Hula Planet:What To Do In Hawaii

Top Tips for Saving Money on Your Hawaii Vacation

I wish that I could stand on top of Diamond Head and shout out that going to Hawaii does not have to wipe out your bank account . Sure, Hawaii can be an expensive destination, but there are plenty of ways to save in order to make a Hawaii vacation affordable to your budget. I In recent weeks, I’ve written a series of articles with my top tips for saving money on Hawaii vacations. I wanted to gather all those ideas in one spot for your convenience. For simplicity, I’ll share the link to each of those articles. Let’s start with money saving ideas for the big ticket vacation costs, flights and accommodations: *

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Saving Money on Hawaii Vacation Dining & Meals

With just a little planning and a few strategies, you can save a pile of money on your vacation meals. Check out these seven practical ideas that will have your wallet saying thank you: 1.  Limit/avoid the hotel breakfast buffets. I’d estimate that the average resort breakfast buffet costs $25 per person. For a couple on a week’s vacation, you could easily rack up a $350 bill (plus gratuity) on breakfast alone. Eeek!  It’s a treat to enjoy the resort’s breakfast buffet on a limited basis to keep save some cash and calories, too! We fell in love with Safeway's cinnamon muffins with cream cheese icing on our first trip to Kauai. Now I’m not suggesting that you skip breakfast, however I recommend that you opt for for more cost effective breakfasts. Consider these alternatives: Ask if the hotel restaurant serves an à la carte breakfast menu. You’ll probably save $10 or more per person just by ordering off the menu. For example, instead of paying $25 for the macadamia nut pancakes and bacon that you want off the buffet, order that breakfast option from the menu for less than $15. In many cases, you’d also save money over the buffet option  just by getting room service and enjoying breakfast from your lanai. It sounds decadent, but it’s true. Many Hawaii resorts have a coffee shop with fruit and pastries. Scope out your resort to see if they have a coffee shop or if there’s a shop nearby. Pick up some breakfast items at a local shop or bring them with you from home. We have brought packets of instant oatmeal with us several times. (Note: don’t bring any fresh fruit or vegetables from home, they’re forbidden by agricultural laws. See Be Prepared to Complete the Hawaii Agricultural Declaration Form .) 2.  Eating la vida local. There’s two really simple ways to try Hawaii’s flavors while truly enjoying a slice of local culture. Go to a farmers market where you’ll find all kinds of ono grindz (good local food). No matter where you travel, the locals know where to find the best food at reasonable prices. So, find the locals’ favorite restaurants and bakeries. See this list of local favorite restaurants across Hawaii . Our sunset Waikiki Beach weinie roast was our favorite dinner on one of our Oahu visits. 3.  Have a picnic. There’s plenty of great restaurants around Hawaii that tout sunset ocean views, but you can’t get any better sunset view than having a picnic on one of Hawaii’s golden sand beaches . You’ll pay around $30 per entree at the restaurants, but a picnic will cost much less. You can buy a lot of yummy picnic supplies for $30, can’t you? 4.  The early tourist catches the restaurant deals. We almost always try to enjoy a sunset while having dinner in Hawaii. Being from the East Coast, we’re also fairly jet lagged, especially early into our Hawaii vacations. So, we’re normally ready for dinner at 5:30 or 6pm – just as the top restaurants are opening for dinner and right before sunset. We’ve found a number of very good restaurants across Hawaii that offer a special “sunset dinner menu” (e.g. “early bird menu”) or well-priced prix fixe menus. The catch is that you need to be seated by 6pm in most cases, but for us that’s not been an issue. To find these special restaurant deals and/or coupons, look in local newspapers, Hawaiian Airlines magazine, and those free coupon magazines in the baggage claim area of the airports. Here are some examples: Roy’s restaurants all across Hawaii offer a great three-course prix fixe menu for $36. We found a great three-course sunset menu from Pineapple Grill on Maui for $32. Sansei is one of our favorite restaurants on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. They usually offer some sort special pricing for early or late dining. On Kauai, the Hukilau Lanai offers a special five-course dinner for $28 for food only or $40 with wine pairings. Planning your Hawaii vacation dinner around sunset is a rewarding experience. 5.  Take advantage of the grocery stores, coupons and cheap eats. Occasionally, you can find good dining coupons at  Bank of Hawaii’s Online Marketplace Have a Costco membership? Bring your card for access to Costco on all the four major islands. See a few more ideas from this Maui coupons and discounts post. For Kauai, see this list of the best Kauai cheap eats . 6.  Bring a few snack from home. It’s helpful to have a stash of your favorite snacks to keep you from paying resort sundries shop prices. I asked our savvy Go Visit Hawaii facebook community for their input on snacks and food that they bring to Hawaii to help save money. See all their suggestions here . 7.  Stay where you have kitchen access. Yesterday, I shared advice on how to save money on Hawaii vacation accommodations , mentioning that staying in a condo or vacation villa is a great way to save money. I’ll add a studio with a kitchenette is a great choice, too. If you have the ability to make a few meals in your accommodation, you can really save compared to continually eating out. Making breakfast is a breeze in a Hawaii vacation condo kitchen. —- So, those are the seven major strategies we’ve used to save money on our Hawaii vacation dining. What other ideas would you suggest? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .

