Leeward Coast, Oahu on a Budget

Having one of the best vacations in the Leeward Coast does not need to entail much money. Though a vacation in Hawaii is bound to be quite expensive, there are some ways where you can still save and enjoy your vacation without having to break the bank. Here, are some ways on how you can have a great time in the Leeward Coast even if you don’t have much cash to burn.

Shop around for travel packages and deals.

This would be basic knowledge for anyone going on any trip. Especially in Hawaii, where competition between travel companies is tight, you should be able to find decent deals and discounts when choosing a travel package. These packages usually include the fare, car rental, and the accommodations. So, all you need is to set the time to look through the different offerings and decide the best one for you.

Use public transportation.

One option for you on which you can save is to not get a rental car and just use public transportation. In Oahu, the public transportation options available to you would be the buses and the trolleys. Buses are cheap, and they also provide routes and services to most of the attractions on the island, so getting around through bus should not be a problem. The same goes for the trolleys; though they may not have an extensive reach as buses do, they still provide effective means of getting around the cities.

The advantage of buses is that first, they’re very affordable, like less than three bucks for the fare. Another is that you don’t have to worry about traffic and parking space compared with getting a rental car. It is said that for Oahu, you can get around easier through the bus than through a rental car.

The disadvantage is that the bus has specific routes and schedules, so if you plan to use them, be also aware of the bus routes and schedules so that you can make plans accordingly. But this should be easy to manage so long as you know what the bus schedules are and the hours of the places that you plan to visit.

Frolic at the beaches.

As with all of Hawaii, you don’t need to pay anything to enjoy the beaches. You can watch the sunrise, admire the horizon, and be arrested by the sunset on the beach without any problem. You can swim, wade, and dive and surf on the ocean free of charge. And if you’re done with the water, you can just lie on the sand, read a book, and catch some sun. When you’re in the Leeward Coast, you have the Ko Olina Beach, the Makaha Beach, the Yokohama Bay, and Kaena Point as wonderful beaches that offer great sceneries, clear waters, nice waves for surfing, and miles of beautiful sandy beaches.

The beaches in the Leeward Coast are also known for being great whale and dolphin watching spots. Though you can’t be up close and personal, just seeing these creatures, even from a distance, is a thrilling experience in itself.

Aside from swimming, you can also just have picnics on the beach while enjoying the great ocean view. Also, you can go to the Marina for some island cruises. Some of the island cruises are not expensive, and is worth your money. If not that, then you can also just talk to locals at the wharf for the best fishing spots, that is, if you don’t want to get a charter for deep sea fishing. You can just rent some fishing gear if you don’t have your own. Once you find your spot, you can easily spend the day fishing without straining your budget too much.

Visit affordable attractions.

You can also find free and affordable attractions on the Leeward Coast. One, you can visit Pearl Harbor and see the memorial for the soldiers that died during the attack. Have a look at the sacrifice that these soldiers made and know more about the history of World War II. Aside from that, you should also pay tribute to these soldiers and gain more understanding about the Pearl Harbor attack. The admission is free, so even a tight budget should not stop you from going there. Another free attraction is the USS Arizona Memorial. Like Pearl Harbor, the Arizona Memorial commemorates the crew of the USS Arizona which entailed heavy casualties which is actually half of the total casualties of the Pearl Harbor attack. Look at the lives of the soldiers who died in that attack, and also get more information about the battles of the Pacific.

And while we’re on battleships, you should also take a look at the USS Missouri and the USS Bowfin. The Missouri is one of the most well-known and historic battleships of the US navy. It is on her deck that the official end of World War II transpired. And to know more about the underwater battles during the Second World War, the Bowfin submarine and museum should provide you with exhibits, information, and battle logs during that period. So, if you love your navy ships and submarines, you would have a grand time as you get to see them up close and personal, so to speak, without emptying your pockets.

Since we’re on the topic of history, you should also visit the Hawaii Plantation Village. The admission fee is minimal, and in exchange you get to see the old plantation villages in its preserved state. There, you can see how the multi-cultural atmosphere during the immigration fluxes that happened on the golden age of the sugar plantations. Aside from those, you also get treated by their botanical garden, and also find gift and souvenir items in their gift shop.

Shopping need not be expensive.

Of course, travel won’t be complete without shopping for souvenirs. When you’re in Leeward Coast, you’re actually in luck as you are within reach of one of the largest open-air flea markets in Hawaii. Just head on over to the Aloha Stadium, the only one of its kind in the state, and take part in the Swap Meet. For the admission fee of a dollar, you can enter the flea market and get access to discounted local goods, products, artworks, and handicrafts. If you’re looking for authentic Hawaiian stuff, you’re sure to find them in the Swap Meet, and at very affordable prices to boot. So, it now depends on your bargaining skills on how much you can stretch your dollar for your shopping needs.

Just explore the island.

If you’re riding the bus, you should also take the chance to explore the island of Oahu. Visit the beaches of Waikiki and Turtle Beach among others. Take a look at Downtown Chinatown, see the statue of “The Duke”, take a look at the state palace and Iolani Palace, and try one of the trails on the North Shore. There is plenty of stuff to do in Oahu that don’t require top dollar.

Enjoying Leeward Coast on a shoestring budget

The amount of your enjoyment in Leeward Coast is not dependent on the number of zeros in your bank account. Though it’s true that there are good things that money can buy, there are lots of things in Leeward Coast that won’t take much cash to enjoy—some are even free. Being on a budget is not a hindrance in having a fun vacation; you just have to know the places to go and the things to do so you can still pretty much have a blast at the Leeward Coast even on a tight budget.

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