Hawaii Trip Budget
Total trip budget:
My family of 4 did this trip together, so we were able to split many of the costs.
Per person this two-island 9 day trip costs us:
Flights: $550.54 USD per person
AirBnbs: $426.75 USD per person
Car: $204.51 USD per person
Food and excursions/activities: $702.60 USD per person
TOTAL COST PER PERSON: $1,884.40
Want to budget even lower than the trip I took?
A few things you can definitely live without if your budget is a few hundred dollars away from making the trip possible:
Skip the turtle cove excursion - it was the most expensive thing we did and honestly was the least fun snorkeling experience of all the ones we did. Very overcrowded and not so clear waters. Saves $120 per person.
We ate at three relatively expensive restaurants this trip - Monkey Pod, Haleiwa Joe’s at haiku gardens, and The Rim. Subbing these out for more reasonably priced meals like the other dinners we did on the trip would save around $75 per person.
OPTIONAL: You could also turn the 9 day multi island trip into a 6 day trip for just Oahu and save $485.81 per person by not getting an additional Airbnb, additional rental car on the big island, and saving on food and excursions on the big island.
So the budget we had used for our trip could be decreased by close to $200 per person with these 2 easy swaps, and bring my original budget to around $1,689.4 per person. Or a shortened trip on just Oahu for a week would bring my original budget to around $1,203.59 per person.
Flights: Scoring Affordable Flights from Miami to Oahu
Flying from Miami to Oahu is no small feat—it's a 15-hour journey, including layovers, but with the right planning, you can score a great deal. We booked our flights for $535 per person, which included one carry-on and one personal item—a huge win considering how pricey checked bags can be. The key to getting a deal like this is flexibility. We tracked prices for months using Google Flights and Skyscanner, setting price alerts and watching for dips. We also avoided peak travel months like summer and the holiday season, when prices tend to skyrocket.
Choosing the right month to travel can make a huge difference in airfare costs. We flew in September, which is considered a shoulder season—after summer vacation crowds die down but before holiday travelers start booking up flights. This not only helped us snag cheaper tickets but also meant fewer crowds when we arrived. If you're planning a trip to Hawaii from the East Coast, be sure to compare prices across different months and stay flexible with your departure dates. Booking midweek flights instead of weekends and flying out of major hub airports (like Miami, Atlanta, or Dallas) can also help cut costs. With a little research and patience, getting to paradise doesn’t have to break the bank!
Uber to and from Airport in Florida:
To airport: $26.74
From Airport: $35.42
Total Airport transportation and flight costs: Per person: $550.54
LODGING: Airbnb
We had two Airbnb’s for this trip. We typically do Airbnb’s when the four of us travel together because its significantly cheaper than booking separate hotels rooms. We also have a kitchen and laundry machine at our Airbnb’s which help us save money on breakfast and help us pack lighter and avoid checked bag fees.
Our Oahu Airbnb for 6 days / 5 nights was in the heart of Honolulu. We scored a deal for a 2 bed 2 bath on the 25th floor of a high rise for $1,125.
Our Big Island Airbnb was a 3 bed 3 bath for 4 days / 3 nights for $582.
Total lodging costs: $1,707.00, which is $426.75 per person
CAR RENTALS:
Oahu Rental Car Pickup:
We used Expedia to find the cheapest car rental that could fit all 4 of us and our luggage! We ended up finding a midsize SUV that ended up being a Toyota RAV 4 when we picked it up for $603.04 for 6 days. 603.04 for 6 days.
Big Island Rental Car pickup:
Using the same website we booked another midsize SUV for the Big Island, which ended up being a Honda Pilot, that could fit all of us for $215.00 for 3 days in Kona.
Total rental car costs: $818.04, which is $204.51 per person
Day 1: Arrival in Honolulu
Walmart Stop:
Reef safe sunscreen, bug spray, milk, cereal, bananas, cold brew coffee, strawberries.
