Hawaii Travel Podcast: Hawaii Travel Tips & Things to Do in Hawaii for Your Hawaii Vacation Planning | Hawaii’s Best Travel

10 Hawaii Travel Tips to Save Your Family Money in 2026

• Bryan Murphy — Certified Hawaii Travel Expert & Owner of Hawaii’s Best Travel | Hawaii Travel Podcast • Episode 199

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Free guide to to Save Your Family Money in 2026 (10 more tips!)

Are you making the most common money-draining mistakes families run into when planning a Hawaii trip in 2026?

With rising costs and new fees starting January 1st, families are trying to stretch their budgets without watering down the experience.

👉 Hit play now to discover 10 practical tips that'll help you save hundreds of dollars while still having an unforgettable Hawaii vacation.

If you've ever wondered how to make your Hawaii trip more affordable without cutting corners on what matters, this episode is for you. You'll learn exactly which expenses to cut and which ones are worth keeping so you can spend your money on experiences that actually create memories.

In this episode of Hawaii's Best, we break down 10 actionable strategies so you can avoid common budget traps and enjoy Hawaii like a local.

👉In this episode, you will:

  • Discover how to save hundreds on flights and baggage by traveling midweek during shoulder season and packing strategically
  • Learn which free and low-cost activities deliver the best experiences, from beaches to hiking trails to farmer's markets
  • Master the art of eating well in Hawaii without resort markups by cooking simple meals and finding local food trucks

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to stretch your budget further and still have an unforgettable 2026 Hawaii vacation.

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🎧Related episodes:

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🤓Chapters:

  • 0:44 Planning Your 2026 Hawaii Trip
  • 2:02 Tip 1: Choose One Island
  • 3:55 Tip 2: Stay in a Condo and Cook Meals
  • 5:40 Tip 3: Shop Smart
  • 6:52 Tip 4: Eat Like a Local
  • 7:59 Tip 5: Pack Light to Save on Baggage Fees
  • 8:50 Tip 6: Free and Low-Cost Activities
  • 9:48 Tip 7: Utilize Hotel or Condo Perks
  • 10:35 Tip 8: Plan a No-Spend Staycation Day
  • 11:30 Tip 9 & 10: Travel in Shoulder Season and Fly Midweek
  • 13:48 Additional Resources

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This Hawaii travel podcast is for travelers looking to plan a trip to Hawaii. Discover travel tips, itineraries, and traveling tips & hacks with guides to help you explore Hawaii. Whether you’re planning a Hawaii vacation to the islands, dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway, or visiting Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Big Island we’ll help you travel with aloha.

Edge of the Ocean, Stick Figure (w/ permission)
Ukulele and Chill, Coby G (w/ permission)
Talk Story, Hawaiian Style Band (w/ permission)

199_10 Hawaii Travel Tips to Save Your Family Money in 2026


[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: As the cost to travel to Hawaii continues to rise, and with new fees coming towards the beginning of the new year, families are just trying to make their 2026 Hawaii trip work on a tighter budget. Totally understand. We're right there with you, and in today's episode, you're Discover 10 practical tips to make your trip more affordable without watering down the.

[00:00:21] Bryan Murphy: Experience in Hawaii.

[00:00:26] Bryan Murphy: Loa welcome to Hawaii's. Best of podcast, helping you plan an unforgettable trip to Hawaii. Here I share practical tips and UpToDate news for anyone who is interested in traveling to Hawaii or just loves Hawaii. My name is Brian Murphy and I am the host and owner of Hawaii's Best. Travel.

[00:00:44] Bryan Murphy: I am just so thankful for you joining me on this episode, and we're gonna be talking about something that is super relevant, I think, for a lot of people traveling to Hawaii in the near future.

[00:00:55] Bryan Murphy: Looking at 2026, a lot of fees are happening starting January 1st, 2026. I covered a little bit of that in last week's episode, so you want to go back and check that out, but

[00:01:06] Bryan Murphy: Planning a Hawaii trip in 2026 can feel overwhelming with rising costs, shifting rules, and a lot of noise online right now about what you should do and maybe what you shouldn't do in Hawaii. So by the end of this episode, it's my goal that you'll know whether you're making the most common money, draining mistakes families run into you constantly.

