A Hawaiian vacation is a dream trip for many and for good reason. Hawaii is lush, beautiful, and welcoming. You simply cannot go wrong vacationing in Hawaii.
After last year’s devasting Maui wildfires, tourism to Hawaii has plummeted. This includes the islands not affected by the wildfire. While it is understandable people are uncomfortable about going, Hawaiians are urging vacationers to return.
This is the year to visit Hawaii as crowds and prices are down significantly. And you will be helping the Hawaiian economy recover.
However, there is much to know about planning a trip to Hawaii and many choices. We share our best Hawaii vacation tips.
Tip 1: Hawaii Vacation Tip: Don’t Try To Do Too Much!
There are many Hawaiian Islands and first-timers often try to do too much. We suggest planning to visit no more than one or two islands during a one-week vacation. Remember, if you are flying between islands, you will spend at least a half day packing, unpacking, transferring between the airport and resort, enduring security checks, etc.—even though the flight itself may be only 30 minutes. We do not consider wasting a half-day an effective use of our precious vacation time and neither should you. Not sure which island to choose? Our guide to the best island for you will help.
Having said that, inter-island flights and ferries can be inexpensive. So, if you have time and inclination, indulge.
Tip 2: Hawaii Vacation Budget Tip: Food
Hawaii can be an expensive place to visit. However, we have some enjoyable ways to save money!
First, food. At some high-end resorts, two people can easily spend $100 on breakfast. If that is beyond your comfort level, we have some money-saving meal tips.
Let’s start with dessert. Shave ice is a refreshing treat that is usually not expensive, and you can find it almost everywhere on the islands. For an inexpensive lunch, learn to love the plate lunch. They are very filling. Typically, you will get white rice, macaroni salad and choices of a meat. Spam is a popular choice for Hawaiians, but you can also get things like ground beef patties, chicken katsu, or teriyaki. A Hawaiian tradition, there are many inexpensive options for this very filling meal.
Poke is amazing in Hawaii as the fish is so fresh. We think the best poke place in the world is a little takeout window in Hilo. You can spot the Poke Market by the line of locals on the street.
Tip 3: Hawaii Vacation Budget Tip: Souvenirs
- The Hilo Farmer’s Market on the Big Island has been rated one of the best in the country. It is open daily but the biggest days are Saturdays and Wednesdays. You will find plenty of inexpensive souvenirs, jewelry and the like. There will be food trucks too.
- The Hawaii Farm Bureau maintains a good listing of the various markets on all the islands. Often you can find jewelry or other Hawaiian-made items for sale.
- Save money on that obligatory Hawaiian shirt by buying it from a resale shop. Aloha shirts are plentiful in Hawaii’s charity resale shops and with a little careful shopping you can buy one for a fraction of the prices in the retail stores. We have bought beautiful high end silk shirts with shell buttons and designer name brands for under $10.
Tip 4: Prepare for Your Hawaii Vacation
Flights from the mainland are LONG. Plan to rest a bit after you arrive. And speaking of arrival, if you want that beautiful lei greeting you’ve dreamed of, speak to your travel agent as these must be arranged in advance.
Of course you will want to do a luau. Most resorts will offer one. We think one of the best is at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu.
Whenever you go, know that luaus can run late so schedule yours on a night when you can sleep in the next day.
Tip 5: Special Things to See and Do
We think it is worth it to splurge on a helicopter tour. They are memorable! On the Big Island, we especially recommend those that fly over Kilauea or Mauna Loa, especially if there is volcanic activity.
However, we don’t recommend taking very young children on the helicopter rides. When we took ours, they fell asleep within minutes of taking off! I spent most of the ride thinking of how much money I wasted on them.
Do you want to whale watch? Of course you do! The best months to visit if you want to whale watch are January through March. However, you may see a few between November to May. We were there last year in late March and only saw one, so if this is important to you, we suggest January or February. Whale watching tours are available from all the islands.
Tip 6: Hawaii Vacation Budget Tip: Free!
Let’s start with beaches. Most beaches in Hawaii are free and accessible year-round.
Free entertainment is there if you know where to look. In Honolulu, the Royal Hawaiian Center provides free hula demonstrations, ukelele lessons, and free classes for kids. Kona’s Holualoa Kona Coffee Company offers free tours.
Bring your National Park Pass because Hawaii has eight national parks and monuments. If you are visiting the Big Island, Volcanoes Park is a must. Of course, Oahu’s Pearl Harbor is a National Monument where visiting the grounds and museums are free.
In Honolulu there is The Kuhio Beach Torchlighting and Hula Show, a free event. It takes place on the only authentic hula mound in Waikiki, near the Duke Kahanamoku Statue. Most Fridays, the Royal Hawaiian Band normally puts on free performances.
Tip 7: Another Hawaii Vacation Option: Cruising
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America is the only ship permitted to sail between the Hawaiian Islands without stopping at a foreign port. Other cruise lines have Hawaiian cruises from Los Angeles and other ports but be prepared for many “at sea” days. If you like at-sea days (we do!), it can be a delightful way to get a taste of several islands.
Tip 8: When and How to Book
While Hawaii is wonderful year-round, prices tend to be a bit lower during the shoulder seasons of Mid-April to June and September to mid-December. Your best bet is usually to purchase a Hawaii vacation package that includes air and resort for a package rate. There are several reputable suppliers offering excellent packages.
Don’t Do This
Remember that if you do not want bad luck, do not take lava rocks off the islands as it angers Pele, the goddess of the volcano. The Hawaiian government actually receives hundreds of packages each year from people returning lava rocks in an effort to undo the curse!
Do This
If you toss a flower lei into the sea—tradition says you will return!
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We share our favorite travel tips and information every week. You can see them all here.
