When people ask me what Hawaiian music I like, it’s sort of a difficult question to answer. The term “Hawaiian Music” is a lot broader than people think. For example, I like the ancient style of Hawaiian music, used in hula dancing or chanting. I also like old Hawaiian music and slack key guitar, the kind that my mom would play as I grew up. Furthermore, I truly enjoy contemporary Hawaiian music, by musicians living today that are active in the Hawaiian community. Jawaiian and local favorites are also something I enjoy listening to while I’m with my siblings.
With that said, I want to explore the different genres of music within “Hawaiian music,” because there’s simply more than just one type of Hawaiian music. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you can get a better idea of what type of Hawaiian music you’re looking for, and maybe explore other categories within the bigger genre!
Ancient Hawaiian Music for Hula Dancing, Call & Response
Mele (music) has always been a huge part of the Hawaiian culture. In fact, there are two types of mele that we talk about, especially when it comes to dancing hula: kahiko and auana. Kahiko refers to the ancient music of Hawaii, involving chanting, blowing the pū, and tapping the ipu. Auana refers to modern Hawaiian music, including piano, slack key guitar, and singing.
I found a playlist that does a wonderful job of encompassing the ancient Hawaiian mele used to dance hula kahiko. As a result, you’ll hear a lot of chanting-like melodies in Hawaiian of course, by a kumuhula (hula instructor) and sometimes the dancers, as well as finger drumming on the ipu, gourd.
Not all kahiko songs are used to dance to hula because some are used to recite a genealogy, creation myth (such as the kumulipo), or as a call and response. Growing up, it wasn’t uncommon to chant an oli asking permission to enter someone’s space. For instance, in high school, my classmates and I used to chant at the beginning of the day, asking our teachers permission to enter the classrooms. They would reply with an oli of their own to accept us.
However, if we look at it anciently, when Hawaiians approached a home or even an island, they’d blow the pū, the large conch shell, to announce their arrival. Then they would chant, asking permission to enter, land, or come into the space. Those within the space would chant back their reply.
Here is a playlist of some Hawaiian mele used for hula kahiko, or as chants that tell a story, genealogy, or act as a call and response. Many of the names within this list are very popular Hawaiian singers and chanters. Enjoy!
Old Hawaiian Music & Slack Key Guitar
Hawaiian music drifted into auana (auana actually means “to drift or wander,” which is what Hawaiian music has done over time). Kanikapila is a Hawaiian word used to describe anytime a group of people get together to sing and play instruments. Growing up in Hawaii, kanikapila usually happened unplanned. Someone would bring out an ukulele or guitar, and the next thing we knew, we were all sitting in a circle and singing.
Many of the old Hawaiian songs, along with the slack key guitar, feel much like a kanikapila. They’re the songs that are most played on the radio and are beloved, and timeless to the Hawaiian culture. These songs fill me with nostalgia, as these are the songs my own mom would play. She had CDs of Na Leo, Makaha Sons, the Brothers Cazimero, and more.
There are so many hallmarks of each of these groups that I might write an article about how each one has uniquely contributed to what Hawaiian music is today. However, some of the commonalities between the old Hawaiian music is the use of the piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, and singers harmonizing. Every group or musician had their specialities though.
One popular Hawaiian singer, Lena Machado, had a particular talent of holding a note until anyone listening might think she was out of breath. However, Lena would hold the note for an extended period of time and NOT take a breath until she finished the phrase! Fun fact: Later on, Raiatea Helm continued this tradition in her music.
To sum it up, here is a list of some of my favorite traditional and old Hawaiian musicians:
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Brothers Cazimero
Dennis Pavao
Na Leo
Makaha Sons
Hapa
Amy Hanaiali’i
Lena Machado
Slack Key Guitar
Slack Key Guitar is another type of Hawaiian music. Some people sing to slack key guitar, but often it is done without singing. To clarify, slack key is simply a different way of tuning the guitar, and artists would pick and strum to well-known Hawaiian tunes. The playlist below is one of my favorite albums of slack key guitar. In addition, here is a brief list of some of the well-known Hawaiian slack key guitar artists:
Keola Beamer
Cyril Pahinui
Sonny Chillingworth
Popular TV & Movie Hawaiian Music
Hawaiian music has made appearances in popular tv shows and movies over the years. While there may be more, I’ve listed below some of the more popular songs that you might think of when it comes to “Hawaiian music.”
Elvis Presley & “Blue Hawaii”
The Hawaiian Wedding Song, Hukilau, Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Blue Hawaii are some of the big hits from the movie, “Blue Hawaii,” starring Elvis Presley. I was genuinely surprised by how many of my Hawaiian friends and classmates adore this movie, because I can’t stand listening or watching it! I guess you either hate or love it!
Disney’s Lilo & Stitch
“Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” really catches the enthusiasm of the Hawaiian spirit. While I didn’t love the movie, I think they did a great job with the music, even having local artists and choirs record the songs.
Disney’s Moana
The music in “Moana” isn’t Hawaiian or spoken in the Hawaiian language but it definitely has the island and Polynesian vibe!
Braddah Iz “Over the Rainbow”
This is an iconic song featured in many movies! I really enjoy Braddah Iz’s version of this song. While strumming an ukulele, his voice is so soothing and, in many ways, nostalgic.
Recent Hawaiian singers who actively put out new music
These are the current, most recent preservers of Hawaiian music and people I admire for their creativity, knowledge, and sheer talent. From speaking fluent Hawaiian, writing their own lyrics and music, and sharing their love of Hawaii with the world, these artists are truly amazing. I appreciate their contributions to preserving and evolving the Hawaiian culture and music.
I didn’t attach any playlist here, but the playlist in the “Traditional Hawaiian Music” section features many of these artists. So definitely give it a listen! 🙂
Kuana Torres Kahele Hawaiian Music
Kuana has become my favorite artists in all of Hawaiian music over the years. In each of his albums he features a different Hawaiian island or location. He also has a few holiday albums and sang the song “Lava” for Pixar’s short film. He loves making lei and dancing hula, and occasionally does live streams on Facebook. Can’t recommend Kuana enough!
Raiatea Helm
Raiatea is a lot like Lena Machado in style and ability to hold her breath for a long time. However, Raitea’s music is still her own: fun, upbeat, and quite traditional. Highly recommend!
Keali’i Raichel
If you’ve never heard “Kawaipunahele” can you say you’ve listened to Hawaiian music? 😛 This song is played at nearly every big event—weddings, graduations, may day, etc. It’s a classic song for a woman to dance to alone. I can’t even say how many times I’ve heard this song. Keali’i is very talented, and continues to put out new music here and there. Growing up, my mom would play the album “Kawaipunahele” so I recommend that one if you’re just learning about Keali’i!
Weldon Kekauoha
Weldon and I are related somehow haha. I grew up listening to the CD “Hawaiian Man” so that will always be my favorite album of his. He has continued to write music in recent years that is still heartfelt and both in Hawaiian and English. His voice is soothing and the music is relaxing.
Henry Kapono
I’m not as familiar with Henry as my own readers and followers, but he is very active on social media, does a lot of covers, and has a very happy, upbeat personality. Henry does live shows at Duke’s on Oahu, which is awesome considering so few artists go live anymore!
Kalani Pe’a
Kalani has won a Grammy award for the best regional roots music album. His music is both traditional and sometimes contemporary. All his music is in the Hawaiian language too.
Jawaiian or Local Hawaiian Music
There is a category under Hawaiian music called “Jawaiian.” Jamaica (reggea) + Hawaiian = Jawaiian. That’s probably the easiest way I can explain it. Many local artists in Hawaii have captured the beat, rhythm, and vibe of Jamaican reggae music but have mixed it either with Hawaiian language, Pidgin English, or local island culture.