Total: $62.32
Total Day 1 spending: $62.32 total - Cost per person $15.58
Day 2 – Exploring Honolulu
Stop 1: Diamond Head Hike
Diamond Head Hike Entry Fee
Per person: $5 x 4 = $20
Per vehicles: $10
Total for our group of 4: $30
Stop 2: International Marketplace & Aloha Tower Walkthrough
Parking car: $20.00
International Marketplace
Entry: Free
Aloha Tower Walkthrough
Entry: Free
Stop 3: STIX ASIA Food Hall
Nanamusubi (my lunch spot)
Pork miso soup: $4.00
Onigiri: plum onigiri $2.80, seasoned kelp onigiri $2.75
Total after tax and tip: $15.00
Honolulu Noodle & Co. (my parents lunch spot)
Shrimp fried rice: $13.85
Seafood Noodles: $21.85
Total after tax and tip: $44.50
HK Cafe (My fiance’s lunch spot)
House Special Curry: $18.95
Total after tax and tip: $23.00
Total for all four of us: $83.50
Stop 4: Waikiki Beach & Liliha Bakery Treats
Waikiki Beach
entry was free
Liliha Bakery:
We got 3 cream puffs (worth it!)
Coco puff $2.95
Green tea puff $3,39
Chocolate cream puff $2.89
Total after tax and tip: $13.00
Stop 5: Dinner at Marugame Udon (5:30 PM - 6:30 PM)
Gyudon $11.85
Chicken Katsu Curry $ 12.25
Two Beef udon noodles: $11.65 x 2 = $23.3
Total for all four of us: $69.29
Total Day 2 spending: $215.79 USD total - Cost per person $53.95
Day 3 – Waterfall Hikes and Electric Beach Snorkelling
Stop 1: Manoa Falls Hike
Per vehicles: $7
Stop 2: Punchbowl Crater
Entry & parking: Free
Stop 3: Lunch at Helena’s Hawaiian Food (we shared family style)
Kalua Pig $8.75
Pipikaula Short Ribs $17.00
Laulau $7.70
Lomi Salmon $7.40
Coconut Water x 2 = $9.20
Coke x 2 = $7.00
Total for the 4 of us: $70.00
Stop 4: Snorkeling at Electric Beach
Entry & parking: Free
Stop 6: Dinner at Monkeypod Kitchen
Mai Tais with liliko‘i foam x 3 = $18 x 3 = $54
Truffle fries for the table $13
Margherita pizza - $21
Fresh Island Fish Sandwich - $25
Fresh Caught Fish Tacos - $28
Total after tax and tip: $172.64
Stop 7: Dessert at Lahaina Shave Ice
Coconut Ice $8.00
Matcha Ice $9.25
Total after tax and tip: $20.00
Total Day 3 spending: $269.64 USD total - Cost per person $67.41
Day 4: Exploring East Oahu
Stop 1: Hanauma Bay Snorkeling
Entry Fee: $25 per person ($100 total)
Parking: $3
Total: $103
Stop 2: Lunch at Paradise Poke Hawaii
Poke Bowl: $13.00 x 3
Tataki Bowl : $14.00
Total after tax and tip: $66.46
Stop 3: Makapu’u Tide Pools and Lighthouse Trail (1:30 PM - 2:30 PM)
Parking & Entrance: Free
Stop 4: Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline (2:30 PM - 3:00 PM)
Parking & Entrance: Free
Stop 5: Koko Crater Botanical Garden (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)
Entrance Fee: Free
Stop 6: Halona Blowhole and "From Here to Eternity" Beach (4:15 PM - 4:30 PM)
Parking & Entrance: Free
Stop 7: Haleiwa Joe’s Haiku Gardens Dinner (5:00 PM - 7:30 PM)
Appetizer: Crispy Brussels Sprouts $14.95 (shared)
Steamed Fish: $36.95
Grilled Fish: $36.95
Coconut shrimp: 33.95
Kalbi: 29.95
Lime in da coconut cocktail: 10
Clark’s Mai Tai cocktail:10
Total after Tax & Tip: $197.88
Total Day 4 spending: $367.34 USD total - Cost per person $91.84
Day 5: North Shore Adventure
Stop 1: Green World Coffee Farm
Parking & Access: Free
Stop 2: Dole Plantation
Dole Whip: $7 x 2
Candied Pineapple & Snacks: ~$6
Total after taxes and Tip: $24.50
Stop 3: Waimea Valley and Falls
Entrance Fee: $25 per person
Total: $100 total
Stop 4: Waimea Bay
Parking & Access: Free
Stop 5: Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Shrimp Plate: ~$15 x 4 per person
Total after Tax & Tip: $74
