When the sun sets in Hawaii, you’ll be looking for somewhere to sleep. Fortunately you can sleep for cheap in the islands.
I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, Hawaii is expensive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit on a budget. Whether you’re backpacking Hawaii, trying to achieve a dream honeymoon without taking out your first mortgage or you’re a family on a budget, you may be surprised to know that you can sleep for as little as $18 a night in Hawaii.
Accommodation in Hawaii doesn’t have to be expensive
When I landed in Oahu, I had no idea how long I’d be able to afford to stay – I hoped to spend three months roving through the islands but one of the biggest expenses I faced was accommodation costs. Spending $100 or more a night on a room might be fine if you’re taking a dream vacation from your well-paid job, but for a long-term traveller like me, those prices were way out of my spending league.
A lot of people delay their visit to Hawaii, often permanently, on the assumption that it’s too expensive to visit. I almost did the same, assuming backpacking Hawaii wasn’t the done thing. Surely, the islands were no place for solo travellers who didn’t want to cough-up double occupancy prices for a roommate they didn’t have?
Not so.
The good news is that you accommodation costs don’t need to be a deterrent in paradise. It is perfectly possible to sleep in the Hawaiian islands for $40-$70 a night (double). Even better, if you’re simply looking for a bed, you can sleep for as cheap as $18. How? In hostels.
I’m not backpacking Hawaii and I don’t “do hostels”– Can I still sleep cheap?
Yes…so don’t click-off just yet.
Until 2010 I had never slept in a hostel. I’m not 18 (by a long shot) and I like my own space. Yet, I’m happy to sleep in a dorm room if it equals good travel maths (the less I spend = the longer I travel).
But, I get that this is style of travel isn’t for everyone.
Indeed, many of my closest friends physically quiver at the mere mention of the word hostel (I’m talking about you, James). So, I’m not here to convince you to start sleeping in dorms. To be honest, they are not always the best place for couples and families. Hell, sometime even I want a room to call my own.
Which is where I have some good news – many of the hostels in Hawaii have private rooms that offer the privacy of a hotel at a fraction of the cost. Yes, seriously.
But it’s still a hostel, right? Wrong…kind of… The truth is that the hostels in Hawaii are in a league of their own, in a good way.
I’ve bunked down in the stack ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap doss-houses in Southeast Asia that give hostels a bad name but their Hawaiian counterparts (or, at least most of them) defy the stereotype. Clean, homely, with friendly staff, breakfast often included, great facilities and sometimes better locations than many of the hotels in the area, the hostels in Hawaii are an amazing breed of budget accommodation that is amongst some of the best I’ve stayed in around the world.
Which is probably why I met people from all walks of life in the common rooms of Hawaii’s hostels – professionals on vacations, families, honeymooners, couples, career breakers and even people like me who were backpacking Hawaii (and quite happy to take advantage of the cheapest sleeping options available – the dorms).
Tips for booking hostels in Hawaii
With a good choice of budget accommodation in Hawaii I managed to fulfill my goal and stay for three month in the islands and during that time I managed to sleep at a significant number of the hostels in Hawaii (details on that below). I also picked up the following tips for booking hostels in Hawaii.
Do your research: sure, doing research for every trip is important but with the hostels in Hawaii it’s even more important. Although each island is catered for in terms of hostel accommodation, there are only a handful of choices per island. If you turn up and your chosen place is not to your liking, there won’t be as many alternatives in the same price bracket. The choices on some islands (Oahu) are better than others (Maui), so bear this in mind.
Booking in advance versus turn up and see: your personal circumstances will largely dictate your approach on this front – if you’re on holiday for two weeks and want the security of knowing you have a room or need to accommodate a family, you’ll no doubt want to book in advance. If you’re backpacking Hawaii, turning up is usually fine as there are a good number of dorm beds (though beware some hostels are so popular they are regularly booked out). If you’re after a private room, then you should almost certainly book before you arrive – private rooms at hostel prices go quick, quick, quick. I’ve written previously about the pros and cons of booking rooms in advance.
Beware peak season: why, why, why have I not learned my lesson on this yet? I spent Golden Week without accommodation in Japan and I was near homeless in Hawaii for the last week of my stay because I’d failed to realize that the Honolulu Marathon, anniversary of Pearl Harbour and peak Christmas period all collide during December, resulting in a booked out beach area (here are some suggested solutions if you ever find your self in a similar spot). After knocking on enough doors, and dismissing the temptation to stay at Trump Towers (for hundreds of dollars a night), I managed to score a place to lay my head…over a succession of different properties. Cue: logistical pain in the backside as I spent my last week in Hawaii bouncing from one hostel to another. Don’t make my mistake.
