How to Travel to Hawaii on a Budget

Is it possible to travel to Hawaii on a budget? Absolutely! We’ll tell you how. 

The ocean is free to swim in. The mountains are free to walk on. The sunsets are free to watch. Unfortunately, getting to Hawaii is NOT free, and finding a place to lay your head between busy days can quickly add up. 

Still, planning a budget trip to Hawaii is possible, as long as you’re realistic about your budget. We’ve got great ways to save money on your vacation. Once you know how to plan cheap activities and work around dynamic travel prices, you may find that your dream Hawaii vacation is within reach. 

Is Hawaii Expensive?

By most standards, Hawaii is an expensive destination. It’s a costly place to live and work, and vacation expenses reflect that cost of living. 

So if you simply want a beach vacation, you can probably find cheaper locations, including coastal cities on the U.S. mainland and some international locales too. 

Most people who visit Hawaii aren’t just here for the beaches. Maybe they’re here for exceptionally beautiful beaches, plus some sightseeing, and tropical weather, and (perhaps most importantly) the unique Aloha Spirit that makes Hawaii so special. 

But once you understand that Hawaii isn’t cheap, you can begin to look for ways to save money. And we can help you travel to Hawaii on a budget. Will it still be a splurge vacation? Possibly. But it doesn’t have to be an extravagant trip. 

How Much to Budget for a Hawaii Vacation

So how much does a Hawaii vacation actually cost? For flights, food, lodging, and cheap activities, a budget of about $8,000 for a family of four would be on the low end. Upping that to $12,000 will give more room for a couple of pricier activities, a nice meal out, and more upscale lodging. 

Couples could lower that budget, since you would be purchasing only 2 seats on a plane, 2 spots on excursions, and (maybe?) eating less. 

Of course, a high budget would allot you an extravagant vacation. And, on the other end of the spectrum, there are some smart ways to lower your budget and save money on your Hawaii trip. So you can bring a family of four to Hawaii for under $8,000, as long as you plan it right. 

Let’s take a look at our top tips for you. 

7 Tips for Traveling to Hawaii on a Budget

Now that you’ve got a rough range for your Hawaii vacation budget, it’s time to see how you can save money. If you save up and budget wisely, you can come experience the beauty and majesty of our islands for yourself. 

#1 – Avoid peak travel times

Flights and hotels operate with dynamic pricing that changes based on demand. This is bad news for anyone traveling during peak times, but good news for anyone with flexibility on their travel dates. 

Here are the most expensive times to travel to Hawaii:

• Christmas & New Years
• Spring Break (mid-March through early April)
• Summer Break (June and July)
• Thanksgiving Week

I’ve found good deals on Hawaii travel during early May and early November. 

#2 – Stay at a condo

This is one of our top tips for traveling to Hawaii on a budget. Condos offer a lot of bang-for-your-buck that you can’t get at a hotel. But it can be tricky. Sometimes condos will look more expensive than hotels if you’re doing basic searches, but once you consider its perks, you might find a condo will save you money, even if the up-front cost looks higher. 

• Most condos have kitchens where you can prepare meals and store leftovers. 
• Condos offer more space, so you may feel more relaxed and less compelled to get out and about to spend money. 
• Many condos have free parking. 
• Many hotels have a 4-person occupancy limit, while condos can often accommodate 6 or more guests. 
• Many hotels in Hawaii have an additional charge for more than 2 adults in a room. 

#3 – Find free and cheap Hawaii activities

There is one important way that Hawaii is cheaper than other destinations: we have many free things to do here. 

You come here to enjoy our natural beauty, so really enjoy our natural beauty and avoid the pricey activities. These are things everybody should do, whether you’re traveling on a budget or are here to splurge. Let’s take a look at our favorite cheap & free activities. 

Beach Days

It’s the best and cheapest thing to do in all of Hawaii: going to the beach. If you’ve got your towel and swimsuit, you’re set. Of course, you may also want snorkel gear, a sand bucket, and a picnic. But it’s still so simple and so quintessential for your vacation. And it hardly costs a thing. 

Sight Seeing

We almost always recommend rental cars for your Hawaii vacation, though it depends on what you plan to do. If you’ve budgeted for a rental car and some gas, then you’ve also budgeted for sightseeing. 

Drive along the coast or up into the mountains. If you’re on Maui or Hawaii Island, you can visit the National Parks for a small entrance fee. If you’re on Oahu, you can stop at wayside overlooks and scenic shorelines. Kauai is home to charming small towns and stunning state parks. 

Adults tend to love sightseeing around the islands. Kids can get restless if they spend too much time in the car. Either way, we recommend balancing your sightseeing with some much-needed pool time or beach bumming. 

Check out this full guide to sightseeing in Hawaii!