This is the sort of music played on the radio in Hawaii. It’s not quite reggae, but not quite Hawaiian so it’s a mix of both! The playlist below covers it all really well. I enjoy listening to this music when I’m with my siblings, but because the radio and locals seem to play the same songs for years, I’ve gotten sort of burnt out. While I don’t love this type of music anymore, it still carries nostalgia.
Here is a list of some popular Jawaiian artists. Not all of them fit perfectly but these all have the same vibe and would usually perform at local ho’olaule’a performances in the park.
Anuhea
Keahiwai
Kolohe Kai – Cool Down
Ehukai
Opihi Pickers
Rebel Souljahz – Nothing To Hide
J Boog
Common Kings
Sammy Johnson
The Green
Maoli – No One is one of their most popular songs.
Sean Na’auao
Reggae Music
Reggae music originated in Jamaica and is mostly represented by Bob Marley. Many locals enjoy listening to Bob Marley, so I thought it was only fair to feature his work here! This playlist also features some other Reggae artists.
Other Artists Beloved by Hawaiian Islanders
Jack Johnson – A lot of locals have spotted Jack around town and have said he’s really nice. With that said, his music is really great too!
Colbie Caillat – I’m not sure if she’s from Hawaii, but Hawaiians and locals love her music. It’s chill, simple, and meaningful.
Notable Ukulele Players (mostly from Hawaii)
Here is yet another little genre of music in Hawaii: ukulele music. While some ukulele players write their own music, others do covers of music. Either way, they’re all quite talented!
Jake Shimabukuro
Kalei Gamiao
Kris Fuchigami
Taimane
Let’s hear from you!
What is your favorite kind of Hawaiian music? Is there a Hawaiian artist that you love? Let us know in the comments below!
Congratulations on your choice to learn the Hawaiian language! Over the years, interest has sparked in the Hawaiian language and now there are some fun apps, websites, videos, and books to help people learn the Hawaiian language. As someone from Hawaii, I’ve finally made the decision to officially learn the Hawaiian Language and speak it more fluently (I’ve always understood more of it than I could speak it). I took two years of Hawaiian language in high school and one semester in college, so I was able to evaluate these resources based on my own knowledge and personal preference.
Most of these resources I use (or have used in the past), meaning that I wouldn’t recommend something that doesn’t work! One or more of these should help you, especially if you are only beginning your Hawaiian language journey. Even better, some of them are free! I also added some ideas for intermediate and advanced Hawaiian language speakers.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase any of these resources, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read more about it here.
Hawaiian Language Apps
Duolingo – Hawaiian Language
This FREE app has always been an amazing language learning tool. With the friendly face of the owl and only 15 minutes a day, Duolingo is a fantastic resource. As someone who is a little more advanced, it’s nice to be able to “test out” of some of the courses on Duolingo and skip ahead. There are ads after each lesson with the option of upgrading to Premium for a fee. I love the community page too, where I connect with my family to keep accountable and challenge one another.
Another FREE app, Drop allows 5 minutes sessions of language learning a day. You can get extra time by upgrading to Premium. I’ve only used this app for a short time but I really enjoy dragging and dropping things. It sort of relaxes my brain, like I’m playing a game instead of “learning a language.” I also loved the wide range of vocabulary and selection of scenarios (health, finance, travel, animals, time, etc).
My Hawaiian language teacher in college used these very videos to teach us! They are super informative, easy to watch, and they go at a really comfortable pace. For beginners, it’s nice to learn grammar structure and words. For intermediate and advanced, it’s nice to use these videos to review.
What better way to learn Hawaiian from the locals themselves? Lokelani and Ka’analike are so fun, warm, and quick as they teach the Hawaiian language. Though they have few videos up, so I hope they keep going!
A dictionary always comes in handy when learning a new language! This dictionary trumps all the rest, as it was compiled by two of Hawaii’s greatest historians and recorders, Mary Kawena Pukui and Samuel H. Elbert. With this Hawaiian dictionary, there’s really no need to find or get any others. Of course it might not have updated terminology like kamipuela (computer), but it’s pretty complete.
I’m not impressed with the selection of Hawaiian language learning books
To be completely honest, there are Hawaiian grammar and language learning books out there but I’ve never really found one that was helpful for me. Many of them say “beginner,” but have vague concepts and usually share more vocab words than any grammar techniques. So I can’t really recommend any books, but if I do find some that are helpful, I’ll be sure to come back and update this! And if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments below for me and others to check out!
Books Translated into the Hawaiian Language
This is a brilliant idea for intermediate and advanced Hawaiian language speakers. Some popular titles have been translated into the Hawaiian language, and a side-by-side read of these books with the English versions can really help. Reading my scriptures in a different language has always helped me learn languages faster too(side note: I used to speak and read Japanese, and am fluent in Tagalog)!
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone
What better way to learn Hawaiian than by reading Harry Potter? I was so excited to find out that this was translated into the Hawaiian language. I’m eager to get my hands on a copy! Get the Hawaiian version of the book here.
The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland
This book was translated by the same person who translated Harry Potter. As not everything translates perfectly, he took some liberties in his version. I look forward to reading this! Get the Hawaiian version of the book here.
Other General Resources
I haven’t tried any of these, but I thought it might be worth mentioning, especially since we all learn differently than one another!
‘Olelo Online
I didn’t really dig into this website, but it does look like it has a lot of content along with downloadable PDFs, structured lessons, and more. Check out ‘Olelo Online here.
italki
The idea is that you can speak with a native speaker on this website. However, when I checked there weren’t any native Hawaiian speakers. So this might be a good resource for advanced and fluent Hawaiian speakers to use their skills to help others trying to learn. Check out italki here.
Fluent in 3 Months
I haven’t personally tried this but the idea does intrigue me. Someone can hold a 30 minute conversation in another language in only 3 months? Tell me more. 🙂 If I do take this course, I will come back and update this! Check out Fluent in 3 Months here.
That’s a wrap, for now! I hope one or more of these resources will help you get started on your Hawaiian language journey. If there are any resources that you’ve absolutely loved or found helpful on your Hawaiian language journey, please share by commenting below. We’d all be grateful for your kokua!
Are you thinking of traveling to Hawaii during Covid? Is it worth it? My short answer: no. The long answer: there are pros to going during Covid.
Allow me to explain…
My husband and I decided to go to Maui at the end of January 2021. With about 4 weeks to plan our trip, I looked into everything I needed to do before boarding. With covid affecting the world, I wondered if my husband and I could successfully make it to Hawaii. I heard of so many people who got tested and arrived in Hawaii, only to be turned around because they went to the wrong testing center, or didn’t have their paperwork, etc. Needless to say, I was anxious about traveling to Hawaii during the pandemic.
I hope this article helps you make a decision about traveling to Hawaii during covid. There are some really great pros, and some pretty pathetic cons. I’ll be as transparent as possible to help you figure out the answer to your question.
Please know that everything changes with the pandemic, so what I’m sharing here may not be relevant anymore at the time of you reading this. Please, please, PLEASE do your research if you plan on traveling to Hawaii during covid. Their requirements change all the time, so do your part. This article is purely to give you an idea of the situation, not to direct you on the requirements to travel to Hawaii during covid. Check out the official Hawaii covid page for accurate and up-to-date information.
Pre-Travel Hawaii Requirements for Covid
The pre-travel was probably the most stressful part because things change all the time. One day they say you need to do X, and the next day they say you need to do Y…
The day before our flights, I saw a NEW requirement to download the Aloha Safe Alert app BEFORE boarding. I felt SO relieved and stressed. If I hadn’t seen the newest requirement, would they have turned us around at the airport?
