Six Need To Know Travel Hacks for Hawaii
Get the Most Out of Your Holiday on the Hawaiian Islands.
With another Aussie winter fast approaching, it’s time to start planning your next sunny adventure. The Hawaiian Islands offer a myriad of travel options and experiences but these six hacks can help you get the most out of your island holiday.
Hack #1: Stick to the Shoulder Season
If you’re looking for a laid-back island vibe, travelling during the shoulder season is key. With less tourists visiting the Hawaiian Islands, you won’t be battling the crowds at key attractions and activities. Crowds aren’t the only thing you’ll miss, as the shoulder season comes with more cost-effective flights and accommodation options. The best place to start is by avoiding travel during Australian and U.S. school holiday periods.
Shoulder seasons:
February-March (excluding American Spring Break in March)
Mid-April to mid-June (excluding Easter and school holidays)
September to mid-December (excluding school holidays and thanksgiving week)
Hack #2: Visit More Than One Island
Landing at Honolulu international airport, it’s easy to check out the vibrant city, Waikīkī beach and enjoy the island of O‘ahu. However, with some flights taking as little as 30 minutes, it’s just as easy to visit neighbouring islands; Maui, Kaua‘i or The Island of Hawai‘i. A 10 day trip will allow you ample time to explore more than one island, opening up new experiences like visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Island of Hawai‘i, navigating the scenic Road to Hana on Maui, or experiencing jaw-dropping mountain tubing on Kaua‘i.
Hack #3: Drive and Discover
Driving is one of the best ways to see more of the Hawaiian Islands and discover hidden gems along the way. Take in amazing coastal views, stop at scenic lookouts, explore lush landscapes and discover breathtaking beaches at your own pace. The roads of Hawai‘i are easy to navigate and most major car hire companies will accept an Australian driver’s licence. Be sure to reserve your vehicle in advance, as quantities can fluctuate on the islands.
Hack #4: Eat like a local
There’s always time for food, and after hiking, swimming and exploring, you’ll be looking for the best spot to dig into a delicious Hawaiian feast. For a local’s guide on where to eat, consult your friendly hotel concierge who can point you in the right direction, or check out this list of reliable local eateries. Don’t be scared to explore beyond the tourist hotspots as Hawai‘i has more to discover around every corner. Some of the best eats are tucked away in local neighbourhoods, offering a taste of local flavour and culture.
Hack #5: Head for the Happy Hours
Set your alarms – Happy Hour is serious business in Hawai‘i. Every day, you’ll find an array of delicious drinks and tasty pupus (appetisers) ranging between US$5-10. Happy hour on the Hawaiian Islands is as much about the food as it is about drinks, so if you don’t mind eating lunch late or dinner early, take advantage of some of the amazing Happy Hour menus and bargains. Times vary from place to place, but you’ll be able to find a Happy Hour close to you between 2pm-6pm.
Hack #6: Keep it Simple – Pack Light
As Australia’s climate fluctuates throughout the year, Hawaii has consistent tropical temperatures of 25-30 degrees year round, making packing an absolute breeze. Forget about cramming unnecessary clothes into your suitcase, just throw in your beach wear, hat and aloha shirt and you’re ready to go! Remember some layers, if you plan on visiting some of the higher elevations like Haleakala National Park on Maui or Mauna Kea Observatory on The Island of Hawai‘i. As all flights from Australia arrive in the morning, be sure to pack your beach wear in your carry on so you can hit the waves before check-in.
Latest News
Nauru Airlines offers new direct flights from Brisbane to Palau on ‘Paradise Express’
Nauru Airlines is offering new direct six-hour flights from Brisbane to Palau on the ‘Palau Paradise Express’ to the 300-island archipelago, with launch fares from $999 return. Nauru Airlines will commence direct flights between Brisbane and Palau from 21 May 2024, opening the new non-stop air route to this archipelago nation of more than 300 […]
Etihad Airways boosts connectivity with five interline partnerships
Etihad high fives itself with interline partnerships with a handful of new airlines, including Rex.
Discover the Enchantment of India- A Tale of Timeless Cities
Whether you're game enough to test out the street food or not, we recon India should be top of your list.
Qantas cops $100m penalty with passengers to get $20m back over cancelled flights
Qantas cops a $100m civil penalty, passengers to get back $20m over cancelled flights to resolve ACCC court battle.
