The Aloha spirit, ideal temperatures year-round, great beaches, and incredible scenery … it’s no wonder Hawaii is known as a holiday maker’s paradise.
There’s only one problem: paradise doesn’t come cheap. However, one thing in Hawaii’s favour is a rate of Air Passenger Duty that’s lower than you’d expect given its distance from the UK. That’s because APD is based on the geographical distance of the capital city of a country/territory from London. So, for Hawaii, that’s Washington DC and the rate is £67 if you’re flying Economy Class. Compared to the Caribbean countries – £83 – or Australia – £94 – Hawaii is a little cheaper.
So how can you do Hawaii on a shoestring budget? These tips make for a good place to start.
1) Think Hawaii; think Honolulu.
It’s hands down the most developed and visited place on the islands, making it the cheapest and most accessible too.
2) Hawaii may be a year-round destination, but there are a couple of “off-peak” periods
Look out for cheaper flights and discounted hotel rooms in January (last two weeks), February, May, September and October. More good news: February happens to be the best time of year to see humpback whales, and September is Aloha Festival time.
3) A condo rental is much cheaper than a resort stay
A weeklong hotel stay in Waikiki in May is around $200 a night. A nice one-bedroom condo on the other hand can be secured for as little as half that.
4) Keep accommodation costs down by staying at a hostel
Our pick in Oahu is the Hostelling International Waikiki. It’s right by the beach and has great reviews on TripAdvisor. Northshore Hostel is considered the best on Maui.
5) Stick to one island, two at most
Island hopping is costly (they’re further apart than you might think). Most travellers and residents fly between islands. Be warned though – all flights head in and out of Oahu; with two flights as opposed to one one-hour direct flight, this can sometimes translate into six hours overall in transit. Oahu’s known as “The Gathering Place” for good reason.
If you do want to island hop, but can’t afford air tickets, then you have two options. The Maui–Lanai Ferry ($30 each way) and the Molokai–Maui Ferry ($67 each way). Sadly, the Hawaii Superferry which once connected Oahu with Maui is no longer in operation.
6) It pays to research local listings
To find free events and monitor daily deal websites.
7) Renting a car is really the only way to explore the islands on your own terms.
Sadly, hire charges, insurance and fuel bills make it prohibitive for those on a tight budget. The Bus service on Oahu – imaginatively named The Bus – gives shoestring travellers access to many parts of the island. A four-day unlimited pass costs $25, and can be picked up at any ABC store in Waikiki.
8) Eat a hearty lunch and light dinner
Lunches are heftily discounted over dinners at many restaurants (this is, of course, the case in pretty much every holiday spot around the world). Another cheap way to eat out is to catch up with a food truck. Check out this list of the top 10 food trucks in Hawaii. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck is highly rated too.
9) Pass up on the luau
Far from authentic, these cartoonish, highly staged affairs are, for our money, massively overpriced. Instead, pack a picnic of poke, lomi lomi, and poi (all readily available from local markets) and seek out a free evening hula show on the beach.
Featured image by Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