So here’s who you want to be following if you plan on going to Hawaii during Covid.
Ok, with that said, here’s what we had to do before the trip:
Create a Safe Travels account and upload all documents BEFORE the first flight
Get tested within 72 hours of departure. Please note you MUST get tested at one of their approved sites, not just at your local hospital. They will only let you through if you get tested from someone on their “Trusted Testing and Travel Partners” list.
Download and activate Aloha Safe alert app
Have ALL paperwork on hand. I printed so many papers because the website suggested I do so. Spoiler alert: they didn’t look at ANY of these papers because I had already uploaded it ALL online… better safe than sorry I guess.
You probably read that list and thought, “Not bad.” I thought so too. However, finding the trusted testing and travel partners was harder than I thought… We finally got tested at Walgreens, but drove to a super far location because the Walgreens in our county didn’t offer testing. While that sounds stressful, before the testing itself felt morestressful… because we avoided people as much as possible. We could not risk any chance of catching covid. Isolation played a toll on my mental health.
Pre-Trip Cons:
Using the Aloha Safe Alert app felt like huge anxiety. Knowing that at any time I could receive a notification saying, “You’ve been exposed,” just stressed me out so much. It felt unfair that I might have to quarantine because I’d been around a stranger for a few seconds.
Masks: Wearing a mask at the airport and airplane took a toll on both of us. Especially for my husband, who already has a difficult time breathing without the mask, wearing a mask for almost 10 hours wore him out. We couldn’t take any breaks from mask-wearing unless we went to the bathroom… no thanks. I felt sorry for flight attendants and airport security who had to constantly remind people to completely cover their nose and mouths with the masks. It just kind of felt like a big mess.
Pre-Trip Pros:
Airplanes worked at less than half capacity. My husband and I always sat together. I could honestly say about 11-20 people sat in each flight. I feel super bad for the airline companies but they worked hard to keep the planes clean and social distance people well. We definitely had a lot of space to stretch out.
During the Trip
When we landed in Maui, the whole process turned out easier than I thought. The workers at the airport already had our information (because I uploaded it all), so they checked a few things (including our temperature) and sent us through!
It was THE BEST FEELING to walk out of the airport and into the fresh Maui air—though we still wore our masks, as required. I thought the most helpful way to give you an idea of Hawaii during covid is a pros and cons list. These are all based on my opinion though, so take it or leave it, no offense. 🙂
Pros:
Overall Maui was waaaay less busy in Hawaii than ever before: For example, we drove the road to Hana, a scenic route typically overcrowded and full of traffic. We hit absolutely NO traffic whatsoever. When we arrived in Hana and stayed at the resort there, the local who worked there told us we came at a good time. She said usually it’s a stressful drive because of the traffic and lack of parking at scenic spots.
Less lines and crowds at restaurants: We hardly waited at any restaurants to take out or have a seat. To be honest, there was still a LOT of people, but definitely not as much people like I remember Hawaii.
Cons:
Masks: Governor Ige mandated masks in Hawaii and it just sucks to wear a mask, not breathe well, and not really enjoy things as much. Most people didn’t wear masks at the beach because we all sat social distanced, but at restaurants and grocery stores, managers and workers heavily enforced mask wearing. We went on a short hike on the road to Hana and didn’t wear our masks (because there weren’t other people around), and a local lady vending at the front yelled at us. It’s not fun to get yelled at, and it’s not like we were trying to be irresponsible or rude. There just wasn’t anyone around, and she was definitely more than six feet away. There’s just silly stuff like that, which make the situation unpleasant.
Less small businesses and restaurants open: Not sure if a bunch of restaurants went out of business or what, but many of the places I planned to eat at were closed. That bummed me out a lot, because the only food places that stayed open were mediocre food places, at best. It’s always disappointing to spend $30 or more on a meal for two people and it turns out to be crappy food.
Overall, is it worth it?
After I wrote this article and sat on this question for the last month, the short answer for me is no. I don’t regret our Hawaii trip during covid, because I needed a little break from the cold and felt tired of the whole covid situation. But I don’t think I want to go through the hassle of getting tested, experiencing anxiety over new and updated requirements, wearing a mask everywhere (including airports and airplanes), feeling bummed over closed good food places and restaurants, and dealing with snappy people over mask-wearing. I don’t feel like it’s worth it to me.
I would rather go to one of the southwest states to get some sun, saving money and stress. The only pro for me was that there was less people on the island. But it just felt like everyone was on edge, worried about wearing or not wearing a mask, wanting to enjoy, yet restricted… It felt difficult to talk to people or send a smile—everything felt so constricting.
While I may not travel to Hawaii during Covid again, I can still plan my next trip. Check out some of my free resources and articles on travel!
Before we got married, my husband and I decided we wanted to visit Hawaii every year. Especially when it gets cold on the mainland, I just want to be somewhere warm. But when it comes time to budget a Hawaii vacation, that can be hard for some! We discovered smart ways to save money and budget a Hawaii vacation.
In our most recent trip to Maui, we paid about $20 for round-trip flights for both of us. For the hotels, we paid about $175 for 5-7 nights. For food and activities, we have a stream of income that works for us while we’re on vacation so we don’t stress about the out-of-pocket costs!
So here are the best tips I’ve got on how to budget a Hawaii vacation. You don’t need to do anything crazy, you just need to be smart.
On that note: I am not a financial advisor. These are just some of the best ways we’ve been able to budget a Hawaii vacation. I encourage you to make wise financial choices and consult a financial professional if needed! 🙂
1. Save up
This is the obvious thing to do first. If you want to go on vacation, you need to set aside money for it. This is where we started out: work hard, stick to a strict budget, put x-amount into a savings account for a trip, and then go on vacay to Hawaii! But then we leveled up to getting smarter about where we put our money and how we paid for things. So don’t miss #4 and 5!
2. Clean out and sell stuff (and stop buying things you don’t need)
I’ve become a minimalist. I don’t like “stuff” lying around, so I’ve literally sold or donated anything that we didn’t need. This is an easy way to get some quick cash for a trip—it’s not a method that will last forever, because eventually you could sell everything in your house!
But it’s a great start. Sell on Facebook Indoor Yard sales, Craigslist, or a local community page (here in Utah that would be KSL).
Tip: If someone is trying to get rid of something for free, take a minute to consider if it’s worth anything. Could you resell an item that someone is getting rid of anyways? One example of this is that my in-laws got rid of an old ping-pong table. They just wanted it off their hands so we took and sold it on Facebook indoor yard sale.
Also consider if a free item is something worth cleaning or fixing up and selling, kind of like a fixer-upper but on a much smaller scale!
On that note, try not to accumulate things you don’t need. Not only is it a waste of your money, but you’ll have more “stuff” in your house!
3. Sell stuff you make
I’m not saying you need to start a full-on business or anything, but if you have a talent to make something, try selling the items you make. There are plenty of people in the community who sell services or products to make a little extra money on the side. Here are some ideas: crafts, photography, food, decoration, etc.
And, of course, if your little experiment works and you start selling a ton of stuff, convert it into a business!
4. Generate streams of passive income
This is HUGE. Passive income is anything that makes you money and requires minimal to no effort on your part. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? You don’t have to own a rental property or storage unit to make passive income. You can start by asking, “What do I have?”
If you have space in your garage, rent it out using Neighbor.
Own a car that you don’t use that often? Consider putting it on Turo.
If you have a place in your house to rent out, consider doing an airbnb.
Own tools, equipment, or recreational products? Try renting them out on Yudilize.
The main thing is to use what you already own!
We actually took the time to finish our basement and convert it into an Airbnb. Our airbnb has done really well for a small town in Utah. And it’s sooo nice to be on vacation while still making money from the airbnb! If you have an extra bedroom, unused basement, or separate apartment, consider listing it on airbnb.
