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Highest-rated free things to do in Hawaii by visitors

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Tint Media // Shutterstock
Tint Media // Shutterstock
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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in Hawaii.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in Hawaii using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#29. Ko Olina Lagoons

Tripadvisor

2 / 30

#29. Ko Olina Lagoons

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,783 reviews)
- City: Ko Olina Kapolei Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. International Market Place

Tripadvisor

6 / 30

#25. International Market Place

- Rating: 4.2/5 (1,181 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Papakolea Green Sand Beach

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Papakolea Green Sand Beach

- Rating: 4.4/5 (2,215 reviews)
- City: Naalehu Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#14. Manini'owali Beach

Tripadvisor

17 / 30

#14. Manini'owali Beach

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,446 reviews)
- City: Kailua Kona Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Koko Crater Arch Trail

Tripadvisor

21 / 30

#10. Koko Crater Arch Trail

- Rating: 4.7/5 (2,661 reviews)
- City: Honolulu Oahu
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Poipu Beach Park

Tripadvisor

23 / 30

#8. Poipu Beach Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (5,009 reviews)
- City: Poipu Koloa Kauai
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#5. Mauna Kea Summit

Tripadvisor

26 / 30

#5. Mauna Kea Summit

- Rating: 4.7/5 (4,642 reviews)
- City: Kailua Kona Island of
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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