Hiking

Hiking in Hawaii doesn’t have to be extreme, multi-hour treks. There are hikes for all kinds of visitors and fitness levels. Whether you want sweeping views of the ocean or deep jungle waterfalls, hiking is a great way to enjoy Hawaii travel on a budget. 

Free Attractions in Hawaii

Beaches and hiking and overlooks, oh my! It may seem like we’re putting your Hawaii vacation into a box, but you aren’t limited to these three main “freebie” activities. In fact, some top attractions in Hawaii are free (or super cheap). Take a look:

• Oahu – The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is $1 per person to visit.
• Oahu – Capitol Modern is a free art museum in Honolulu.
• Oahu – It’s free to visit the Instagram-famous Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden.
• Maui – I enjoy exploring the grounds of Maui Tropical Plantation, which is free to access (you can opt for paid experiences onsite too). 
• Hawaii Island – You can tour many of Kona’s coffee farms for free (and enjoy a free coffee sample too!).
• Hawaii Island – sightsee aboard the Hele-On bus for free. 
• Kauai – Kauai Coffee Company offers free self-guided tours.

More Free Things to Do in Hawaii

In addition to the free attractions and sightseeing in Hawaii, you can also find free entertainment around the islands. Many shopping centers will have live entertainment on certain evenings. This is a great way to watch hula or hear Hawaiian music without having to splurge on a luau or fancy dinner. 

I also enjoy visiting some of the upscale resorts at sunset. They may have lobby entertainment or picturesque grounds that you can walk through. 

Don’t forget to take advantage of your hotel pool. Your hotel may also have various cultural experiences included in your resort fee. 

#4 – Set your Hawaii travel budget in advance

Here’s a tip for any budget traveler: plan ahead. Set your budget so that you know exactly how much you have to spend once you’re in the islands. 

Keeping track of a budget actually helps me enjoy even more Hawaii activities. After all, if I am under budget on food one day, I can apply that extra money to a nice meal another day. Plus, I don’t have to stress with each purchase because I know I’ve planned it. 

So planning your costs in advance helps keep you from stressing as you enjoy Hawaii on a budget. 

#5 – Know how to dine on a budget in Hawaii

Here’s one thing I love about Hawaii: some of the best food is budget food. If you’re willing to try new things, you’ll enjoy memorable meals that save you money. But first, you need to know 3 things: what kinds of food to eat, where to find them, and where to eat them. Let’s start with our favorite idea: picnicking in Hawaii. 

Picnics: the secret to Hawaii oceanfront dining on a budget

Palm trees sway overhead. You’re steps away from the ocean, watching the sunset as you dine on unique, delicious food. 

This isn’t one of Hawaii’s fine dining restaurants. You’re at a beachside picnic. And you’re saving so much money. 

Buy marinated meats to grill, or grab a plate lunch from a local restaurant. It doesn’t have to be fancy to be memorable. And you don’t have to sweat over reservations, wait times, and overpriced drinks!

Our favorite cheap foods in Hawaii:

• A SPAM Musubi (get them at most convenience stores for a couple bucks)
• A poke bowl with poi or rice (find it at most grocery stores for less than $12)
• A plate lunch (like a Loco Moco or Kalua Pork plate)
• Saimin (a soup similar to Ramen noodles)
• Manapua (similar to a bao bun)

Where to find cheap meals while traveling in Hawaii:

• Grocery stores (head to the poke counter, the produce section, or the grab-and-go area to avoid cooking)
• Small town diners
• 7-Eleven stores and other convenience stores
• Fast food restaurants often have offerings that are unique to Hawaii (like McDonald’s Local Deluxe breakfast). 

A note on food trucks – food trucks were once a great way to dine on a budget. However, they’ve begun catering more toward tourists and often have higher prices than diners and food counters. We still love food trucks (they have so many delicious and unique offerings!), but they didn’t earn a spot on our cheap eats list!

#6 – Choose the best budget-friendly island

If you’re traveling to Hawaii on a budget, you’ll want to choose the cheapest island to visit. Oahu will probably be the best place for you. 

Oahu is home to Honolulu, though you’ll also adore its North Shore small towns and windward beaches (like famous Lanikai Beach). 

Honolulu has some of the cheapest hotels in all of Hawaii. It also has so many beaches and hiking trails, plus some free activities for families. And the variety of food options means you can find something for every budget. 

#7 – Work with expert travel planners

Can you save money by working with a travel planner? Yes, as long as you work with the right one. At Hawaii Aloha Travel, we’re open to all kinds of budgets and are eager to share the island’s beauty with you. 

We’re based in Hawaii, and we have access to deals on condos and hotels that you may not be able to otherwise get. Plus, our planning tools and assistance can help you plan a budget and stick to it. And we’re always eager to share our favorite places for cheap food and free sightseeing. 

So give us a call if you want to discuss your Hawaii vacation budget and plan something that works for your price point. We’re excited to help!