We also own a couple of paddle boards, which we rent out during the summer. It’s a great way to use what we have and make money off them when we’re not using them! In fact, you can pay off what you’ve bought by renting it out. Always do your research beforehand to see if there’s a market demand for anything you plan to buy and rent out.
In all, you really don’t have to think TOO hard about creating streams of passive income: if you own something that would be of value to others, and you don’t use it all the time, why not try renting it out? There are opportunities to make passive income around us all the time!
5. Use credit cards – Our #1 way to basically travel for free!
I know credit cards are that dreaded thing for some people. But they don’t have to be, especially if you use them the right way. I used to be anti-credit card, as I followed Dave Ramsey and agreed that you don’t get rich with “brownie points.” However, my perspective shifted when we received a letter in the mail from Delta Airlines, saying that if I signed up for their credit card, I could receive 70,000 skymiles.
I was going to rip it up and throw it away, like I usually do when we receive credit card offers, but my husband had been doing research on how to travel using credit cards. So he convinced me to consider this offer.
After discussing it and researching how many miles it took to do a round-trip from Hawaii to Utah, we decided to sign up for the Delta credit card. The credit card had some kind of caveat like we had to spend x-amount of money in the first 4 months. But I used the credit card on things in our normal budget: food, gas, bills, etc, and it naturally added up to the amount required to get the sign-on bonus.
And just like that, we had more than enough miles to take a round trip for two people to Hawaii! It was the most incredible feeling to be able to spend only $20-ish in taxes and fees for our flights.
I continue to use my Delta card and it’s been so worth it. It does have a yearly fee, but that’s a small price to pay for the many experiences we get out of it.
What about getting free hotels in Hawaii?
We tried the Chase credit card with the sign-on bonus, and used those points to get some hotel stays free. I think Chase is a great option, but I like to stick with one credit card.
So we did some research and found out you can get package deals through Delta airlines, meaning:
flight + hotel
or flight + car
flight + hotel + car package
I like using only one credit card because it’s easier to maintain and watch. However, I know some people who use more than one credit card and it works for them.
Here are the GOLDEN RULES to using a credit card—get these rules down and you are all set!
Don’t spend money on the credit card that you don’t have!
Only sign up for a credit card when there is a sign-on bonus.
Do keep up on your payments—you earn rewards here and there for being loyal and on top of things.
The sooner you sign up, the sooner you can start accumulating points.
Do your research beforehand—how many points does it cost for one person to take a round-trip flight to Hawaii and back? Can you spend x-amount of money in the 3-4 months the credit card requires to get the sign-on bonus?
Do note any yearly fees for the credit card (so you see no surprises when the year rolls around and the yearly fee shows up on your account).
Don’t cancel the credit card before the year is up. Read all the terms and conditions because if you cancel before the year mark with some credit cards, they may have the right to take away your points! And if you already used your points, you might end up owing them more!
Do take advantage of the credit card features. Some credit cards, like the Delta credit card, offers free checked bags with every flight. Other credit cards have companion passes, meaning you only need to buy one flight and your companion can jump on for free with you!
Do refer other people to sign up for the credit card and get bonus points!
Sign up with my referral bonus!
With that said, get 90,000 bonus miles with my referral sign on! There’s no shame in inviting others to join, and 90,000 is a LOT of miles. It’s around 70,000 for my husband and I to fly to Hawaii just so you can get an idea. 🙂 Sign up below!
Because we used Delta Skymile points, our flights costs about $20 for the taxes and fees. After we bought the flights, Delta popped up with some good deals for car rentals. So we got our car rental for $180. Then we used our Chase Sapphire points to pay for the hotels. We didn’t have enough points so we paid a difference of about $100. It honestly felt pretty good to have used these points (that we earned on everyday purchases anyways!) and save a ton of money!
You can do it too!
And that’s it! I hope you learned something here of how you can budget a Hawaii vacation. It really doesn’t have to be complicated or hard. I truly believe ANYONE can go to Hawaii if they use their money wisely and take advantage of tools like credit cards, use what they have, and just be smart about financial decisions.
I hope these tips helped and this is the year you get to take that amazing trip to Hawaii!
Aloha always,
Lei
Let’s hear it from you!
What are some creative ways you budget a Hawaii vacation? Let us know in the comments below!
Planning a trip to Maui? This Maui Guide contains some of my favorite places on the island, and leaves a lot of open space for you to spend on the beach or enjoy your favorite island things!
Each Hawaiian island is unique, and Maui features gorgeous greenery, lovely beaches, and breathtaking views from just about anywhere on the island! This simple Maui Guide includes the following:
An interactive map, provided by WanderLog, to make your trip planning easier!
The best time to visit Maui
Where to stay on Maui
Maui Places to see and Food recommendations
Road to Hana details
How many days should you stay?
And unique things to do while on the island!
Save this map to make your planning easier!
Wanderlog is a trip planner app that makes your vacay/trip planning THAT much easier! Everything I’ve mentioned in this article is saved in the map below, so be sure to download the wanderlog app and add these fun things to your to-do list. Keep scrolling to get all the details/scoops on the locations below! 🙂
We went in January, which has pros and cons. When you go in the winter months (Dec-March) there’s a lot of wind, meaning big waves. The north and west side of the island saw a lot of wind, which made it uncomfortable and cold on the beaches. However, the south side was perfectly fine though. The biggest pro of going during the winter is that there are plenty of whales! We saw whales everyday we were there!
Side note: I’m writing this in February 2021, and the pandemic has made it so only people who do all the proper testing and requirements can visit Maui. When we went, there was significantly less people in general due to it being after the holidays and the global pandemic. It’s definitely nice to not have so many people there (especially on the road to Hana), but also be aware that mask-wearing and social distancing are mandated on the island.
Where to Stay on Maui
We stayed at Castle Maui Banyan in Kihei because we didn’t need anything fancy–just a nice place to shower and sleep at the end of the day! They have very reasonable prices, especially if you purchase your stay using points from a credit card. I’m sure you can find good deals using third party websites as well.
Benefits of staying in Kihei:
I honestly think Kihei is the best place to stay. It is pretty central on the island and, in my opinion, has the prettiest white sand beaches. It doesn’t get the wind that the west side gets, so you can really plan on having an amazing beach day. 🙂
We also chose to stay our last night in Hana, because we didn’t want to do the road to Hana in one day. I highly recommend doing Hana in two days, as it allows you time to enjoy the bamboo hike at the end! It also gives you time to chill and enjoy Hana instead of rushing back quickly. We stayed at the Hyatt Hana Maui Resort. I think our place in Kihei was nicer than this, but I honestly think this is probably the nicest place to stay in Hana. The other inns and places we drove by didn’t compare to this resort.
Maui Places to See & Food Recommendations
There’s SO much to see on Maui! I recommend getting a rental car so you can explore the island on your time. I’ve listed some of the iconic, enjoyable things to do on your trip! Remember that you don’t need to do this all in one trip. I recommend reading through the Maui guide and jotting down a few things you’d like to do. Or save this page to your bookmarks to review later!
West Maui
Gorgeous sunrise view from Lahaina Town
Catch a sunrise at Lahaina town. The old banyan tree is an iconic thing to see Lahaina, as well as walking down the streets. Lahaina is a cute, old town with plenty of local shops, artists, and restaurants. There are also beaches to relax at here—just make your way towards the ocean and there are plenty of sandy beaches.
Baya Bowl had my favorite acai bowl in Maui!
Eat a delicious acai bowl at Baya Bowls (this was probably the best-tasting, quality foods of all the foods in Maui).