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Saving Money on Hawaii Vacation Dining & Meals

With just a little planning and a few strategies, you can save a pile of money on your vacation meals. Check out these seven practical ideas that will have your wallet saying thank you: 1.  Limit/avoid the hotel breakfast buffets. I’d estimate that the average resort breakfast buffet costs $25 per person. For a couple on a week’s vacation, you could easily rack up a $350 bill (plus gratuity) on breakfast alone. Eeek!  It’s a treat to enjoy the resort’s breakfast buffet on a limited basis to keep save some cash and calories, too! We fell in love with Safeway's cinnamon muffins with cream cheese icing on our first trip to Kauai. Now I’m not suggesting that you skip breakfast, however I recommend that you opt for for more cost effective breakfasts. Consider these alternatives: Ask if the hotel restaurant serves an à la carte breakfast menu. You’ll probably save $10 or more per person just by ordering off the menu. For example, instead of paying $25 for the macadamia nut pancakes and bacon that you want off the buffet, order that breakfast option from the menu for less than $15. In many cases, you’d also save money over the buffet option  just by getting room service and enjoying breakfast from your lanai. It sounds decadent, but it’s true. Many Hawaii resorts have a coffee shop with fruit and pastries. Scope out your resort to see if they have a coffee shop or if there’s a shop nearby. Pick up some breakfast items at a local shop or bring them with you from home. We have brought packets of instant oatmeal with us several times. (Note: don’t bring any fresh fruit or vegetables from home, they’re forbidden by agricultural laws. See Be Prepared to Complete the Hawaii Agricultural Declaration Form .) 2.  Eating la vida local. There’s two really simple ways to try Hawaii’s flavors while truly enjoying a slice of local culture. Go to a farmers market where you’ll find all kinds of ono grindz (good local food). No matter where you travel, the locals know where to find the best food at reasonable prices. So, find the locals’ favorite restaurants and bakeries. See this list of local favorite restaurants across Hawaii . Our sunset Waikiki Beach weinie roast was our favorite dinner on one of our Oahu visits. 3.  Have a picnic. There’s plenty of great restaurants around Hawaii that tout sunset ocean views, but you can’t get any better sunset view than having a picnic on one of Hawaii’s golden sand beaches . You’ll pay around $30 per entree at the restaurants, but a picnic will cost much less. You can buy a lot of yummy picnic supplies for $30, can’t you? 4.  The early tourist catches the restaurant deals. We almost always try to enjoy a sunset while having dinner in Hawaii. Being from the East Coast, we’re also fairly jet lagged, especially early into our Hawaii vacations. So, we’re normally ready for dinner at 5:30 or 6pm – just as the top restaurants are opening for dinner and right before sunset. We’ve found a number of very good restaurants across Hawaii that offer a special “sunset dinner menu” (e.g. “early bird menu”) or well-priced prix fixe menus. The catch is that you need to be seated by 6pm in most cases, but for us that’s not been an issue. To find these special restaurant deals and/or coupons, look in local newspapers, Hawaiian Airlines magazine, and those free coupon magazines in the baggage claim area of the airports. Here are some examples: Roy’s restaurants all across Hawaii offer a great three-course prix fixe menu for $36. We found a great three-course sunset menu from Pineapple Grill on Maui for $32. Sansei is one of our favorite restaurants on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. They usually offer some sort special pricing for early or late dining. On Kauai, the Hukilau Lanai offers a special five-course dinner for $28 for food only or $40 with wine pairings. Planning your Hawaii vacation dinner around sunset is a rewarding experience. 5.  Take advantage of the grocery stores, coupons and cheap eats. Occasionally, you can find good dining coupons at  Bank of Hawaii’s Online Marketplace Have a Costco membership? Bring your card for access to Costco on all the four major islands. See a few more ideas from this Maui coupons and discounts post. For Kauai, see this list of the best Kauai cheap eats . 6.  Bring a few snack from home. It’s helpful to have a stash of your favorite snacks to keep you from paying resort sundries shop prices. I asked our savvy Go Visit Hawaii facebook community for their input on snacks and food that they bring to Hawaii to help save money. See all their suggestions here . 7.  Stay where you have kitchen access. Yesterday, I shared advice on how to save money on Hawaii vacation accommodations , mentioning that staying in a condo or vacation villa is a great way to save money. I’ll add a studio with a kitchenette is a great choice, too. If you have the ability to make a few meals in your accommodation, you can really save compared to continually eating out. Making breakfast is a breeze in a Hawaii vacation condo kitchen. —- So, those are the seven major strategies we’ve used to save money on our Hawaii vacation dining. What other ideas would you suggest? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .

