Hawaii has been identified as the happiest state in the US and the most-mentioned destination for those with bucket lists of places to visit.
So… if you’d love to go but think you can’t afford Hawaii, get over it! It is possible to have a fabulous vacation without breaking the bank. Since Hawaii is part of the good ole USA, if you are from the United States, you can feel like you are traveling internationally but without the need for a passport, messing with converting currency, or knowing a foreign language.
The Big Island of Hawaii is my ultimate happy place. Away from the bustle and crowds of Oahu, the Big Island offers a more laid-back experience. Just you and the sun, the sea and volcanos and air that smells like flowers.
Over the decades, we enjoyed over 20 trips. I’ve learned how to do it without it being crazy expensive. And—liking luxury—I have found careful planning results in having money left over to splurge on the really unique experiences.
Getting There
The cost to fly to Hawaii from Mainland US can vary dramatically and probably be one of your greatest expenses. Searching two to three months out will yield the current pricing and give you time to take advantage of sales. There are direct flights into Kona and Hilo from the major departure cities in the US.
Sometimes, flights with several legs, will be cheaper. For instance, from Tucson, where we live, flying to Phoenix, Los Angeles, and even Seattle and then onto the Big Island can save a couple hundred dollars.
Southwest Airlines has just started flying to Hawaii. Their impact is bringing prices down to the lowest in years.
Kayak.com is a good place to start with searches from major travel sites. Set up travel alerts and you will be notified when the price drops or increases. BUDGET TIP: If you travel often and/or want to be kept up to date on great sales to locations all over the world, check out Scott’s Cheap Flights or Dollar Flight Club. Both offer a free and a premium version depending on what your travel needs are.
And, of course you can use frequent flyer miles, if you have them.
BUDGET TIP: When I use frequent flyer miles, I book my flight at the best price I can find. Since I have Million Mile status on American, I’ll get access to the upgraded seats. Then I use frequent flier miles for my husband. A phone call to customer service will get my husband upgraded at no charge since he is traveling with me. I reserve a window and an aisle seat and most of the time, no one sits between us.
However…..do
Where To Sleep?
A hotel room, a bed and breakfast, an AirBnb (or other vacation rental), or a timeshare unit? What fits your needs best?
For my early visits, I searched Google and other booking sites, such as http://www.hotels.com for bargain hotel rooms. I’ve stayed mainly on the west coast, from Kona to Hawi. Once I got spoiled with kitchen, laundry, and size of a condo/timeshare unit, anything else paled in comparison.
Rarely is a hotel room going to be good for the budget-minded, and most travel sites limit their offerings to only that. Take your search beyond the basic sites.
BUDGET TIP: Book a room with a kitchen. Food is expensive in Hawaii and saving on this frees up your budget for some splurges.
There are lots of bed and breakfast and
You Gotta Eat!
Food is expensive on the Big Island. While you’ll probably want to splurge several times to enjoy local eats, if you do that three times a day, you’ll easily spend over $100 per person. A kitchen makes this all much, much more affordable.
BUDGET TIP: Your first stop should be to Costco, located just a
On a typical day, I’ll cook a breakfast of fish and eggs and fresh pineapple and we’ll enjoy it on the lanai listening to the birds chirping. Then, a late lunch of a sandwich or salad from our stores and go to a Happy Hour for dinner. Or we’ll make the lunch our meal out for the day. We always drive up to Waimea to get the best burger on the island at The Village Burger.
If you’ve never experienced a luau, realize it will be expensive (over $100 per person). You are paying for the show and the experience as well as the food. You might decide this is a splurge worth doing.
BUDGET TIP: The Waikoloa Marriott’s Sunset Luau is held outside in the courtyard of the hotel. It’s happy hour time at the bar. Get a drink and some appetizers. Then go upstairs to the comfy couches in lobby balcony to watch the show. The sun turns the sky orange and pink as the sunset show begins. You might even see the green flash when the sun drops below the horizon. You can also walk over and sit on the lawn close by. Then go back to your condo and put some fresh fish or Big Island steaks on the outside BBQ grill.
Happy Hours abound. Two of my favorites are Seafood Bar and Grill and Tommy Bahamas Restaurant. Down in Kona, there are lots of choices. Here are some of the best. You’ll get your Mai Tais for $5-$7 each and have a good selection of small dishes, called pupu, at happy hour prices. Oyster Shooters, Coconut Shrimp, and sliders all give you a taste of the Island.
Getting Around
You’ll find a wide range of prices for rental cars. A couple of months out is the best way to go.
BUDGET TIP: Use AutoSlash. Not just for Hawaii, but anywhere you might need a car, they will find you the best rate. Then they monitor it, so if the prices
There are jeeps for off road or convertibles if you want to be cool but renting an economy car is just fine for me. Often we are upgraded to a standard car because all their economy cars are out. Unless you plan to spend a lot of time driving around, go economy and splurge on other things.