We ate at Cheeseburgers in Paradise for lunch in Lahaina. It was pretty greasy but the fries were good.
Snorkel at Honolua or Mokulaie.
Stop by Punalau beach for a fresh coconut.
See the Nakalele Blowhole (if conditions are right–sometimes if the tide is too low, the water will rise high enough to shoot out of the blowhole).
Banana bread is a kind of a big deal in Maui, so my friend recommended Julia’s banana bread, which is usually around the Blowhole area.
And then STOP and turn around at this point. Going along the northwest coast from the Nakalele Blowhole area to Kahului breaks most of the rental contracts. This road is very dangerous, one way at most parts, and goes around steep ocean cliffs, with falling rocks on the other side. Pretty scary! We did this drive and I will say it’s beautiful and terrifying.
North Maui
Hike the Waihe’e ridge trail but please be warned. There are unattended cows along this path. One of the cows charged us and it was very scary! We were ok, but I’m not sure if I’d go again.
Iao Needle at Iao Valley State Park: Entrance fee $10
See the Iao Needle at the Iao Valley state park.
Check out the unique South Pacific and Asian architecture and plants at Kepaniwai Park.
Walk around Wailuku and enjoy the mural wall art along the buildings.
Eat dinner at Zippys in Kahului (Zippys is one of my favorite chain restaurants in Hawaii—it’s always consistently good!).
South Maui
Beaches, beaches, beaches! If you want a beach day, spend it here on the south side of Maui. It is so worth it!
We spent the day at Po’olenalena beach, but get there a tad early because public parking access to the beach is limited.
*Something really neat about this beach is to the south side of it is a great snorkeling spot! You’ll see a lot of tour boats and snorkelers around that area so it’s hard to miss it.
La Perouse Bay in the morning
La Perouse Bay is a popular spot to see. We came here with a paddle board but because of the windy weather, it really wasn’t that fun. I think it’s gorgeous though.
There are a lot of activities down here—it just depends on what you want to do! You can rent a paddle board and walk it to the beach, rent some bikes and ride the town, or just walk around and check out all the street restaurants and food trucks!
There weren’t very many food places down here I can confidently recommend.
Haleakala National Park
This is not the summit of Haleakala–this is below the summit but I think it’s more beautiful down here! 🙂
There are two parts of Haleakala National Park and they are not connected by any roads. One of them you can access from the central Maui, and the other part is only accessible outside of Hana.
The popular Maui thing to do is see the sunrise at Haleakala. You have to reserve your place ahead of time. When I went onto the websites there was absolutely no spots available, so we planned to see the sunset.
It’s SO much better! And I don’t even think the summit is the best spot. As we drove up, we were in awe at how gorgeous the clouds looked below the trees! By the time we got to the summit, it was cloudy and so foggy that we couldn’t see anything. (See picture below).
So my advice is do Haleakala at sunset and enjoy being above the clouds but don’t feel obligated to go to the summit. There are plenty of places to pull off and enjoy the sunset above the clouds!
Road to Hana
I think the road to Hana is definitely worth a try at least once. I don’t think I want to do it again—mostly just because it’s long and I don’t enjoy being in the car that long, even with all the stops. Here are some of my favorite stops though (my road to Hana guide will be up soon!).
(MM stands for mile marker)
MM 2 – Twin falls
MM 16.5 – Seeing the beautiful rainbow eucalyptus trees at the Ke’anae arboretum (skip the Garden of Eden because the Ke’anae arboretum is free and has plenty of plants to admire).
MM 22.5 – Pua’a ka’a state park has easy access waterfalls, as well as a bathroom.
MM 23 – Short lava tube hike. Super neat and most people just drive past!
HANA – Finally getting to Hana is such a relief. I recommend staying the night so you don’t have to rush the Pipiwai trail. Maybe we were tired, but the Pipiwai trail took a minute for us to finish. We stayed in the Hana Resort.
Some things to do in Hana are to eat at the food trucks or the Hana Ranch Restaurant. The red sand beach is right here in Hana, an easy trail and pretty sight (it took us less than 10 minutes to hike to the red sand beach–we didn’t swim there. Just checked it out).
Bamboo Forest, Maui
MM 42 – Ohe’o Gulch and Pipiwai Trail are SO worth it. The bamboo forest and Waikamo falls were totally worth it.
Make sure you STOP here and turn around. Going past the national park may violate your rental contract.
How many days should I spend on Maui?
I recommend 4-5 days, which gives you plenty of time for adventurous hikes and relaxing beach days.
Be on the lookout for whales (especially during the winter months!)
Enjoy Maui!
I hope you enjoyed this Maui guide! So many people visit Maui again and again because of the delightful beaches and warm tropical sun. There’s so much to enjoy, I hope you have an amazing time! Don’t forget to save the Maui guide to help you plan your trip later!
Love,
Lei
Your turn!
What is your favorite thing to do in Maui? Let us know in the comments below!
A haku lei makes any trip to Hawaii that much better! We’ve all seen the touristy pictures of people in Hawaii, purple orchid leis around their necks, donning colorful aloha shirts, and big smiles on their faces. But what if you could experience more than the touristy stuff in Hawaii? What if you could wear more than a lei to explore Hawaii, and feel a natural grace and elegance that blends in with the vibe of the refreshing islands?
This is exactly what a haku lei can do. This all-natural (or synthetic, if you choose!) accessory is more than just a flower crown.
The traditional art of making a lei po’o, aka a “lei” for the “po’o” (head), has been practiced for hundreds of years. We use lei po’o for celebrations, hula dance, birthdays, or just because!
There are different ways to make the lei po’o, which is why not all lei po’o are considered haku lei, the popular term these lovely crowns have been given in the last couple of years.
What is your lei po’o style?
Here is a brief list of the different style of lei po’o to help you get a feel for the type you want:
Kui – This style is mostly used to make the lei that hangs around the neck. However, it can also be used to make lei po’o. A long lei needle strings the flowers together. The strings are then tied together, making a beautiful lei. The flowers that make up a kui lei are usually plumeria, orchid, pua kenikeni, tuberose, and carnations.
Wili – Wili means “to twist.” This is the most popular style to make lei po’o. A strand of raffia or ti leaf secures flowers and ferns to a backing. Many people refer to this as a haku lei, but we’ll get to that next!
The lei po’o made for me was in the wili style
Haku – Lei haku is actually a braided or woven lei, where flowers and/or ferns are braided or woven to keep in place. I’ve seen this style mostly used by hula dancers, as they braid ti leaves or other ferns to keep firmly in place.
So what is a haku lei?
A haku lei is actually the “weaver of lei” and the lei haku is the braided/woven lei. At this point, people find it easier to refer to the haku lei as the reference to a lei po’o. If you want to be specific, though, that’s great!
Where can I get a lei po’o in Hawaii?
One of my favorite haku lei artists is Andrea from petite.maui, who I partnered with for this blog post. Located on the island of Maui, Andrea creates any style of lei po’o you want. From bold foliage that pops, to pastels and whites for special occasions, she can make it all.
There are quite a few lei po’o makers in Hawaii, but it’s important to know what makes a good lei maker. Here are a few tips to help you find a great head lei for your trip to Hawaii!
What makes a good haku lei?
The style is clean
My mom worked and competed as a professional hula dancer growing up, and she told me few things about what makes the best lei po’o. The first thing she told me is that the style is clean, no matter if it’s a wili, kui, or haku style. When I look at haku lei maker’s work, I pay attention to the inside. That seems weird because doesn’t it only matter what the outside looks like?
The inside is what touches your head and if it’s not quality work, it won’t feel good to wear. It will be uneven against your forehead, and it can hurt to wear.
