How Much Does a Trip to Hawaii Cost for Two People? (2027)

A quick note: we’ve included a few affiliate links below. Booking through them costs you nothing extra and sends a small commission our way, which helps us keep writing free Hawaii guides. We only ever link to things we’d recommend to a friend. Mahalo! Read about our affiliate policies here.

A 10-night trip to Hawaii for two people costs about $8,370 in May 2027, based on real quotes for flights from Los Angeles, a Waikiki hotel, and a rental car.

At about $8,370, that’s roughly $760 a day for two, or $380 per person per day for a trip to Hawaii. Here’s what a trip to Hawaii costs for two people in 2027. May 20th to May 30th, 2027, specifically. 

Category	Amount
Flights	$1,064
Hotel	$3,198
Rental Car Expenses	$1,057
Food	$2,000
Activities	$1,056
Total	$8,370

My husband, Jordan, and I lived on Oahu and Maui; we now travel back multiple times a year. Getting Hawaii cost estimates for our spreadsheet is second nature.

Of course, you can save! We share our eight favorite tips for saving on a trip to Hawaii at the end.

We have great budget resources for your Hawaii vacation:
– We have a full list of coupon codes to help you save on tours, our itineraries, and more!
– Learn about booking your vacation using points to save hundreds, even thousands, on your trip!
– We almost always use Discount Hawaii Car Rental to book rental cars – they have the best rates, no prepayment, and free cancellation!
– Here are our 5 Cash-Draining Hawaii Mistakes!

Trip to Hawaii Cost for Two

$8,370 is for two people on a 10-night, 11-day trip to Hawaii from May 20th to May 30th, 2027. For simplicity, all 10 nights are at the same hotel on Oahu.

We provide quotes for different hotels, airlines, and rental car companies for reference.

Late May marks the start of the summer busy season, but not the peak-price time. We collected quotes six months before the end of May. See our guide to booking a Last Minute Trip to Hawaii in 15 Minutes.

Your hotel is the highest cost, so put the most research into it. Start with our Where to Stay directory for hotels and vacation rentals at different price points.

Ultimately, how much a trip to Hawaii costs for two people will depend on where you’re flying from, how long you visit, and where you stay.

Cost of Airfare to Hawaii

Round-trip economy fares from Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) for May 20 to 30, 2027, per person, as of October 15, 2026 (Google Flights, nonstop):

• Alaska Airlines / Hawaiian Airlines: $511
• Southwest: $514
• United Airlines: $513
• Delta Airlines: $589

The average of these four fares is $532 per person, or about $1,064 for two people. American Airlines had the lowest nonstop fare at $502.

Fares are about $200 lower per person than our May 2026 quotes from last year ($735 average), even though Google Flights flagged prices as “currently high” for these dates.

The cheapest fares are often basic economy, which can mean no seat choice and boarding last, so check what is included before you book.

Flights to Hawaii might not be as expensive as you think, especially if you’re flying from large West Coast cities. Flying from the East Coast costs more, but you can still find deals.

This gives us an average total of $1,470 for two people.

Factors like where you’re traveling from in the United States (or if you’re coming from even further afield) and what Hawaiian island you’re traveling to can affect pricing. As a rule, Oahu is the least expensive hub to fly into. 

Of all the options, Hawaiian Airlines is our favorite because it feels like you’re on a Hawaiian vacation as soon as you step aboard. They go above and beyond to make passengers feel special and excited about their Hawaii travel.

Check out our guide on how to snag the cheapest airfare to Hawaii.

Cost of a Hotel Stay in Waikiki

Lowest nightly rates for May 20 to 30, 2027, as of October 15, 2026 (Google Hotels, 2 guests):

• Hilton Hawaiian Village: $315
• Queen Kapi’olani Hotel: $204
• Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger: $219
• Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa: $337

The average is $269 a night, or $2,688 for 10 nights. Add Hawaii’s lodging taxes of about 19%, and the hotel costs about $3,198 for 10 nights.

Why May is a smart month for Waikiki. May was the cheapest month for Waikiki hotels in the first eight months of 2026: $251 a night on average, against $290 in July, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Waikiki’s May rate barely moved from 2025 ($254) to 2026 ($251).

