Anyone have any ideas on how to do Hawaii on a strict budget?

[DisneyEG]

is the fare to maui or honolulu?

 

[rparmfamily]

That fare I saw was to Honolulu

**edited to say, I can't find the fare today now. The flights were w/NW.

 

[drcorey]

my church has a lot of the 06 Hawaii entertainment books left.
5.00 each plus shipping. obo. good untill end of the year.

Corey

err, and I also found 8 Millwalkii books too.

 

[sandiegosusie]

We went to Maui and Oahu 2 years ago and the biggest savings for us was that we used Marriott points for our hotel on Oahu. We stayed in a family timeshare on Maui which was a gift from my FIL. We shopped at Costo and cooked most nights. We used priceline for a mini-van rental which we got for $13 a day. BIG SAVINGS on that one! Hawaii.com was very helpful...we signed up on several links and got deals on excursions! ALOHA

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Our TRIP update....for those who booked tix a long time in advance (we booked in December for October)--check you flights.

They put us on a flight that arrives in HNL 2 hours earlier...no biggie! But they bumped us to an hour later on our departure resulting in a 5 minute layover in Atlanta. DOH!

We have fixed it and we are now on a flight with a 1 hour layover. WHEW! Crisis averted.

Just found out my mother can not go--she was asking everyone if we could move our trip and her suggestion was Christmas. HAHA--that is the most expensive time to go. I priced our tickets just to check and for the 3 tix we would now have to purchase...it would exceed our 2 week travel budget that includes airfare. She gave the blessing for eveyrone to go anyway...so the guest of honor will not be there though. It is a shame..but she kind of messed things up. Everyone has been booked for months now and she hadn't made any planning progress.

So that changes things up a bit. We still haven't planned anything though. I think we will take our travel books to Oahu and play it by ear as we want to RELAX.

Good news is that we got 2 more roomnights free at HHV...and so we have 8 free nights and 6 nights to pay at the condo. Saved us another chunk of change.

 

[Hermosa11]

Has anyone done the snorkel thing at Hanauma Bay?
With a tour group or on your own?
My son is there now visiting his sister and brother-in-law and wanted to go snorkeling there. Any advice will be appreicated!!!
thanks
cost? rental process........thanks

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

Has anyone done the snorkel thing at Hanauma Bay?
With a tour group or on your own?
My son is there now visiting his sister and brother-in-law and wanted to go snorkeling there. Any advice will be appreicated!!!
thanks
cost? rental process........thanks

Its been years since we snorkled there but we did just come back from a summer vacation to Oahu. We took the bus to Diamond Head and then took the bus again to Sea Life Park. Both times the bus route goes directly to Hanauma Bay. You need to get there VERY early though to be guaranteed a space/parking if you drive. It fills up quickly. I think you are better off renting gear in town as it will cost less in the long run. The bus is cheap too. Sorry no specifics - just hope all is well there after the earthquake!

 

[sandiegosusie]

Has anyone done the snorkel thing at Hanauma Bay?
With a tour group or on your own?
My son is there now visiting his sister and brother-in-law and wanted to go snorkeling there. Any advice will be appreicated!!!
thanks
cost? rental process........thanks

Our family snorkeled there 2 years ago...loved it! Parked our car, listened to the mandatory conservation talk and video, took the tram down the hill because I was pregnant at the time. We had a great time...I would highly reccomend going, but remember to bring your lunch or snacks. Nothing was available for purchase.

 

[Hermosa11]

Thanks for the comments! My daughter is pregnant and already knows she will be taking the tram too. ha ha She will be the "food-keeper" for their adventure. But I do have to remind them to GO EARLY! They are young and we all know what young people do..........SLEEP IN!!!
(My son (19) rented a moped Saturday with brother-in-law and they just had the best time!, my son wanted to do it again today alone and he drove around and around for over 5 hours and took great photos and had the best time.
Okay, thanks!

 

[grlpwrd]

Has anyone done the snorkel thing at Hanauma Bay?
With a tour group or on your own?
My son is there now visiting his sister and brother-in-law and wanted to go snorkeling there. Any advice will be appreicated!!!
thanks
cost? rental process........thanks

Yes, definitely go early. Also, I have heard of many older people (senior citizens - but some younger people, too) get into trouble snorkeling/swimming resulting in injury and, unfortunately, even death. I went there and there wasn't a strong undercurrent/riptide or anything. Tragic so please be careful.

Also, I'm sure you know the ecosystem there is very fragile. Overuse is a threat in itself, but also stepping on coral is disastrous. As I always say, "malama 'aina" which basically means 'take care of the earth.'

Have fun!

 

[willoughbyclan]

We have been there twice, once just last month. It is beautiful, definitely go early in the AM, and allow extra time for the movie you are required to watch.

There is a snack shop there but you must make the trip back up the hill to get to it (it is quite a hill). I highly recommend the trolly, can't beat the price.

We packed a lunch and drinks. You can take your own gear (we did) or rentals are very reasonable. We did not do a tour, prefer to go on our own. We stayed at the Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort and we took the city bus there. It wasn't a bad ride and definitely very economical. Bus fare is only $2 person each way. We took the bus just about everywhere.

Any questions just ask......

 

[Hermosa11]

Just had to share.............
dd got this for me!

Son (on right) and his brother in law

Brother and sister.........

