Planning for Hawaii on a Budget – Oahu

The following is a guest post by Amanda Williams. If you’d like to guest post on Go Backpacking, please read our submission guidelines.

Very rarely do you look at the itinerary of a budget traveler or backpacker and see a tropical, Pacific island listed there.

Why? Well, it probably has something to do with the cost, both of getting to said island, and then actually staying on it. If the phrase “paradise” shows up, most likely so will the dollar signs.

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But that doesn’t mean a budget traveler cannot afford the tropics. In fact, even such popular (and pricey) destinations like Hawaii can be done on a budget if you do your homework and plan ahead.

I’ve been preparing for a week-long trip to Oahu for months, and have come up with a pretty solid plan on how to stick to my budget, yet still experience as much of Hawaii as possible.

Here’s what I’ve learned about planning for Hawaii on a budget, and specifically Oahu:

Get a Deal on Airfare

If you’re like me and heading to Hawaii from the East Coast, airfare is going to cost a pretty big chunk of change. Even flying from the West Coast isn’t cheap. The key here is to start keeping an eye on flights early on a variety of airlines and booking sites. Using a site like Skyscanner that has a ‘check whole month' feature is helpful, because you can see when the cheapest day to travel is..

I kept an eye on Skyscanner for weeks before I booked my flight, and eventually picked up a round-trip ticket from Pittsburgh to Honolulu for $650, tax and flight insurance inclusive. The trade-off was extra layovers, but that’s a compromise I was willing to make.

Use the Skyscanner search box to find the best flight deal, you might be surprised at what you find! Also, be sure to download the Skyscanner app, click the links below.

Download for iOS   /   Download for Android

Have a Home Base

While island-hopping in Hawaii probably sounds appealing, it makes much more sense financially to pick one island and stick to it. Airfares from one island to another aren’t cheap — for example, going just from Oahu to Kona on the Big Island can set you back $150. Plus, exploring just one island means you can devote more time to it and travel a bit slower.

If you decide to go this one-island-only route, I suggest Oahu, home to the state capital, Honolulu. Yes, Honolulu is probably the most touristy city in Hawaii. But it is also the largest city in the state, meaning there’s the most opportunity here to find ways to save money.

Don’t Rent a Car

Oahu — and Honolulu especially — has what I’m told is a pretty reliable transportation system called The Bus. You can go basically anywhere by bus for $2.50 one-way. Or, if you’re planning to stick around for a few days, purchase a 4-day pass for $25, which gets you unlimited rides on any regular and express buses. This, I think, is definitely the way to go. It will save you money on rental car fees, gas (which is expensive in Hawaii), and you’ll even do your part to help the environment.

Stay in Hostels

Yes, Oahu DOES have hostels! Many Honolulu hostels are clustered around Waikiki Beach, which means they are close to restaurants and nightlife, as well as transportation and that inviting Pacific water. In fact, as long as you’re willing to sacrifice the room service and book a bed in a dorm room, you can get the same views and service in a hostel for just a fraction of the price you’d pay at the big Waikiki resorts and hotels.

Where to Stay in Honolulu – Waikiki

Polynesian Hostel Beach Club – Beds start at $26 in the 6-person dorms; semi-private and private rooms also available, with a studio costing $75. Perks include free wi-fi; free snorkels, masks and beach gear; and surfboard and bike rentals for an extra charge.

Check Price & Availability
Hostelworld.com

Waikiki Beachside Hostel – normal rates average $34 per bed in the dorms. Semi-private rooms also available. Perks include free wi-fi; surfboard and moped rental (extra charge); and discounted tours.

Check Price & Availability
Hostelworld.com

Hostelling International Honolulu – Beds starting at $25 per night for members ($28 for non-members); private rooms available for $58 for members ($64 for non-members). Perks include close proximity to the beach, as well as free boogie boards and sports equipment.

Check Price & Availablity
Hostelworld.com

We also recommend checking out Hotels Combined, a meta aggregator that searches all the popular booking sites (Booking.com, Agoda, Priceline, Expedia, etc.) and compares all the best deals on offer. It's definitely worth a look as any times you can score a sweet hotel deal for what you'd be paying at a hostel, or close to it!

