Oahu a good choice for penny pinchers

LANIKAI BEACH, Hawaii — Not a millionaire? Well, in Hawaii, for an afternoon you can pretend you're among the monied by soaking in the sun and sifting your fingers through the sugary sands outside celebrities' obscenely priced homes without having to pay the rent.

That's because Hawaii is one of those lovely places where the beaches, including the somewhat restrained luxury of Lanikai on Oahu, are by law the domain of the public. Not even the most highly placed movie star or menacing hotel worker can (legally at least) chase you off your strip of sand.

Though Hawaii is notoriously expensive, impecunious but crafty travelers can easily revel in much of what the state has to offer while holding tight to their pennies.

For that, sticking to the most populous island, Oahu, is a good idea for those on a tight budget because of two very valuable advantages: more low-fare, direct flights and cheap public transportation to just about anywhere on the island.

Once you're here, take in a show. A favorite among freeloaders — there's no shame here — are the free nightly Hawaiian music and hula shows beside Kuhio Beach in Waikiki. As a bonus they're followed by fireworks on Fridays. And on Saturdays and Sundays be sure to catch the free second-run films shown at Sunset on the Beach.

Should you feel the urge to get in on the act, check out the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, which offers free hula and ukulele lessons as well as instruction in Hawaiian quilting and lei making.

Otherwise, get your gear on and get outdoors.

If you've opted to take the full cheapy route and go car-less, the bus is $2 a trip or buy your four-day tourist pass for $20 at a local convenience store. Better yet, get the $40 monthly pass used by the island's commuter crowd.

Print out maps for free from the bus system's Web site. And remember to have patience. The buses cover a lot of ground, including a scenic circle-island route but are generally the slow boat to wherever you're going.

One tactic to extend your mobility is to rent a bike. Both the North Shore and Lanikai have pleasant bike paths paralleling their main drags. The bikes cost about $20 per day, and you can put them on the racks of any city bus. The limit per rack is two bikes.