Hawaii is Affordable (No Matter What They Say)

Word on the street is that Hawaii is extremely expensive and you should avoid traveling there if you’re looking to get away. They say that not only are the flights to get there super pricey, but once you get there, anything and everything is ridiculously priced.

Magic Sands Beach. Kona, Hawaii.
Photo By: @wagner.veronica

However, I beg to differ. Just this past week, we returned from almost a two week trip in Hawaii. Within that two week time frame, we found ourselves spending just as much as we normally do on a trip abroad.  If you, too, are someone who has heard through the grapevine that Hawaii is extremely costly, or you yourself have already visited Hawaii and had to spend an absurd amount of money, you might be asking the question, “how were you able to make Hawaii affordable?”. Allow me to fill you in!

Here are 5 tips on how to travel to and within Hawaii on a teacher’s budget:

Small Boat Harbor. Kona, Hawaii.
Photo By: @wagner.veronica

1. Go to Big Island, Hawaii- Right off the bat, I’m going to tell you to travel to the Big Island. Compared to other islands (such as Maui), Big Island is far less touristy than some of the other islands. Less tourists not only mean less busy and quieter everywhere you go, but cheaper prices. Restaurants, bars/breweries, shopping, sites, transportation, and places to stay rate in the average range all around Big Island. Obviously you will run into expensive at times. However, for the most part, you will find reasonable prices. Not only is Big Island affordable, it is an incredible island with so much to do and explore (find out in one of my next blog posts). Big Island has just as many beautiful beaches and sites as the other islands…so why not go to a part of Hawaii you know is affordable?

Side Note: Be sure to stay in either the Kona-Kailua or Hilo area. If you're looking for more outdoor beauty such as waterfalls, rainforests, and volcanoes, the Hilo side is your best option. If you're looking for drier days, better beaches to lounge, and more tourist attractions as well as activities, the Kailua-Kona side would suit your needs a bit more. Both areas have so much to offer!

Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. Big Island, Hawaii.
Photo By: @wagner.veronica

Honoli'i Beach. Hilo, Hawaii.
Photo By: @wagner.veronica

Akaka Falls. Honomu, Hawaii.

2. Find a Good Flight Deal- I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: check out Google Flights. To find the best deals, try to be as flexible on dates as possible. You’ll be surprised at what you can find! Google Flights is extremely user-friendly, so play around with it. You may find what you’re looking for…or better!

3.  Use Affordable Transportation- The best ways to get around Big Island include: Hele-On Bus (transit), car rental, or Uber. Visit: heleonbus.org to find cheap bus fares to get around in a small area, or even from one side of the island to another. Car rental can be great for convenience if you are wanting to explore around the whole island. Car rentals can be as little as $20/day to have access to go wherever and whenever you want (highly recommended). Use Uber for short distances. It’s perfect for nights you want to go grab a drink (or two) in town, and days you want to do things in the later hours that take a bit of time and require paid parking. Riding Uber, you won’t have to worry about finding a parking spot and/or feeling rushed to get back to your car before the meter runs out. Also, you won’t have to wait long for a ride, nor would you have to make all the stops a bus in route takes to get from point A to point B, meaning less time traveled and more time having fun.

Condo Balcony View. Kona Isle Condominiums. Kona, Hawaii.
Photo By: @wagner.veronica

4. Research Affordable Places to Stay- If you’re staying for a few days, AirBnB may be the way to go to save some money. You can find some great places with great locations for super cheap prices on the Big Island. If you’re planning on staying for a week or longer, look into renting out a condo. There are some great condos with amazing ocean side views and awesome amenities that make your stay super affordable and convenient. We couldn’t have found a better place to stay than Kona Isle Condominiums during our visit to the Big Island. The full kitchen came in handy every single day, and the balcony view was absolutely breathtaking.

Kona Isle Condominiums Beach. Kona, Hawaii.
Photo By: @wagner.veronica

Kona Isle Condominiums. Kona, Hawaii.
Photo By: @wagner.veronica

5. Find the Best AND Most Affordable Restaurants and Bars- I have to give most of my credit to Trip Advisor and VisitACity for giving the best options for best and most affordable food and drinks on the island. However, I did a little research myself early on in our trip by asking some locals for their input on some good spots. Needless to say, the locals gave the best recommendations. Best food. Best bars. Best beaches. Best prices. Mahalo, locals!

Umeke's Poke. Ali'i Plaza. Kona, Hawaii.

Coffee Shack. Captain Cook, Hawaii.

It can be easy to dismiss visiting a place you want to go if you hear it’s out of your price range. However, I have found that almost 100% of the time: A) it is never as pricey as they say it is or B) there is always an opportunity to find a time and a way to make it affordable. You just have to do the research. Take some time to play with dates for flights, hop on TripAdvisor and VisitACity, read travel blogs (like this one), and ask questions.  You, too, will most likely find a way to get to your “paradise” if you put a little time into finding it!

Safe Travels,

Veronica