Planning a trip to Hawaii: how, when, where?

If you’ve arrived here, you are probably ready to start planning your adventurous trip to Hawaii. Hawaii, the 50^th State of the USA, is an extraordinary mix of ocean and volcanoes, where lush forests, lava fields, and vibrant reefs coexist within a few kilometres. With famous places such as Honolulu, Kona and Maui, it is one of those places people often dream of visiting at least once in their lifetime. Located in the Northern Pacific, about 4,000 km west of California, Hawaii comprises six main islands: Kauai, Oahu (home to its capital, Honolulu), Molokai, Maui, Lanai, and Hawai’i (often referred to as the Big Island to avoid confusion). 

While Hawaii is world-famous for surfing, scuba diving is surprisingly underrated. Diving with manta rays at night in Kona and into the semi-submerged crater of Molokini are usually high on divers’ bucket lists as these underwater adventures are among the most fun things to do in Hawaii. However, this is also a costly destination that requires some planning to make the most of it without blowing your budget. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your trip — whether you’re coming from America, Europe or the Asia-Pacific region — and how to make every minute (and dive) count.

My top tips to travel smarter to Hawaii

The easiest and cheapest way to get to Hawaii

For travellers from North America, you can fly directly to the three main islands — Oahu, Maui, and Big Island — from cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York or Vancouver. From Asia, there are direct flights to Honolulu or Kona (but not to Maui) from Tokyo and Osaka. Travellers from Australia can also connect via Sydney.

A return ticket to fly direct to Hawaii starts from:

• 350 USD from Los Angeles or San Francisco
• 300 CAD from Vancouver
• 100,000 JPY from Tokyo 
• 900 AUD from Sydney

From Europe, the most convenient way to reach Hawaii is via the US West Coast. Flying through Los Angeles or San Francisco is the most direct route, with a flight from London to L.A. taking around 12 hours, followed by another six hours to Honolulu, Maui, or Kona. If you’re departing from mainland Europe, connections through Amsterdam, Paris or Frankfurt make it easy to link up with those California flights.

Learn more about how to get to Hawaii from different places worldwide, including the main airlines serving the destinations and alternative routes that can help secure better deals.

The best season to visit Hawaii, away from the crowds

With air temperatures between 20 and 30°C and water temperatures ranging from 24°C to 27°C, Hawaii is a true year-round destination. “Summer,” from May to early October, brings the sunniest days and calmer seas. “Winter” is slightly rainier but is also the whale-watching season, particularly from February to March. In Maui, whales start arriving as early as December, and diving while listening to their songs underwater is a magical experience worth planning for.

However, Hawaii is one of the most visited destinations in the world, and certain periods see heavy tourist traffic. July and August are peak months, while October and November are among the quietest. To avoid crowds and higher prices, try not to travel during US holidays, such as Spring Break (mid-March to mid-April), Memorial Day (late May), Independence Day (July 4th), Labour Day (early September), and the Christmas holidays.

How to explore the islands efficiently

If you’re wondering how to get around Hawaii during your trip, you first need to decide which islands you want to visit, then understand what transportation options are available to reach them and how to navigate them. 

To make the most of your time in Hawaii and save money, reduce the number of domestic flights by limiting your trip to two or three islands. You’ll get more time to enjoy the diversity of landscapes without rushing between airports. As a scuba diver, Maui and Big Island were the perfect combination for me.

All international arrivals land in Honolulu or in Kona, depending on the route. Once in Hawaii, the only way to move between islands (except for the ferry between Maui and Lanai) is by plane. Hawaiian Airlines and Mokulele Airlines operate frequent inter-island routes, with the latter flying small 10-seat propeller planes — a scenic experience I still vividly remember, with views over Molokini Crater from the air.

Renting a car is almost unavoidable anywhere in the US, especially when you’re bringing diving gear. Public buses are available on the main islands, but they have luggage restrictions. Car rental prices fluctuate, so book early and recheck rates for potential savings. 

