Budget Ideas for Oahu??

[mickeycw]

Help....we're going to Hawaii in June.....the deal is if I come back with enough cash we can go to WDW in October for my 40th Birthday!!

Car - Paid for
House Rental - Paid
Air Tickets - Paid

for 14 days my budget is $3,000 for everything else.....sounds like alot but things are suppoped to be expensive there. It's just for my DH and myself.

Can anyone help me?

Michelle

 

[leslieh]

We are DVC members too, are planning a July 05 trip to Hawaii? House rental, any info would help. What area? Didnt think it was worth trading my DVC according to posts. Air? rental Car? THanks Leslie H.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

There are a lot of things to do that are free or very inexpensive. You can hike up Diamondhead for just a few dollars and have one of the best views of the island. The Kodak Hula show is free. There's lots of booklets with coupons for buy one - get one free dinners, etc. Get them from stands at your hotel (do not take anything handed to you on the street as it's usually advertisements for strip joints).

Souvenirs can be purchased at Aloha Stadium as they have a flea market several days a week. Also, if you are Costco members you can go to the Costco close to the airport and get some great deals on souvenirs too, as well as pizzas and hot dogs from the food court. Fill the tank while you're there as the gas was very reasonably priced compared to other stations on the island.

Depending on when you will be visiting, they also show movies on Waikiki beach. Here's a link: http://www.sunsetonthebeach.net/index.php

 

[Local_Girl]

Hi mickeycw!

I grew up in Honolulu, but it's been a few years since I've been back, so I don't have any up to date info for you! However, I just checked out the Entertainment website and the E-book for Hawaii looks pretty good--several 2 for 1 meals in the restaurant section. You can check out the website and see if this looks like a good deal to you:

http://www.entertainment.com/save/home

My own recommendations of things to do:

Go to Pearl Harbor.

Drive around the island (be sure to stop at the Pali Lookout and check out Matsumoto's Shave Ice on the North Shore--yum!)

Drive around the southeast shore of the island; stop at Hanauma Bay...good snorkeling there if you're interested. There may be a fee for entrance here now.

You may want to consider going to the Polynesian Cultural Center--it's not inexpensive, but I think it gives a nice sampling of polynesian culture, beyond Hawaii too.

Get a "plate lunch" somewhere (often available from lunch wagons near the outlying beaches, or downtown during week at lunch hour).

Most of all...don't forget the sunscreen, and HAVE FUN!!

ALOHA!

 

[ajcolorado]

here's a link for an article entitled "20 Secret Bargains of Oahu for Under $10"

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3081266/

 

[BonnieA]

Definately get yourself an entertainment book for Hawaii. We went in October and used a lot of the 2 for 1 restaurant discounts. There are also coupons in the book for the Polynesian Cultural Center, luau's, the zoo and aquarium among others.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We found better deals at the International Market place and the shopping center with the big aquarium (forget the name) than at Aloha Stadium. But we also had to pay for a bus to get out to Aloha Stadium--so that was part of our disappointment.

We shopped in the grocery stores outside of Waikiki Beach and found them less expensive.

In Waikiki--they do a torch lighting each evening and a little concert (found this out on our last day)....we toured the hotels and the beach.

Went to Diamond head and drove around the island.

I spent about $400 and that included paying 1 day rental car, food and souvenirs for me and DD2.

I think $3000 will be Plenty for you for 2 weeks.

We are planning to go as a family of 4 in 2006 for a week for my moms 50th birthday.

Since I want a little more leeway--I was planning $200/day for food
(we will be staying in a hotel on points) and $100/day in activities.

Not sure if that is too much or 2 little...but it is $2100...and allows us to do a luau, maybe hit the waterpark if the weather is good...but other wise just enjoying being in Hawaii.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Save the lei greetings--

You can get a fresh lei at the Hale Koa Florist Shop for about $6...and you needn't be a member of the military to be able to purchase from that vendor.

 

[mickeycw]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I have never been to Hawaii but my husband has many years ago but he didn't see too much. His uncle is native Hawaiian and since he was 20 at the time they thought he would get lost.....on an island I don't think that would be too much of a problem!! But....they would drive by something and tell him..."that's the plantation, etc"

I want this trip to be fun but am really concerned about bringing enough money! We are staying in a house we rented in Kailua with 7 other members of my husbands immediate family!! We've all agreed to come and go on our own and luckily no one is going to do alot of cooking!

Michelle

 

[mickeycw]

do you know the zip code for anywhere in Hawaii?

 

[Local_Girl]

Ummmm...try 96816.

 

[grlpwrd]

Ummmm...try 96816.

How cool... I was going to suggest that same zip, too, since my parents who live in Waialae near Diamond Head have that very code.

A zip code for Waikiki is 96815 since I used to live near the Prince Kuhio Hotel when I had my first apartment.

HTH

Oh forgot to mention.... There's a newly built Sam's Club and Walmart on Keeaumoku. (I must mention that while WM was building they found old Hawaiian bones and there is some controversy about it. Just thought I'd mention it.) There's also Costcos nearby. Don't know the exact addresses, though, but you can drive there.

