront fort. It was quite crowded in its time and still has the wall shackles and ball and chain restraints for you to see. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 808-667-1985.
4.HALE PA'I. The printing house of Lahainaluna Seminary, founded in 1831, was restored in 1980. A free exhibit features a replica of the original rampage press and facsimiles of early printings. Open Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 808-667-7040.
5.ART NIGHT. Friday night is Art Night in Lāhainā. Browse the galleries and meet the artists. There are some world-class pieces to be seen so do some window-shopping. It’s free only if you don't buy anything! Many of the galleries offer light refreshments. Discover the character of Lāhainā in the cool of the night.
Lāna‘i
1.Watch the Sunrise from Hulopo‘e Point, facing Pu‘u-Pehe.
2.Watch the sunset from the lanai at the Four Seasons Resort Lāna‘i, The Lodge at Kō‘ele.
3.Make a new horse-friend at the Stables at Kō‘ele fence line.
4.Snorkel and wonder at all the marine life in Hulopo‘e Bay.
5.Visit Lāna‘i Culture & Heritage Center to learn about Lāna‘i 's unique history.
6.Walk Lāna‘i City's town square.
7.Hike the Munro Trail and catch breathtaking views of Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i and Maui.
Moloka‘i
1.Na Kapuna entertainment in the Hula Shores Restaurant at Hotel Moloka‘i every Friday afternoon, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
2.Na ‘Ohana Hoaloha entertainment at Coffees of Hawaii in Kualapu‘u every Sunday afternoon, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
3.Farmer's Market in front of Bank of Hawai‘i/American Savings every Saturday morning, 7:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. You may purchase fruits and vegetables and original crafts by Moloka‘i artisans.
4.Tour Purdy's Macadamia Nut Farm in Kualapu‘u.
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