Look for freebies: costs can add up quickly in Hawaii from food to transport to tours. Finding a hostel that offers extras can make a real difference. Pizza and beer nights, airport transport, breakfast and even tours are included in the price at some hostels so don’t just look at per night rates – compare the overall cost with everything included. I stayed in one hostel that was nearly double the price of a competitor but offered free day-long tours to the island’s best sights removing the expense of hiring a car and paying for gas, which more than made up for the increased room cost (more details below).
Check your location: be aware that many of the hostels in Hawaii are located in local towns rather being co-located with the grand resorts. For me that was a good thing – I prefer being able to explore local life. But if you’re looking for a beach-based holiday, double-check the location of your chosen accommodation.
Where to stay in Hawaii on a budget
A quick note on prices: They are correct at the time of this post, but obviously things change. Do let me know if you discover prices have gone up. What will need to be added to all prices below is tax, which is an extra 13.962%.
For up to date pricing and more information about each of the hostels below (and a few more besides), see here.
Oahu
By: Simon_sees
Courtesy of my screw-up and not booking ahead, I managed to sleep in almost every hostel in Waikiki. The upside: I’ve explored plenty of budget accommodation options for you!
Waikiki Backpackers Hostel
In a word or two: homely (with bad staff).
What I liked:
Free pizza and beer nights twice a week (apparently now beer and BBQ nights).
Free tea and coffee – and by coffee, I mean REAL coffee, that can be brewed rather than rehydrated.
Excellent location. An ABC Convenience store under a minute away and about the same distance to a nice patch of beach with fewer tourists on it (this comment is relative – you will never get Waikiki alone).
Wonderfully clean everywhere, even the shared dorm bathrooms. Rare. So, so rare in hostels.
Seemed to consistently gather a friendly and fun bunch.
Nice hammock out the back – not the prettiest surroundings (you can mainly see concrete), but perfect for reading and afternoon napping…zzzzzzz…
When I stayed there was free airport transfer but this is no longer included unless you book accommodation at Hilo Backpackers, a sister hostel on Big Island (recommended – see below) AND two tours from Hilo. Unless you definitely want to take two tours on Big Island (more expensive than doing it yourself), you’re probably better off paying the airport transport.
What I didn’t like:
Small social area – the hostel was presumably once apartments so each dorm has its own patio and there are a few ‘common’ patios. Nice for peace and quiet. Not great for socialising.
The main social area is technically off-bounds after around 9pm. We were allowed to stay in there if we were quiet…but when can more than 5 people in a small space remain quiet after free beer?
The staff – rude, rude, unhelpful and, did I say rude (apart from the cleaning lady)? The guy running the show (who wasn’t the owner) was consistent in his bad attitude and propensity for shouting at guests. I would like to say that thankfully, the rude man was relieved of his customer-facing position (true), but his replacement seemed no more enthralled with the idea of dealing with guests. All that said, staff may have changed again by now.
Overall: great location, nice freebies and super clean. If the staff has been on a people management class up, or you can deal with their grumps (assuming these leopards have clung to their spots), then this is a great choice.
Private rooms: From $35 per person (triple) or $44 (double) per person.
Dorms from: $29 per night.
Hokondao Waikiki Beachside Hostel
In a word or two: P.A.R.T.Y CENTRAL.
What I liked:
If you’re looking for people to hang out with, explore the nightlife and experience a wilder side of Waikiki, you’re guaranteed to find it here.
A basic but good-for-the-price restaurant is attached to the hostel serving some of the cheapest food you’ll find in Waikiki. Will it compete with Michelin star restaurants? Of course not. But what do you expect for a couple of dollars in paradise…sloppy joes is what you can expect and sloppy joes is the kind of thing you get.
Despite this being party central, it was pretty quiet at night – either well sound-proofed or the party was elsewhere.
The staff was great. I was booking by the day and they went to a lot of effort to shuffle things around so I didn’t need to keep moving room. My bad. Their good.
What I didn’t like:
The couple having sex in my dorm. Not in the bathroom, but on the kitchenette counter. Oh Lord. Guess this isn’t promised with every stay but the propensity for alcohol in this establishment makes it much more likely.
The neighbouring property. I heard a lot of screaming, yelling and other unpleasant disturbances that made me initially wonder if the place was a low-security prison. I did walk a little faster past the property after dark and was grateful for the wristband security entrance on the hostel.
