Oahu on a budget. Now you probably think that’s not possible but it is , i promise you !
I turned 40 this year and i treated myself to a Hawaiian getaway for 5 nights, mainly because i picked up a cheap airfare with Jetstar ! I also decided to stay at a hostel because accommodation in Hawaii can be expensive. Actually lots of stuff can be expensive due to the fact everything has to come from the mainland so be prepared to shop around for the best deals
The hostel i stayed in was super close to Waikiki Beach and the shops, transport etc. It’s called HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL on Prince Edward st, Waikiki www.hostelsaloha.com
They have dorm rooms or twin rooms, i decided to stay in a twin room with a bathroom since it was my birthday present. That cost me around $100 aus a night but i loved the place and had a great time staying there.
Being from Australia we drive on the opposite side of the road so i was too freaked out to hire a rental car even though they looked super cool and sporty !
So i needed to get around the island somehow without breaking the bank and they do have buses that travel nearly the entire island and it’s only $2.50 US no matter which stop you get off at !! Which is great value if you’re going to the North Shore side of the island but be prepared for a very long slow trip. It takes maybe 3hrs or more to get there so you could maybe stay there the night then come back the next day or so. Grab a bus timetable from your accommodation and you’ll be surprised how far you can get for $2.50. I also enjoy a cocktail or 2 and i love my food so i included some restaurants, bars and activities in my top 10.
1: DIAMOND HEAD CRATER
You can get a bus or walk to Diamond Head crater it’s pretty close to town and costs $1.00 to get in at the gates and is a light to medium hike
Don’t go during the hottest part of the day because you will get burnt and dehydrated. Wear good walking shoes and don’t carry heavy bags, it’s only a 2hr return hike but it gets very busy and narrow towards the top. Fantastic views of Waikiki once you get up there !
2: WAIKIKI BEACH SUNSET
Hundreds of people sit on the beach to watch the sunset every night. Most nights you get an amazing show with surfers still sitting on their boards watching the beautiful colours behind them and take your camera because you will get the most spectacular shots. Best of all it’s free !
3: ALA MOANA CENTRE
If shopping is your thing well welcome to shopping heaven at Ala Moana Center in Honolulu ! It has over 300 shops and a large food court with food from all nations. You’re sure to find something to satisfy your taste buds and they sell everything under the sun, literally ! It’s a huge open air shopping centre so you’re not missing out on the beautiful Hawaiian sunshine.
4: HANAUMA BAY
You can catch a bus from Waikiki to Hanauma Bay for $2.50 and entry into the bay is $7.50. It’s a very popular place to go snorkeling and swimming, you can hire your gear there but it’s much cheaper if you can bring it with you. The hostel i stayed at provided snorkel gear and towels so i just took those with me. If you have an underwater camera take it because you will get amazing shots of the coral and fish. They do have lockers and they cost $10 to hire but i made friends and left my stuff with an elderly couple so it saved me money. Just don’t take too much of value if you aren’t going to hire a locker.
5: LULU’S WAIKIKI
Located near the Diamond Head end of Waikiki Beach on Kalakaua Ave, Lulu’s have great reasonably priced food with large servings and have happy hour every afternoon from 3pm -5pm. I loved it because you could grab a cocktail and sit at the window over looking Waikiki beach and watch the sunset. Plus they have live music most nights.
6: ONO HAWAIIAN RESTAURANT
If you wan to try authentic Hawaiian food then no better place than Ono family owned restaurant on Kapahulu Ave,Waikiki. It’s only small but full of character ! The food is awesome and really reasonably priced, you can even share a platter. Don’t be scared off by the crazy colours of the food, it all tastes great. It’s open from 11am til 8pm.
7: NORTH SHORE AND THE GREEN SEA TURTLES
You can catch a bus up to the North Shore of the island and watch these beautiful creatures up close and personal on the beach. There will be crowds so be prepared ! They have rangers standing by to protect the turtles so people don’t touch them but you can get very close regardless to take great photos. Don’t forget to check out all the great surf beaches up that end of the island. It’s very laid back compared to Waikiki so you get a taste of real island life. If the bus isn’t your thing you can get in contact with the guys at Cool Dudes Tours for laid back tours of the island www.cooldudestours.com
8: DUKE’S WAIKIKI
Duke’s is an iconic open air restaurant on the beach in Waikiki and is famous for cocktails at sunset. It’s not as cheap as some places in Waikiki but the location is amazing, so it gets pretty busy but defiantly worth a look. All tables view the beach so you won’t be disappointed with the view!
9: LEARN TO SURF
There are a few surfboard hire places on Waikiki beach that hire out boards and they also have surf lessons. What better place to say you learnt to surf then in Hawaii !! The prices start at $40 an hour for the board hire but the experience is priceless !
10: TOP OF WAIKIKI REVOLVING RESTAURANT
On my last day in Waikiki i decided to treat myself and booked into the revolving restaurant 18 floors up called
TOP OF WAIKIKI_ which is on Kalakaua Ave, Waikiki. You over look the whole of Honolulu and the ocean as you turn around 360 deg in an hour. It’s a upscale restaurant so prices are a little more expensive but hey it was for my birthday so i didn’t mind. I had a gin cocktail, mouthwatering steak which came with some vegetables plus i added a gourmet side salad and it set me back $75. They also have a roof top bar downstairs from the restaurant which is the place to be so get dressed up and be ready for live music and jaw dropping views.
So travelling can always be done on a budget and you will always find fun things to do. Just think what’s more important, the accommodation or the lifetime of memories you’re creating with awesome experiences.
Thanks for being part of my journey
Rachel Brown Photo Blogger