Stop 6: Matsumoto Shave Ice
Shave Ice with Condensed Milk & Mochi: ~$5.75
Ichiban Special: $7.25
Total after tax and tip: 16.25
Stop 7: Strolling Hale‘iwa’s Shops & Galleries
Parking & Access: Free
Total Day 5 spending: $214.75 USD total - Cost per person $53.69
Day 6: Oahu’s turtles & Manta Rays on the Big Island
Stop 1: Catamaran Ride & Snorkeling at Turtle Canyon
Catamaran Tour (Includes Lunch): ~$120 per person
Total: $480
Stop 2: Magic Island Beach & Park
Parking & Access: Free
Stop 3: Heading to the Airport
Filled up the gas in the car: $54.31
Stop 4: Flight from Oahu to the Big Island (6:00 PM)
Interisland Flight (Honolulu → Kona): $69.80 per person
Total: $279.2
Stop 5: Dinner at Mauna Kea Resort - Hau Tree
Hau Tree Caesar: $21
Pesto turkey sandwich: $17
Mauna Kea Buddha Bowl: $21
Poke Bowl: $28
Total after Tax & Tip (20%): 108.32
Stop 6: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays
Snorkeling Tour: ~$140 per person
Total $280 - Only two of us did the snorkel tour
Total Day 6 spending: $921.83 USD total - Cost per person $230.45 (plus 140 for the two of us who did the snorkel with the mantas)
Day 7: Big Island Adventure
Stop 1: Breakfast at Kona Coffee & Tea
Cold Brew: $2.99 x 2
Tea: $2.29
Vanilla Latte: $3.95
Total after tax and tip: $15
Stop 2: Boiling Pots Waterfalls
Entry/Parking Fee: Free
Stop 3: Rainbow Falls
Entry/Parking Fee: Free
Stop 4: Kaumana Caves
Entry/Parking Fee: Free
Stop 5: Lunch in at Jackie Ray’s Ohana Grill
Angie’s Salad: $18
Kalua Park tacos: $18 x 2
Chicken Caesar Wrap: $18
Total after tax and tip: $89.64
Stop 6: Volcanoes National Park
Entry Fee (Valid for 7 Days): $30 per car
Stop 7: Dinner at The Rim
Volcano House Pasta: $25.99
Stuffed Big Island Chicken x 2 $29.99
Steal Salad: $27.99
Total after Tax & Tip (20%): $142
Total Day 7 spending: $276.64 USD total - Cost per person $69.16
Day 8: Beach-Hopping on the Big Island
Stop 1: Sunrise at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach
Entry/Parking Fee: Free
Stop 2: Breakfast at a Kaya's Kawanui Inc
Breve Latte $4.65
White Mocha $4.75
Americano $3.25
Berry Best Smoothie $6.75
Egg n Cheese $6.30 x2
Total after tax and tip: $40
Stop 3: Snorkeling & Relaxing at Kahalu’u Beach Park
Entry/Parking Fee: Free
Stop 4: Lunch Break at L&L Hawai‘ian Barbecue
Katsu and teriyaki beef: $9.49
Fried Rice: $9.99
Healtheir Salmon $13.49
Chicken lovers: $11.49
Total after Tax & Tip (~20%): $55.00
Stop 5: Ke‘Ei Beach – A Secluded Beach for Our Final Sunset
Entry/Parking Fee: Free
Stop 6: Dinner At Kaaloa's Super J's
We got 4 entrees at $10 an entree
Total after Tax & Tip (20%): $50.00
Total Day 8 spending: $145.00 USD total - Cost per person $36.25
Hawaii Day 9: Farewell to the Big Island
Stop 1: Breakfast at a Local Coffee Shop
Breve Latte $4.65
White Mocha $4.75
Americano $3.25
Berry Best Smoothie $6.75
Egg n Cheese $6.30 x2
Total after tax and tip: $40
Stop 2: Puna Chocolate
Frozen hot chocolate: $5.75 x 2
Sipping chocolate: $5.00
Chocolate bars 2 x $6.25
Total after tax: $30.31
Stop 3: Kona Brewing Co. Tour
Seasonal backyard batch flight: $18
Pint: $7.75
5 oz sampler: $5
Total after tax: $37.66
Stop 4: Lunch at Umekes Fish Market Bar & Grill
Poke Flight: $22
Tako Luau $18
Poke Nachos $22
Total after tax and tip: $77.19
Stop 5: Kona Sea Salt Tour & Tastings
Tour for four people ($27 per person)
Total: $108
Stop 6: Airport & Flight Home
We filled up the gas tank before dropping the rental car back off: $43.92
Total Day 9 spending: $337.08 USD total - Cost per person $84.27
