Five Affordable Things to do in Honolulu

If you haven’t heard the news, Hawaii recently welcomed Southwest Airlines into their tourism family. This means that flights to Hawaii from the mainland will now be more AFFORDABLE! So here are some activities you can do that won’t break the bank – at least, its what my crew did during a three night work stay in Honolulu.

Hike Diamond Head:

Diamond Head Mountain is an extinct volcano known for its beautiful views. Taking this hike is great for first time hikers, like myself, and even children. For just a few bucks you and your crew can catch breathtaking views, fresh air and a sense of accomplishment. Plus, if you go at the right time, you may even catch some whales migrating in the distance. Price: $1-2 entry fee & $5 for parking. Cash only.

Take a surfing Lesson:

Like everything in Hawaii, surf lessons can be expensive. However, get the biggest bang for your buck by booking with Big Wave Dave Surf & Coffee. The staff at BWD are highly skilled, patient and just flat out cool. They are great for beginning as well as seasoned surfers and clearly love their jobs. I personally recommend Pono who fine tuned some of the skills I already had and made me laugh along the way. Price: $99 pp for 90 minutes of surfing (but you can find discount prices for BWD on 3rd party sites)

Visit Hanamau Bay:

This beautiful snorkeling attraction is a protected marine life conservation site. Previously a volcanic crater, Hanamau Bay is a host to over 400 species of Hawaiian fish and other marine life. Price: $7.50 will get you into the bay and there’s a snorkel rental station inside.

Go to Diamond Head Luau:

Everyone should experience a luau once; however, if you’re like me and have already been to one, you probably left feeling like it was expensive and overrated. KEEP READING! Diamond Head Luau was the best luau I have ever been to for these reasons:

It’s a small Luau. With a 250 person capacity, every single seat is a great seat!
It’s held at the Honolulu Zoo, so you get to enjoy the ambience of the aquarium and other areas
They have activities for you to participate in before the show starts like lei making, ukulele lessons and more
Food. The farm to table buffet was better than any other luau that I have attended, and they had a variety of gluten free options!
The luau performers are kind, humorous and beautiful. Plus you get to meet them and take photos before and after each show.

Price: You can get tickets for $120 or lower from third party sites like Groupon, but the website lists its adult price at $159.

Take a stroll on Waikiki Beach:

Oahu is one of the more populated Hawaiian islands so the skyline is absolutely beautiful at night. Bar hop along the beach with friends or just take a nice scenic stroll along the shore. Don’t care for the crowd? Visit the North shore beach for a little more privacy Price: Free