Rent a car – a jeep convertible is fun. Drive around, everywhere. Get away from the city. See a beach you like? Go there. There’s stands that sell food on the side of the road – eat at them.

I stayed at a wonderful hotel in Waikiki called the Parc Hotel—it is a Japanese-run hotel, a block off the beach. You still had fairly good views, and it was a great deal for the area. Also, breakfast was included. I would definitely recommend staying there! Have so much fun!

I’ll go with the exact opposite: Stay in Waikiki, and take the bus. (Don’t even get a car). You’ll save a ton of money, and the bus takes you essentially everywhere you want to go (it’s even a better way to get to Hanauma Bay, which has very very tight parking and is often closed to cars).

I’d be more than happy to spend a week just in Honolulu with one trip to Hanauma Bay. Depends on how much you want to spend stuck in traffic on your vacation.

As for where to stay, we stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, but that is pretty expensive, so take the other people’s advice on where to stay. I agree, take the bus, it goes everywhere. As for stuff to do, go to the beach, hike Diamond Head (small fee), Hanauma Bay (small fee). We took a bus tour, but you could just ride the regular buses around the island and see it for yourself. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a must! I don’t know the actual fee, but I can’t imagine it’s too expensive. It will be a full day of activities and once you go, you can return within the next two days for free if you want to see more. Have fun!

Hi! I would try not to stay in Honolulu or Waikiki. The closer to
them, the more expensive! There is a bus system that takes you pretty
much everywhere on the island and is very cheap!!

If you are in downtown, Waikiki, there are a ton of little restaurants
to eat at that aren’t so expensive, especially in the International
Marketplace. ON Tuesday afternoons, there is a free hula show in the
park at the amphitheater in Waikiki. Just ask around and they will
direct you! It is great. If you decide to go to a luau, the best one I
found was Jermaine’s; again, ask for directions. There is a place on
the North Shore, The Polynesian Culture Center, that is wonderful to
visit. It is all about the Polynesian Islands and is a lot of fun. But
if you go and want to see the luay show, get the package that includes
the day and the show, but not the dinner. It is SOOOO not worth all the
extra money! But the show and the park are wonderful!

Enjoy yourself! I am jealous!

Hmm… Hawaii and cheap don’t go together well usually. :)

But having lived on Oahu for a long time I can give you this advice (not knowing anything regarding your budget/preferences):

- Cheap eats? Don’t eat in Waikiki is a good rule of thumb. There’s an invisible luxury tax there where you’ll end up paying more for the food you buy there than if you bought anything from the other side of the Ala Wai Canal (which seperates Waikiki from the rest of the island basically). Roadside stands for fruits and veggies could be nice. As for meals and such, you said budget—fast food’s the cheapest. There’s a local chain called Zippy’s which serves all sorts of food that would be good to eat at. 7-11s sell spam musubis (spam+rice+wrapped in a thin layer of seaweed) and such which are made there. Cheap and relatively filling. Great for a tight budget!

- Getting around. The local bus system is the one of the best in the nation (and they’ve got stickers on the sides of all the busses to let you know it). They have multi-day passes (and a monthly pass sold at 7-11s). They’re the cheapest way to get around and they DO go everywhere on the island with pretty good freqency. If you want to go where you want WHEN you want, then you’ll have to rent something. When I go back to visit, I rent a wreck at V.I.P. (Very Inexpensive Prices I think is what the acronym stands for). I am usually able to get a Suzuki Samurai type of jeep (I think they do Geo Trackers now) for about $35/day based on a week’s rental (without their insurance). They also have small cars. These vehicles aren’t all shiney-new, but they work, they’re cheap and you don’t have to worry about beating it up. They’ve seen better days. ;)

Where to stay – Well, nothing on Oahu’s gonna be cheap to stay, unless you plan on camping out somewhere. So it’s hard to find dirt-cheap places to stay without buying some kind of all-inclusive package (which can be pretty affordable). I’d say stay at a youth hostel which normally will be cheaper than anywhere else you’d try to stay (again, without buying an all-inclusive package). Hostels are GREAT places to meet people plus everyone there is also on a budget and the staff working the counters should know all the bargains. I don’t know the hostels there personally, but I know that Hostelling International should have some listings there. Feel free to contact me for advice on the different locations they have and how close/far they are from things.

