Will you be taking a vacation this year? Have you always wanted to take a trip to Hawaii but thought that you could never afford it? As a resident of the islands, I just happen to know a few tips and secrets on how to have an incredible but affordable Hawaiian vacation.
Which Island to Visit
Your first option when deciding to take a trip to Hawaii is which island to visit. Anyone with money would choose to stay on Maui or Oahu. The reason for this is usually the shopping, but you are not reading this article because you want to spend money. Lucky for you, the most amazing adventures in Hawaii cost the least amount of money – usually nothing at all. Lucky for you, too that the most amazing adventures and sights in Hawaii happen to be on the most beautiful, most interesting, least expensive, and least visited island in the chain.
The Big Island of Hawaii has everything: rainforests, deserts, snow-capped mountains, turquoise waters, caves, and most importantly- the volcano. You can do nearly anything you would be able to do on any of the other islands here, only cheaper.
When to Visit
Winter is the worst time of year to visit the islands. Most visitors come in winter when it’s cold back home and they want to get away to someplace warm. This means that tickets to fly here are more expensive, activities will cost more, and it will be more crowded when you get here. Even more important to know is that winter is the rainy season and it will most likely rain every day that you are here. They won’t tell you that in the vacation magazines. Hawaii gets the least amount of rain between June and September. This is also when we get the fewest number of tourists. Go figure.
Where to Stay
If you are the adventurous type, bring a tent and a sleeping bag and you can camp for nothing at all or next to it. Make sure that your tent has been professionally waterproofed before you come or you might find yourself sleeping in a puddle.
Some local farms on the East side, especially in the Puna area, will let you pitch a tent in a private covered area for about $10 per day or they will let you work out a work-trade to stay for free. These places will be nowhere near fancy and you’ll be showering with hippies outside under banana trees, but for the adventurous type, the experience will be priceless.
Another option is to rent a vacation rental. Back when land and property on our island were cheap, wealthy folk on the mainland bought up properties as investments. Some use the homes as a place to stay when vacationing in the islands. During the rest of the year, they will rent it out to vacationers to use and earn money back on it. Check websites that advertise vacation rentals by owner. Craigslist also has a great selection of affordable vacation rentals. You can sometimes find them as low as $35 a day.
Sometimes property owners will not rent out their properties but they do need someone to watch their home while they are away. Try searching websites like Craigslist for house sitting positions or advertise yourself on Craigslist or in the local paper as a house sitter. You may be able to find a place to stay for free.
You should also consider which side of the island you would like to stay on. The West side or Kona side is very dry and rocky with mostly desert areas. The beaches here are what you would expect of Hawaii – white sand, swaying palms, and lovely turquoise water. The best shopping on the island is in Kona and it is more expensive to stay here than anywhere else on the island. If you want gorgeous beaches and the best snorkeling, however, Kona is the place to stay.
The East side or Hilo side, is the wetter side of the island. There are no resorts here and shopping is limited to small country-style shops. The East side is where you will find all of the beautiful waterfalls, lush tropical jungles, quaint old-style towns, and amazing clifftop views. Hilo receives more rainfall than any other city in the world, but most of our rain falls at night. Our summer days are usually lovely and sun-filled. Hilo is a quiet, slow little place where you can experience the beauty of old Hawaii. It’s also the best place to stay if you are on a budget. The beaches on this side are black sand, very different from Kona’s beaches, but no less lovely.
What to Bring
Like any tourist-centered area, you will find some items here to be extremely and obscenely overpriced. These are mostly items which are frequently purchased by tourists such as film, disposable cameras, etc. Bring your own sunblock, towels, film, underwater camera, sunglasses, bathing suit, and beach shoes. If you are camping or renting a place that has a stove, bring a small camp cook kit. Prepared foods can be expensive here, so you should be ready to cook your own things if necessary.
Kama’aina Rates
One trick that some of the seedier travel books will tell you about is to ask for a “kama’aina rate” when visiting Hawaii. These rates are for those of us who are kama’ainas – people who live here. We can get a lower rate on most anything just by asking for it. Do not ever be tempted to try this yourself. You must always show that you have a local ID when asking for a kama’aina rate. No one will give you a discount just by asking for it. You have to show an ID as well. You can make some locals very angry by trying to lie to them this way.
