THE TOP 20 Hawaii Day Trips (w/Prices) (2023)

FAQs

What is the most affordable Hawaiian island to visit? ›

Due to the abundance of hotels, activities, tours, and attractions, Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit. Between the competitive prices and myriad of things to do, those looking for a budget vacation to Hawaii will find that Oahu is exactly what they've been searching for.

April thru June and mid-August thru mid-September are Hawaii's "low seasons," and airfares are lower then. No matter what time of year you travel, you may be able to score better deals if you travel midweek.

How many days are enough in Hawaii? While you might never want to leave Hawaii, usually people plan to stay 7-10 days during their vacation to Hawaii. That gives enough time to get over jet lag, participate in a few scheduled activities, explore the Hawaiian island a bit, and have time to relax and unwind.

Molokai is the least visited island of Hawaii. With about 65,000 visitors, the island attracts only a fraction of all the tourists that visit the island group each year. The island is more rural and doesn't have resorts. Molokai is most definitely a destination off the beaten path.

Hilo, Island of Hawaii

Not only is this city one of the most affordable places to live in Hawaii, but it's also one of the best places to live for job opportunities, raising a family, or retiring!

Oahu is the most visited of all the Hawaiian islands, at nearly 4.7 million visitors annually. Oahu is primarily defined by the state capital of Honolulu, as well as Pearl Harbor and the famous beach known as Waikiki. These areas attract tourists by the thousands daily.

You should plan to spend around $342 per day on your vacation in Hawaii, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, $77 on meals for one day and $37 on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Hawaii for a couple is $427.

If you're looking to island-hop in Hawaii, you have a few options. Depending on what islands you're traveling between, you can get there by airplane or ferry. You can also book an inter-island cruise or a guided tour to island hop for a day.

Flights to Hawaii are more reasonable midweek

To get the best airfare prices, look to fly on Tuesday and Wednesdays. All summer long, midweek flights are a better price.

What are the most expensive times to go to Hawaii? ›

Between mid-March and early-April 2023. This can also be one of the highest-priced times of year to visit Hawaii. Don't expect to see many deals offered for spring break, although spring break season sometimes has a few pleasant surprises.

What is the average cost for a trip to Hawaii? The average per-person cost for a Hawaii vacation is about $4000 for a one-week trip. This includes $1000 for flights, $2000 for accommodation, $550 for meals, $250 for a rental car, and $300 for tours and activities.

If it's your first trip to Hawaii

Chances are, the Big Island of Hawaii has everything you're looking for. But depending on what you want to do, one of the other islands accessible from the mainland — Maui, Oahu or Kauai — could be a better fit.

With that in mind, how much do you need to budget to visit Hawaii? Well, in general, you're going to want an average of about $4000 per week, depending on where you're staying and which island you're visiting on your Hawaii vacation.

While many vacations are five to seven days long, we recommend staying for at least 10 days to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation. The time change is difficult to adjust to at first and takes about 3 days to get fully acclimated.

LANAI ISLAND - THE PLACE TO RELAX Lanai entices the sophisticated traveller with a handful of exclusive luxury resorts and championship golf courses. It's the least visited Hawaiian Island, small in size and slow in pace those that travel to Lanai, by air or on the ferry from Maui, are forced to rest and relax.

No one is allowed to visit Hawaii's Forbidden Isle—the 70-square-mile island, which on a clear day can be spied from Kauai's west coast—unless they are invited by Niihau owners the Robinson family, or by one of its 70 full-time Native Hawaiian residents.

Getting around Oahu

Oahu is the easiest island to get around. There are several car rental companies at the Honolulu Airport if you'd like to drive the island. If you're looking to save a few dollars on transportation, the Oahu bus system can get you within walking distance of almost anywhere on the island.

The Big Island is cheaper than other Hawaiian islands due to its larger size, more affordable housing options, and lower population density. It's also sees far less job opportunities due to Oahu island being the state's major economic hub.

