Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [3]
On average, Hawaii travelers spend $180 per day per person on everything else. For a couple, that means budgeting $360 a day, and this gets you an enjoyable midrange trip with a few splashy meals and/or guided trips. It’s very easy to spend more (particularly in Honolulu andWaikiki, and at resorts), and it’s also easy to spend half that – bring a tent and a camp stove. When comparing islands, O’ahu is more expensive than the Neighbor Islands, and the Big Island is the least expensive.
Rental cars cost from $160 to $240 per week (see also Click here); the only place to even think of doing without one is Honolulu.
Each island has the full range of sleeping options (Click here). All have state and county campgrounds costing $10 a night or less; Maui and the Big Island have excellent national parks with free camping. Hostel dorm beds run to around $20. In hostels, rural B&Bs and spartan hotels, you can find private rooms for $60 to $80. For nice midrange hotels, expect to pay from $120 to $200-plus nightly. At deluxe beachfront hotels, rates start around $250 and go up. Celebrating that special romantic occasion? Hawaii has some of the world’s finest hostelries, and they are yours for $250 to $1000 a night. Some places offer weekly discounts (always ask), and weekly or monthly condo rentals offer good value.
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HOW MUCH?
Aloha shirt $20-70
Mai tai $5-7
Hawaii Regional Cuisine dinner for two: $120-160
Shave ice $2.50-5
Half-day snorkel cruise $90-110
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Where you eat has a big impact on your budget. Since Hawaii has the highest grocery prices in the US, cooking your own food (whether camping or in a condo) isn’t always that much cheaper than a diet of plate lunches, saimin (local-style noodle soups) and local grinds (food). However, inexpensive farmers markets are common. Midrange dinners run from $20 to $30 per person, and gourmet cuisine comes with gourmet prices – but you know that. For more on food, Click here.
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SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
‘Sustainability’ is the buzzword in Hawaii today, particularly when it comes to tourism. Green travel and ecotourism is booming, and all travelers to Hawaii can do their part – by buying local, choosing less-polluting activities (like hiking over helicopters), and patronizing ecofriendly businesses.
For Hawaii’s own definition of sustainability, Click here. For a general overview, pick up 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save Hawai’i by Gail Grabowsky.
The Hawaii Ecotourism Association (www.hawaiiecotourism.org certifies and lists green businesses – particularly hotels and tour operators – and keeps a list of further resources. Local communities are also establishing their own certification programs, such as the Big Island’s Kuleana Green Business Program (www.kona-kohala.com/kuleana-green-business-program.asp. In this book, check out the GreenDex (p614), which lists the ecofriendly businesses we recommend, and for a short list of ways to go green, Click here. For advice about low-impact activities Click here.
Agricultural tourism in Hawaii is growing along with the increasing number of organic small farms. The Hawai’i Agritourism Association (www.hiagtourism.org facilitates farm visits and stays, and it maintains a list of farmers markets. When shopping in grocery stores, the ‘Apple Mountain’ brand designates local products, and check out the product directory of the Hawaii Organic Farmers Association (www.hawaiiorganicfarmers.org. See also Hawaii’s Locavore Movement, Click here.
Takeout food containers seem like a little thing, but they are a nightmare for Hawaii’s limited landfills. Look for, and patronize, places that use biodegradable takeout-ware. Two companies that make it are Sustainable Island Products (www.sustainableislandproducts.com and Styrophobia (http://styrophobia.com); their websites list participating restaurants. On Maui, the town of Pa’ia has gone