Trust me, I’ve worn lei po’o that isn’t made well. Though they might look pretty, they really hurt and I want to take it off asap! It’s honestly a bummer!
As you can see in the picture below, Andrea’s haku lei has a clean wili style inside of the lei po’o. This makes it comfortable to wear, meaning you’ll never want to take it off! 🙂
The clean woven raffia ensures a comfortable wear on your head 🙂
The colors pop
Every artist and graphic designer can testify to the importance of colors. A lei po’o artist is no different than any other artist. They pay attention to color and theme, and especially make the lei po’o to the needs and wants of the person receiving it.
One thing I loved about Andrea’s work is I didn’t tell her specifically what I wanted, but she definitely over-delivered! She chose a simple style of white and orange orchids, complimented by magenta carnations and bold ti leaves. When she gave it to me, she said she chose some “playful colors,” which I loved.
I loved the colors she chose for me!
Working with a local lei artist has great benefits: whatever colors and theme you desire, they’ll help you bring that vision to life.
The haku lei is made with aloha
If someone is going to make you something, it’s so important they make it with aloha. Andrea was so sweet and helpful, I could immediately tell the goodness she put into making the haku lei. While it might be easy to buy a haku lei from a shop in the city, it takes away from the heart and meaning of haku lei making. I’ve made haku lei before and it is truly a labor of love. It takes time and care to pick the flowers and ferns, assemble the foliage, and make the haku lei itself.
“Hana me ke aloha” is one of my favorite sayings meaning to “work with love.” Buying a lei po’o from a local artist can guarantee this amazing experience and connection.
Oftentimes you can, as long as your lei does not include specific plants that are prohibited. Refer to this website to see prohibited plants, and specifically ask your haku lei artist to not include those things.
When you take it home, I suggest letting it dry and keeping it for the memories! The haku lei Andrea made was so beautiful and well-made, that I’m letting it dry to use as a decoration in the office! 🙂
Will you wear a haku lei on your next trip to Hawaii?
I love supporting local Hawaii artists, and haku lei makers are no exception. The malamaand aloha that goes into creating a lei po’o can be felt every time you put it on. It makes a trip to Hawaii that much more special!
Let me know in the comments: What is your favorite Hawaiian flower?
For this post, I partnered with Andrea at petite.maui. You can count on me to be an honest and good steward of this opportunity. All opinions are my own.
“What are the best things to do in Hawaii?” This is one of the most common questions I get asked. As someone who grew up in Hawaii and visits often, I’ve thought of how overwhelming planning might be for someone else who’s never been to Hawaii.
What are the best things a person should do when they go to Hawaii?
I’ve put together a list of my favorite things to do in Hawaii that are iconic, memorable, and FUN. These really are the best things to do in Hawaii! They are also things you can do on ANY Hawaiian island, which will really help with planning.
You can fit any of these activities easily into your schedule and they work around any budget. Some of these activities are even FREE! 🙂
So here are the 10 best things to do on any Hawaiian island!
P.S. I made the images like little postcards so you can save them to your Pinterest for later! Or download them to use as a phone background or reminder of your upcoming trip! 🙂 Even better, send them to a friend to share aloha!!
1. Relax at the beach – The #1 best thing to do in Hawaii!
A vacation to Hawaii is never complete without some time at the beach. Pack your favorite snacks, use reef-safe sunscreen to protect your skin, and lie out on the warm beaches of Hawaii.
If relaxing, resting, or taking a nap on the beach isn’t your thing, there’s so much more to do! I’ve seen people doing all kinds of things at the beach, from playing football, throwing frisbees, reading a book, chatting with friends, having a campfire, walking hand-in-hand along the shore, doing a photoshoot, and so forth.
And don’t miss out on activity #3 for all the great things you can do IN the water! 😀
2. Eat shave ice
This is a must try! It gets hot in Hawaii, so cool off with some ‘ono shave ice! Most shave ice places have so many flavors, you might get overwhelmed.
Here are some local flavors from the islands that you might want to consider: guava, lilikoi (passion fruit), lychee, coconut, and pineapple.
All of the islands have places to get shave ice, so keep an eye open or plan ahead where to go! 🙂
3. Try a water activity, such as snorkeling, surfing, boogie-boarding, SUP, or body boarding
Water activities add an extra level of excitement and fun to the beach experience. The ocean is truly a magical place, with so much to learn about, explore, and do.
Trying a water activity is one of the best things to do in Hawaii because they’re great for all levels and ages. Boogie boarding is a great introductory water sport for kids. Teens and adults can enjoy SUP or surfing (kids can do it too!). And snorkeling is great for all ages! There really is something for everyone on the shores of the beautiful Pacific ocean!
4. Attend a luau (or eat luau food)
This is for the cultural experience of Hawaii. Every island has places to attend a luau, and the prices range. If you’re not interested in watching or paying for a luau show, at least try the food.
Many places in Hawaii serve traditional luau food on “luau plates.” The traditional food includes:
Laulau
Kalua pig
Rice
Lomi salmon
Poi
Chicken long rice
Squid luau
And poke.
There are always variations on the “luau plate”, but try at least some of these traditional, mouth-watering luau favorites at local restaurants and eateries.
To see traditional hula and performances, you can also find free shows on some of the islands! You just have to be aware of the times, and follow covid guidelines too.
5. Wear a lei (or a flower in your ear)
A fresh flower or leaf lei brightens up any day. If you are with someone, give them a lei, which is a symbol of friendship, honor, celebration, and love.
You can order leis from local vendors. Most grocery stores and road-side stops also sell fresh lei.
For women, a simple flower in the ear is also a fun way to feel and be a part of Hawaii. Wearing the flower in the right ear means she is single. Wearing the flower in the left ear means she has a special someone.
Another thing I love are haku lei, or flower crowns. These lovely crowns make any woman light up, bringing out their natural beauty. They’re fun to wear during the entire trip, and great for pictures!
6. See a waterfall – Don’t miss this best thing to do in Hawaii!
Every island has plenty of beautiful waterfalls. Each one is majestic in its own way, from small waterfalls flowing into different pools, to tall, breathtaking waterfalls.
Each one usually requires hiking, but the great thing is that there are hikes for all ages and levels. Some waterfalls you can literally drive right up to, and some takes a short (or long) hike to see.
7. Try a poke bowl
Cubed, raw ahi tuna fish marinated in the most mouth-watering sauces, poured onto a bed of hot rice.
That’s a poke bowl.
Some people get freaked out by the idea of eating raw fish, but you must give it a try! It might surprise you how delightful and refreshing a poke bowl is! My husband was pretty hesitant about eating it, but once he tried it, he could never go back.
Every island has grocery stores and shops that sell poke bowls. My favorite poke bowls are from Foodland (also known as Sack n’ Save), as they are the freshest, best sized cubes, and most flavorful poke choices. My favorites poke flavors are the traditional shoyu poke, as well as the spicy poke!
8. See marine life, like dolphins, whales, fish, or sea turtles
Your vacation wouldn’t be complete without seeing some kind of marine life. Hawaii is home to hundreds of beautiful sea turtles, as well as dolphins, whales, fish, and, of course, sharks.
Though I will mention shark sightings are SO rare! In all the years I lived in Hawaii (about 10+ years), I only saw a shark once. And it’s because I stayed out in the water past sunset. It was a small shark though.
Go snorkeling to see turtles and fish (this is free if you have your own snorkeling gear too!). Take a whale-watching tour or dolphin excursion to see these magical creatures in the wild (tours usually start at $100/person).
Seeing Hawaii’s unique marine life is an experience you will never forget!
9. Stop at roadside fruit stands or food trucks
Support local businesses by stopping to buy some fruit or food. Fresh fruit tastes AMAZING! And the local food trucks have delightful treats for all ages and tastes!