Click here to search on Hotels Combined

Staying in a hostel will not only save you a lot of money (even the private rooms are less than half what you’d pay at a nearby hotel), but you’ll also have the opportunity to meet a lot of other travelers from all over the world.

Get Some Sun

Sitting on the beach, soaking up some sun and people-watching won’t cost you a thing. Many hostels even provide free beach equipment like beach mats, boogie boards and snorkeling gear that you can take advantage of. On the weekend, check out Sunset on the Beach at Waikiki, where a free movie is shown on a giant 30-foot screen and local bands perform before the sun goes down.

And, if the crowds at Waikiki aren’t to your liking, simply hop a bus and head off to any one of Oahu’s other beautiful beaches. Head to Hanauma Bay for some of the best snorkeling in Hawaii, or check out Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay and Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore for some of the best surfing in the world. If you’re on Oahu during the late fall/early winter months, you could probably spend days just watching surfers tackle 30-foot swells at North Shore.

Know About Free and Cheap Things to Do

Pro Tip – You know those entertainment coupon books? Well, you can get an Entertainment.com digital membership, and you can select city and region specific deals, a digital membership is $1.99 a month, or $19.99 a year, try it out here.

Sure, you can pay $80 to attend a kitschy luau or take a bus tour around the island. But there are plenty of other things going on all across Oahu that you can do for free, or for very little cost.

For example, consider:

• First Friday in Honolulu — On the first Friday of every month, crowds gather in Chinatown for free art exhibits, entertainment and restaurant specials.
• Free lessons — If you do want to see some hulu or learn some moves yourself, consider checking out the Royal Hawaiian shopping center in downtown Honolulu. On weekdays, they offer free hula lessons, lei-making classes, and even ukulele lessons. At 6 p.m. every weeknight, there’s a free hula show.
• Pearl Harbor — It’s hard for me to imagine visiting Honolulu without making the trip to visit Pearl Harbor, where the U.S. was attacked by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. It’s easy to get to by bus, and there’s a lot worth seeing. The USS Arizona Memorial and Museum are free of charge, as are the Bowfin Park Outdoor Exhibits and Submarine Memorial. Touring the USS Bowfin Submarine costs $10, and touring the USS Missouri Battleship will set you back $20. You can tack on the Pacific Aviation Museum for another $20. Don’t bother paying for a guided tour, however. You can go it on your own, or rent audio tours for a few dollars.
• Hiking Diamond Head — If you’re the outdoors type, hiking up this extinct volcanic crater should probably end up on your list. You can take a bus to Diamond Head, and pay $1 to do the hike. It’s a moderately difficult hike, but you’ll be rewarded at the top with panoramic views of Honolulu.
• The Dole Plantation — Ever wondered what a pineapple plantation looks like? Well you can visit one in Wahiawa. Admission to the grounds is free, but one of the main attractions here is the Pineapple Garden maze. Try your luck in it for $6.
• Iolani Palace — Built in 1882, this palace in downtown Honolulu used to be the official residence of Hawaii’s monarchy. Take a self-led audio tour for $12.
• Whale watching — During the winter months, whales are aplenty in Hawaii’s waters. And, while some operations will charge $100 or more for a sightseeing/whale watching tour, you can go for as low as $30 on the Star of Honolulu, a 4-story cruise ship, if you book an early-morning tour.

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There are, of course, many other ways to save money in Hawaii. Eating at local restaurants instead of chains, cooking your own meals, ignoring the kitschy souvenirs, or finding a friend to stay with will also help you keep your expenses in check.

But, the moral of the story here is that anyone can afford Hawaii if they plan for it — even the budget travelers of the world.

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About the Author: Amanda is a 20-something college grad with a journalism degree under her belt, which she plans to use to rid the world of bad grammar and “there, their, they’re” confusion. After studying abroad in New Zealand, Amanda has decided she’d love to move there one day so she can wear jandals, eat hokey pokey ice cream, and continue pretending she understands the rules of rugby.

When not working or blogging, Amanda can usually be found dreaming of her next travel adventure, wherever that may be. Follow her at A Dangerous Business, on Twitter @DangerousBiz or on Facebook.