It’s no secret that it will cost you a pretty penny to visit Hawaiʻi. Flights and accommodations, which are amongst the most expensive in the U.S., are just the beginning, with food, rental cars, and pricey lūʻaus, excursions, and tours piling up as well. You’ll hear many things said about Hawaiʻi, but never that it’s a cheap destination.
But, there’s a silver lining. Thanks to Hawaiʻi’s outdoor beauty and natural offerings, you’ll find there is an abundant amount of awesome, free (or close to free) activities to enjoy throughout the islands, including beaches, hikes, ocean adventures, picnics, historical sites, and more.
Come along as we explore some of our favorite free and cheap activities on the Big Island.
Outdoor Adventures
The Big Island is loaded with open space and outdoor offerings:
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Entrance to the national park is “free” if you already have a park’s pass; otherwise, it will cost you $30 for a 7-day visit. Either way, it’s mighty affordable, with so much to see, including Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, Chain of Craters Road, Thurston Lava Tube, and a myriad of hiking and walking trails.
Read more about the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on our website.
Explore the Thurston Lava Tube, a 500 year old lava cave that could fit a truck in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Mountain and Volcano Hikes
The Big Island, with its various ecosystems and massive volcanoes, has a lot of unique terrain to explore. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a great place to start, with hiking trails that traverse lava fields and the raw coastline of Kilauea Volcano. But options are abundant regardless of where you’re staying.
For a collection of our favorite hikes, check out our guide to hiking on the Big Island.
Hikers cross the floor of the Kilauea’iki crater in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Find out more about this hike on our website.
Multi-Colored Beaches
All beach access in Hawaiʻi is (most of the time) free, so any slice of sand can be your home for the day. In addition to fine white sand (Hapuna Beach), you’ll also find a variety of black sand beaches, like Punaluʻu. At South Point, you can hang out on a green sand beach.
Explore these natural wonders for a free and easy day.
Read more about our 3 favorite beaches in 3 colors, see also our list of most popular Big Island beaches.
Green sand containing olivine crystals from Papakolea (green sand beach).
Snorkeling
Half-day, one-time snorkeling tours will cost more than $100 in many cases, but if you’re an experienced swimmer, you can hit shore-lined coral reefs for only the cost of renting a mask. The Kona Coast is riddled with places to snorkel. Check out the following guides to learn where to go.
- Our guide to snorkeling spots on the Kona Coast
- Our 3 favorite snorkeling spots on the Big Island
- Our Big Island Snorkeling Guide with tips on safety, rentals, and snorkeling tours
- Big Island snorkeling spots for beginners
Remember to always swim with a buddy!
The Kona coast offers some of the best snorkeling on Hawai’i. Image adapted from source and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
Surfing
Surf lessons are pricey, but after taking one to learn the basics, renting a board is cheap. Find the local surf shop, learn the local breaks, and spend a few hours in the water to appreciate why surfing is more or less the state sport.
Read more on our website about surf lessons, spots, and rentals.
Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing
Driving up to the summit of Mauna Kea can be an all-day experience that will only cost you the gas to get there. There are several experiences to have on the mauna. If you have four-wheel drive, you can drive to the very top of the mountain, which is often above the clouds. You can jump on one of the nearby hiking trails. And, once it’s dark, you can stargaze outside the visitor center. Do your own night sky tour, or check the park schedule for the free, ranger-led stargazing sessions.
Check out more info on the DIY options for visiting the summit in our guide to stargazing on Mauna Kea.
The sunsets from Mauna Kea are out of this world, making a trip to the summit even more attractive
Waterfalls
The Big Island has a variety of easy to reach waterfalls, headlined by Rainbow Falls and ʻAkaka Falls in and near Hilo.
The Rainbow falls (or Waianuenue) in Hilo. Check out the people in the top left of the image for scale.
Check out some of our favorites around the island.
History & Culture
Many historical sites around the island are free or cheap to access:
Museums
Home of Kamehameha the Great and a broad range of geological intrigue, the Big Island is loaded with cultural and historical interest, told through a variety of affordable museums. Examples include the Lyman House (natural history), ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, Huliheʻe Palace, and more.
You can see our big list of Big Island museums here.