 

[vhoffman]

If you can at all do it, go! We went to Hawaii last summer (seems like another lifetime ago!). It was the trip of a lifetime, almost 3 weeks split between Kauai, Maui and Oahu. We worked every angle for discounts, etc.

DH is now facing unemployment. He is being laid off the end of this month and so far has not landed another position, so things are rather tight around here. We are glad we took the trip when we could. It gives us something to look back on, and hope again for. You really need the good times in life to buffer against the bad. Just think if you looked back over your life and realized you never did anything but pay bills. Believe me, those bills will always be there. As a matter of fact, they will send you more if you lose one or can't pay it on time. They will never forget you Money goes, regardless. Have some fun and enjoy life while you can.

BTW, our dream vacation cost $4000 total, for airfare, hotels, rent car, food and entertainment. I spent a little extra on souveniers, about $500. We used ff miles, Hilton Honor points, Marriott Rewards points, and sat through some timeshare presentations. But what deals! Go and enjoy

 

[Longsx3]

Hi Everyone we are headed to Hawaii in Jan for 12 days of relaxation and fun!

Here is what we have planned so far:

We will be staying at the Hale Koa and renting a car.

Day 1; Sounds crazy but I have a dental appt and and a hair cut scheduled, we live on Okinawa. Shopping!
Food ?

Day 2: We will either do the wild thing reef adventures or Mokulua Kayak tour
Food?

Day 3: Probably Hanauma Bay , My Dad & GF arrive at 450pm
Dinner at Duke's

Day 4: A drive to Punch Bowl Cemetery Maybe a Duck tour and Some shopping at Pearl Harbor for my Dad. Photography on the beach at 430.
Food: Dinner at Sam Choy's

Day 5: Brunch at the Hale Koa then a drive to the Dole Pinapple Plantation then we will head to the North Shore and hopeully see the suneset.
Food: Dinner Haleiwa Joe's

Day 6: PCC in the morning, Pool time in the afternoon. Hale Koa Lua for Dinner

Day 7: DH will have a conference to attend, DD will Surf, Dad and GF will go to Pearl Harbor and I will relax.
Food: Dinner at Oceanarium

Day8: DH will attend conference, DD has Day 2 of surf lessons, and the rest of us may go to the Botanical Gardens.
Food ?

Day 9: DH will work again and everyone else may go for a drive up to Diamond Head and show Dad & GF Hanauma Bay.
Food?

Day 10: Shopping, Dad & GF Leave today. DH works.
Food?

Day 11: DH, DD and I will fly Aloha Air to the Big Island. Our goals is to see the Volcano and Black Sand Beaches. We arrive back in Oahu at 8pm
Food: Kens for Bk and Cafe Pesto for Dinner

Day 12: Fly Back to Okinawa!

Opinions Please!

 

[Longsx3]

Hi Hermosa11!

Where did DD find Minnie?

BTW your DD looks fantastic!

Just had to share.............
dd got this for me!

Son (on right) and his brother in law

Brother and sister.........

 

[Hermosa11]

Longx3 !!!! How are YOUUUUU???? Soooo, where do I fit in with your schedule? hummmm???
Daughter got the Aloha Minnie at a store at the Aloha Tower. I will get one for you !!, but you have to SEEEE me to GET it....

Here is photo of dd getting the aloha Minnie.....

Suggestion for your itinary: While going to the North Shore, you simply MUST
direct yourselves to Matsumoto's Shave Ice

 

[Longsx3]

Hermosa11 I will definitely make time for you!

Is there a matching Mickey?

 

[Mi3stooges]

BTW, our dream vacation cost $4000 total, for airfare, hotels, rent car, food and entertainment. I spent a little extra on souveniers, about $500. We used ff miles, Hilton Honor points, Marriott Rewards points, and sat through some timeshare presentations. But what deals! Go and enjoy

I have to thank all of you for all you experiences, advice and suggestions. I subscribed a long time ago to this thread, I guess with the hope of one day going. Well.....we booked our trip for Jan '07. DH and I love to go to Vegas and will be going in Jan for the Miss America Peagant (as an audience member LOL) and I searched and wriggeled and found that our free airfare on two airlines will work. We will leave NY and stay in Vegas for 3 nights then on the other airline fly to Maui for 5 nights. We will use our DVC to stay at the Grand Wailea. The only thing this trip will cost is food, rental car and tours we choose in Hawaii!!
I found alot of good info surfing the web. I think the best find is the Pacific Whale Foundation. If you join $40 for individual (tax deductible) you get a free t-shirt or whale watch tour (best Dec to April?!) many other things but also 20% off all their tours, such as Dolphin, snorkeling, etc and if you book online you get another 10% or so off!!! Thats about enough of me for now, thanks again to all for this vauable thread.

 

[harleyquinn]

Bumping this thread!!

DH and I aren't going until 2008, but I'm trying to decide on which islands.

I'm pretty sure about Kauai, but I can't decide on the other. We'll be staying for 2 weeks on a budget. i've found a bunch of very affordable rentals from vrbo and airfare seems to be so much cheaper than the last time I dreamed of this vacation.

So keep the info coming!

 

[Hermosa11]

Woo Hoo! I am going to Ohau Jan. 10th ! to see dd and new grandaughter!
I might be boring you all with some baby photos!!!