Book a place to stay that matches your preferences and budget

Best areas to stay based on your preferences

Choosing where to stay in Hawaii depends on what kind of experience you’re after — beach, surfing, hiking, diving, or local culture. My favourite spots in Hawaii as a scuba diver are Maui and Big Island. Here is what to expect from each place:

• Oahu, home to the capital of Hawaii, Honolulu, has a vibe all about city life at the beach, surrounded by coconut trees. Besides the famous Waikiki Beach, the island also has a more natural side, renowned for hiking and surfing. Scuba diving is also possible, but not the best in the archipelago.
• Kauai: Nicknamed “the Garden Isle”, the island is all about wild and breathtaking nature, calling hiking lovers. The most famous spots are the Na Pali Coast and the Waimea Canyon. Some good surfing can also be found at Hanalei Bay and Poipu Beach.
• Maui: My favourite island is definitely a great mix of all the best Hawaii has to offer: hiking at the Haleakala Volcano National Park, Waterfall hopping on the road to Hana, surfing in Kaanapali (leave Honu’ula Bay for the champions), and of course, scuba diving in Molokini Crater (and many more exciting dive sites). Special note: The area of Lahaina affected by the 2023 wildfires hasn’t been rebuilt yet. This sad event broke my heart, as it was my favourite spot in all of Hawaii. The resort area of Kaanapali was not affected and is still a gorgeous place to stay in West Maui.
• Big Island: Similar to Oahu in terms of urbanisation around Kailua-Kona, the island of Hawai’i is large enough to offer big adventures, such as hiking in Volcano National Park to see lava flowing into the ocean or night diving with manta rays. Like the other islands, it has many popular surfing spots on its west coast.
• Lanai: An hour ferry away from Maui, this island felt the most remote and natural to me. The changes in landscape across the tropical beaches, deserts, and pine forests, depending on altitude and the island’s sides, were breathtaking for such a small island. This is the perfect place to relax away from the crowds.

Accommodation in Hawaii is more expensive than you think

Hawaii offers a range of accommodations, from laid-back hostels to luxurious oceanfront resorts. However, even modest accommodations in Hawaii come with a hefty price tag. Budget travellers should expect to spend around $ 60-90 USD for a bed in a dorm or $ 150–200 USD for a basic private room per night in a hostel, while mid-range hotels range from $ 200–300 USD. At $ 500-$1,000 a night, the luxury resorts are incredible, but be sure to check all the costs, as the US is infamous for adding resort fees on top of the room price. Whatever you choose, budget and save accordingly to avoid last-minute surprises.

To save costs, consider mixing accommodation types — a few nights in a hostel or vacation rental, balanced with a couple of splurge nights by the beach. Many properties include small kitchenettes, allowing you to cook part of your meals (and save quite a bit). If you plan to visit during popular holidays or major events, book your stay months in advance. Prices can double overnight, and availability becomes scarce even for modest places.

Top tips for scuba divers going to Hawaii

Hawaii’s diving scene is incredibly diverse, offering everything from dramatic lava formations to close encounters with manta rays and turtles. While diving in Hawaii is possible year-round, conditions are generally best from May to October.

In Oahu, scuba divers mostly go diving for the shipwrecks. You won’t be able to dive in Pearl Harbour, but the Corsaire aeroplane, the LCU and the Sea Tiger wrecks will delight all divers. The reefs around the island also offer some scenic dives, like Turtle Canyon or Spitting Caves, where you can spot the Hawaiian monk seal.

In Maui, Molokini Crater is a must — a partially submerged volcanic cone with exceptional visibility and thriving coral gardens. The Mala Wharf, Makena Landing and Ulua Beach offer easy shore dives with lots of sea turtles all around.

In Big Island, don’t miss the Manta Night Dive in Kona, one of the most extraordinary underwater experiences in the Pacific. Diving among graceful mantas feeding under beams of light is pure magic. North of Kona, the Kohala Coast offers rugged underwater lava tubes and, occasionally, dolphins.

Hawaii’s dive operators are professional and safety-oriented, but dives don’t come cheap, especially when you add in tipping (between 15 and 25% extra). However, for experienced divers, independent shore diving is common and affordable — you can rent tanks and weights locally for just a few dollars. The dive shops even provide the dive maps!