You’ve said it thousands of times in the comments. And we hear you. The cost of Hawaii vacations has jumped tremendously. We just experienced this ourselves on last week’s visit to the Big Island. The price of the same accommodations rose about 300% over pre-Covid. Wow. At the same time, interisland airfare plummeted to $39 each way.
The increases in the cost of Hawaii vacations are across the entire range of trip expenses. It includes transportation (and especially car rentals), hotels, food, and Hawaii activities. We’d go so far as to say that Hawaii vacations have become synonymous with being expensive and are best compared with international vacation costs rather than with domestic ones.
It is said that Americans tend to budget about 2% of their annual budget on vacations. That is according to the latest federal government statistics. But Hawaii is in a league by itself, and those budgets are now out the window in most cases.
How we saved on our Hawaii vacation on the Big Island.
Instead of booking massages for $300 or more at the hotel spa, we both opted for the Hokulani Massage Academy in Waimea, where apprentice massage rates are $45 for an hour and a professional hour-long massage is $75. We also asked for a microwave at our hotel to enjoy lanai dining from the grocery store rather than an expensive eat-out meal every single night. With that said, we did splurge and ate at the Canoe House one night, which we enjoyed thoroughly and will perhaps review based on the food, location, ambiance, and creativity.
Another savings was checking and rechecking the prices of car rentals before our trip. We wrote about that experience specifically in We Saved Extra 25% On Hawaii Car Rental. It Wasn’t Costco.
We also had sticker shock trying to get an Uber at one point. The 12-mile trip was first priced at $179, and we’ll let you know what happened to that in another humorous yet telltale article.
So while airfare and hotel prices may or may not fluctuate, you can save on activities and dining by being creative and doing online research. If you have any tips on how you saved on your Hawaii vacation, please share them with others in the comments below, since prices have soared to new records.
What is today’s average cost of a moderate 7-night Hawaii vacation for two?
- Accommodations: $2,800 (that is at the economy end of the scale).
- Air transportation: $1,200 (may be more or less depending on location).
- Car rental: $800 (varies significantly by season and other factors).
- Food and beverages: $1,400 (with one moderate main meal out daily).
Total estimated average cost: $6,200 per week.
Due to the cost of airfare to travel from 2,500 to 5,000 miles and the highest accommodation cost in the U.S., Hawaii vacations are unlike most domestic trips. The total costs can vary greatly by how you travel, where you stay and eat, and what you do. Older Hawaii vacationers tend to spend more. We’ve seen estimates that those who are retired or near retirement spend up to 4x more on Hawaii vacations than those in their 20s for example.
Will you now shun Hawaii for more affordable vacations?
Hawaii vacation costs here have escalated more rapidly than we see elsewhere. Take even restaurants, for example. They have raised their prices due to food, supplies, shipping, insurance, and fuel costs. That is probably the truth, given what we see here at Costco and other stores here in Hawaii. Prices have risen more here than elsewhere. In part, that is due to the distance that everything needs to travel to get to Hawaii.
How hard is it for Hawaii tourism businesses to attract and retain employees?
Then there’s the cost of people. It is extremely hard to attract employees to the Hawaii travel industry after Covid. And that problem doesn’t seem to be improving. We still find businesses suddenly closed when adequate staffing doesn’t show up to work.
Higher airfares are coming too, except for these specific routes.
The cost of flights to Hawaii is on the rise. Economy airfares to Hawaii have risen less, whereas extra legroom and business class have risen far more. These premium offerings have risen in price by on average more than 100% since pre-Covid, based on our own checking.
The exception to airfare increases is on those routes where extreme competition between Hawaiian and Southwest continues to suppress price increases. That includes Hawaii flights from California cities and interisland flights primarily. On those routes, it is still easy to find Hawaii airfares of about $300 RT, or less, including all taxes and fees. In that case, for two people, the average cost might be at or below $600.
Start Hawaii trip planning with Hawaii hotels to find any value options.
Since Hawaii hotel rates are the highest in the US, start looking for value options there before purchasing airfare. Revenge travel, post-pandemic, allowed those rates to rise to levels never seen before.
In your editors’ visit to the Big Island this week, we found that hotel rates had risen multiple times since last being there pre-Covid. For example, we once wrote about staying at the oceanfront Kona Tiki Hotel on Big Island, when it was $69 a night. When checking rates today, that same room starts at $309 nightly for a two-star budget hotel. Up on the Kohala coast, oceanfront resorts have gone up in price by hundreds of percent.