Cultural Sites
If you’re interested in Hawaiian culture, there are many historical stops that will enrich your time as you explore the Big Island. Most are small, great for dropping by if you find yourself in the area, such as the Naha Stone, Kamehameha Rock, Puako Petroglyphs, and Puʻukohala Heiau.
Other sites are more involved and extensive, such as Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, the Captain Cook Monument, or Huliheʻe Palace. To read more about these special places, check out our complete list of Big Island cultural sites here.
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Park in the south Kona district is a good place to take in Hawaiian History. Next door (300 feet from the park entrance) is one of the best places of the island to go snorkeling.
Agritourism
Next to a plethora of farm tours, there are several budget-friendly ways to explore the rich agricultural life on the Big Island.
Botanical Gardens
Entering a botanical garden costs just a small entry fee, but the experience can provide up to a half day of enjoyable immersion in the beauty and variety of Hawaiʻi’s tropical and indigenous plants. There are botanical gardens on both the Kona and Hilo side of the island, so accessing one should be little trouble.
You can learn more about them in our list of the best botanical gardens on the Big Island.
The 1 mile self-guided tour in the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens is one of our favorite short hikes on the Big Island
Macadamia Nut Farms
The Macadamia nut is originally from Australia, but it thrives in the Big Island’s volcanic soil. You can visit the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Visitor Center for free and try samples (it’s the world’s largest processor of macadamia nuts), or visit a smaller, family-run farm, like Ahualoa Family Farms or the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company.
Find out more about visiting in our Big Island Macadamia Nut guide.
You can buy macnut products from the Ahualoa Family Farms at the “Nuthouse” in Honokaʻa. Credit: Ahualoa Family Farms
Coffee Growing Regions
The Big Island is famous for its coffee production, most notably within the Kona Coffee District on the slopes of Hualālai Volcano. Take a ride up and visit a local farm, such as Greenwell Farms, which offers free guided tours and tastings.
In the southeast part of the island is the emerging Kaʻū Coffee District. Stop at the Kaʻū Coffee Mill for an overview of the area, then explore some of its attractions, such as Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach or the Kaʻū Desert Trail.
Check out our BIG list of Kona coffee tours on the Big Island to find out our favorite free and paid coffee tours and tastings.
Visitors take a Kona Coffee Farm Tour at the Greenwell farm. Source: here by user horspowr1001 under a CC BY-NC 2.0 license
Food, Drink, and Shopping
Eating and drinking in Hawaiʻi can be expensive. Here are some tricks to save money:
Local Grocery Stores
This advice is not unique to the Hawaiian Islands, but it is as effective here as anywhere. Shopping at a local grocery store is much cheaper than buying from restaurants or corner stores. Plan ahead and hit the grocery store to help save on food costs. Our favorite is the KTA.
Sunset Picnic in Paradise
Many restaurants offer prime-time seating for the sunset, and you’ll be tempted to be amongst the crowds each and every night. However, eating and drinking at restaurants adds up quickly, and as every local knows, you don’t have to dine at an expensive waterfront bar or restaurant to enjoy the sunset. If you’re looking to save money, getting creative at mealtime is the number one way to cut costs.
Pack a small cooler bag with drinks and snacks (poke, etc) and throw yourself a sunset picnic, either on the beach or somewhere else along the coast (see our favorite Big Island picnic spots here). You can save quite a bit of money over the course of a few days with this strategy. Restaurants can cost an arm and a leg, but you can get a pound or two of poke and a six pack of beer for less than $30 at a grocery store.
Find a scenic spot to sit, either on the beach or in a park, and enjoy a picnic in paradise.
Cheap Souvenirs
We always encourage folks to shop at locally-owned, independent stores when traveling through the island. However, if you’re in need of some cheap souvenirs for folks back home, the ABC Store’s prices are easy to love. These stores are found everywhere in Kailua-Kona, and T-shirts can be had for less than $10, as well as various other trinkets for family and friends back home. If your budget is dwindling but you need souvenirs, the ABC Store is a great option.
More free and affordable activities guides
If you have made it this far down the page chances are that you will also enjoy our other island guides with free and affordable activities:
- Our list with cheap and free Maui activities lets you enjoy Maui without breaking the bank!
- The same goes for our list of cheap and free Oʻahu activities!
- And, of course, don’t miss our our Kauaʻi on a Budget list.