Search underway for missing cruiser of Sydney Heads
Carnival Cruise Lines have confirmed a search is underway for a passenger who went overboard P&O Cruises Pacific Adventure about 20 kilometres off Sydney Heads this morning. Pacific Adventure was due to dock at Sydney Harbour at 6am this morning but is now searching the waters after a man went overboard around 4:15am. One passenger told 2GB […]
Wendy Wu Tours ‘Wonderlust Sale’ offers the wonders of the world for less
Wendy Wu Tours opens the month of May with some very special deals across its most sought-after destinations. From Japan, China and South Korea to Southeast Asia, Central Asia and across India and Latin America, the ‘Wonderlust Sale’ sees all destinations on sale. The ‘Wonderlust Sale’ is an offer too good to resist with incredible […]
Booking.com launches AI Trip Planner in Australia and New Zealand
Booking.com has announced its AI Trip Planner (Beta) is now available for travellers in Australia and New Zealand, the first markets to launch in Asia Pacific. Until now, AI Trip Planner was only available for US and UK travellers after it was launched in the Booking.com app in June last year. Built using Booking.com’s existing […]
Voyages celebrates 40 years at Uluru with two new immersive experiences
No plans for celebrating your 40th this year? Here's a hot tip from us.
SkyDeck: The inflight entertainment you could never have imagined
Forget those external cameras you can live stream while in the air... With SkyDeck you can check it out for yourself.
Second Boeing whistleblower dies of ‘mystery infection’
Joshua Dean died from a fast-growing mystery infection on Tuesday.
Aussie winners of American Airlines ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ announced
Show me the money! For the winners, Sell Your Way to the USA was worth getting involved in.
ANZCRO celebrates 30th with special edition of iconic New Zealand Book
Choice bro! ANZCRO celebrates its 30th with a special edition of its iconic New Zealand Book. Chur!
Room to move at Cairns Harbourside Hotel with ‘spacious’ new family package
Moody teens can eat two-minute noodles while younger brothers and sisters get to eat free with mum and dad. Win, win!
A&K unveils lavish around the world wildlife adventure in private jet
The kind of holiday that if you need to ask the cost, you probably can't afford it.
Flight Centre and Reforest hit one million trees target early
Nice one Flight Centre, we think you've earned an early Friday knockoff.
New cruise options spearhead stacked APT 2025 program
Just in case you thought you were running out of cruise itineraries, APT's here with a fresh batch.
Travel Weekly announces a new team to helm Australia’s No.1 travel trade title
Some shameless self-promotion from us, but we thought you needed to know who's bringing you the news.
IHG reveals plans for Brisbane’s first Kimpton in 2028
Just another reason to book that trip to Brisvegas. But don't jump the gun, it's not open until 2028.
Cruiseabout’s first store in five years opens in Perth
Perth gets a break from being behind the rest of the country with the addition of the first Cruiseabout store.
ATAS complaints process acknowledges non-economic loss
A High Court case win over 'disappointment and distress' on a cruise gone wrong prompts ATIA complaints change.
Cunard previews new Queen Anne
Yep, this one does exactly what it says on the tin.
Bunnik Tours unveils latest expansion to Iceland
Just as the Icelandic vikings did many years ago, Bunnik is expanding into new territories.
Australia’s first glamping retreat turns 25
25th anniversary gifts usually come in silver. Ours comes in the way of a news story.
Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun
If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]
Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs
Turnbull hints her new role will see her staying in the tourism and hospitality industry and who can blame her?
DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign
If agents can put the foot down quick enough and get involved, there are some great prizes to be won.
Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern
Unlike those dodgy scam phone calls you're getting more and more of, there's no strings attached to this deal.
Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips
Can you call it a sober holiday if you enjoy a few glasses of red on the flight? We think yes.
Travel DAZE Exec Agenda REVEALED: top execs to speak on airline competition
As the industry reels from Bonza's implosion, it is more important than ever to ask the big questions.
TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips
The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]
Skroo says Rex will need deep pockets to fill lost Bonza slots
The door is open for Rex, and anyone else who wants to launch a regional Aussie airline...
Sno’n’Ski Holidays unveils 2025 mega famil to Colorado!
Let the games begin - this is certainly not a famil that you will want to miss!
Walk Japan launches Kyoto: Mountains to the sea walking tour
There are two types of people, one who enjoys walking on holiday and another who enjoys sipping Mojitos by the pool.
Which destination had a 48% boost in bookings following 10 MILLION TikTok views?
Here's a clue: it's not Malabar Beach.
Asher Telford appointed General Manager of SeaLink Whitsundays
Telford has plenty of reasons to smile after SeaLink doubles down and makes him GM after buying his tourism operation.
Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak
Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]