Overall: If you’re in the mood for a party, this is the place to be. If you’re looking for more quiet time, there are other options in Waikiki.
Private rooms: From $70.20 per room. Semi-private rooms are situated off the dorm room with shared bathroom.
Dorms: From $17.55 per night.
Hostelling International Waikiki
In a word (or two): sensible, reliable, older.
What I liked:
They were able to squeeze me in when the rest of Waikiki was full of marathon runners – this place had less women or more female beds, not sure, but it meant availability.
I got stuff done here – beyond the distracting party atmosphere of Waikiki Beachside Hostel I was able to get some proper sight-seeing done.
The mood was calming and the common room like a big, friendly sitting room.
The clientele seemed older – I know I fit into that ‘older’ category but I can usually mingle with all ages. However, it was nicer to see older people here because it added a different dimension to the conversation (one guy was a war veteran and had some tales to tell).
What I didn’t like:
I can only take calm and serious serenity for so long before I get bored. After a few days I was ready to leave.
The location was at the other end of Waikiki (away from the zoo, towards Honolulu) and after the proximity of the other hostels to everything, it felt miles away though in reality it wasn’t far at all – the beach and restaurants all within a few minutes’ walk.
Overall: If you’re in Waikiki on a short stop with a mission to see as much as possible, this is an excellent base. Crashing here after an exhausting day promises a clean bed without parties to interrupt your sleep.
Private Rooms: from $32, per person. Rooms are en-suite.
Dorms: from $28.
Note: None HI Members have to pay an additional $3 non-membership fee per night.
Seaside Hawaiian Hostel
Waikiki
Checking people in. Room upgrades offered in exchange for dog biscuits.
In a word (or two): Simply nice.
What I liked:
This was a perfectly acceptable hostel with nice staff, nice rooms and a nice communal outside area. It was simply nice. Nothing to get too underwhelmed or over excited about.
The rooms had a cabin feel, which made a nice change.
The staff was really friendly and nice to chat to.
What I didn’t like
This hostel was probably the furthest walk from the beachfront.
The hostel is also located off the street corner where the local ladies of the night hang out/carry on their ‘freelance’ business. The ladies seemed pleasant enough (I bought one of them dinner) and although I don’t think it’s an unsafe area, I did look over my shoulder around here after dark.
Overall: The word bland comes to mind although I can’t say that in a negative way because everything was…nice. I guess I prefer extremes – party central or serious city but if you’re looking for a no-fuss spot, I’d recommend it here.
Private rooms: from $45 per person. Semi-private rooms are available. That means the sleeping space is private but the bathroom is shared. Location-wise, you need to go through the dorm to get to the private room.
Dorms: from $26.
Big Island
By: Kenneth Lu
The first decision you have to make when you book on Big Island is whether to stay in Hilo (east coast) or Kona (west coast). Unless, of course, you decide to try both, like I did. Can’t decide? This might help.
Hilo
Renowned for receiving more rain, though it didn’t rain once while I was there.
Closest to Volcanoes National Park (you can stay in the park but I didn’t do that).
A local town feel though some people might consider it a big rough around the edges. Personally, I really liked Hilo. More so than Kona.
Kona
Beautiful beaches, better weather (apparently) and plenty of water-based activities like scuba and snorkeling.
Better set up for tourists – take your own view on whether that is a good or bad thing.
Well located for coffee plantations and the Kona brewery.
Whether you choose Hilo, Kona or try both, you will probably want to cross from one side of the island to the other during your stay to see most of the sights.
Hilo Backpackers Hostel
In a word (or two): Loved this place.
What I liked:
Everything…ok, being more specific…Beautiful old house in Hilo that has been converted with lots of space to socialise or chill-out with a book as the mood takes you.
Cheapest prices in all of paradise (when I stayed it was $19 a night – clearly there has been some levelling with the market rate since I stayed).
Good breakfast with fresh fruit included.
The cleanest place I stayed in Hawaii – I felt confident walking bare foot here, even in the bathrooms!
Well located in the middle of town, with private parking and a few minutes from bars, restaurants and the waterfront (note it’s not a beachfront here).
There is exercise equipment – a bike, some weights and space to work-off some wobble. A rare find in a hostel.
Amazing staff – Jarred who runs the place is friendly, helpful, fun and interesting.
What I disliked:
I had hoped the hostel would offer more and more affordable tours especially for lava hunting. Fortunately, everyone at the hostel was in a similar situation so it was easy to arrange a car share.
