10 things to do on Oahu for $10 or less
By Danielle Tumminio, Special to CNN
updated 8:56 AM EDT, Tue June 5, 2012
Climbing Diamond Head can be strenuous, but it only costs $1 for pedestrians to enter the park.
Diamond Head
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Oahu's public bus system is an economical way to get around
- Check out the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet for good value on souvenirs
- Shave ice and Japanese noodles are tasty, affordable snacks
(CNN) -- It's honeymooners' heaven and a surfer's
dream. It's America's most remote capital and perhaps its most exotic.
Home to hula skirts and palm trees and some of the world's most
breathtaking beaches, Honolulu may well be a United States paradise.
But paradise isn't cheap.
The Hawaiian capital and
the surrounding island of Oahu are among the most expensive places in
the United States, and it can feel intimidating to find reasonably
priced meals and activities as a budget-conscious tourist.
Luckily, there are some
monetary oases within this American paradise that will bring a smile to
the heart (and wallet) of travelers on a budget.
Take "TheBus." TheBus -- yes, it's actually called
TheBus
-- is Oahu's public transportation system, and it has stops throughout
the island. One-way fares for adults are $2.50 and $1.25 for kids. (You
can also get a four-day pass for $25.00 and a monthly pass for $60.00).
TheBus is a great way to get around Oahu without busting the piggy bank
on a rental car. Plus, because it's the driver's responsibility to worry
about traffic, all tourists have to do is soak in the sights.
Taste Hawaiian cuisine.
No trip to Oahu is complete without some native Hawaiian fare like
kalua pork (smoked pork slow-cooked underground), lomi lomi salmon
(fresh tomato and salmon salad), chicken long rice (chicken broth with
glass noodles) and poi (mashed taro).
Haili's Hawaiian Foods
-- winner of the Healthy Plate Lunch Contest run by Hawaii's Department
of Health -- offers a variety of native Hawaiian dishes for under $10.
The family-run restaurant has been in business since the 1950s, and the
sisters who currently run it are happy to answer questions about dishes
with an enthusiastic smile. Haili's Hawaiian Foods is a short 20-minute
bus ride from Waikiki on the 13 bus; the restaurant is closed on
Mondays.
To sample some of the best short ribs on the island, visit another family-run local favorite,
Helena's Hawaiian Food,
which has been around since 1946 and was featured on the Travel
Channel's "Man v. Food." Expect a line. The B or 2 buses go to Helena's
from Waikiki, and the ride takes about 40 minutes. It's also closed on
Mondays.
Climb Diamond Head. Work off that Kalua pig by climbing
Diamond Head
crater. One of the most iconic sites on Oahu, it was formed about
300,000 years ago after a volcanic eruption. The trail to the summit was
built in 1908 and used by the military to defend Oahu from invaders,
but today, guests can climb it to see some of the most spectacular views
of the island.
Trekkers should allow
1½-2 hours for the climb and should wear comfortable shoes. Some parts
of the ascent can be strenuous, and near the summit, there is a 225-foot
narrow tunnel; those suffering from claustrophobia should ask for the
alternate route to the top. The walk to the base from Waikiki Beach
takes about an hour. Diamond Head is also accessible via a short ride on
the 22, 23 and 24 buses from Waikiki. Cost of admission is $1.00 for
pedestrians.
Pick up souvenirs at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Take the 20 or 42 bus from downtown Honolulu to the
Aloha Stadium
where a huge swap meet -- kind of like a flea market -- takes place
Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Here, everything from macadamia nuts
to Hawaiian shirts and local crafts to junk that residents are trying to
unload from their attics are sold at prices well below what's to be
found in Waikiki.
While some selling their
wares at the swap meet are regular vendors offering deals on beach
towels or souvenir magnets, be sure to check out locals selling used
items on blankets near their cars, which may be more unique. Entrance to
the swap meet is $1.00, and the best time to arrive is between 9 and 10
o'clock in the morning.
Visit Pearl Harbor. Don't miss the opportunity to pay your respects to those who died at
Pearl Harbor
on December 7, 1941. The mood is a somber, peaceful contrast to the
frenetic activity of Waikiki, and the museum offers a unique opportunity
to learn about the Pearl Harbor attack from personal accounts of people
who were there. While there is a charge to tour some areas of Pearl
Harbor, many of the most moving parts of this historic site are free.
