Hawaii is Calling: Are you gonna answer?

The sun slowly rises over the horizon as the waves softly roll onto the beach. As the burning rays get brighter and brighter, you enjoy the peaceful moments before the crowds and the business. Being on the beach all alone at sunrise is something you don’t want to miss in Hawaii.

Hawaii is a collection of eight major islands and they are all amazing. On our most recent trip we visited Oa’hu and fell in love. Although prices are high for food and lodging, if you plan right you can save some money to make the trip more reasonable.

BUDGETING FOR HAWAII

TIP #1: Keep your dates as flexible as possible. If you must travel during high season, such as holidays and spring break months like March, you will find it hard to get good prices. We recommend yanking the kids out of school and getting the homework done later. Often there are breaks such as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or Fall break which are less popular travel times and allow for at least some of the days to be off of school. We traveled to Hawaii in January and it was only $189 per person for one direction from LAX. But we had very flexible dates.

TIP #2: Use a major airport. We have family in Southern California so we drove down and parked our car at their house while we were gone. They just dropped us off and kept the keys safe. LAX saved us a significant amount of money versus a smaller airport. We had a 10 hour drive, but it was worth it!

TIP #3: DON’T stay in a major city. Whenever we visit Hawaii we go just outside of town or even up to an hour away by car to save money on hotel prices. If you can Uber there or rent a car you will save money. Cities like Honolulu and Waikiki are much more expensive than other parts of the island and it isn’t that far of a drive. We much preferred it since the prices go down and the island is surrounded by beaches. You aren’t missing anything.

TIP #4: Check out Airbnb.com, Trustedhousesitters.com, or house swapping. If you want to save money these are much better options for places to stay because they will be a full house. This allows you to cook at least some of your meals if you want and save lots of money. (Even if you still get a delicious Banzai bowl from Sunset Beach)

TIP #5: Hit Costco! The best prices on food is at Costco. Everyone suggested it and we verified it on our most recent trip there. The prices are pretty much what you would spend on the mainland.

THINGS TO DO

Uh…the beach! No towel required. Even in the rainy months, the temperature is usually in the 70’s or 80’s, perfect for body surfing and building sand castles. I HIGHLY recommend getting up early and seeing the sunrise if you are on the East side of any of the islands. It will be worth it! When we were there we stayed in a fabulous and cheap Airbnb in Laie on Oa’hu where we could WALK to the beach. So every morning a few of us would gather and enjoy the beach. The best part is that there are very few other people who are willing to get up early. So you will have the beach practically to yourself. It’s like visiting your own private island. You can even grab some snorkel gear because there are tons of wildlife to see.

Farm Tours are also a popular activity on Oahu. They have the Dole Plantation with all things pineapple or you can visit Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts for the nuttier side of the island. They are both fun and informative. And the samples aren’t too bad either.

Other activities can include shark diving or zip lining. Check for age and weight restrictions on these as they may vary.

You can also visit some famous sites such as the North Shore on Oahu where surf competitions abound. We saw many crazy surfers out braving the gigantic waves. Or you can find the hidden dirt road entrance to the beach by Turtle Bay resort where this famous tree can be found. This tree is found in many movies and shows such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Lost. Great for a family photo! To find the beach look for a fruit stand with a yellow fire hydrant across the street. This is between Sunset Beach and Turtle Bay resort. It is a dirt road, big enough for a car that goes through the trees for a bit. Once you walk about a 1/4 of a mile you will come to a mostly secluded beach, perfect for enjoying an afternoon. And you will see this tree on the way! If you can’t find it, just ask the locals. The locals ALWAYS know the best spots.

So what are you waiting for? Make your plans to visit Hawaii today! It’s on everyone’s bucket list, right?