With 227 miles of shoreline, Oahu is the best Hawaiian Island for beaches. Oahu has the best beaches in Hawaii due to Oahu's many protected bays, reefs surrounding the island, gold-sand beaches, and calm waters year-round.

Can a trip to Hawaii be affordable? ›

Hawaii is a year-round destination, and that's good news for budget travelers. You can find deals on airfare and accommodations during the slower shoulder months — September and October, January and February, April and May — avoiding peak travel times like summer, winter and spring break.

Kauai is the winner

It has a variety of views and terrain to see. Rocky coastlines, beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and mountains and valleys. There is so much to see and do. Kauai tends to not be as popular as islands like Maui and Oahu so you can fully enjoy what the island offers.

If you're looking to hole up at your hotel for the entire vacation, pick Maui and its sprawling oceanfront resorts. But if you're looking for adventure, to really experience the Hawaiian Islands and make the most of your well-earned vacation, Oʻahu should be your choice.

Although the following figures are average estimates on what you might spend on necessities and fun in Hawaii, they may help you when planning your vacation budget: Breakfast and lunch: $8 to $16 per person. Dinner: $14 to $25 per person.

Food Costs

The average cost of food per person per day is about $61, but it can fluctuate depending on where you eat and how many people you go with. Fortunately, there are also some ways to save money on food costs during your vacation.

The most cost-effective way to explore Hawaii in its entirety is to book just one flight to the Rainbow State, then explore via a technique known as Hawaii island hopping. Average per-person flights to “the Rainbow State” range from $79 at the lowest end up to $500+ each way.

Oahu is truly a hot spot for Hawaii activities, tours, shopping, surfing, nightlife, and dining. The island is the most developed of the major islands, and it'll feel like it - it's busy here, and unlike some areas of Hawaii, there's more hustle and bustle around the clock.

For a secluded, nature-centric escape, set your sights on Lanai. Centrally located between other Hawaiian Islands like Maui and Moloka'i, this remote hideaway makes a great home base for inter-island travel.

On average, the best time to buy your ticket to Hawaii is between 21 and 121 days before departure, with the period between 40 and 50 days often mentioned as a golden rule.

About Flights to Hawaii

The fastest flight to Hawaii from United States takes 5h 24m (San Francisco to Honolulu). There are 5 airlines operating flights to Hawaii, including American Airlines, United Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

What month has the most expensive fares to Hawaii? ›

Book at least 3 weeks before departure in order to get a below-average price. High season is considered to be June and July. The cheapest month to fly to Hawaii is January.

The best time to visit Hawaii is between March and September. This is when the islands see the highest temperatures and the lowest amount of rain. It's the perfect time to enjoy the beach or the water.

The central Pacific hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November 30. “The last few hurricane seasons have been pretty quiet around Hawaii, luring some folks to let their guard down.

Hawaii's warmest months are not June and July, but August and September. Its coolest months, are not December and January, but February and March, reflecting the seasonal lag in the oceans's temperature.

In 2021 the same trip cost $8,914. The price increased 37 percent in 2022 to $12,239 as demand for Hawaii vacations surged once travel restrictions ended. How does the cost of a Hawaii vacation measure up in 2023? A 10-day trip to Hawaii in June 2023 for a family of four is quoted to cost $13,493.

The best time to visit Maui, taking into consideration the weather, demand for accommodations, and how crowded, or not, the island is, are the month(s) of April, May, August, September, and early October. Some call these Maui's 'off-season periods' or the 'shoulder months.

The best time to visit Hawaii is during the shoulder seasons of the fall, after labor day to before Thanksgiving, and the spring in April and May. The best month to visit Hawaii is September. During these periods you will find good weather, fewer crowds, and the best prices.

If you're after a cosmopolitan vibrancy, Waikiki is one of the best places to stay in Hawaii. There's a lot more to choose from beyond this famous beach, with the island of Oahu presenting plenty of accommodation options too. If luxury is the priority, Maui gives you five-star resorts with a laidback feel.

