Cost of 2 Weeks in Hawaii: How to Budget for Your Trip

Halfway to the summit of Haleakalā on the island of Maui.

So you’ve dreamed of island-hopping around Hawaii? 2 weeks is the perfect amount of time to comfortably visit 3 islands (and you can squeeze in a 4th island if you’re really bad!). But the big question that remains is, “How much is this going to cost me?” In order to help you determine if a 2 week trip in Hawaii is financially feasible, I’ve written this blog to detail what we spent (and this includes every dollar; yes, even bus fare, airfare, and snacks). I’ll also go over some money-saving tips. Read on to learn how to prepare your budget!

Cut to the chase. How much did you spend?

For two adults, we spent $5,588 USD. That’s $2,794 per person.

This includes the following (again, for two adults):

• Airfare from Charlotte, NC to Honolulu

• Airfare between the islands we visited

• ALL of the accommodation costs

• Car rentals

• Gas

• Bus Fare

• Surf Lessons

• Luau

• Museum admissions

• State Parks

• National Parks

• Restaurant dining

• Casual/fast dining

• Snacks

• Souvenirs

Now, for the explanation.

This trip was the most expensive one that I’ve taken so far. I didn’t stick to my usual budget ways, and that’s for a few reasons. One of the reasons is because I intentionally travel less frequently than I used to, so when I do travel, I allot myself a bigger budget. But, I did go a bit overboard with this one. There are many activities that could’ve been cut out to make the cost of the trip lower (such as the surfing classes, luau, and some of the attractions that weren’t all that great). However, I don’t expect to return to Hawaii for a long time (if ever), so I thought, “Why not? When will I get the opportunity again?”

Tips to help you financially plan your trip

Airfare

• Airfare from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii is expensive. Period. Especially if you’re flying from somewhere that’s not on the west coast. This makes sense, since Hawaii is far away and isolated in the middle of the Pacific.

• Look out for flight deals to Hawaii. Scott’s Cheap Flights sends deals for Hawaii pretty frequently (though most of them seem to depart from Los Angeles, still). But from time to time, I’ve seen deals from others parts of the U.S.

• It may be cheaper to book a separate flight to L.A., and then depart to Hawaii from there. I’ve heard of a lot of people doing this (and you can plan a couple days in L.A. before and after Hawaii, so you actually get two trips in one).

• Southwest Airlines has recently created routes from the Mainland to airports across the island. This may be worth looking into.

• Generally, flying into Honolulu’s airport will still be cheapest. Then you can book inter-island flights (Hawaiian Airlines had the best prices and great service!) from there.

“For saving money on activities, the general rule of thumb is ‘If I can do it myself, I don’t need to book anything.’”

Accommodation

• Any place that’s between $80-$100 USD a night is a great deal. These will be your Airbnbs (a private room in someone’s home) or a hostel. Hotels and other private spaces will run higher

• The more touristy a place, the more affordable the accommodation. This is why Honolulu will have the cheapest prices and more remote parts on other islands will be more expensive (think supply and demand). Statistically, Maui is the most expensive.

• Many travelers opt to camp during their stay in different Hawaii destinations. Many state parks offer no-frills cabins (which may require you to bring your own sheets/blankets, so check ahead). There are also a wealth of campers/RVs that can be rented (check out Airbnb for these!).

• Book early! I’m sure that if I started planning this trip earlier than I did (I started about 5 weeks in advance), then there would have been even more affordable options available.

• There are a ton of “unique” accommodations all over the islands. If you have the budget to splurge for a night or two (like we did with this yurt and its outdoor shower), then do it. It’ll be a memorable experience.

Ground Transportation

• WHEN IN OAHU, TAKE THE BUS. We saved TONS of money.

  • No, seriously. Oahu’s public buses will take you to any corner and crevice of the island. During our stay in Honolulu, we didn’t rent a car or take any Ubers/Lyfts. We took the bus to/from the airport and everywhere else we had to go.

  • Fares are $2.75 USD per way. You will need exact change (cash only!). The buses cannot give you change. Knowing this, I came to Honolulu prepared with small bills. When you run out of cash and get more from an ATM, stop into any ABC store (there are millions of them in Waikiki…okay, that may be an exaggeration) and the cashiers will be happy to break up your large bills for you.

  • Depending on how long you’ll be in Oahu, a bus pass may be a better option.

  • FYI: the buses don’t allow large suitcases (just carry-on sizes and other small bags). If you’re bringing a large suitcase, book a shuttle or take a cab/Uber to and from the airport.

  • Another FYI: the buses run pretty slowly (we missed a flight because of them). So if Google Maps says the trip will take 45 minutes in total, plan for it to take at least an hour.

• On the other islands, you’ll need a rental car.

  • Coach buses are available, but the networks aren’t as extensive. I noticed that it’s mainly locals without cars who use them to get from one big city to another. So rent a car.

  • The cheapest, economy car that you can get will suffice! Yes, a JEEP or convertible car is cute and adds to the ambiance of your trip, but if you’re looking to save money, they’re not necessary. The road infrastructure in Hawaii is wonderful.

    • However, the only exception to this is if you plan to drive off-road (such as in Waipi’o Valley on the Big Island). You’ll need a vehicle with strong 4-wheel drive for this, of course.

  • Book your rental through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. Thank me later.

Food

• Food in Hawaii is expensive (but really delicious). Save your coins and make food trucks and food courts your best friend.

  • Food trucks are all over the different islands. The food is cheaper than what it would be at a sit-down restaurant. And the great thing about them is that they’re local small businesses — unlike fast-food chains or large restaurant networks.

  • Food courts also helped us save a ton of money. Look for a mall/shopping plaza near you and try the food there. In Honolulu, we grabbed food at the food courts at the Ala Moana Center and the Royal Hawaiian Center.

  • If you can save leftovers from your meal, do. We were able to get two meals out of one many times throughout the trip, and this also helped us save money.

  • And sometimes (particularly when we were in Hilo), we just succumbed to buying fast food. Taco Bell hits every time.

Activities

• For saving money on activities, the general rule of thumb is “If I can do it myself, I don’t need to book anything.”

• We did a lot of activities self-guided, such as snorkeling and exploring Waipi’o Valley. In fact, most things in Hawaii you can pretty much do yourself.

Did you find these tips helpful? If you’ve already been to Hawaii, what are some other tips you can offer? Share in the comments below!