Hawaii hotels/vacation rentals are the number one expense. This can now cost at least five times more than Hawaii airfare.
With the highest hotel accommodation rates in the U.S., accommodation for an average 7-night Hawaii vacation, including all taxes and fees, is likely to amount to $3,000 or more. And if you’re heading to Maui, keep in mind that Wailea hotels are still getting daily rates in the range of $1,000. So you can expect a 7-nighter with taxes and fees to run you $8,500 or more.
Those estimates are conservative too. We recently checked rates at South Maui properties for January and found Andaz, and Four Seasons, for example, starting at nearly $2,000 per night. Lower-end properties, such as Aston Maui Hill, were asking $1,098 in January.
Remember that Hawaii hotels have dynamic pricing and tend to adjust prices daily and seasonally.
Ever considered the 7-night NCL Cruise visiting four islands?
The current price starts at $1,449 per person and includes your room, dining, entertainment, Wi-Fi, and free ground excursions. Your editors have done this cruise twice and highly recommend it. When you add up the cost of a 7-night vacation for two, this is an attractive option to save money and visit Big Island, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Plus it’s just a lot of fun.
Have you tried buying a lei in Hawaii lately?
This is just another example of costs that have gone through the roof. The cost of flowers in Hawaii has become extreme. Once ubiquitous and cheap, flowers are hard to come by. Also likely due to the lack of labor for island flower farming. So if you want a cheap orchid lei, they’re still there to be found. If you want anything else, get ready for sticker shock. We also opted out of purchasing a beach towel at our Big Island hotel, which was $117 with tax. Seriously?
Now it’s your turn to comment. Have you been surprised by the costs in Hawaii? What have you done to save money?
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We too have been priced out of Hawaii. Everyone we know who regularly goes to the Islands have made other arrangements this year due to the lack of affordability. We will head to Mexico this year instead.Really a shame, we will miss Hawaii. Aloha.
I just love Waikiki. I know it it crowded but it works for me.
One way to lower the cost of getting around is a The Buss HOLO pass.
The initial card is free. For seniors you would have to go to the city hall or a satellite place and the card is done the same day. When I initially received the card the monthly cost was $6 or $8 per month. When I renewed the monthly fee the cost had gone up to $40 per month because I was not a Kama’aina. But the cost for an annual pass was $45. So I opted for this since I would like to go back.
Yes, it is expensive to vacation in HI.
Last year I paid $1,588.77, taxes and fees only. For a 3-week vacation. Hotel cost was not included.I may go one more time to HI and then vacation elsewhere.
Mahalo,
BOH: Did you price the short-term rentals? You can get those at the moment (low-season April-October) for around 200-300 a night, plus you get a kitchen and free parking to boot! Please make the article complete by including at least a sampling of the thousands of short-term rentals available throughout the islands.
Owch!
Someone in Hawaii should start a Hawaii Residents’ Home-Stay Exchange, perhaps for a nominal scheduling fee only; otherwise at no charge. I already do that with friends on Maui: they and/or their families can stay for free at my Big Island home, and vice-versa. Either party can purchase food and/or drinks, if they want to help out. Absolutely no money changes hands. Therefore, this hosting of family, friends, or guests who are total strangers would be exempt from County or State permits, fees, taxes, or other regulations, and certainly free of outrageous hotel prices. My hosted guest stays are limited to 1 week, maximum. Thoughts ??
As a homeowner in Ko Olina who owns a legal short term rental property, as others have mentioned, check Airbnb, VRBO and other direct sites to save some $’s. Prices are up across the board but less so on Oahu. Also, two couples can split the cost of a two bedroom, or a three bedroom if bringing the keiki. It can be worth the effort, if you love Hawaii for it’s food, culture, and Aloha. If your just looking for a beach, then as others have mentioned, there are alternative countries to visit.
The only concern I have with STR are the lack of regulation/uniformity of expectations… aside from the potential legality, the likelihood of “chores”. We had one once and had to do everything from mowing the lawn to scrubbing the oven (at least per the chore list)…on top of the $500 cleaning fee for the week…
Can you show us this listing? Hard to believe this still exists, with all the regulation enforcement there has been on the islands lately. Thousands of illegal rentals have been banned, and cannot advertise on websites such as Airbnb, VRBO, etc. And I really want to see a house rule to mow the lawn and scrub the oven! Please provide a link.
