Hawaii Travel Guide- Experiencing the Islands on a Budget

Thinking about going to Hawaii for travel or vacation?  Then join the club!  Chances are you will find what you’re looking for there.  I can make that statement without knowing who you are because Hawaii offers enough activities to thrill most members of the human race, and aloha exists for real there.  Unless you don’t like the ocean (there are such people, amazingly), Hawaii is one of the best places in the world you can find.  That being said, it’s not a perfect place.  As a vacation destination or even as a place to live, it is one of the most expensive places in the world.  It can be hard to get to, depending on where you are coming from- Hawaii is the most isolated place in the world, being situated in the middle of the great big Pacific.  Don’t let money be the sole factor in determining whether or not you make it to this chain of amazing islands, however.  It is possible to travel in Hawaii on a budget, you just have to know where to look.  Also required is an adventurous spirit! 

Perhaps the biggest thing you can do to save money on travel to Hawaii is to go during the low season, when fewer tourists come to the islands.  Low season lasts from mid-April until school gets out in mid-June and mid-September until mid-December.  Even though the year-round flow of tourists is more constant now than in has been the past, you should still be able to find cheaper air tickets as well as discounted accommodations.  If you’re going for a short stay, check out any Hawaii travel packages which may be available (typically an air ticket/hotel package/ maybe rental car).  These packages offer the potential to save big, busy season or not.  Such Hawaii travel deals can often be found online; put in the time to research and you could find a great deal.

It can be also be beneficial to your budget to stay in a condo-type accommodation that has a kitchen; cooking your own meals can save on eating out, and shopping at a local farmer’s market can get you up close and personal with locals as well as provide you with delicious, organic, locally produced eats. 

For those who would like to REALLY save, and I’m talking to the more adventurous souls out there, there is WWOOFING (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms).  Based on my own experiences with this program in Hawaii as well as the experiences of others, however, the best endorsement I can give this program is to proceed with caution.  The way it works in theory is you offer 4-6 hours of labor a day in exchange for room and sometimes board.  Each of the islands has a different vibe and the WWOOFING scene will be different as well.  It sounds great to many people- you can stay in a very expensive location for free while getting working with the earth, growing food.  In practice, however, farms are often not well run and many owners may have severe personality defects.  I don’t mean to bag on WWOOFing, I just have give you a strong warning to be careful and don’t go in blindly with illusions of the perfect farm of your imaginings.  Workers have found themselves in bad situations, whether it is accommodations and work duties that don’t match the job description or even sexual harassment.  If you decide to go this route, do the research beforehand and have a good amount of contact with your prospective host before you commit.  And if you get there and things seem off, get out of there!  There is no contract to bind either you or the host, and either of you may terminate the work-trade agreement at any time.  That being said, make sure you really can commit so you don’t end up screwing over a good host (and they DO exist).  There are people who have had great stays on farms in the islands, who had life-changing experiences and got to know the islands more intimately than most.  Who knows, you may find yourself happily working and staying on a coffee or vegetable farm. 

Couch Surfing is something I’ve not tried yet but it seems a better option unless you are specifically yearning to learn about organic farming (for a variety of reasons which are beyond the scope of this hub). It’s basically a website which brings hosts and travelers together. Usually people will be allowed to stay with hosts for free in exchange for agreeing to do the same for other travelers. Obviously you don’t HAVE to host others if you can’t or don’t want to, and you won’t necessarily be staying on an actual couch. There is a “meet up for coffee only” option for those who fit that description. You can browse host profiles on the Couch Surfing website, and they can learn about you once you post your own profile. This way, you can both learn about each other and get a better sense of whether things would work out. Another big plus is you can read feedback that others have left about the host. As with WWOOFING, make sure you exercise caution and get yourself out of the arrangement quick if something smells fishy. Judging from the reactions of people who have surfed other people’s couches, however, it seems like going this route can yield some great times and deeper connections to people and place. With both options, have a backup plan lined up if things don’t pan out.

Remember that it is possible to save yourself a lot of money while still having a great time in Hawaii.  Also keep in mind that it is not necessary to suffer in order to do so!  By doing it cheaper, you can also eat healthier, meet great people you otherwise wouldn’t have, and learn things that the average tourist can only dream of.   Some of these suggestions can be put into practice by anyone, others might require the traveler to step out of their comfort zone and take some risks.  Whether you go with a Hawaii travel package or decide to Couch surf, may you experience aloha and the magic that Hawaii offers.