Waikiki hotel average daily rate, 2026	Rate
January	$272
February	$264
March	$256
April	$252
May	$251
June	$275
July	$290
August	$278

Lodging will be your biggest expense on a trip to Hawaii, so finding affordable hotels or resorts is ideal. Since most visitors to Hawaii stay in a hotel, we’ve based our estimates on some of the most popular hotel options on Oahu.

Oahu is the least expensive place to visit in Hawaii and your best choice for a budget-friendly trip.

The total does not include the parking fee. Expect a parking fee of $45 to $65 per night based on 2027 Waikiki rates. The Hilton Hawaiian Village charges $72.50 per day (plus tax) and valet parking costs $93.19 per day (plus tax).

The resort fee of $40 to $55 is included in the rate above. Federal law requires that the resort fee be included in the advertised price as of 2025. The resort fee can include perks such as hula, ukulele, and lei-making lessons, as well as more standard items like pool towels, in-room coffee, and Wi-Fi.

It is rare to find a hotel without a resort fee; see our 6 Strategies to Avoid a Resort Fee.

Cost of a Rental Car

A 10-day mid-size rental (Kia K5 or similar) from Honolulu airport, May 20 to 30, 2027, was $357 on Kayak as of October 15, 2026. That rate uses an off-terminal pickup; the cheapest cars at the airport terminal started around $528. Kayak’s price tool said rates were unlikely to drop before the trip.

Add gas and Waikiki hotel parking:

• Rental: $357
• Gas: about $150 (about $5.50 per gallon from AAA Hawaii)
• Parking: about $55 a night, or $550 for 10 nights

That is about $1,057 for the car, gas, and parking.

Parking costs more than the car itself. If you are staying in Waikiki, renting for only 2 or 3 days of island driving can cut this line by more than half. Related read: How to get around Oahu without a rental car

When renting a car in Hawaii, the best option is a locally owned, discount rental company. One of our favorites is Discount Hawaii Car Rental. You can also cancel for free at any time with DHCR because you don’t have to prepay.

We typically save $60- $75 per week on car rentals when we book through Discount Hawaii Car Rental. During the busiest time of year, between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, you can easily save hundreds of dollars!

Cost of Food in Hawaii

Eating out in Hawaii can get very expensive, very quickly.

For two adults on a trip to Hawaii, you’ll most likely spend around $200 a day on food with a comfortable budget.

We estimated that the average adult spends about $100 per day on food. Visitors should expect dinner to cost $50-$75 per person.

This number will fluctuate depending on the type of restaurant you’re dining at and how many beverages you order.

This is where staying in a vacation rental and cooking can really lower your overall food costs. You can also save money by grabbing a picnic lunch or an inexpensive poke bowl to go. 

During our trips, Jordan and I save money by having a light breakfast of coffee and a pastry. We will get a food truck for lunch and dinner, or another counter-service option. For a ten-day trip, we would book a few nice dinners out.

Looking for hotels with included breakfast is another way to save money in the long run. The convenience is a bonus! Some resorts and hotels even offer happy-hour deals on drinks that can help keep costs down if you know you’ll want to indulge in a few cocktails. 

Without looking for ways to reduce your food costs, budget about $2,000 for food for a 10-day trip for two.

Cost of Tours and Activities

Many of Hawaii’s best activities are entirely free! Snorkeling along abundant reefs, swimming in lagoons, hiking along cliff faces, and evening stops at sights like the Pearl Harbor Memorial are all free, exciting experiences. Our Wayfinder Itineraries feature free and low-cost activities throughout the island.

Depending on what you want from your Hawaii vacation, you can spend next to nothing on tours and activities, go wild and break the bank, or find a happy medium somewhere in between.

Here are a few examples of some of our favorite Oahu tours. The price below is for one person and excludes taxes and fees.

• Turtle Canyon Snorkeling Tour (swim with turtles near Waikiki): $85
• Luau! Head to the Polynesian Cultural Center for their Ali’i Luau Package: $215
• Pearl Harbor Group Tour: $228

The total cost for these three activities for two people is $1,056 (gratuity not included).