I would normally say bring your own dry cereal and powdered milk because they are so pricey there, but SC, WM, and Costco have reasonable prices.

Kapiolani Community College which is near Diamond Head has a student run restaurant and also a farmer's market or you could go to downtown Chinatown to get fruits and veggies much cheaper than the grocery stores.

Sign up for the grocery store cards before shopping. Every little bit helps.

 

[Local_Girl]

Hi grlpwrd!

Yep, I grew up in "96816". I see from your counter you have a future trip planned! I actually haven't been back to Hawaii since 1998, and there have been so many changes since then...esp. the Walmart and Sam's Club! Curious...where on Keeaumoku is it? Is it close to Ala Moana?

To Mickeycw:
Wish I had more info to offer, but having been away for so long, I'm useless, LOL! Oh, perhaps this will be helpful...in giving directions, the local people don't use "east" or "north"...generally it's "makai" (meaning, toward the ocean...from your reference point); "mauka" (meaning, toward the mountains); "Diamond Head" (meaning in the direction of Diamond Head, generally east of most points on the island) or "Ewa" (pronounced e-vah, with a short e sound) generally meaning west as it's an area west of the airport. Sorry if it's confusing... Anyway, hope you have a great trip!!

 

[MickeyMouth]

I grew up in 96825 Hawaii Kai!

Michelle- you will have a great time! Make sure to drive to the North Shore one day.

 

[melanieewr]

In Kailua, you definitely want to go to breakfast at Boots and Kimos. Their banana nut pancakes with mac sauce and of course a side order of fried rice is excellent. We have a condo on the leeward side at Ko'Olina(we sometimes trade with other DVC members...a stay in our condo for points) and we always drive the 45 minutes to Kailua to eat at B n K's.

A great place that is not a tourist attraction in downtown Honolulu, but close to Waikiki is Murphy's. It's on Queen St. and they have excellent food. It is an Irish pub and they have great steaks at about $15. Friday night is pizza night and you should get there early...they usually run out of dough. I love their pizzas.

We love the flea market at the Stadium...Wednesday's only and closes at 3pm. You can buy an endless amount of tshirts @ 10 for $20. My friends bought a HUGE rolling suitcase for $15 (they bargained) to haul everyone's stuff home. We do usually go to the International Market also, but just can't find the same bargains or variety there. I once paid $100 for a baby quilt there and then found the same one for $35 at the Stadium.

Having a home instead of a hotel will definitely stretch your budget. Follow the advise of shopping at Costco's and you should not have any trouble at all. Since you have a large group, the bulkier portions will work perfect.

Sometimes, a home will have beach chairs, boogie boards, etc. (ours does) so you maybe you won't have to purchase those items.

I bet you will not want to come home! I never do!

Aloha,
Melanie

 

[Dznypal]

I dont have any ideas for money tips in Hawaii but I just want to say that

to all of you that are nataive Hawaiians that you have the most beautful

state I have ever been to.

We take extended family trips every 2 years and have been to HAwaii 3 times
(thanks to my wonderful parents!!!!)

last year was a very special trip as my DS got married on the "barefoot on the beach"

in Maui. It was just beautiful!!!!

 

[MEM]

I, too, am planning a trip to Oahu and 3 other islands, but not until 2007, when DH the WWII buff turns 60.

I found this site to be useful: http://www.andhawaii.com/hawaii/budget-travel

I would be interested to hear how you selected your hotel/resort/condo. The choices are staggering and the more affordable ones all seem to have some drawback to them.

 

[TEK224]

You could visit the Dole Pineapple Plantation and take a trip through their maze. The kids loved it and I had a good time too. They used to have a board where they posted the fastest times that people navigated the maze.

Take the climb up Diamond Head - the views are awesome!
Drive around to the North Shore. No big waves in June, but gorgeous none the less.

Snorkel at Hanauma Bay. There is a small entrance fee, but you could spend the whole day there and have a great time.

Sit on Waikiki Beach and enjoy a beautiful sunset or watch the surfers.

Gosh, I can't wait to plan my next trip there.

 

[Alice28]

Souvenirs can be purchased at Aloha Stadium as they have a flea market several days a week. Also, if you are Costco members you can go to the Costco close to the airport and get some great deals on souvenirs too, as well as pizzas and hot dogs from the food court. Fill the tank while you're there as the gas was very reasonably priced compared to other stations on the island.

Depending on when you will be visiting, they also show movies on Waikiki beach. Here's a link: http://www.sunsetonthebeach.net/index.php

I was going to suggest Costco too since you will be staying in a house with a kitchen. Go get BBQ stuff (steaks, chicken or whatever you like), breakfast foods, snacks, etc there and eat 2 of your 3 meals in your "home" and then look thru all the coupon books that are EVERYWHERE in Hawaii for some good restaurant deals. The coupon books also have stuff for snorkel rental, etc.