 |
||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Activities — bargains
By Robert Bone
Special to The Advertiser
Hawai'i may have a reputation of being an expensive place to vacation, and it’s true you can pay a pretty penny for various tours and adventures from commercial operations in the islands. Nevertheless, there is plenty to do that is free or available at only a nominal charge. Here is a highly personalized list, weighted heavily on value received for very modest outlays.
Go to any beach. All beaches are public by law in Hawai'i, up to the high water line anyway. Some, like Waikiki, are crowded and popular. Others, like Kailua Beach Park, are just as good but much less congested.
Canoe surfing. If board surfing lessons seem too expensive or exhausting, try canoe surfing on Waikiki Beach. Catching three waves in an outrigger usually costs around $5.
Photograph the Kodak Hula Show. At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, this free show has been strumming and dancing since 1937 at Kapi’olani Park in Waikiki. Cameras are strongly encouraged.
Snorkeling at Oahu’s Hanauma Bay. A way to share the ocean with colorful reef fish. Check the open/closed dates and times before you head out. There are similar experiences on other islands, notably at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island.
Climb Diamond Head. It used to be free. Now it’s a dollar, and still well worth the outlay. There are also other popular trails for hiking in several parts of all the islands for no charge. But never hike alone; lots of folks have gotten lost in these islands. And always take water and snacks.
Take a city bus around O'ahu. Most bus rides are $1, but if you come all the way back to where you started it’ll cost $2. Unfortunately similar experiences are not available on the other islands.
Visit the USS Arizona Memorial on O'ahu. See the museum, too. No charge for either.
Go shopping. This can be as free or as unfree as you want it to be. Island fashions are the usual loot, but there are lots of locally made inexpensive doo-dads and gimcracks that may provide effective souvenirs of your Hawaii experience. Waikiki stores are usually more expensive. Visitors may like to hop a bus (Nos. 8, 19, or 20) for a ten-minute ride to the Ala Moana Shopping Center, just outside Waikiki.
Whale watching. Between November and May, you can witness the offshore antics of the humpbacks. Like other tourists, they love to frolic in Hawaiian waters in the winter. There are expensive boat tours, of course, but there are also well-established shorelines for witnessing their antics. Some of the best leviathan viewing is at McGregor Point on Maui, and some of the most successful cruises take off from the Lahaina Boat Harbor.
Picnicking. Sure, restaurants can be expensive, but if you visit a supermarket -– preferably outside Waikiki or other tourist areas –- you can pick up the fixings for an outdoor feast at a fraction of the cost of dining out. Then head for picnic tables at any of the many county and state parks all over the islands. If you’re going to be saving leftovers, you may want to consider staying in a condo or a fridge-equipped hotel room.
Travel writer Robert W. Bone is a journalist, editor and photographer. He is the author of "The Maverick Guide to Hawaii."
