Hawaii on the cheap

"You can just wander around, smell and sit," said Helen Griffin of Honolulu, as she headed to a tai chi class at the campus's nearby chapel.

Beaches, hikes and Honolulu's smaller restaurants are also a good bet for budget-minded travelers, she said.

Going local and searching the Internet for free and cheap entertainment is another trick to enjoying the island and keeping things affordable, said Jon Zhou, of Philadelphia, as he recently left the market.

"Ask the locals where to go," he said.

To get a sense of the strong military history of the islands visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. With its majestic location in the crater of an extinct volcano, the cemetery also commands excellent views of the city below.

The USS Arizona Memorial is another must see for remembering the 2,390 lost in the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Admission is free for a full guided tour, including a movie with footage of the attack and a ferry ride to the memorial.

The numerous Buddhist and Shinto temples around the island also provide an opportunity to see a variety of architecture and religious practices not as often seen in most of the mainland. The imposing but serene Mu-Ryang-Sa Buddhist Temple of Hawaii at the back of Palolo Valley also offers beautiful views of the city in the distance.

For a taste of pre-statehood Hawaii, take a stroll through the grounds of Iolani Palace where the Royal Hawaiian Band delivers a free performance starting at noon most Fridays.

A few blocks west you'll find a warren of shops offering inexpensive lunches to downtown office workers. This reporter's favorite is Ninja Sushi toward the mountains on Bishop Street. With quality California rolls at under $4, by Hawaii standards they're practically giving it away.

Artsy individuals will want to check out the admission-less Hawaii State Art Museum, in the same neighborhood. The museum also hosts music concerts of everything from taiko drums to Brazilian tunes as part of First Fridays, the monthly evening arts festival in Chinatown, Honolulu's nascent gallery district.

To top off a free Honolulu evening, some visitors take advantage of the free wine and snacks featured at some galleries. Of course, that doesn't mean you should.

If You Go:

OAHU: http://www.gohawaii.com/oahu/default.aspx

GETTING THERE: Air fares are usually highest when kids are out of school. Booking your transportation as part of a package deal may save money. The Web site http://www.pandaonline.com/ is a favorite among locals.

WHERE TO STAY: Booking accommodations a Web site offering vacation rentals can save some money, but not all of these rentals are legal. To double-check, call the Consumer Resource Center at 808-587-3222.

EVENTS: Lists of events and activities at http://www.honoluluweekly.com/calendar/.

TIPS: Before heading up to the North Shore, check the surf report to see how high the waves are. A good source is Surf News Network at http://www.surfnewsnetwork.com/

ATTRACTIONS:

• The $2 bus: Oahu Transit Services: 808-848-5555
• USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor): 808-422-0561
• Iolani Palace: 808-522-0832
• Doris Duke's Shangri-La: 808-532-3853
• Hawaiian Trail & Mountain Club
• Sierra Club, Hawaii
• Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center

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