Hawaii On A Budget: Is It Possible? Heck, Yes!! Check Out Our Top Tips!

Updated 11/3/2024

Many people dream of exploring the exotic Hawaiian Islands. And, why not? It’s paradise! But because of its physical distance to the American mainland, many people don’t know a lot about Hawaii including how much to budget for a vacation there or if it’s feasible to “do” Hawaii on a budget.

I say if you look hard for the best accommodations, the cheapest airfare and go during the right time, Hawaii on a budget is totally possible! I’m planning to go to Hawaii on a budget and decided to share my research so you can plan your own trip to Hawaii on a budget…and Hang Loose!!

What Are The Hawaiian Islands Comprised Of?

Before we get into the cost, let’s review some basic information about Hawaii. The Hawaiin islands are made up of 8 islands, but two islands, Niihau and Kahoolawe, are closed to visitors. The other 6 islands that most people are familiar with:  Hawaii (The Big Island), Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai.  

Which Islands Are The Best To Visit?

All the islands are worth visiting and all have their own unique appeal. Most first-time visitors like to focus on the most familiar Hawaii islands, which are Maui and Oahu. Maui is known for its beautiful black sand beaches while Oahu is known for iconic Waikiki and Pearl Harbor.  For nature lovers, you can’t bean Kauai.

 As far as pricing, Hawaii is expensive! Yeah, but you already knew that, right?!

Oahu and the Big Island are the most affordable. Maui and Kauai are the least affordable.

What is the Cheapest Time Of Year To Visit Hawaii?

There can be a cost difference in Hawaii based on the time of year you go. The off-season in Hawaii is between April and May and then again between September and early December. 

If you go during this timeframe, you’ll save money on everything compared to going in high season or peak season, which is mid-December through March and Summer Break. If you want to go to Hawaii on a budget, don’t go during peak travel times – including Spring Break.

How Long To Go To Hawaii?

Hawaii is far, far away from the mainland USA. Therefore, I wouldn’t go for less than 7 days, and 10 days would be even better. Plus there are so many things to see and do, if you’re not there for at least 7 days, you won’t have time to do as much as you should! And, if you stay for 7+ days in the same place, you’ll most likely get a discount on your lodging.

How Much Does It Cost To Go To Hawaii?

The biggest variables in the cost of a Hawaii vacation are Lodging, airfare, and Food. Finding good deals on these items is essential!! If you make the right decisions with these big 3 items, the rest of your trip will fall into place and budget.

Airfare To Hawaii Costs

When looking at airfare for your Hawaiian vacation, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is that you have a wide variety of airlines to choose from. Go to Google Flights to check prices – it’s the best to find great flights fast.. If you’re flexible, you’ll have better options. Google flights now include Southwest Airlines flights, so it’s even better.

The bad news is that the flights to Hawaii aren’t cheap! There’s no getting around that plane tickets to Hawaii are expensive! The cheapest airfare I’ve found goes into Honolulu. Play around with dates and departure cities because there’s a wide variety of price ranges based on travel dates.

But some people want to island hop and hit a couple of islands. So sometimes it makes sense to fly into Maui then fly home from Honolulu.

In November, the cost of flying from the center of the USA – Omaha- to Honolulu is around $550 per person round trip. And flying from Omaha to Maui is around $480 per person.

So there’s not much of a difference. But then again the $70 difference per ticket could go towards a few bags of groceries for your stay.

Non-Stop Or Not?

If you’re traveling from a bigger city you might have the option to fly to Hawaii on a non-stop flight. It will cost more but if I had the choice, I’d go non-stop. It’s a long flight, yes – but there’s no waiting around an airport on the West Coast to change planes.

Here’s what I plan to do……

Two-Stop Vacation – Fly Direct From The West Coast

Some people like to make it a two-stop vacation by flying into Las Vegas or San Francisco, staying a couple of days, and then hopping on a flight to Hawaii. From Las Vegas, it’s only about a 6-hour flight to Maui! This is doable, even for a long-flight hater like me!

Doing the same thing on the way back makes sense because that flight back to mainland USA is tough! So fly into Las Vegas or sunny California, stay for a few days, then fly home. It’s a great way to kick jet lag to the curb.

If you’re like me the thought of a long-haul flight, 12 hours or so, is terrifying. So I’m going to make a pit stop in Las Vegas on the way to and from Hawaii.

Once you’re in Maui and want to island hop to Oahu (or hop over to any other islands, the quick plane trip will cost you less than $200. Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest Airlines are typically your best bet for the best flight prices.

But the cheapest way to island hop may not involve flying at all. Did you know you can take a ferry between some Hawaiian Islands? Yep! I found that out while researching this article.

Cost Of Accommodations In Hawaii

The biggest dent in your budget will be your lodging costs. But don’t worry. You can still go to Hawaii on a budget. There are so many types of accommodations to choose from and many different areas to stay in Hawaii so you have choices.

