Maui beaches
Hawaii is the most expensive state to visit for a vacation, costing two adults an average of $793 a day for food and lodging alone, according to a survey done by AAA. However, if you're on a budget, don't worry. There are several activities you can do for free that will keep you entertained. They include relaxing on some of the best beaches in the country, taking in Hawaiian culture and history in a museum and attending a hula show. Whatever you do, you'll probably encounter warm and comfortable weather.
Beaches
Most of Hawaii's beaches have no admission charge, unlike some beaches in other parts of the country. Grab a towel and some sunscreen and pick a spot. It's hard to go wrong in choosing a beach, because several of Hawaii's best have received national recognition. In 2009, Hanalei Bay Beach in Kauai was rated as the No. 1 beach in the country in the annual Dr. Beach rankings done by Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, the Director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research. The press release announcing the results described Hanalei Bay as "a spectacular white crescent-shaped sand beach that is considered by many residents and visitors alike to be the most beautiful beach setting in Hawaii." Previous winners, going back to the first ranking in 1991, are excluded from future surveys. They include Kapalua Bay Beach (Maui), Hapuna (Big Island), Lanikai Beach (Oahu), Hulopoe (Lanai), Kailua Beach Park (Oahu), Wailea Beach (Big Island), Mauna Kea Beach (Big Island), Poipu Beach Park (Kauai), Kaanapali (Maui), Hanauma Bay (Oahu) and Fleming Beach Park (Maui).
Museums and Memorials
Some Hawaii museums and memorials have free admission. The USS Arizona Memorial honors the people killed in the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941, including 1,177 of the ship's crew members. The memorial is a 184-foot-long structure of the sunken battleship. Visitors can explore three main sections--the entry and assembly rooms, a central area for ceremonies, and the shrine room, where a marble wall features the engraved names of the ship's fallen. Pearl Harbor is on Oahu.
When you think of sports and Hawaii, surfing comes to mind. The Honolulu Surfing Museum pays homage to surfing culture with artifacts, including vintage surfboards, jewelry, Polynesian tourist items and instruments. The museum is next to Jimmy Buffett's at the Beachcomber restaurant in Honolulu on Oahu.
The Whalers Village Museum in Lahaina, Maui, displays Hawaii's whaling tradition. The town was a busy whaling area from 1825 to 1860. Exhibits include a replica of a whaling ship, antique ornaments and utensils made from whale ivory and bone, and a collection of 19th-century scrimshaw, which are pictures carved into whale teeth and bone before being rubbed in ink to show the design.
Hula Shows
A luau is a feast of Hawaiian food, music and hula shows. Tickets to luaus, though, can cost up to $100 per person. If you're on a budget, there are places to see free hula shows---minus the kalua pig, salmon and dishes found at luaus. The hula has evolved from a sacred dance to entertainment with each movement meaning something different. Dancers wear rich costumes such as brightly colored wrapped skirts and leis. Places to see free hula shows include the Lahaina Cannery Mall in Maui, Kuhio Beach in Honolulu, and the Harbor Mall in Nawiliwili Harbor on Kauai.
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