Hawaii is expensive. That's just the truth. But how expensive depends entirely on which activities you choose and how you sequence them. Here's what families of 4 actually spend across Honolulu's top activities — no estimates buried in fine print, just straight numbers.
Free Activities in Honolulu
These cost nothing to enter. Honolulu's park and botanical garden system is genuinely excellent for free days.
- Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden — $0 admission, free parking. 400 acres, lake, Ko'olau Mountain backdrop. Bring a picnic. Budget $0–25 for the day depending on whether you eat out afterward.
- Wahiawā Botanical Garden — $0. Bring your own water and snacks; no facilities on site.
- Koko Crater Botanical Garden — $0. Park on the street, bring everything you need.
- Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens — $0 admission. Budget $15–25 for lunch nearby.
- Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden — $0. No facilities, so bring water and snacks.
- Paki Playground — $0. Sits inside Kapiolani Park with Diamond Head views.
- Honolulu Zoo Playground — $0. Free public playground at the edge of Kapiolani Park.
- Kolowalu Park — $0. Local Manoa neighborhood park with a playground and open lawn.
- Paki Community Park — $0. Steps from the Honolulu Zoo.
- Ala Wai Community Park — $0. Watch outrigger canoe clubs practice on the canal for free.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of 4)
These won't break the bank and still deliver a solid few hours.
Foster Botanical Garden — $25–35 for a family of 4. Adults ~$7–8, kids 5 and under free, ages 6–12 ~$3. Part of the Honolulu Botanical Gardens system — a single membership covers all five gardens if you're planning multiple visits.
Hawaii Nature Center — $30–50 for a family of 4 (adults ~$8, children ~$5). Some programs cost extra. Check their website for free family days.
Hi Keiki indoor playground — $20–30 entry plus $0–10 snacks. Total: ~$25–35 for 2 young kids. Small, local, less overwhelming than chain playgrounds.
Fun Factory (Mililani, Windward Mall, Kamehameha, or Kahala locations) — $40–70 in game credits for 2 kids. Buy bonus credit packages at the register for better value. Fun Cards carry balances across all Oahu locations.
Mid-Range Activities ($50–$100 for a Family of 4)
KIDS CITY ADVENTURE at Ala Moana — $50–80. Hawaii costs trend higher than mainland equivalents, so verify at kidscityhawaii.com. The 4.7 rating from 453 reviews is the benchmark for Honolulu indoor playgrounds.
KIDS CITY KAPOLEI — $50–70 for a family of 4 (children ~$15–18, adults often free or discounted). Adults accompanying kids often get in free or at reduced rates. Bring a packed lunch to skip the café.
Children's Discovery Center — $45–65 (admission approximately $12–16 per person). Closed Mondays and closes at 1pm on weekdays — plan around these constraints.
Jungle Fun Island — $50–75 inside Ala Moana Center. Verify current pricing at junglefunisland.com.
Keiki Kingdom — $45–70. Local favorite. Weekday mornings are the best time to go.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve — $50 parking + adults pay admission (kids under 12 free) + $60–80 snorkel gear rental if you don't bring your own. Total: ~$100–140. Bring your own snorkel gear to cut costs significantly.
iTrampoline Hawaii — $60–100 ($15–25 per person per session). Limited weekday hours (10:30am–2pm) — book online to secure your session.
Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center — $60–90 for a family of 4 (adults ~$20, children ~$12–15). Buy the Bishop Museum combo ticket for better value.
Hawai'i Tropical Botanical Garden — ~$80 admission (adults ~$20, kids under 16 ~$10, under 5 free). AAA members get a discount. Pack water — no café on site.
Great Big Game Show Honolulu — $80–140 for a family. A 5.0 from nearly 2,000 reviews. Book at greatbiggameshow.com.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
The Escape Game Honolulu — $120–160 for a family of 4 ($28–40 per person). It's a 5.0 rating, and the themed immersive rooms deliver. Go midweek for occasional discounts. Book online in advance.
Break'N Anger — $100–160 per family session. A supervised rage room experience in Kaka'ako. 4.9 from 565 reviews. Genuinely unlike anything else — if you have tweens or teens, it's worth it.
Chuck E. Cheese — $60–90 total ($30–40 pizza + $30–50 game tokens). This is a convenience splurge, not a quality splurge. Check chuckecheese.com for coupons and kids-eat-free deals before going.
Kualoa Ranch — $300–600+ for a family of 4 depending on activities ($45–170 per person per activity). The Movie Sites Tour and Jurassic Valley Zipline are the fan favorites. Don't try to do everything. Book online for slight discounts.
Money-Saving Tips in Honolulu
- Book online in advance. The Escape Game, Great Big Game Show, and Kualoa Ranch all offer online discounts and prevent sold-out disappointments.
- Kids under 12 are free at Hanauma Bay. Bring your own snorkel gear and save $60–80 immediately.
- Honolulu Botanical Gardens system. All five gardens (Foster, Ho'omaluhia, Wahiawa, Koko Crater, Liliuokalani) are free or very low cost. A single family membership covers all of them.
- Pack food. Most botanical gardens and parks have no concessions. A packed picnic turns a free park into a free half-day.
- Fun Factory cards carry balances across all Oahu locations. Load credits at the register bonus deal level — more play for the same money.
- Hawaii Nature Center free family days. Check their website before visiting — they periodically offer free programming.
- Kids City has two Oahu locations (Ala Moana and Kapolei). Choose based on where you're staying.
What a Typical Family Spends
One day, budget approach: - Morning: Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden — $0 - Lunch: Picnic from grocery store — $20–30 - Afternoon: Fun Factory (1 location) — $50 - Total: ~$70–80
One day, mid-range approach: - Morning: Hanauma Bay snorkeling (with own gear) — $40–50 - Lunch: Food truck or café near Waikiki — $40–50 - Afternoon: KIDS CITY ADVENTURE — $60–80 - Total: ~$140–180
Two days, all-in approach: - Day 1: Great Big Game Show ($80–140) + Kualoa Ranch single tour ($150–200) + dining ($60–80) = $290–420 - Day 2: The Escape Game ($120–160) + Hanauma Bay with rental gear ($120–140) + dining ($60–80) = $300–380 - Two-day total: $590–800 for a family of 4
Bottom Line
The free botanical garden system is Honolulu's best-kept budget secret — genuinely world-class, all $0. The biggest costs come from snorkel gear rentals and Kualoa Ranch. Bring your own gear, pick one Kualoa activity, and you'll cut your two-day budget by $150 or more.