For this article, I’m focusing on budget choices in both Maui and Honolulu.

Hotel rooms aren’t what they used to be either – most have at least a mini refrigerator these days. So even though you may be staying in a hotel you can still hit one of the local grocery stores and buy some essentials.

And if you have points for any hotel stays, now is the time to use them! And you can check out my post on how to get free hotel stays if you don’t have enough points yet!

Budget Condo Choice In Maui

For the best bang for your buck, you may want to opt for a condo or one of the vacation rentals in Maui. We found many great deals on beautiful Maui condos around Kaanapali Beach in West Maui. The Kaanapali area offers fantastic, 2-bed condos that sleep 4, with a full kitchen and a pool that are great deals. Some starting as low as $200 a night!

Budget Hotel Choice In Oahu

In Honolulu, the Queen Kapiolani is a steal! Check out the room with a view of Diamond Head! And while there’s no view of Diamond Head in some of the lowest priced rooms, at less than $200 per night Queen Kapiolani is a great option for your budget Hawaii trip to Hawaii. It’s a nice place at a reasonable price. And that can be a rare thing!

Waikiki has some awesome, affordable properties. The White Sands Hotel stands out as a perfect choice if you’re looking for a stylish and luxe stay within a convenient location at a great price point.

The While Sands gets bonus points for multiple onsite places to dine and drink. Did I say tiki bar with swings?!! Uh-huh.

Budget Lodging: Glamping!

How about glamping in Honolulu? This sounds so down-to-earth and refreshing! What a fantastic way to experience the natural beauty of Hawaii. How about an oceanside yurt or cabin? The YMCA of Honolulu has some killer deals for you to consider!

Food Costs For Hawaii On A Budget

There’s no doubt that food is more expensive on the islands of Hawaii than on the Mainland. 

Obviously, you’ll save money on food if you stay somewhere that has a kitchen. Even if your place only offers a small cooktop and mini-fridge, that’s enough to make breakfast or brunch every day and save y ou tons of cash just by making some of your own meals. If you eat out most meals, you’re going to pay a ton and you don’t need those extra costs. Wouldn’t you rather spend that money on doing fun things?!

It’s a fact that any touristy town is known for high-priced restaurant meals. There’s no getting around it. Unless you make a conscious effort to NOT eat out a lot, that is! I like to have coffee for breakfast, then do brunch, then dinner.

The best way to save money is to eat where the locals do. This will be outside of tourist trap restaurants! So ask around. The hotel staff always have the best recommendations.

Other Thoughts On Budget Tips For Saving Money On Food

Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island all have a Costco on the island so stock up!

Try hitting one of the food trucks – they usually have good deals!

Farmers markets – Hit up the farmers markets for fresh, succulent goodies and dig in!

Extras For A Great Trip To Hawaii On A Budget:

Car Rental

While I didn’t list this as an absolute essential, you might want a car for your vacation in Hawaii. If you’re staying in Waikiki, you can get around using the Waikiki Trolley and Ubers. If you’re going to Maui or another island you’ll probably want a rental car. Go to Autoslash to find the best deals on car rentals!

Excursions and Experiences: 

There’s no shortage of fun things to do in Hawaii. You can spend a lot or you can save money by doing a lot of free things on your trip. Again, the choice is yours. If you really want to go to Hawaii on a strict budget then you’ll probably opt to skip tours and excursions. There’s so many free activities that you’ll be fine. i know I’m sticking with the cheap and free stuff.

Things like going to the beach and touring some of the local and state parks are great things to do that don’t cost a lot of money. Hawaii is an outdoor lover’s paradise so take advantage of all the natural beauty that’s absolutely free!

I don’t need to “do” a lot of the popular attractions when I’m in Hawaii. I just want to take in the scenery and explore the great outdoors. There are so many naturally beautiful things to see and so many great beaches that I think most of the manufactured things to do wouldn’t measure up anyway.

If you do opt for some iconic Hawaiian experiences like Surfing Lessons, Plantation Tours, Ziplining and Luau’s, each will set you back up to $100++ per experience.

And some things will cost more so I wouldn’t do those. Do you really need to do a helicopter tour?

Cheap And Free Things To Do In Hawaii

I’m planning to spend the majority of my time outdoors in Hawaii. Here’s where I want to go:

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – Hawaii

Mauna Kea Mountain – Hawaii

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden – Hawaii

Haleakala National Park – Maui

Road to Hana – Maui

Kaanapali Beach – Maui

Waianapanapa State Park – Maui

Waikiki Beach – Oahu

Pearl Harbor National Memorial – Oahu

Diamond Head – Oahu

Whether you’re on a tight budget or you want to have the ultimate luxurious trip, Hawaii is a place you’ll fall in love with! There’s so much to see and do here and I want to experience it ALL! How About You? What do YOU want to do in Hawaii? Share your thoughts – I’d love to know!