[00:01:28] Bryan Murphy: And if you are, you're gonna know exactly how to fix them so you can stretch your budget even further and still have an unforgettable Hawaii vacation. As we get into it, I just wanna let you know that in the first link and the shown notes below, you can grab my free guide with 10 more tips on how to save costs when planning a trip to Hawaii.

[00:01:47] Bryan Murphy: So you're definitely gonna wanna have that guide handy as you begin your planning. Maybe you're already in planning stages, maybe you're, you're in Hawaii right now and thinking about the next time you're gonna be visiting and, uh, this episode will be helpful for you as well.

[00:02:02] Bryan Murphy: So let's go ahead and let's get into it with tip number one, and that is pick one island, maybe two depending on the time you got.

[00:02:10] Bryan Murphy: This is something that a lot of people don't think about until it's too late. Every inter island flight for a family of four, as of pretty quickly, and you know, I'm talking several hundred dollars in airfare alone. Then you've got the extra time, the extra rental costs, bagging fees, the whole packing and unpacking dance multiple times, especially as you're doing that with a family.

[00:02:33] Bryan Murphy: You think, well, I'm just gonna hop on over to Maui for the day or two. That's a whole ordeal, and maybe that sounds familiar to you. And that's a trap that a lot of people fall into because for many. Visiting Hawaii is a once in a lifetime opportunity and you wanna make the most of it. You wanna do all the things, and I totally get it, but Hawaii isn't like a day at Disneyland where you have to like make sure you do all the rides.

[00:02:59] Bryan Murphy: It's far from that. So one thing I would definitely encourage you to do instead is to go deep instead of wide. As far as your island choices, spend a full week on Oahu or Maui or Big Island, Hawaii. Really explore it. Find the neighborhoods, find the local mom and pop spots, find the farmer's markets. Just get in tune and in step with the vibe, the feel and pace of the island.

[00:03:28] Bryan Murphy: You know, maybe you want to go to that beach more than once, and I think you'll have a better experience, a better trip. You'll spend way less if you're not traveling, doing an island hopping throughout your trip. Especially if you're only staying for like a week. If you're doing like, I'd say more than 10 days, then yeah, you might wanna look into island hopping.

[00:03:48] Bryan Murphy: But if you only got a week, I would highly recommend that you spend that week on just a single island.

[00:03:55] Bryan Murphy: Tip number two is stay in a condo and cook your own meals. This is actually a big one for my family and this is something that we do and it's, it's a huge time saver. 'cause you're not having to like go and hunt for food trying to find a new spot.

[00:04:11] Bryan Murphy: You already have maybe a menu that you've created. We usually eat in breakfasts. Lunch and then we do our outs for dinner. But this is something that has saved us a lot of money and a lot of the condos or time shares do have a little kitchen. If it does, that really does change a lot. There's Costcos on every island.

[00:04:33] Bryan Murphy: What's cool is like you're not gonna be paying for resort markups on breakfast. 'cause a lot of resorts don't do a free breakfast. You're not gonna be grabbing lunch at tourist spots if you are on a tight budget. Hidden up a Costco or a local supermarket like Food Mart. It's definitely the way to go in saving money on food costs.

[00:04:54] Bryan Murphy: Now you might be thinking like Brian, okay, that's great, but groceries in Hawaii cost more than the mainland and that is completely accurate. They do and but the reality is a family dinner you cook for yourself. Still costs a fraction of what you pay at a restaurant. So we're talking about the difference between $120 for a family dinner out and a $25 meal at home, or you know, in the condo, you know, do that a few times a week and you've freed up a hundred dollars right there, you know, just.

[00:05:24] Bryan Murphy: Keep it simple. You're in Hawaii. You don't have to, you know, just, just keep your meals simple. Enjoy all that Hawaii is. Maybe save that money for a nice dinner out, or just save that money because you need to save that money. Totally get it.