Activities for the Budget-Conscious
While in Hilo, stop by and check out our local zoo. It is not a large fancy zoo, but is well maintained and worth the visit. Best of all, it’s free.
Check the guidebooks for local caves. All of them are free and you need little equipment. Just make sure you bring at least two very powerful flashlights.
A drive to the top of Mauna Kea will cost you nothing but gas. At the right time of year you can play in the snow. Rent a 4×4 and you can drive all the way to the very summit and see the sunset, landscape, and observatories and watch the stars.
Sightseeing is wonderful here. Don’t miss out on a drive around the island. You should not miss the Red Road in Puna, the Hamakua coast, or the drive across Saddle Road.
Wal-Mart sells fairly inexpensive snorkel equipment here. Snorkel at Richardson’s Beach in Hilo, Kapoho Tidepools in Pahoa, or the Captain Cook Monument on Kona Side. Hawaii has amazing underwater reefs that cost nothing at all to enjoy.
Save an entire day to spend at Volcanoes National Park. There is a small fee, but it is per vehicle, not per person. Once inside there are caves to explore, ancient petroglyphs, a museum and art gallery, and of course the erupting volcano itself. Expect to walk a few miles if you want to see any lava. This is a day trip so bring lots of food, sturdy sneakers, and a rain jacket just in case as the weather and terrain will vary here.
Down in the Puna area, there are two amazing spots that should not be missed. One is Ahalanui or, as the locals refer to it “hot ponds.” This large swimming-pool sized fresh and saltwater pond is geothermically heated by Pele herself and is the perfect temperature. If geothermal heat is your thing, don’t forget to visit the natural steam cave saunas just off of highway 130.
Collectors will love visiting Honoli’i beach park just North of Hilo town to watch the surfers, go bodyboarding, and collect the thousands of pieces of sea glass and beach pottery that wash up here. The water is a little chilly from a freshwater stream that enters the area and there is a strong rip current, but it flows parallel to the shore. There are more sea turtles here than anywhere else we have seen on the island.
Hiking is plentiful in Hawaii. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring along a poncho in case it rains. Bug repellent is a must in some areas.
Shore fishing is a fun way to while away the hours. Fishing gear can be purchased nearly anywhere, but it will be much cheaper to bring your own. Be careful of fishing in locals’ favorite secluded areas. You may not be welcome.
While on the Hilo side, be sure to stop by our many famous waterfalls. Don’t forget to bring your camera!
Kona boasts several historical areas, many of which are free. Pu’uhonua O’ Honaunau or Place of Refuge is cheap or free to visit and you can spend hours walking around the park grounds and studying ancient Hawaiian artifacts.
Big Island candies and the Mauna Loa Mac Nut Factory are both located in Hilo and provide free samples of their candies as well as a look inside their window-lined factories so you can get a glimpse of workers making candies by hand.
Downtown Hilo has the Mokupapapa Discovery Center which is completely free. Tour the museum-like marine science center and learn about Hawaii’s precious ocean resources. There is a theater showing informational videos and fun and interesting educational activities for children.
There are always local attractions happening in town. Check before you arrive to see if there will be any events such as fairs, carnivals, free concerts, processions, parades, or other outdoor activities.
Both Hilo and Kona have quite a number of art galleries. Make sure you duck into a few of them while strolling about the town.
Lava Tree State Park is a lovely and interesting walk through the jungle with lots of these ancient and interesting landmarks. This park is located just south of Pahoa below Hilo town.
The Onizuka Space Center at the Kona airport is fascinating and has plenty of fun activities for children. The price is almost free: $3 for adults and $1 for children.
Want to swim with dolphins? A mostly nude beach in Puna called Kehena beach often has a pod of wild dolphins that swims out just past the rocks. Stand on the cliffs above and keep your eyes peeled to see if they are visiting the beach the same day you are. I have been lucky enough to swim with them two of the four times I have been there. The waves are merciless and you will have to swim far, so absolutely DO NOT go out if you are not in excellent shape as a swimmer.
The farmer’s market is a fun place to visit. You will be able to find lots of local and exotic fruits to try as well as handmade and inexpensive souvenirs. Prices will be much lower on days when there is not a cruise ship docked.