My favorites are acai bowls. They are a refreshing way to fuel up and get your nutrients in for the day!
10. Feel the Aloha spirit
This is the best thing to do in Hawaii. There’s something about being on the islands that feels safe, light, and peaceful. We call that the aloha spirit. It’s in everything, from the people to the plants to the animals.
Planning a Hawaii vacation can sometimes feel overwhelming. Where do you start? What do you do? Which island should you visit? What should you eat and where should you stay? And when is the best time to go?
First off, take a deep breath. 🙂
Planning a Hawaii vacation doesn’t have to be stressful—in fact, it can be a lot of fun!
When my husband and I got married 2.5 years ago (at the time I’m writing this post), we decided that we wanted to visit Hawaii almost every year. That is to say, we wanted to visit during the winter months at least once. After a few trips, I can happily say I enjoy planning a Hawaii vacation.
It’s really fun and does take a little bit of legwork. So if this is your once-in-a-lifetime trip, or one of many trips to Hawaii, then follow these simple steps to plan the perfect trip to Hawaii!
1. Choose dates for your vacation to Hawaii
Did you know that there are busy seasons in Hawaii? Most people like to visit Hawaii when their own weather at home isn’t so great. Usually December to beginning of April are Hawaii’s busiest times.
People just want to get out of the cold, like me. 😛
But don’t let that deter you from choosing dates in the winter months. Hawaii is generally crowded all the time. These dates might just make it a little more difficult to book hotels, flights, and cars. And, unfortunately, some companies may raise prices during these times because they’re known to be so busy.
Personally, I plan for a time that works with my husband’s work schedule. And maybe you have to schedule around children’s school, activities, and so forth.
I find that choosing a date comes down to asking myself these questions:
-What is most convenient for me? What works with my schedule? and
-Do the prices look reasonable at this time? (Sometimes you WILL find that sweet price that works just perfectly for you and your family).
To sum up, here are some things to think about when choosing your dates:
November is one of the wettest months in Hilo on the Big Island (I know because I lived there).
November to May is when the whales migrate, with January-March considered the peak whale-watching season. These are great times to visit Maui.
Good travel deals usually occur in April, May, September, and October.
The Hawaii Vacation Guide says that December is the worst month to visit Hawaii.
2. How many days should I plan for my Hawaii vacation?
Long answer: I lived in Hawaii for most of my life. Family members and friends have visited many times. After my own trips to Hawaii, I came to the conclusion that 5-7 days is the perfect amount of time.
It gives you enough time to relax on the beach, explore sites, and do other fun activities like snorkeling, whale-watching, hiking, attending a luau, and so forth.
Short answer: 5-7 days are the perfect amount for a trip to Hawaii.
Akaka Falls, Big Island
3. Which island should I visit?
When planning a Hawaii vacation, you should know that there are 8 Hawaiian islands. However, only 4 of the 8 islands are the main attractions: Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Big Island.
If you are a first-timer to Hawaii, I suggest starting with Oahu or Maui, as they contain most of Hawaii’s iconic attractions.
Kauai and Big Island are much slower, with a greater diversity of eco systems and natural beauties. They are, in my opinion, less crowded too.
Check out my article: 10 iconic things to do on any Hawaiian island
Here is the list of ideas that you can do on each island:
Kauai: Enjoy beautiful and lush scenery, relax on white sand beaches, visit the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” take a boat out to see the Napali coast, see the beautiful Waipi’o falls, and go snorkeling at Tunnel’s Beach. This island is the honeymooner’s island, a perfect romantic getaway for couples. But there are plenty of family-friendly activities too!
Oahu: Home to Waikiki, North Shore, and plenty of family-friendly hikes and activities, Oahu is Hawaii’s picture icon. There’s a lot of history, hikes, sites, and iconic Hawaiian food in town (Waikiki) and across the island. With so many things to do, this is a great spot for families!
Maui: Visit Haleakala National Park with its wide variety of species and landscapes, go whale-watching along the coast, snorkel at Molokini crater, and hold on tight as you drive the road to Hana.
Big Island: Visit Hawaii Volcano National Park and admire the unique species of the island, see lava pour into the ocean, relax on a black sand beach, hike to a green sand beach, jump off the southern-tip of the United States, and see the snow on Mauna Kea.
To make it simpler, I created the ultimate bucket lists for all four main islands.
4. When planning a Hawaii vacation, how much money should I expect to spend?
This depends for every person, and I’ll show you how I organize the budget:
First, I write down the following categories on a piece of paper: flights, hotel, car, and food.
Second, I calculate how much it will be per person per day.
Finally, times that number (from the following step) by how many people and how many days. That should give you a rough estimate to budget for your trip.
I’m sorry I don’t have exact numbers, but I give my best estimates below.
Here is a little breakdown.
Flights:
My husband and I actually don’t pay for our flights besides about $20 dollars in taxes and fees, so check it out here:
Usually flights from the continental U.S. range anywhere from $500-$1200 round trip.
The easiest way to know the average price of your flight to Hawaii is to do a search on Kayak, inserting your dates and then checking the box that says “flexible dates.” Kayak will highlight the cheapest rates for you.
Hotel/stay:
Hotels in Hawaii are expensive, with the starting price usually at around $100 a night. Because hotels can get pricey, Airbnbs and VRBO are budget-friendly options but carefully read reviews and watch out for scams.
Unfortunately, bugs (cockroaches, mosquitoes, centipedes, etc) are a thing in Hawaii. And it’s the huge thumbs down for me, so just be careful when picking airbnbs or vrbo rentals.
I don’t “pay” for hotel stays besides taxes and fees, and I’ll write an article how to do that soon! I will update this post as soon as I write that. 🙂
Car:
When you book your flight, try to do a package deal with hotels and cars. There is usually a “package deal” option on most airline company websites for flights + car. I’ve found those to be some of the cheapest rates.
Sometimes you can find even better rates with the flight + hotel + car packages.
I don’t go through third party vendors anymore (like Priceline, Expedia, etc) because it’s so difficult to cancel or get help if something goes wrong. However, I have heard success stories of people getting amazing deals through third party vendors. I just like to keep things simple and work directly with companies, but if it works for you, then go for it! 🙂
If you can’t get a good deal through a travel package, you can rent a car through any of the car rental companies on the islands. There are plenty to choose from, with rates as low as around $20 a day.
Another great option is to use Turo. This is like airbnb for cars. So people put their cars on the Turo app for others to rent. Most times they’ll even pick you up from the airport without a fee, which is very convenient. No long lines at the rental car place, just one person working with another. 🙂
Another amazing benefit is that you can rent a car via Turo for as low as $15 a day! The prices are very reasonable. Even luxury vehicles are seriously discounted in comparison to rental car companies.
Check out this article on best local foods to eat!
Food:
If you plan to eat out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner I would estimate this for the cost:
$10 for breakfast
$15 for lunch
Anywhere from $18-$25 (or more) for dinner
You can really cut costs down by buying stuff at the grocery stores or Costco to make your own meals, like breakfast foods, sandwiches, snacks at the beach, etc.
However, I do encourage you to support the businesses in Hawaii by eating at local restaurants, food trucks, and farmers markets some of the meals. These businesses rely on the tourism industry.
Also, I’m a firm believer that “tasting” a place makes travel that much more experiential, inspiring, and fun.
Activities:
You can spend hundreds of dollars on activities or nothing at all! There are plenty of free experiences on the islands to check out and enjoy.
