Does a trip to Hawaii always have to be expensive?
Actually, Waikiki has quite a few free things to do and useful free services if you know where to look.
On this day, we rode the Pink Line trolley, took anniversary photos at a beautiful beach, watched the Hilton fireworks, enjoyed a real hula show, and finished with drinks and a massage chair at the Rakuten Card Lounge.
We enjoyed all of them for free.
If you have been thinking, “Hawaii is too expensive for me right now,” this article may change your mind a little.
PR: We booked our Hawaii trip through Expedia.
Ride the Waikiki Trolley Pink Line for Free with a JCB Card
The Waikiki Trolley has several routes, including the Blue Line and other sightseeing lines.
For getting around Waikiki, the Pink Line is especially convenient. It connects areas such as Ala Moana Center and Waikiki, making it useful for both sightseeing and shopping.
If you have an eligible JCB card, show it when boarding and you can ride the Pink Line for free under the current JCB campaign.
Without the JCB benefit, the Pink Line one-day pass costs $6.
You do not need an expensive premium card for this benefit.
JCB also offers various Hawaii discounts and benefits, so having one can be useful when travelling in Waikiki.
The trolley is a double-decker bus, and I recommend sitting upstairs if the weather is good.
The view is much better and the open-air ride feels wonderful.
One small warning: the stairs are quite steep, so older travellers should take their time going up and down.
On this day, we rode from the Ala Moana area and got off near Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Take Free Anniversary Photos Near Hilton Hawaiian Village
The beach area in front of Hilton Hawaiian Village is so beautiful that it is also used for wedding photography.
Our purpose that day was to take special photos celebrating a 40th wedding anniversary and a 70th birthday.
We brought number balloons showing “40” and “70” and started taking photos right away.
The balloons were inexpensive ones we bought at Daiso in Japan.
The Hawaiian dress had been purchased previously from Lole Hawaii.
From this area, you can even take photos with Diamond Head in the background.
There was a short shower that day, and afterwards a rainbow appeared across the blue sky.
The timing felt almost like Hawaii was celebrating 40 years of marriage with us.
Of course, we immediately started taking photos before the rainbow disappeared.
Short rain showers are common in Hawaii, and sometimes they leave behind beautiful rainbows.
If you see one, take the photo first and think later.
We Also Took Photos in Front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Chapel
We also took photos in front of the chapel inside Hilton Hawaiian Village.
This chapel was especially meaningful to us because my son previously held his wedding ceremony here.
Coming back to the same place and taking photos again created another special memory.
You do not necessarily need to hire a professional photographer for every anniversary photo.
With a few number balloons and a beautiful location, you can create memorable photos yourself.
If Other People Appear in the Background, You Can Edit Them Out Later
Popular Waikiki locations can be busy, so sometimes other people will appear in your photos.
If that happens, AI photo-editing tools such as ChatGPT may be able to remove unwanted people from the background.
So I would not worry too much about getting a completely empty beach before taking the photo.
Sunset on the Beach and the Hilton Friday Fireworks
After finishing our anniversary photos, we stayed around the beach area.
When I looked up at a tree near the Hilton lagoon, I noticed a large bird sitting quietly on one of the branches.
It was very cute.
A little later, it started to rain, so I even wondered whether the bird had somehow known the weather was changing before we did.
One of the fun parts of travelling is noticing birds and animals that we do not usually see in Japan.
As evening approached, more and more people gathered on the beach to watch the sunset.
The Hilton fireworks themselves last only a few minutes, but if you want a good place on the sand, it is worth arriving earlier.
Bringing something small to sit on can make the wait more comfortable.
And then — real fireworks!
Hilton Hawaiian Village holds its Friday night fireworks show every week.
According to the current Hilton schedule, the fireworks begin at 7:45 PM from October through May and at 8:00 PM from June through September.
The show lasts only a few minutes, but it is completely free to watch from the beach.
Because it only happens once a week, our previous Hawaii trips had never lined up with the schedule.
This time, we finally got to see it.
If your Waikiki stay includes a Friday night, it is definitely worth checking the latest Hilton schedule and adding the fireworks to your evening plans.
Watch a Free Hula Show at International Market Place
International Market Place also hosts free hula performances at Queen’s Court.
When we visited, the show was held on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings.
We were surprised that such a polished hula performance could be enjoyed for free and from such a close distance.
The show lasted around 30 minutes and was much more substantial than I expected.
It can also fit nicely into an evening before or after the Hilton fireworks.
Performance days and times can change, so check the latest International Market Place event schedule before visiting.
Free Drinks and Massage Chairs at the Rakuten Card Waikiki Lounge
If you have an eligible Rakuten Card issued in Japan, you can use the Rakuten Card Waikiki Lounge for free.
Eligible accompanying guests can also enter free of charge.
The lounge is located on the first floor of International Market Place near Queen’s Court, so we visited after watching the hula show.
Free drinks are available inside the lounge, including coffee, cold soft drinks and water.
When we visited, we were also able to enjoy a beer.
There were many Japanese-speaking visitors and staff around when we were there, and after spending the day out in Waikiki, the familiar atmosphere made me feel a little more relaxed.
The lounge also has massage chairs.
After spending hours walking around Waikiki, this was exactly what I wanted.
A proper massage chair suddenly feels like a luxury when your legs are tired from sightseeing.
Rakuten Card Lounge annual usage limits depend on the type of card:
- Rakuten Black Card: Unlimited visits
- Rakuten Premium Card: Up to 20 visits per year
- Other eligible Rakuten Cards: Up to 10 visits per year
Rakuten Card also operates another Hawaii lounge at Ala Moana Center.
Services and usage conditions may change. Check the latest official Rakuten Card information before visiting.
Free Things to Do in Waikiki: Our Favourite Budget-Friendly Experiences
- Waikiki Trolley Pink Line: Free with an eligible JCB card during the current campaign
- Beach photos near Hilton Hawaiian Village: A beautiful free location for anniversary and travel photos
- Hilton Friday fireworks: Free to watch from the beach every Friday evening
- International Market Place hula show: Free cultural entertainment at Queen’s Court on selected evenings
- Rakuten Card Waikiki Lounge: Free lounge access with drinks and massage chairs for eligible cardholders
Hawaii can certainly become expensive if you want luxury hotels, restaurants and paid activities.
But you can also create a very enjoyable Waikiki day without spending much at all.
We took anniversary photos, watched fireworks, enjoyed hula, rode the trolley and relaxed in a massage chair — all without paying for those experiences.
So even if “Hawaii is too expensive right now” has crossed your mind, you do not necessarily have to give up on having fun in Waikiki.
Sometimes the best view, the rainbow, the fireworks and even the tired-leg rescue chair are free.