Factor in a tip of $10 to $20 per person for any guided tour.

Do you have questions on tipping at a Hawaii luau or a Ka’anapali, Maui snorkeling tour? Here is our Guide to Tipping in Hawaii.

Be sure to book your tours and activities for your Hawaiian vacation in advance, especially in the busy season. Popular tours, like the Pearl Harbor Guided Tours, can sell out quickly.

Check out more of our favorite, can’t-miss activities and tours:

• Maui: Our Favorite Molokini Crater Snorkel Tour from Wailea (sunrise and mid-morning tours)
• Oahu: The Best Whale Watching Tour from Waikiki
• Kauai: Mountain Tubing Adventure

The Grand Total

Taking all these costs into account, we arrive at a total of almost $9,600, with plenty of room to reduce some expenses.

Category	Amount
Flights	$1,064
Hotel	$3,198
Rental Car Expenses	$1,057
Food	$2,000
Activities	$1,056
Total	$8,370

How Much Does a 5-Night Trip to Hawaii Cost for Two?

A 5-night (6-day) trip to Waikiki for two people costs about $5,247 in May 2027, or about $874 a day. This uses the same flights, Waikiki hotels, rental car, and tours as our 10-night estimate, but cuts the hotel, car, parking, and food to 5 nights.

Category	Amount
Flights	$1,064
Hotel (5 nights, incl. taxes)	$1,599
Rental Car Expenses	$528
Food	$1,000
Activities	$1,056
Total	$5,247

Flights don’t get cheaper on a shorter trip, so they take a bigger share of the budget: about 20% here, compared with 13% on the 10-night trip.

On a 5-night Waikiki trip, consider skipping the rental car and using rideshare for a one-day trip.

How Much Does a 7-Night Trip to Hawaii Cost for Two?

A 7-night (8-day) trip to Waikiki for two people costs about $6,499 in May 2027, or about $812 a day. A week is the most common Hawaii trip length, and we recommend it if you can’t take 10 nights.

Category	Amount
Flights	$1,064
Hotel (7 nights, incl. taxes)	$2,239
Rental Car Expenses	$740
Food	$1,400
Activities	$1,056
Total	$6,499

Three extra nights (the 10-night trip at $8,375) add about $1,876, or $625 a night, because flights and tours are already paid for. Longer trips cost less per day.

Hawaii trip cost for two by trip length (May 2027)

Trip length	Total for two	Per day for two	Per person per day
5 nights (6 days)	$5,247	$874	$437
7 nights (8 days)	$6,499	$812	$406
10 nights (11 days)	$8,375	$761	$381

Cost of a Trip to Hawaii for Two: Video

Here are a few more budgets to help with your Hawaii trip planning! Jordan and I calculated a 10-night trip to Maui for two in mid-July 2026.

We planned three vacations for you, each with a different budget: Value, Mid-Range, and Luxury. We also share 9 ways to save at the end of the video.

Ways to Save on Your Trip to Hawaii

With a bit of preparation and know-how, you can easily cut costs on your trip to Hawaii. Here are a few tips to save money on your vacation to the “Aloha State”.

1. Stay in a Vacation Rental

Staying in a vacation rental instead of a resort or fancy hotel is one of the best ways to save money on your trip to Hawaii. Accommodations are usually the biggest expense of your trip, as they are on any holiday.

Finding less expensive vacation rentals can save you hundreds of dollars and is a great option if you prefer a more laid-back experience without sacrificing amenities like pools and beach access.

Staying in a vacation rental can also help you save money because you can cook at home and often park for free. These are both significant cost-saving considerations, since dining out in Hawaii can be expensive and parking costs add up quickly.

We have narrowed down some of the best vacation rentals across the islands
The Best North Shore Oahu Hotels and Vacation Rentals
Where to Stay on Maui: Hotels and Vacation Rentals for a Range of Budgets
Where to Stay on the Big Island: best areas, hotels, and vacation rentals

2. Use Travel Rewards for Your Accommodations

Ever heard of using credit card miles and points to book accommodations and flights for free? Depending on your credit card, you can also get free nights or stays at hotels you’re loyal to, like Hilton or Marriott. Sounds pretty incredible, right?