Things to see – Well that’s all down to taste. (Some) Touristy things to do would be to hit Haunama Bay (pay to enter) to swim with the fish. (The fish are so used to humans you can feed them by hand as you’re in the water). Drive/catch the bus up to the North Shore and take in the laid-back lifestyle up there while working on your tan. Go to a luau (touristy, but minus the gaudiness, it is how parties used to be back in the ‘day). Walk up to the top of Diamond Head (small fee to enter I believe). Shop at Ala Moana (which also serves as the city bus hub so you’ll be there abit if you go the public transportation route). Got a car? Drive up Tantalus for the amazing views of the island. Hike the Manoa Falls trail (only 3/4 mile one-way to the falls) or if you’d like something slightly less touristy (but just as beautiful) hike the trail to the waterfall at the back of the Lyon Arboretum. The Lyon Arboretum is at the end of Manoa Valley (if you follow any directions to the Manoa Falls trail, you’ll pass the entrance to the Lyon Arboretum). They’re only open on weekdays until 4pm, but it’s absolutely beautiful and really quiet as most tourists don’t bother with it. The falls trail is relatively unknown and if it’s been dry recently, the falls will be just a little trickle going down the rocks, but the journey is where the beauty is. Almost all the trees are marked with their names and where they came from. One of my personal favorites. Nightlife, well Waikiki’s got nightclubs, so I’d recommend just staying around there (The Wave is the big melting pot of locals, tourists, and military peeps) Hmm, I’m not sure what else to recommend as I’m not sure what your tastes are, but there are a lot of trails to hike too. Oh, one last thing would be to take the tour of Iolani Palace. Not only is it beautiful, the history behind it is something everyone should know.

Hopefully some of this will be useful!

Cheers!
ps. The pic is one I took in the Lyon Arboretum.

http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/

“rent a car – a jeep convertible is fun. drive around, everywhere. get away from the city. see a beach you like? go there. there’s stands that sell food on the side of the road – eat at them.”

ditto. fish tacos.

also – oahu revealed, best travel guide handsdown.

I would definatley try to book your hotel through AAA if you have it. If not, then try hotels.com… Also…try to hit the Aloha Stadium flea market. I think it is every Wednesday and Saturday. Great place to pick up souveniers! Also try to visit the Polynesian Cultural center…hard to do on a budget.

Most of the folks have thie right idea… Rent a car, plan to visit

Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial
Waikiki Beach
Hanauma Bay Marine Preserve
Polynesian Cultural Center

If you can visit the North Shore is home to some of the largest waves on earth in the winter, and the ocean and surfing are a way of life here. The region is anchored by the town of Haleiwa.

Here are my suggestions: as others have mentioned, take the bus. Go out to Pearl Harbor, it’s free and an interesting trip too. Hike to the top of Diamond Head for some unbeatable views. The park entry fee is only $1.00.

Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center—again, you can take the bus to this place.

If you can get your hands on a Frommer’s Hawaii book, there is a lot of good information about the buses to get to different parts of the Island there.

I stayed at the Marriott Waikiki which was pricy, so I can’t help you there. Hopefully others have better suggestions.

Enjoy the sunsets on the beach, there are some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen… and they are free too. ;-)

One more thing, if you are interested in outdoors activities, maybe save money and splurge on one big activity, like a surfing lesson or parasailing. For me, my big thing was going parasailing, and it was an AWESOME experience. It was $35 last summer with a coupon, but it was the first time I had ever done anything like that, so I thought it was worth it. ;-)

Try one of the Ohana hotels in Honolulu, several to choose from and depending on your dates, you can find a room for under $70 on Travelocity.

Look for coupon books for discounts and even free items.

Take shuttles/buses wherever you can.

Thumbs up on the Polynesian Cultural Center.

And I agree with Jello – spam musubi for breakfast or lunch or any snack time. Try L & L Drive In for great local food – plate lunches. Also, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Piroski’s.

Free tips – check out the lobbies of the larger hotels. They often have Hawaiian entertainment during happy hour ro throughout the evening. If seating is available nearby – it’s free. Otherwise – the price of a drink.

Watch for arts and/or craft shows at Ala Moana Park and other parks. Good way to get a look at cultural expressions in art.

Watch surfers, sunset and feed the pigeons at Kapiolani Park – all for free.

jello is pretty right on with what to do in hawaii… all the spots he mentioned- tantalus, north shore, manoa falls, diamond head, etc…

also it depends on your pesonality- if youre more into the clubbinb/city-ish life, stay in town
but if you want to take advantage of hawaii for its views and scenery, definately make it a point to take a hike somewhere on a nice day
also the beaches in waikiki are polluted with people, so for better waters and relaxation, try a different part of the island

main shopping centers are
1. pearl city shopping center (HUGE!)
2. Ala moana (biggest outdoor shopping center plus its centrally located)
3. kahala mall (teenie boppers galore)

make sure you pick up a HONOLULU WEEKLY or one of those free tourist pamphlet things- lots of discounts- and the honolulu weekly has a nice list of events going on that week- touristy or things more local. have fun!