[00:05:40] Bryan Murphy: Number three is Shop Smart. So like I mentioned, you know, shopping at Costco, food Mart, farmer's markets.

[00:05:50] Bryan Murphy: One of the, the first things we do when we land is we'll get to where we're staying and then we will go head up Costco. That's. What we do, you might not like Costco. That's totally fine. There's so many other options on the islands, but we load up on the basics. Definitely save money compared to convenience stores or resort shops.

[00:06:10] Bryan Murphy: Plus you'll have what you need for the whole week. It makes planning so much easier. In midweek, we usually hit up like a farmer's market. The prices on in season fruit are often better than chain stores. One of the best things about that is you're supporting local growers. It's fun. It's low key activity for the family too.

[00:06:28] Bryan Murphy: They're free to get in and you get to support local, fresh pineapple, papaya, local treats. There's probably poke and all the good stuff at farmer's markets. One big grocery run plus a farmer's market visit can save you hundreds over buying everything. At resort prices and moving right along to number four is eat like a local, not like at the resort.

[00:06:52] Bryan Murphy: You didn't fly over 2000 miles to eat at a chain restaurant. I know. Well, maybe we still hit up CPK when we're on island. Just because everybody likes it, but we'll do that maybe once. But you definitely want to try the local places. You know, think plate lunches, food trucks, poke tastes like nothing that you can get on the mainland.

[00:07:14] Bryan Murphy: There's so many great local noodle spots. These places feed families for half the price of resort restaurants. You can find these places on Yelp, but what I would recommend is ask your hotel concierge or maybe you get to talking to someone who lives on island. Ask them for their favorite local spot.

[00:07:32] Bryan Murphy: Maybe they'll share with you. Sometimes you might find that they'll hide the actual favorite, but they're gonna give you some good options. You'll be able to find the food truck everyone's talking about and where they're gonna do their next popup. Shout out to jojo. You might want to check them out next time you're on Oahu.

[00:07:48] Bryan Murphy: They have some of the best smash burgers. You can find them at Jo Oja Hawaii. That's JOJA hawaii.com, and you'll be able to check out where they.

[00:07:59] Bryan Murphy: Tip number five is pack light to beat baggage fees. Check bag fees compound fast for families. Most airlines charge between 30 to $40 per bag each way on economy fares.

[00:08:13] Bryan Murphy: So for a family of four with multiple bags, you're looking at between 200. $300 just for baggage fees. That's real money you're handing over before you even deplane. And the simple fix is aim for carry-ons plus one shared check bag. You'll save money and avoid the hassle of dealing with extra luggage.

[00:08:34] Bryan Murphy: That's definitely a win-win. This is what we do every single time. We have one check bag and we have all the girls. We got three girls. My wife and I. We all have our personal item and we have a carry on, and it's more than enough space.

[00:08:50] Bryan Murphy: Tip number six, build your days around free and low cost activities.

[00:08:54] Bryan Murphy: Here's what most people don't realize is that Hawaii's best experiences don't cost a lot of money. Beaches are free. Most hiking trails are free or charge a small parking fee or an entrance fee into the actual park, like a national park. Scenic drives costs, nothing. State parks might charge a modest entry fee, but we're talking just a couple dollars.

[00:09:18] Bryan Murphy: Consider planning maybe two or three anchor activities that cost money. Maybe it's a snorkel chore, a specific guided hike, a luau. Then fill the rest of your days with beaches, lookouts, easy walks, drives, and just exploring everything that the island has to offer. That's really where the magic happens.

[00:09:39] Bryan Murphy: Anyway. That spontaneous stuff, the unplanned moments, those really are the moments you'll actually talk about when you get home after your trip.

[00:09:48] Bryan Murphy: Tip number seven, use your hotel or condo perks. One mistake is just looking at the nightly rate of when you're comparing places. When you're booking, look at what's included.

[00:10:00] Bryan Murphy: Do they have free breakfast that can save you 50 to a hundred dollars a day for a family? Is there free wifi, free parking? That's huge. And what about free beach gear rentals? Those things definitely add up. Sometimes a slightly higher nightly rate that includes breakfast actually costs less than a cheaper room where you're still having to buy breakfast every single morning.