As we were driving into Kona one day, my husband says,”Look at that.” He was pointing to an old, long haired hippie peddling a bike loaded with stuff and even a trailer behind with more stuff. Next thing I knew, the car in front of me had stopped the traffic and I had rear-ended it.
There’s nothing worse on vacation to have to deal with replacing a car and being on the phone with claims, except to find out your credit card didn’t have the coverage you thought it did.
BUDGET TIP:Review your credit card perks before you go and make sure you are using one that covers the deductible in any accidents. That situation cost me $1000 out of pocket because I THOUGHT my American Express covered me! A
Ah, The Many Things To Do
The Big Island has so much to see. Many adventures and sites are free. For me, just being there is all I need to unwind and relax. There are, however, some unique experiences on the Big Island that you’ll want to choose from to get the most out of a trip. Don’t think you have to sign up for tours to enjoy all the Big Island has to offer. Here is a great guide to 100 Hawaiian sites (not all on the Big Island-but perhaps it will entice you to
WHALES: My favorite winter activity is watching the humpback whales jump and breech. From November until April, about 11,000 of these beautiful animals populate the waters between Maui and the Big Island to birth their babies in the warm waters. A leisurely drive up the Kohala Coast from Waikoloa to Hawi with one eye out for spouts and splashes will usually result in one or more sitings from the shore.
Alternatively, this is one activity that is worth the splurge at least once in your life to see these majestic animals up close. Avoid the party boats, unless that interests you. Whale watching boats will take you out near the whales for about $100 per person. Kohala Divers out of Kawaihae has a good reputation.
GREEN FLASH: As the sun dips below the horizon, the famous green flash can be seen on a day with the right conditions. I was staying at the Waikoloa Marriott with my daughter and granddaughter, Lily. Lily was about 12 and I had told her about the green flash. The day had been exceptionally free of clouds. We sat on our balcony and watched the sun dip down until WOW! There it was! So, I spoiled her into thinking it was a common occurrence. The truth is, I’ve talked to lots of people who live on Hawaii that have never seen it. In our 20+ trips, I’ve only seen it twice. The other time was on a boat for a sunset cruise. The practice of stopping at sunset and enjoying the moment is worth the challenge, green flash or not.
A DAY TRIP NORTH: If you’ve made your way up the Kohala Coast from Kona, the small town of Hawi has a 3 block long main street with local artists and wares, great macadamia ice cream and a good restaurant, The Bamboo, with live music many days.
A few miles beyond Hawi is Kapaʻau. there is a 9 foot tall statue and museum commemorating the birthplace of King Kamehameha the Great. A few more blocks of fun shops with locally made jewelry, clothes and paintings.
BEACHES: And then there are beaches! This may be why you came. You’ll find, white, green and black sand beaches on the Big Island.
WHITE: Hapuna Beach is big and beautiful with lots of white sand. Right off the highway, you don’t have to hike to it. A $5 parking fee is all you need. There is a restaurant right there with great fish tacos. We usually take a picnic from our Costco run. Bring (or rent) a beach chair and spend the day sunning and enjoying the surf.
BLACK: Up the Kohala Coast past Hawi is a two and half mile hike down to a black sand beach called the Pololu Valley hike .
GREEN: Papakōlea Green Sand Beach is right past South Point, the most southern point in the US. This is a green sand beach populated with giant turtles that is a 2.5 mile of a hike and then a climb down cliffs.
HIKING: If you like to hike, you’ll find trails from easy to difficulty.
FARMER’S MARKETS: There are farmer’s markets almost every day. They are good place to get fruit for your stay. Most offer local crafts, honey, and coffee. A very large one is in Hilo on Saturdays and Wednesdays with over 100 vendors. Not limited to food and coffee, this market has lots of crafts, jewelry, and local clothes at the best prices. The budget tip is to get your souvenirs here instead of at the pricer tourist shops. Long strands of pearls can be had for $20. Earrings to match for $5. Island printed wraps for $10 or $12
A DAY TRIP TO HILO OR AROUND THE BIG ISLAND: This will take about 4-5 hours driving, depending on which route you take and then additional time for the stops along the way. Do this on a Wednesday or a Saturday so you can take advantage of the Hilo Farmer’s Market.
KILAUEA VOLCANO: The most active volcano in the world is here. For over 30 years, it’s been venting an erupting. Right now after violent eruptions in 2018 that displaced over 600 families, the volcano is quiet. Check out the latest government updates before you go. A visit to the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is worth the time away from the beach.
Plan Your trip Now!
If Hawaii is on your bucket list, you can afford it! Plan it and do it. Maybe we will meet on the beach some afternoon waiting to see the Green Flash!