Overall: I went back to this hostel after spending time in Kona. I would have happily stayed longer if I hadn’t booked a flight to leave the island.
Privates rooms:
$68 per room per night.
Dorms: $27.
Koa Wood Hale (Kona)
In a word (or two): Hippy commune.
What I liked:
This is the only hostel in walking distance of Kona.
A very fascinating and eclectic bunch of people staying here, many on a semi-permanent basis (at the time I stayed).
Incredibly accommodating – the staff pitched me a tent and allowed a friend to sling up his travel hammock when the place was full and we hadn’t booked in the midst of the Iron Man Championship. Otherwise we were looking at an expensive tourist-caliber (and priced) hotel.
What I didn’t like:
As much as I liked being able to crash in a spontaneously erected tent, the place had a bit of a doss-house feel with foam matting strewn in the common area outside and the whole space acted as semi-permanent sleeping area for longer term stays.
Ok, breaking out a few stereotypes, but the hippy commune feel could have done with a hippy commune clean…including some of the guests.
We paid full dorm rates for my tent (which was next to a fully fermenting compost heap) and my friend’s self-supplied hammock, which seemed a bit cheeky even though we were in no position to barter.
Overall: If you want to stay in Kona and stick to your budget, this is not a bad choice, but if you have a car and accommodation is important, I’d suggest Hilo as a base.
Privates: from $55 per person, semi-private. These rooms were upstairs, an areas that felt like a different, much nicer building.
Dorms: from $25.
Kauai
I only stayed in one place in Kauai, but that’s because I didn’t feel the need to go anywhere else.
Honueaua International Hostel (Kapaa)
In a word (or two): Everything you need.
What I liked:
Run by a family so this place has nice, homely touches but without feeling like you’re living with mom and pop.
Amazing coffee – a constant supply of good, fresh, non-dehydrated coffee will win me over every time.
Kayaks available for use on the nearby river.
Excellent outdoor communal space that encourages group dinners and (low-key) parties.
One block from the beach and minutes from bars and restaurants.
Located in a funky art-café kind of town, Kapaa.
The owners handled the tsunami evacuation with amazing calm and organisation. (Yes, I did have cause to send a “There is a tsunami warning, I’m going to higher ground, I love you all” email back home while I was in Kauai. Read about it here.)
What I didn’t like:
Not much except maybe that the communal area was close to the family living area so we needed to keep things quiet at night, which was a challenge from time to time.
Overall: unless you need to be in one of the tourist-favored beach resorts, this is an excellent choice.
Privates: from $60 per room.
Dorms: from $20.50.
Maui
Like the other islands, I moved around a bit so had a few places to compare and contrast.
On the east coast the hostels are congregated in Wailuku. I won’t lie, the town itself is pretty but has a distinctly edgy side to it demanding you keep your wits about you at night (judging by some of the posters around town as well as some of the residents, it seems Wailuku has a Crystal Meth problem). Having said that, there is very little (read: no) reason to go out at night because there nightlife in the town – not even one bar, so if you want to party, pick your hostel well. On the plus side, there is an all-night gas station that sells alcohol and snacks. The town also doesn’t have many of its own natural attractions, the best of Maui lying elsewhere. With public transport lacking for the major sites (road to Hana and Haleakala volcano and the island’s beaches), and car hire both expensive and hard to come by, weigh your options when you book (suggested solution below).
On the west side of Maui, the hostels are located in Lahaina, the old-whaling town and being in the centre of downtown they have a better location that the bigger hotels which are along the coast.
The Northshore Hostel (Wailuku)
In a word (or two): Strict and older.
What I liked:
Super clean – again, clean enough to walk around bare foot.
Pancakes for breakfast – yay! (Have to cook them yourself, but who cares).
Homely feel in a converted house.
Well located for the centre of the town – a few minutes away from cafes and restaurants.
A rather rude woman who shared my room was obnoxious to the staff and promptly dealt with via eviction. Bad behavior will not be tolerated here here, which was a refreshing change.
What I didn’t like:
Labels. Eveywhere. Ok, I’m not against the labels themselves but it was the constant barrage of rules. Silence after 10pm. Fair enough. Lock the bathroom door. Errr, ok. No laptop noise. What? Key tapping? Get dried inside the shower. Seriously?
I’m a night owl, even when I’m not partying. It may have been the crowd when I was there (late 40s-50s American men travelling solo) but lights were out by 9pm and I was often the last (wo)man standing.