[00:10:24] Bryan Murphy: So just do the math before you book. It makes planning so much easier, and you'll know exactly what you're spending upfront. Tip number eight is plan one. No.

[00:10:35] Bryan Murphy: Spend staycation day. Try to block out at least one day with no tours, no driving, no reservations. Just the beach, the pool, simple food. Your budget will thank you.

[00:10:48] Bryan Murphy: Your energy will thank you. You're gonna need that. Maybe in the, in the middle of your trip, you're gonna want to just do like a down day. One of the things is that your kids will actually enjoy the trip more because they're not just running from one thing to the next thing. Island time isn't just a saying, it's a reminder to just slow down that day of just doing nothing.

[00:11:08] Bryan Murphy: You'll be surprised is often the day that most families remember the most. I know that sounds crazy, but it's definitely true. It's true for us. When we travel, we have quite a few down days. We just like to just chill and those are really where a lot of the memories are built. Also with that is it's family bonding and, and all that good stuff that comes with that too.

[00:11:30] Bryan Murphy: Alright, and number nine, I'm gonna combine nine and 10 because I think they kind of go together, travel and shoulder season and also fly midweek if you can. If you can do those two things, that's amazing. These two tips are my favorite tips hacks, if you will. Most people book Hawaii trips around school breaks and summer.

[00:11:50] Bryan Murphy: That's why summer and Christmas are so busy. That's when prices spike. Availability is limited, but if you got any flexibility at all, I mean like any aim for late April through early June or September through early October, our two favorites are actually February and October. I know I didn't mention February in this because sometimes in February your weather can be a little dicey depending on what side of the island you are staying on and what's going on.

[00:12:21] Bryan Murphy: But the weather is still great in September, October. The crowds definitely do thin out, and that means one of the best parts is that it can save you money on your flights and hotel costs. Being from Southern California, uh, midweek flights, especially Tuesday through Thursday, consistently run cheaper than Friday and Saturday and Sunday.

[00:12:43] Bryan Murphy: We're flying out on a Sunday, I believe, and we got a fairly good deal, but the day that I like to fly out, if we can, when it's just my wife and I, it would be like a Tuesday or Wednesday, that's when I've been able to find the best deals. If you can pair shoulder season with traveling midweek, you're gonna be saving quite a bit of money right there.

[00:13:05] Bryan Murphy: So that's why it's my favorite hack tip. Hate that word hack.

[00:13:09] Bryan Murphy: Anyways, here's what these 10 tips really come down to. It's just being intentional with your money so you can spin it on what matters most to you. You're not cutting corners on experience. You're cutting out some of the waste, the stuff that doesn't really add value.

[00:13:26] Bryan Murphy: When you travel this way, you actually get an opportunity to connect more with the island, more with the people you eat, where locals eat. You spend time at beaches without rushing to the next tour, and you've got hopefully some money left over for spontaneous moments or something that you might see at the farmer's market that you just gotta buy.

[00:13:48] Bryan Murphy: So if you want even more of these tips again, go ahead and grab that free guide with Ted. More tips at the first link in the show notes below. It's got specific numbers, timing, strategies, and details you can use right now. As you're planning like today now, and if you're looking for help putting together a personalized Hawaii trip that fits your budget and your family's style and vibe, I now offer one-on-one consultations, and I'll walk you through the planning.

[00:14:16] Bryan Murphy: Help you avoid common mistakes and make sure you're getting the most out of your trip to Hawaii. Link to book a consultation is in the show notes below as well. Well, thanks again for listening to this episode of Hawaii's Best. Go ahead and hit follow on your podcast app so you don't miss future episodes like next week and until next time, as always.

[00:14:37] Bryan Murphy: Live with Aloha

[00:14:42] Bryan Murphy: Mala for listening to this episode of Hawaii's. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii's Best is a production of shore break media group with editing by easy podcast solutions and music courtesy of our friends. Stick figure.


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