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State panel considers homeless problem, some Advertiser reporters picked up, gay pride coming to Waikiki, counties mull tax hikes, more top Hawaii…

What does it say about the state Legislature when only two lawmakers showed up for a hearing on dealing with Hawaii's growing homeless problem? Placing time limits on public housing and revisiting the idea of buying one-way plane tickets to send homeless people back to the mainland are among the ideas lawmakers might consider next year as they search for cost-effective ways to manage the state's growing homeless problem. As service providers report increases in homelessness, and with no new funding to address the situation, some lawmakers yesterday said the state needs to crack down on people who abuse the system and needs to start asking tough questions, such as whether residents should have preferences for services over new arrivals. Some state lawmakers are trying to get a better understanding of just how many new homeless people are arriving in Hawaii every year. The new Honolulu Star-Advertiser will welcome more than two dozen soon-to-be-former Honolulu Advertiser employees come Monday, the day the new broadsheet format debuts. The news behind the scenes at the Honolulu Advertiser isn't good.

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Top 3 Summer Vacation In Hawaii Ideas

Have your friends decided wherethey want to go on your summer vacation? You are not alone, most families have not yet decided where they want to go. It can be a very time consuming activity to find that perfect vacation getaway, so explore the options for your Vacation in Hawaii. You will discover exciting options [...]

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Great Travel and Vacation Ideas for the Family

Nothing in the world beats a family beach vacation, whether it’s at a deluxe resort, or a simple campground on the beach. Below, are some ways you might do your vacation: Caribbean Beach Vacation 1. Families flock to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic for their all inclusives with watersports and kids clubs. 2. [...]