There is no charge to
visit the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument or to tour
the USS Arizona. Note: Tours of the USS Arizona must be
reserved.
To reserve online there is a $1.50 reservation fee per ticket. It is
not uncommon for tours to be booked solid several days in advance,
though some tickets may be available up until noon on the same day of
the tour. The 20, 40, 40A, 42 and 62 buses from Waikiki all make stops
at Pearl Harbor; the ride takes about an hour.
Eat shave ice.
No visit to Hawaii is complete without an afternoon shave ice. This
Hawaiian treat is somewhat like a snow cone, only with smaller ice
slivers that hold syrup better. For a really authentic incarnation of
this treat, ask for a splash of Li Hing powder on top -- a kind of sweet
and sour topping made from dried plums -- or condensed milk. Azuki
beans (sweet red beans) and ice cream are also delicious accompaniments.
While it's sure to be
delectable just about anywhere on the island, San Lorenzo Shave Ice in
Haleiwa is particularly yummy. Expect to spend $4 to $6, depending on
size, for your sugary treat.
Cheer as surfer dudes conquer the Banzai Pipeline. Oahu
is a surfer's paradise and home to some of the most exhilarating -- and
dangerous -- waves in the world. Here, it's not unusual to see daring
surfers sliding underneath curling waves of the variety normally
reserved for magazine covers and "Blue Crush." Surfers ride waves all
day, though they're usually most impressive before 11 a.m. Located on
the less developed north side of Oahu, the Pipeline is near the
Mokule'ia Beach Park (coming up next). The 52 bus from Honolulu goes to
the Pipeline; the ride takes a little over two hours. To get to
Mokule'ia Beach Park from the Pipeline, take the 52 bus back toward
Honolulu for approximately 15 minutes.
Get lost in awe at "Lost" locations. Most
of the hit television series "Lost" was filmed on Oahu and fans can
visit everywhere from the mental institution where Hurley lived to the
home of the mysterious Smoke Monster. Many of these sites are free: For a
quick infusion of "Lost" mystique, visit the
Hawaii Convention Center in downtown Honolulu to see where the cast filmed scenes that supposedly took place in the Sydney Airport.
For the quintessential "Lost" experience, visit the site of the fictional Flight 815 crash.
Mokule'ia Beach Park,
the filming site for most of season one, is on the north shore of Oahu,
and a great place to visit along with the Banzai Pipeline. The north
side of Oahu is less developed as a tourist destination than the south
side where Waikiki is, so it's not unusual for the beach to be empty
(though don't be surprised to see a sea turtle napping on the shore).
Beware that the intense
surf on Oahu's northern beaches often makes swimming dangerous, and no
lifeguards are on duty. By bus, the trip to Mokule'ia Beach Park takes
about 2 hours on the 52 line.
Tour the Dole Plantation. It opened as a fruit stand in 1950, but today, the
Dole Plantation
is a well-trodden tourist attraction that pays homage to one of the
island's most iconic foods: the pineapple. Access to many parts of the
Dole Plantation are free, including a garden where children can roam and
see different varieties of pineapple growing.
For a bit more of a
splurge, the Plantation Garden Tour is $5 for adults and $4.25 for
children, and access to the world's largest maze -- complete with a
pineapple at its center -- is $6 for adults and $4 for children. A ride
aboard the 20-minute Pineapple Express train is a little steeper,
costing $8 for adults and $6 for children. If the weather's hot, be sure
to indulge in the world-famous pineapple frozen treat known as the
DoleWhip before leaving ($4.25). To get to the Dole Plantation, take bus
8, 19, 20, 47 or 58 from Waikiki and transfer onto the 52 at Ala Moana
Shopping Center; ride time is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Slurp some noodles. After a hard day of touring, a hearty meal is always needed.
Marukame Udon,
located right in Waikiki, is a Japanese cafeteria-style restaurant
known for its homemade udon noodles -- a kind of thick, chewy spaghetti
-- and the line out the door. Many of the noodle dishes cost under $5
and, for an extra splurge, individual pieces of tempura -- deep-fried
shrimp or vegetables -- are available for about $1.50. (Note: Marukame
Udon does not take credit cards). Don't be intimidated: The line moves
quickly, and the food is worth standing outside for.
