Hawaii

America’s tropical paradise, Hawaii is a group of islands, each with its own thing to offer a visitor. From the surfing on Oahu, to the wonders of Maui, to the beauty of Honolulu, to the hidden wonders on Lanai, Hawaii is the great tropical escape for those not looking to leave America. There’s beautiful beaches, amazing jungles, monstrous waterfalls, excellent diving, and world class waves. Hawaii is a great destination for honeymooners, surfers, and families. While not thought of as a budget destination, there are plenty of budget options for people to choose from once you leave those resorts on Waikiki beach!

Typical Costs

• Accommodation: You can find hostels for as low as cheap as $25 a night. Regular pricing falls into the $55-$85 per night range. There are many high-end places, with rooms starting at $175+ a night. The smaller, less touristy spots have rooms as cheap as $20 per night.
• Food: Since food has to be imported, the cost of food is slightly higher than on mainland USA. You can find lots of food option in the $7-$12 range. This includes locally run restaurants that feature everything from local plate lunches, mexican food, sandwiches, and the like. Oahu is starting to see food trucks that range from the $5-$10 range. Fast food like McDonalds will cost you $6 per meal (unless you go after the dollar menu), restaurants like Applebee’s will cost around $10-15 per meal. However, most formal, sit down restaurants will cost you around $20 USD or more for an entree. There are a lot of buffets on the islands which around $25.
• Transportation: The best way to get around the islands is to rent a car. For a compact vehicle, it’s about $40 per day. To rent a jeep or convertible will run about $65-75 per day. Taxis start around $3, with $3.20 for each mile traveled.
• Activities: Scuba diving costs for a two tank dive about $85- $100 per person (equipment included). Surfboard and Stand Up Paddle board rentals start at about $25 for a half-day, and sailing and snorkeling excursions usually range from $70 – 150 for a half day or sunset cruise, gear rental included. Helicopter Tours usually range from about $150 – $250. Zip lining is also available on the bigger islands, with rates of about $100 and up.

Top Things to Do

• The Island of Hawaii – Also referred to as ‘The Big Island’, Hawaii is nearly twice as large as all of the other islands combined. It is home to two of the Earth’s largest volcanoes, including the most active – Kilauea—a visit to Hawai’I Volcanoes National Park is highly recommended to all. Some other fun things to do here are: diving with the Pacific Manta Rays, scoping the black sand beaches of Waipi’o Valley, or exploring the historic downtown of Hilo.
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island – Hawaii is nearly twice as large as all of the other islands combined. It is home to two of the Earth’s largest volcanoes, including the most active – Kilauea. A visit to Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is highly recommended.
• Mauna Kea – Also known as ‘White Mountain’, this is Hawaii’s highest peak at a whopping 13,796ft. Along the summit, there are a number of observatory domes—the telescopes housed within them are considered to be the greatest collection of astronomical telescopes in the world. As you can imagine, this makes for excellent star gazing.
• Helicopter Tours – For those of you that were sleeping on the flight in, or just can’t get enough, helicopter tours are one of the most amazing ways to see the islands in their entirety. Rides are usually an hour long and focus on one island. The O’ahu tour is one to consider, as it surveys the world’s largest architectural maze, the sacred falls, and Turtle Bay.
• Honolulu & Waikiki – Honolulu is a fascinating place, where Asian culture has blended with the Hawaiian culture, with hints of Americanism. There is an interesting blend of languages here and the food is absolutely delicious. There are a ton of cheap noodle joints, most of which offer fresh fish as well. Waikiki is more of an escape from the city scene but also the center of tourism and resorts.
• Polynesian Cultural Center – This is one of Oahu’s most popular attractions. Interestingly, the center is divided up into eight ‘villages’, each showcasing the indigenous Polynesian cultures of different parts of the world. Catching a canoe ride here is a blast and the fire walkers and dancers are pretty awesome. There is a ton of interactive stuff to take part in plus food.
• Kaanapali Sunset Luau – This is one of the many luau hotspot attractions in Maui. The traditional dance is beautiful and the women are captivating and exotic. Throughout the ceremony you get to feast on traditional Hawaiian buffet, most of which is cooked in an underground oven – the imu.
• Lahaina – This former whaling port is now a center for commercial activity and tourist attractions. There are a ton of interesting historical buildings and sites to explore. Many of the restaurants here are set up with balcony seating, ideal for sunset cocktails and the dinner hour. In a roadside area on the way to Ma’alea, there is a great winter whale-watching spot called Papawai Point.
• Maui Molokini Crater Snorkel – Ask anyone and they will tell you, a trip to Hawaii is not complete without some snorkeling or SCUBA diving. This particular snorkeling tour is complete with several hours of underwater action, a barbecue lunch, diving, and a water trampoline. You are sure to see tons of sea creatures, while you swim about.
• Ninini Point – Located on the island of Kaua’i, this is a great place to escape from the crowds and enjoy some solitude. You basically have a 360 degree view of the sky and all of the jets zipping through it, to the crashing waves below. The lighthouse here is 100ft high and marks the northern entrance to Nawiliwili Bay. Shore access from the lighthouse is very easy.
• Waimea Canyon and Napali Coast Hikes, Kauai – If you want to see why they call it the Garden Isle, take a hike along one of the many trails offered along the west side of the island. The trails are well marked and many offer spectacular views of the canyon and coast, as well as interesting tropical plants.

Budget Tips

• Travel off season – Traveling during low seasons (mid-April to mid-June and mid-September to mid-December) will definitely save you money on lodging in Hawaii.
• Visit the discount groceries – Discount stores such as Cost-U-Less (Big Island and Kauai), Don Quijote (Oahu) and Big Save (Kauai) offer inexpensive for food and alcohol.
• Find discounts online – You can find some good discounts on social sites like Groupon or Living Social. The pamphlets at airports and local tourist offices also have some discounts for tours.