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Oahu New Year’s Eve Fireworks & Events 2009/2010

You’ll find lots and lots and lots of things to do to bid a fond aloha to 2009 and welcome in 2010 this New Years Eve on Oahu. So, pack your bags and start practicing how to say Happy New Year in Hawaii: Hau’oli Makahiki Hou ! New Year’s Eve Fireworks * Honolulu’s Aloha Tower Marketplace  will ring in 2010 with New Year’s Eve celebration featuring waterfront dining, live entertainment throughout the marketplace and a spectacular fireworks display over Honolulu Harbor at midnight. Several Aloha Tower restaurants will host special menus and packages for the evening. (This fireworks show is usually the biggest on the island.) If you’re looking for an extra special place to dine here, check out multi-award winning Chai Island Bistro . (See my review of Chai Island Bistro .) Visit AlohaTower.com or call (808) 566-2377 for more information. * One way to celebrate New Year’s Eve and then see the midnight fireworks from Honolulu Harbor is aboard the Star of Honolulu. They have several different cruise packages for dinner, cocktails, as well as shows. Visit StarofHonolulu.com or call (808) 983-7827 for more information. * In Kapolei, Wet n Wild water park provides an early fireworks display on New Year’s Eve beginning at 6pm to accommodate families with children who may not want to stay up late. Celebrate the end-of-the year with a spectacular fireworks display by the world renowned  Grucci Brothers .  Arrive early to enjoy a day filled with live entertainment, games and tons of prizes. Visit WetnWild or call (808) 674-9283 for more information. * JW Marriott Ihilani Resort in the Ko’Olina area of Kapolei will put on a midnight New Year’s Eve fireworks show.  A couple of the . JW Marriott Ihilani Resort restaurants, Ushio-Tei Japanese Restaurant and Naupaka Terrace will offer buffets earlier in the evening. Call (808) 679-0079 for more information. * Waikiki Beach New Year’s Eve fireworks – PENDING! * Don’t forget that every Friday night, there’s a fireworks show in Waikiki . If you happen to miss the fireworks on New Year’s Eve, then you can see a nice little show on New Year’s Day . New Year’s Eve Waikiki Dining & Concerts * The major Starwoods resorts of Waikiki have several options to celebrate New Years Eve — ranging from lavish buffets to multi-course fine dining to dancing with the Village People. The individual pages are not “linkable” so visit NewYearsEveInWaikiki.com directly and navigate from there for all their menus, costs and for information on how to see the Village People concert. * At Waikiki’s Hilton Hawaiian Village, The Stylistics will be playing at the Coral Ballroom. See this flyer for a bit more concert information. Advanced reserved table seats for $49 and are currently on sale at Ticketmaster outlets including the Blaisdell Box Office, Macy’s and online at www.ticketmaster.com . Ticket price includes one standard drink per person, OR one bottle of champagne per couple, inclusive of tax and tip. Also at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, you’ll find some nice dinner options: Bali Steak & Seafood offers a special New Year’s Eve six-course dinner starting at $150 Rainbow Lanai Restaurant has a New Year’s Eve buffet ( menu )  for $59 for adults and $32 for children. * Just about every restaurant in Waikiki and Honolulu will be open and offering something special to celebrate the evening. Where are the best Oahu restaurants? Here’s a couple of excellent lists: Oahu’s top restaurants from a local’s perspective Go Visit Hawaii’s pick of the best Oahu restaurants plus useful links. Off-Beat New Year’s Eve Ideas * If you are looking for something out of the ordinary to do, then consider a treasure hunt in downtown Honolulu and Chinatown with the Fourth Annual Ravenchase Quest for Father Time.  The cost is $125 per person which includes game play plus an open bar from 9pm-midnight, a pupu buffet, champagne toast, and party favors.  For more information see this link. * The Hilton Hawaiian Village will hold its popular Waikiki Starlight Luau at a special venue – the Lagoon Green – next to the picturesque Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Prices for the luau are $125 for adults, $77.50 for children ages 4 to 11; children 3 and under are free. Golden Circle tickets for seats closer the stage are $4 more for each ticket. A sumptuous dinner buffet is offered featuring a modern twist on traditional luau fare. The Waikiki Starlight Luau features the beautiful ladies and gentlemen of Tihati Productions in a Polynesian show. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the hotel at (808) 941-5828. © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .

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