Hawaii on a Budget: 10 Ways to Actually Afford a Hawaiian Vacation

It’s no secret. A trip to any of the Hawaiian islands is going to be costly, even if you do everything in your power to keep the prices down and aim for a budget-friendly Hawaii vacation.

But there are ways to save some dollars (or more) for your next vacation.

From those who will be as frugal as possible to those who want to trim a bit around the edges, these tips to keep costs down on your next Hawaiian vacation have something for everyone. So, let’s dive into these suggestions to visit Hawaii on a budget.

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Tips for a Budget-Friendly Hawaii Vacation

One thing to note is that each island is its own visitor ecosystem and pricing structure. Kauai and the Big Island may have very different prices. The same goes for peak and non-peak seasons.

1) Get Groceries and Cook Your Own Meals

I’m a huge proponent of cooking meals at your place while on vacation. This saves A TON of money. Granted, Hawaii’s grocery prices are still much higher than on the mainland. But still, your grocery meals won’t cost $25 per person. And, you’ll be saving a lot on alcohol by getting it at the grocery store.

One thing to consider is that you’ll need a place to cook where you stay. If you’re at a standard hotel, you’ll be limited in cooking options.

Related: Kauai Itinerary | Things to do in Kauai | Things to do in Maui

2) Limit your alcoholic drinks

Piggybacking off the above. But one way to save a boatload of money in Hawaii is not to buy $20 cocktails. I know, crazy concept, right! Just buy your drinks at the store and enjoy them on the beach. That’s far more fun than doing it at a restaurant surrounded by loud music and other people.

3) Get an Airbnb or VRBO over a hotel

This one is a little more hit-or-miss if it’s only two people, but if you’re going with a larger group, the savings can add up.

For my 2024 Maui trip, the cheapest hotel in Kihei was around $300. The lowest Airbnb we could find was right around there, too. We opted for the Airbnb because it offered a full kitchen, was within walking distance of the beach, and gave us a little more room than a cramped hotel room.

Now, everyone’s circumstances are different, but I’d do your due diligence on where to stay.

Related: Where to stay in Kauai

4) Or Use Points to book your hotels

Another option you can go with when visiting Hawaii is booking your lodging with points. The most popular way is to transfer points to Hyatt if you have a Chase credit card. You could also open up a Hyatt card that comes with free nights and points after a sign-up bonus.

Another option is to open a Marriott Bonvoy Card for the same rewards.

Lastly, though this is less ideal because your redemption points aren’t as lucrative, is to book a hotel/Airbnb with your credit card, and they use your points to pay it off. This is typically frowned upon in the points world because you’re not maximizing the value.

But for those who just want to decrease the cost of a trip, it can work.

5) Get a Southwest or Alaska Airlines Companion Pass

This one has been CLUTCH for my wife and me for the last three years. We’ve had the Southwest Companion Pass, which lets us fly buy-one-get-one-free on all Southwest flights. We’ve easily saved thousands doing this.

It’s a little tricky to figure out (though not that hard), but the easiest way to get it is to open enough credit cards to earn 120,000 bonus points in addition to the 10,000 loyalty bonus they give you each year.

6) Don’t rent a car, but do an airport shuttle

As a photographer who is usually go-go-go on a vacation, I’m always team rent-a-car. But if you’re going to Hawaii to hang out at the beach, ditch the rental car and rely on Uber/Lyft or your airport shuttle.

This could save you $400 or more, depending on the length of the trip.

7) Buy snorkeling gear at Costco, fly it over, and snorkel on your own

That’s what we’ve done. My parents got Jaimie and me snorkeling gear for Christmas, and we flew it over to Maui. It was really nice not to have to figure out the rental process and just come and go from the beach without our own gear.

There are plenty of places to snorkel near shore in Maui and Kauai (the only two islands I’ve been to), without having to pay for a tour. Granted, if you do go to Maui, I highly recommend the Molokini Crater snorkeling day. Very, very cool!

8) Camp Your Way Across the Island

The definition of Hawaii on a budget. This is the only way to significantly reduce the costs of your trip to Hawaii. Instead of paying three, four, or five hundred dollars a night, you can camp in some places, like Kauai, for $3 a night.

Now, you’re probably rolling your eyes reading this, thinking, ‘I’m not going camping on my Hawaiian vacation.’ And that’s fair. Most people go to Hawaii to celebrate a life event or to splurge.

But if you’re crunching the numbers and realize your trip will cost $8,000 for 7-9 days, maybe camping isn’t such a bad idea.

Hawaii Camping Options

State park campsites run $30/night for non-residents (per campsite, up to 10 people). County parks vary by island but are generally similar or slightly cheaper. All reservations must be made in advance through explore.ehawaii.gov — no walk-ups statewide.

Big Island

The Big Island has the most diverse camping options in the state, from volcanic landscapes to secluded beaches.

• Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park — Nāmakanipaio costs $15/night, and Kulanaokuaiki costs $10/night, both in addition to the $30 park entrance fee. No permit needed; first-come, first-served. Tent rentals with gear (cooler, chairs, lantern) available for an extra $40/night. Reserve at recreation.gov.
• Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area — A-frame shelters run $40–$70/night, plus standard tent sites. One of the top-ranked beaches in the nation. Reserve at explore.ehawaii.gov.
• Kalōpa State Recreation Area — A rainforest gem on the Hāmākua Coast. Standard state park rates apply ($30/night non-resident). Reserve at explore.ehawaii.gov.

Maui

• Haleakalā National Park — Standard national park nightly fees plus the park entrance fee. Reserve at recreation.gov.
• Wai’ānapanapa State Park — $30/night non-resident. One of the best beach camping spots on Maui with black sand and sea caves nearby. Reserve at explore.ehawaii.gov.

Oʻahu

• Mālaekahana State Recreation Area — $30/night non-resident. Located on the windward coast with gorgeous white sand and views of Goat Island. Fills up fast on weekends. Reserve at explore.ehawaii.gov.
• Bellows Field Beach Park — Open to the public for camping on weekends only (Friday noon through Sunday/Monday). County park rates apply. Reserve at honolulu.gov/parks.
• Sand Island State Recreation Area — Urban camping with downtown Honolulu views. $30/night non-resident. Reserve at explore.ehawaii.gov.

Kauaʻi

• Polihale State Park — Remote western coastline. $30/night non-resident. Note: Currently closed due to storm damage — check dlnr.hawaii.gov before visiting.
• Kōkeʻe State Park — $20–$30/night depending on residency. Reserve at explore.ehawaii.gov.
• Nāpali Coast / Kalalau Trail — Permit required. Check dlnr.hawaii.gov for updates.

All Hawaii camping requires advance reservations — no exceptions. State park permits open 30 days in advance, so planning is essential. If you’re visiting multiple national parks, the America the Beautiful Pass ($80/year) quickly offsets the entrance fees.

9. Aim for free or low-cost activities

There are a plethora of free or almost free things to do in Hawaii. State Park entrance fees in Hawaii cost $10-20, and if you bring the America the Beautiful pass, you get access to Haleakala and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

There’s also plenty of hiking on the islands, and it’s free. Can’t beat that!

10. Avoid Peak Season (especially California Spring Break)

The fastest way to increase your chances of going to Hawaii before even setting foot there is to go during peak season or during California’s spring break. Both are guaranteed to make your flight, and hotels are more expensive.

Visiting during the shoulder season will help keep costs down and avoid crowds. This might be step one for doing Hawaii on a budget.

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

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