While Maui is more developed as a tourist destination and offers generally drier weather, Kauai is the perfect option if you want to visit a rugged and authentic Hawaiian island that won't ever feel overly crowded, even in the summer months.

Do I need a passport to go to Hawaii? ›

Documents for travel to/from Hawaii and within the Hawaiian Islands are the same for any other U.S. state. If you are flying to Hawai'i within the United States, you only need a valid government photo ID. A list of accepted forms of ID can be found on the TSA website.

It's always advisable to bring money in a variety of forms on a vacation: a mix of cash, credit cards, and traveler's checks. You should also exchange enough petty cash to cover airport incidentals, tipping, and transportation to your hotel before you leave home, or withdraw money upon arrival at an airport ATM.

April thru June and mid-August thru mid-September are Hawaii's "low seasons," and airfares are lower then. No matter what time of year you travel, you may be able to score better deals if you travel midweek.

Even though it's often called “the playground of the rich”, Maui isn't only accessible to a few. However, it's true that generally speaking Kauai is a bit cheaper.

In fact, Oahu is the cheapest of the Hawaiian islands for lodging, coming in behind both the Big Island and Kauai. Add to this its lower costs for food and transportation, and Oahu becomes a much more affordable option than Maui.

Oahu - The Gathering Place

Oahu is the most visited of all the Hawaiian islands, at nearly 4.7 million visitors annually. Oahu is primarily defined by the state capital of Honolulu, as well as Pearl Harbor and the famous beach known as Waikiki. These areas attract tourists by the thousands daily.

The Big Island is the third most visited in Hawaii and offers accommodation for all budgets. It tends to be cheaper than Maui and it has two very different sides: Kona (west side) and Hilo (east side). In Kona there are many resorts and hotels with prices usually a bit higher than in Hilo.

With its jagged cliffs, lush valleys, and paradisiacal beaches, Kauai is truly heaven on earth and is our top pick for the most beautiful island in Hawaii. While it would be impossible to squeeze in everything that makes Kauai so special, we have narrowed it down to the top 3 must-see destinations in Kauai.

Which island is prettier Maui or Kauai? ›

If you're ready to trade the hustle and bustle for variety and adventure in your life, Maui probably sounds like the perfect escape. If you're looking for something quieter and family-friendly, with plenty of outdoor activities and natural beauty, Kauai is the ideal island paradise.

Maui Accommodations & Rates

If you're looking for the best deals on accommodations, spring and fall are the cheapest months to visit the island because demand is down. This means the island is less crowded as well, which is another benefit of visiting during these months. Our personal preference is April - May.

Between mid-March and early-April 2023. This can also be one of the highest-priced times of year to visit Hawaii.

How much does it cost to travel between the Hawaiian Islands? Depending on when you want to travel and how far in advance you book your tickets, travel between the Hawaiian islands can be very reasonable. Flights can be found as cheap as $39 each way on Hawaiian and Southwest Airlines. $39 is the best we've seen.

So, How Many Days Do You Need in Maui? If Maui is the only Hawaiian island you'll be visiting, you'll want at least 7-10 days to explore the island. That will give you enough time to do some day trips, take a few tours, check out the beaches, and have plenty of time to relax and unwind.

If you're just looking at the sheer number of incidents on each island, Kauai is the safest island to live on.

Having the flexibility to leave for your Maui vacation any day of the week is a huge advantage when looking for the cheapest time to fly to Maui. Flying during mid-week is the conventional wisdom on booking the lowest cost flights. Tuesday is the cited day to travel for the lowest cost.

The short answer: Go to Maui if you want to be pampered at a resort with all the amenities. Book Oahu if you want to see Pearl Harbor and the famous Waikiki Beach. Visit Big Island if you want to hike Volcanos National Park (and maybe see flowing lava). Head to Kauai if you want to experience wild, untamed Hawaii.

Maui's South Side is known for some of the island's most expensive real estate and its ultra high-end Wailea resorts. Nearby Kihei, just north of Wailea, is known for its relaxed beach town vibe and long stretch of sand. Both tourists and locals intermingle in Kihei.