I have to agree with all the statements about taking the bus. The public transit system works. I have even taken it from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor for less than two dollars and about a 1/2 hour of effort, so don’t let the tour bus people mess with your head and tell you, you can’t do it. Another option is the Hilo Hattie bus, which is free, and will take you to all the tourist traps on Oahu. The northshore is beautiful, and worth the effort to get to. The Marine base on the Northeast corner of the island is really nice as well. (The highway through the center of the island is unbelievably beautiful. A lot of people refer to Hawai’i as where god kissed the Earth, this is one of the places on the islands where you will see the proof. The other is the north shore of Kaua’i.) For eating, eat at the street side vendors, or at the stalls at the farmers markets in Honolulu. (Especially great if you like home style Korean food!) Don’t worry to much about what you will see and do. You are going to a place that is as close to paradise as you will get in this world. The natives are friendly and warm, if you don’t behave like a tourist and treat them as friends. Ask a local when you are there where to eat, and they will hook you up. I would only worry about renting a car for day trips, like up to the North shore, and not sink money into a vehicle you don’t need most days.

JoeMess

1) Priceline hotels! Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (sp) you can get for 55-70 per night. Biddingfortravel.com is a site that will tell you how to use Priceline effectively. They go as far as telling you how much you can expect to pay. Do this! It will become second nature for your adventures. Play with this and e-mail me if you cannot get to the right area and I will send directions….
2) Priceline an auto. It doesn’t matter what you get. When you get there they will offer you an upgrade. Jeeps are hands down the best way to go.
3) Go to www.entertainment.com get the guide it’s great. The trip over on the plane is a great time to spend going through the book and selecting your dining preferences. The buy on get one free at the Moana surfrider is worth the whole book and then some. Ebay has some for cheap also.
4) Go to Ebay and start searching for coupons and gift certificates for day trips and restaurants and other fun events. There is quite a few. Snorkle, it is a blast. Find one with the little ball at the top. It is worth it not to drink the water.
5) One thing that you MUST do. Go to the Polynesian Cultural center. It is an entire days worth of activities. Get the Luau and upgrade for the best seating. Worth the money!
6) Walk through the hotel lobbies. This is so much fun. If you find the giant aquarium you are doing great.
7) Don’t plan on late nights out on the town. At 10:00 or so they roll up the streets and things die down.
6) Karaoke is one of the funniest experiences, when the locals start singing it sounds like cats fighting….........
7) Buy yourself a “real” puka shell necklace! No chips with holes drilled in them. Look around, barter for everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sunrise shells are are pretty too they command top dollar though. Green ones are my personal favorite!
8) The Asian population is a bit overwhelming and prey upon the tourists.
9) The concierge at the hotel you stay at will have a lot of info for you- Utilize this person! It’s their job and they do really well at it.
10) Don’t get drunk and hungover and then go on a boat trip…............. baaaaaad juju!
11) The circle Island tour is kinda …... O.K. but I had a miserable experience and tell everyone to stay away from Roberts (trip provider).
12) Pack light! You will get plenty of good deals for wardrobe if you want. Pack snacks. Lots of oatmeal bars and energy bars and other things. This will save you a ton of money. Bring them in your luggage lots of them. Take them with you to the beach. Bring a water canteen or something of the sort when you go to the beach. Saves a ton on drinks.
13) Take surfing lessons! Spend the money and do it! You will never regret it.
14) Tell your friends to go to http://www.oahu-beaches.com/Waikiki-Beach-Live-Camera.html
Set up a time to see you at the beach in front of this world famous statue.
15) Take ukele lessons. Concierge can help!
16) Take hula lessons. ” ”
17) Go to the Asian flea market.
18) Go “prostitute watching” this is tremendous! Most of them are dudes in drag or surgically corrected. The hang out across from the police staion by the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani.
19) Go to the flea market at the stadium. The deals here are worth the trip. Better than the ones on the beach.
20) Happy hours are a big thing you can eat and drink cheap. Puu Puu platters mmmmmmmm.
21) Bring Sunblock! I cannot express strongly enough this aspect. You will fry if you get brave and it can ruin the whole experience.
22) Noodle bowls
23) Buy a raft at ABC. Use this to float around or sit on at the beach.
24) Maui Babe Tanning oil. You will never be without this stuff if you use it once. Order online year after year.
25) The street performers are great entertainment nightly. Get a massage. Hula Hoop Girl – Wow! Robot guys creep me out!
26) Relax.
27) North shore is nice. Kinda boring compared to waikiki.
28) Skip the pineapple tour- stupid.
29) Go to Haagen daz get pineapple icecream and coffe icecream. Most expensive and hands down the best icecream cone I have ever had.
30) Bring disposable cameras from home! Start shopping now. Get underwater ones for snorkeling! These are expensive at the beach.
31) The beef in Hawaii is fantastic. Steaks are incredible. Someone say BBQ at the park?
32) hanamau bay
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