How to Spend a Day in Hawaii Cheap

If you are planning a trip to Hawaii, specifically the capital city of Honolulu on the island of Oahu and you're worried about what you've been told about the high cost of stuff there, then allay your fears. It's actually possible to spend very little and still have a fun time in paradise.

Transportation on the Cheap:

For those who don't want to drive or who want to avoid the expense of renting, Oahu has one of the best bus systems in the United States. A rider can board a bus at most points on the map and circumnavigate the island for a paltry $2. Yup, two bucks.

And the company offers a 4-day pass for $20 with unlimited ridership privileges. Now, you'll be hard-pressed to find a car rental for one day for $20, so the pass is an option to consider. For longer stays, you can purchase a $40 pass which is good from the first day of the calendar month to the last day. This will work well if you arrive on or near the beginning of the month and plan to stay for a while. You can purchase these passes at any 7-11 store, among other places.

You'll probably want to get off at places along the bus routes. And you can. Just remember you'll have to fork over another couple bucks for the next bus when you reboard. The local bus system has a very nice website. Check it out.

One of the things I like about our bus service here is that there are feeder routes that go into many of the residential communities on Oahu. What this means is that you can get quite near many of the island's natural, historical, and visitor attractions via the bus.

Eating on the Cheap:

One of the keys to eating inexpensively in Honolulu is to steer clear of Waikiki restaurants. Count on inflated prices at most venues in "Waiks" which is what local young people call this tourist mecca.

Yes, fast food restaurants (read: McDonald's, Burger King, et al) with their $1 menu items abound on Oahu. So if you are in a hurry and have a hankering for this kind of fare, you need not travel far from most points on the island to find one of these eateries.

Other places to get an inexpensive meal are local venues of Sam's Club and Costco. For a buck and a half, you can get a hotdog, all the fixings, and a bottomless cup of soft drink. For a buck more you can get that same bottomless cup of soda and a big slice of pizza. Sam's, with locations in Pearl City and on Keeaumoku Street near Ala Moana Shopping Center, has an especially tasty and generously-portioned (i.e. huge) roast chicken plate for five bucks and change. Costco has three locations on Oahu: in Hawaii Kai (near Hanauma Bay), in Iwilei (near downtown Honolulu), and in Waipio (near Pearl Harbor).

You've heard of the saying, when in Rome... Well, when on Oahu and you want to eat, do as the locals do: patronize one of the many local lunch wagons on the island. One news story I read said that over two hundred of these wagons are open for business on Oahu, so they're everywhere. What you can expect are large portions for inexpensive ($5 to $6) prices.

Look for these wagons near many city beach parks, in city industrial areas (near the airport, for example), and near downtown Honolulu. This is a good introduction to the kinds of foods that locals like, such as chicken katsu, teriyaki steak, and charsiu chicken. Standard American fare such as roast beef is usually on the menu of these wagons, too.

Sightseeing and Activities on the Cheap:

You can have fun and see the island for very little expense. Some of the things to do and places to check out follow. And these are free.

Arizona Memorial: Visit the site of the December 7, 1941 attack and the remains of the battleship where hundreds died. No charge. Expect to spend several hours waiting for your boat ride to the Memorial, especially during summer months. There are restrictions on what you can take with you onto the Memorial, but there are storage facilities available for your belongings for a small fee. The city bus line passes right by Pearl Harbor.

Hiking: hiking trails abound on Oahu. No charge or permits required for most trails. One exception is the Diamond Head Trail. Visitors who drive into the crater to hike the trail are charged $5 per car. Walk-ins pay $1. Again, the bus route passes right by this location as well as many Oahu trailheads. A good book to have on hand is Stuart Ball's Hikers Guide to Oahu. Primo resource if you plan to do a lot of hiking.

Hoomaluhia: located in Kaneohe on the windward side, this is a 400-acre botanical gardens with many rare native and introduced plants and trees. No entry fee. Garden hours are 9am to 4pm. Camp sites available here too. Inquire at the visitor's center.

Lyon Arboretum: located in Manoa Valley. Beautiful gardens with hiking opportunites. Take Bus #5 and get off at the last stop and you are a half mile from the arboretum.

Beaches: Nice beaches abound on the island, including Lanikai Beach, rated as the top beach in Hawaii by locals and visitors. Waikiki Beach is solid but if you want to steer clear of the crowds and tourist scence, try Lanikai or the coves of Ko Olina, out on the Island's west side. Of course, you should check out the world famous North Shore surfing beaches of Oahu, including Waimea Bay, Haleiwa, and the Banzai Pipeline. Be cautious during the winter time, for the waves can reach gigantic proportions at these sites.

The Skinny in Review:

Remember that you need not spend a ton of money when you are in Hawaii. Deals like I've written about are also available for other islands, which will be the subject of future articles. Stay tuned.