But just so you can get an idea, here are some examples of activities and price ranges:
Renting a surfboard: about $20/day
Surfing lessons: about $100/person
Whale watching tour: about $150/person
Luau event: about $120/person
Private tour (horseback riding, whale watching, hike, etc): about $500-$700/person
Helicopter ride: $300-$600/person
And here are some free activity ideas:
Relaxing on the beach
Hiking (to a waterfall, mountaintop, beach, etc)
Historic sites
Free night shows at specific hotels (like in Waikiki)
I talked about the budgeting part of booking flights, hotels, and the car, but what about actually booking them?
As I mentioned before, I recommend going directly through companies, but third-party vendors can sometimes have better deals. The reason I go directly through companies is the security and ease of communication if I run into any problems.
Especially when Covid hit, I felt really grateful I could cancel flights, hotels, and cars quickly and easily through the company’s websites.
6. Should I visit more than one Hawaiian island during my trip?
When planning a Hawaii vacation, my short answer to this is no.
There are two exceptions:
Exception #1: If you catch your inter-island flight in the evening, that allows you a whole day on the island.
For example, you spend 3 full days on Oahu, and the third night you fly out to Maui. If you fly out in the night, you’ll be able to pick up your rental car and get situated at your hotel in Maui without wasting precious daylight hours.
From observing friends and family plan their trips to Hawaii, I’ve noticed that so much time in Hawaii is wasted at airports, catching a flight to the neighbor island, only to cram in a day or two there.
It’s really difficult to explore and enjoy the island, especially if it’s your first time there, in only a day or two.
Ask yourself: Is it worth my time to travel to another island? Do I have enough time to really do what I want?
I suggest visiting one island at a time. If this really is your once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hawaii and you can fit in more than one island, I recommend a max of visiting two islands.
So many of my friends and family have made the mistake of visiting two islands, only to feel frustrated that they spent half the day at the airport, waiting in line at the rental car company, and checking in at the hotel.
Don’t waste your precious time in Hawaii.
View at South Point, Big Island. Give yourself plenty of time to explore each island.
Exception #2: You’re planning a Hawaii vacation for a long time.
Let’s say you’re going to Hawaii for 10 days. You can spend 5 days on one island, and 5 days on the other, giving you plenty of time to explore and really enjoy each island.
Again, this is just my opinion but I highly recommend doing one island on your visit, unless you plan to spend a longer amount of time in Hawaii.
To recap, my top tips if you want to do two islands in one vacation are:
-Travel in the evening/night time so you’re not wasting your day at the airport, picking up the rental car, and checking in at the hotel.
-Give yourself plenty of time to explore both islands.
7. What activities should I do on my Hawaii vacation?
This is just a starting list, and doesn’t even begin to include everything!
Relax on the beach, obviously 🙂
Go surfing, boogie boarding, body surfing, SUP, snorkeling, or scuba diving
Take a whale-watching tour
Eat shave ice
Try local cuisine
Attend a luau
Visit historic sites like the Iolani Palace, Pearl Harbor Memorial, etc
Hike to beautiful waterfalls and mountain tops
I recommend checking out these pages on my blog for more ideas:
See the turtles at Black Sand Beach on Big Island, but don’t get too close.
8. Preparation is key: What to know before you go to Hawaii
Hawaii is a unique place, with a halo-halo (mix) of cultures, eco-systems, and people. So it’s important to respect the people and the land, a concept called malama.
Simple preparation like learning simple Hawaiian words, knowing what to wear, and being aware of the environment will help you feel more like a part of the island.
Check out these articles to help you prepare for your trip:
I’ve updated this article since I published it, and Hawaii is always changing its guidelines. Be sure to check out their website for the latest on covid testing and travel to Hawaii.
We had to get tested for covid so we went to Walgreens. I suggest going to your local local Costco and Walgreens. Try to plan ahead because the testing slots can fill up quickly. 🙁 And don’t forget to upload the results onto the Hawaii Safe Travels website before you leave!
*Whew* Let’s take a deep breath because you’re finally going to Hawaii. You’re done planning a Hawaii vacation and it’s time to go! This is exciting and your experience will be unforgettable!
Don’t forget to take pictures, malama the ‘aina, and HAVE FUN!
Love,
Lei
Let’s hear it from you!
Was this guide helpful? Do you have any more questions about planning your trip? Please let me know in the comments and mahalo for your kokua!
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Don’t forget to pin this so you can come back to it. 🙂
Reef safe sunscreen protects Hawaii’s beautiful coral reefs and ecosystems from harmful chemicals that cause bleaching and other effects.
Hawaii sees millions of visitors and tourists every year. They hit up the beach, lathering on sunscreen to protect from the warm sun rays.
Naturally, all that sunscreen washes off in the water, impacting the beautiful corals and reefs. Especially with so many tourists coming to the waters everyday in Hawaii, the impact can be devastating.
Just google “bleached coral” to see the effects of tourism and chemical sunscreens.
But we can each play a part in protecting the marine life and ocean by using reef safe sunscreen.
There is a Hawaiian value called malama, which means to care for and protect. It is our duty to mālama ke kai, protect the sea. As we shift to eco-friendly products, we can make a huge difference. Even educating others on the effects of chemical-based sunscreens cane do so much for our oceans.
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Hawaii created a new law, effective January 1, 2021, that bans any sunscreens with two ingredients: oxybenzone and octinoxate.
What does oxybenzone and octinoxate do to coral reefs?
According to Dr. Craig Downs, executive director of the Haereticus Environmental Laboratory in Clifford, Virginia, oxybenzone and octinoxate prevents the growth of baby corals, causes coral bleaching, and may even affect some marine animals like shrimp and clams.
Here are some things you can do to keep the reef safe:
-Choose sunscreens that do not include oxybenzone and octinoxate in the ingredients. You must check carefully because some companies claim their sunscreens to be “reef safe” when they’re really not! Read the list of ingredients thoroughly.
-Avoid sunscreens with other reef-harming chemicals, like nano particles, avobenzone, octocrylene petrolatum (aka mineral oil), and homosalate. These harm the coral and reefs too.
-Avoid sunscreens (and products in general) with parabens in them.
-Avoid aerosol sprays. Harmful particles can get into the air.
-Especially for those who burn easily, reduce the use of sunscreen by covering up as much as possible: use a straw hat, rash guard, or stay in the shade.
-Choose snorkel or boat tour companies that require the use of reef-safe sunscreens. Some tour companies even provide reef-safe sunscreens.
-Plan ahead of time: I’ll list below the best reef-safe sunscreen you can order and pack before your trip to Hawaii!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase any of these resources, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read more about it here. Mahalo!
The Best Reef Safe Sunscreens
Here are the best reef-safe sunscreens you can get for your next Hawaii trip! Some of these are from local businesses in Hawaii, so be sure to check them out!
The biggest takeaway from this sunscreen is that little goes a long way. Even though this sunscreen comes in little 3 oz tubes (perfect for traveling), it should last a good couple of days!
Sun Bum finally came out with their reef-safe sunscreen! I double checked the ingredients to make sure it doesn’t contain harmful ingredients. It also comes in SPF 30 and SPF 15.
Another local company based out of Maui, Raw Love is a non-nano sunscreen with all natural ingredients. When you can actually read and identify the ingredients, you know it’s good!
Support a local Maui business by purchasing Mama Kuleana sunscreen. Made with all natural ingredients and packaged in a biodegradable container, this sunscreen smells great and won’t harm the ocean life.
This non-nano sunscreen glides on smoothly. It comes in a biodegradable package and uses zinc oxide as its base ingredient to protect your skin from burning.
E komo mai! 🌺 I am the author of Aloha State of Mind, a self help book that teaches you how to create paradise wherever you are. My blog, Naturally Aloha, focuses on all things Hawaii: culture, values, food, lifestyle, and more. I hope my writing inspires you to carry aloha with you everywhere! Learn more…
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