There were so many rules , I escaped to a friend’s hostel for some atmosphere on the second night. By the third night I’d moved.
Overall: If you want to sleep early, get up early and appreciate a high level of order, this place is great. Anarchists (who like to get dried outside the shower cubicle), look elsewhere.
Privates:
From $69 per room.
Dorms: from $25.
Banana Bungalow
(Wailuku)
In a word (or two): Double-edged sword.
What I liked:
You pay a premium to stay at Banana Bungalow. What you get in return is free tours to the main sights on the island – a day taking the road to Hana, a day trekking into Haleakala volcano, a day at Big Beach and Little Beach (the nudie one) and various other trips. Given Maui is incredibly difficult and expensive for car hire (you’re competing with a lot of honeymooners), these tours are a unique and invaluable budget option that make this hostel one of the best choices on the island.
As well as good value, the tours make this hostel an incredibly social experience – who doesn’t bond at a nudist beach?
The staff are super friendly and helpful.
Pancakes for breakfast – yum!
A very decent kitchen for cooking and the tours stop via a large supermarket on the way back to the hostel meaning you can save on eating out.
What I didn’t like:
The social side can be a double-edged sword because a day of fun turns into party central – every night. I stayed long enough to do all the tours I wanted but found myself in a loop of day-trip, party, day-trip, party. (I have FOMO and limited will-power to turn down fun). Engaging outside of the hostel walls and with locals instead of other travellers would have been nice (I accept this was within my control).
The trips have a maximum number and are therefore oversubscribed daily. If you don’t get on a tour, you’re paying a premium for nothing.
You’re strong armed into tipping the tour guides – $10-$20 per trip. You won’t find this detail mentioned anywhere and added to your room costs, the overall price starts to creep up.
This is an incredibly popular hostel that was always full. It was a challenge for cleanliness and bathroom queues could be long (everyone arrives back from the beach at the same time bringing a bucket’s worth of sand with them).
Overall: If you want an affordable way of seeing Maui without hiring a car, this is the best option on the island. If you enjoy partying, even better. If you’re just looking for a bed, there are cheaper options.
Privates: $93 (single), $51.95 per person (double), $51.95 per person (double), $41.52 per person (triple).
Dorms: $39.90.
Lahaina’s Last Resort
In a word (or two): Not bad…but few alternatives.
I should disclose that my stay here was marred by an unfortunate situation – sadly there was a man with advanced stages of cancer sleeping in the dorm bed across from me. Despite my deepest sympathies, I saw him full-frontal naked regularly and had the misfortune of discovering his bathroom bowel accident…with my flip-flop. The manager moved me to a private room, but the memories remain. All of that aside, I’ll try to be objective.
What I liked:
Location – just minute’s walk away from the shorefront of Lahaina old town with its pretty clapboard buildings, restaurants, bars, cafes and supermarket – you can’t get a better location (without paying a lot for it).
There wasn’t a kitchen as such but rather a BBQ area, which more than made up for it. Meat!
The outside patio was perfect for meeting people.
The owner was really accommodating – any problem, he would fix it.
Although I don’t dive, a lot of guests rated the dive opportunities they took with the owner.
There was a really relaxed ‘do as you like’ approach to the hostel.
I visited the other hostel in Lahaina and as well as being further out of town (a 10-minute walk), the rooms were dingy, I had questions about the cleanliness and it all-round seemed like a worse choice (even with the poorly man staying in my room).
What I didn’t like:
The taxi company I arranged through the hostel was late and did an unrequested stop off after taking on a last minute guest. It meant I missed my flight, which I was none too pleased about. Not entirely the hostel’s fault (though they did recommend the driver). All that said, the owner reimbursed the taxi fare. The flight change fee I had to swallow.
The owner, nice as he is, can perhaps be too accommodating. It’s a sensitive subject, but I didn’t think a person as sick as my roommate should have been allowed to stay in the hostel…but what was the owner to do? Tough call.
Overall: You can’t beat this place for location and the only thing that affected my stay is unlikely to be a repeated experienced.
Privates: $19.50 per person.
Dorms: $39.
I’ve added some of my Hawaii photos to Hostelbooker’s United Sharing Adventure Map. The map features travel tips as well as photographs from other travellers who have been to the islands. You can even upload your own USA travel snaps.
Have you ever stayed in Hawaii on a budget? Do you have any other recommendations for places to sleep for cheap?
The post Where to Stay in Hawaii on a Budget appeared first on Indiana Jo.