Thanks, guys! Today’s posting is so helpful in helping us “limited income” to determine how likely it is for us to return to Hawaii. This used to be the “golden agers” but with all the increases the group now involves many, many more. We splurged for a once every 5 year trip to the islands before covid, but now are totally unsure if a return will ever be an option. Your “tell it like it is” comments are so helpful in determining how, what and when we can make another trip happen. Aloha and mahalo for your efforts!
Hi Denney.
Thank you. We sure hope you can return again!
Aloha.
But “telling it like it is”, isn’t like it is. Please price out short-term rentals before you decide not to visit.
Consider using short term vacation rentals on the Big Island. A 3 bdrm unit in Mauna Lani Resort will rent for 300-400 per night.
Yes! I don’t understand what all the bellyaching is about when there are thousands of short-term rentals available at reasonable prices. Also don’t understand why BOH doesn’t talk about them anywhere in the article.
I know it’s unpopular to like short term rentals at the moment, but as long as neighborhoods aren’t being disturbed, there are caps on how many there are, and you check to make sure they aren’t illegal, it’s really a good solution for those of you who feel hopeless about coming back!
You are not suggesting that 300 to 400 per night is reasonable for middle class family, are you?
It’s a whole lot more reasonable than $1000/night hotel rooms, not to mention you would likely have to get 2 rooms to house the average family.
We just got home to Colorado from a 2 week Hawaii vacation and spent time on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big island. We stayed at expensive hotels and ate out every day and still didn’t spend $6200.
Sure you did, I’d like to know how.
Easy enough. Rewards points, Hyatt probably for the hotel. We recently did almost 2 weeks on Kauai and used points for flights, GH Kauai suite, and rental car.. only cash was for food and local purchases. We likely spent far under $6200… (cash).
My dad was Navy, Pacific Theatre WWII. He wanted to be buried at Punchbowl, so we made it happen in 2008. My husband and I still were working, had kids in college and it was financially tough, but we did it. I was an R.N. And spent all of my vacation and PTO on visiting him in another state ( also very expensive) I am now retired and wanted to go back and visit again as I have terminal cancer. I am seeing/reading and Hawaii doesn’t sound like the same place he loved, defended and I remember. Parking meters to go to the beach? Gangs, locals only hours at some public beaches, and know someone writes Only $6,000 for 2 weeks ?… I am not sure many retirees can afford that. I was under the impression tourism was Hawaii’s main income source ?
This is not a surprise, but it is sad news. I have been to all of the islands but can’t see visiting again.
Great article. And yes definitely same as we are seeing. I was watching close and was able to book 2 first class direct flights for this Thanksgiving week(phoenix to maui) for under 500 each. And our hotel at KBH at Black Rock for oceanfront $200 a night for the week. Rental car, I used used Venture card points. As for cash pricing, its more expensive than going to Turks and Caicos now. And T&C is very welcoming.
Our earlier Hawaii trip was marred by continued “go home” & “we dont want you here”..there are bad locals & bad visitors everywhere..but we are respectful and low key visitors who keep to ourselves. Not worth the continued fight.
So we will enjoy our Thanksgiving week, probably splurge more than usual and likely our last time.
This will be our last trip after 30 years of yearly trips because it is just too expensive. We can have a nice beach vacation in Mexico or Costa Rica for half the cost.
An option for dining are the Happy Hour food menus that are offered at many restaurants. Some of them end at 5:00 PM. You can also get a good deal on a couple of adult beverages.
The area of California that we live in is also very expensive, so the high prices in Hawaii are not as much of a shock. Even our local Motel 6’s go for $149 a night. On our recent trip to Maui we were amazed to find that the gas was cheaper than in California.
2 flower leis for 12 at costco
I have traveled to Hawaii 5 times in the last year making up for lost time due to covid. 3 times to Oahu and twice to the Big Island. I usually go for three or four nights. I have tried different strategies to save money and have been very successful overall. Be flexible. I booked the rental car several times right up to picking it up as the prices change and twice I did turo. The best deal in my mind was a 1200 square foot condo on the Big Island in Waikoloa but like you point out the prices have gone up since then. I dare not look or I will be tempted to go again. The airfare is phenomenal however once you arrive you need wheels and a roof over your head. I pack food and eat out once a day usually local food that is delicious.