Using points to book your Hawaii vacation can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars and get you access to luxury resorts or even business class flights at a fraction of their normal cost – or better yet, for free!

We use points and miles regularly to reduce the cost of our frequent trips to Hawaii. Check out our guide on booking travel to Hawaii for more tips on using points and miles.

3. Visit During the Shoulder Season

The best time to visit Hawaii is during the shoulder seasons, from Labor Day to Thanksgiving (September to November) and from April to May. Not only are costs for everything, from accommodations to tours, down, but crowds are at an all-time low. These months typically have favorable weather, although Oahu experiences the most rain in November and January. A cheaper vacation and getting the beaches all to ourselves? Count us in!

4. Enjoy Food Trucks

You don’t have to eat every meal at the resort or a fancy restaurant. In fact, Hawaii’s food trucks offer local fare and are renowned for their deliciousness! Mixing in food-truck meals while sneaking in a few special meals at nice restaurants will go a long way toward your budget without sacrificing any chances to try local grindz. 

Some of the best food trucks to check out on Oahu are Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck, Haleiwa Bowls, and Leonard’s Bakery Malasada Truck. Another great option for an inexpensive meal on Oahu is the Maui Brewing Co. in downtown Waikiki.

If you’re planning a trip to one of the other islands, check out our food truck guides for Maui and Kauai.

5. Choose Your Tours Wisely

Try not to fill up your already busy trip with too many tours. Choosing one or two will help balance not only your schedule but also your pocketbook – and leave you with lasting memories. Most visitors want to book classic experiences like a luau or a snorkeling excursion, both great options if you’re choosing only a few tours. 

Check out our favorite snorkeling tours on Oahu and Maui.

6. Go to Oahu

If we haven’t already made it obvious, Oahu is the cheapest to visit of the Hawaiian Islands. Your vacation budget will stretch much further than other areas of this tropical archipelago.

Save the more expensive islands, like Maui, for a second trip if you want to visit Hawaii on a budget this time around. Oahu has all the charms of a picture-perfect Hawaiian vacation, like luaus, stunning scenery, and snorkeling, without the huge price tag that other islands can incur.

• 9 Steps to Plan a Vacation to Hawaii on a Budget
• Our Oahu guide will help you get your trip planning started right.

7. Skip a Rental Car

You’ve probably asked yourself this question when you saw the cost of a rental car plus parking fees. You can skip getting a rental car and still get around the island.

Oahu is the best island for not renting a car, as you can use public transportation, Uber, Lyft, and other options. See below for details:

• How to Get Around Without a Rental Car on Oahu
• How to Get Around Oahu: Bus, Taxi, Bike, Car, and More

Having a beach vacation means you hardly leave the resort. This is best on Maui, Big Island, and Kauai, where getting around without a rental car is challenging. We recommend taking a guided tour or a circle-island tour to see more of the island without driving. See our Tours and Activities for our favorites!

8. Recheck Hotel Rates

You will have the option to book a refundable (flexible) rate or to prepay at the time of booking. The prepay rate may be 25% lower. We prefer to reserve the refundable rate (no prepayment) so we can check rates before our trip and rebook for a better deal.

We find this the best way to save hundreds on our hotel costs.

Trip to Hawaii Cost for Two: FAQs

Cheat Sheets and Even More Insider Tips

Get fast facts and the best beaches, local grindz (eats), and must-do activities for each island with our free Hawaiian island cheat sheets.

By grabbing our cheat sheets, you’ll join our growing community of Hawaii travel enthusiasts. We make most of our recommendations from personal experience traveling to Hawaii countless times and living on Oahu and Maui. We also love hearing from our newsletter readers about what made their Hawaii vacation unforgettable.

Our newsletter goes out twice a month and is packed with current need-to-know info, insider tips and tricks, personal stories, and more!

Love your newsletters Jordan!! Been going to Maui for 25 years and you always have something new I didn’t know about in it!!

Holly F.