Planning a trip to Hawaiʻi can be overwhelming—how much will it really cost, and where is your money going?
Our Trip Cost Calculator helps you make sense of your budget by combining official tourism data with your unique travel details. This page explains exactly what information we collect, how we use it to calculate your costs, and what insights you get in your personalized report.
Table of contents
What We Ask in the Trip Planner Quiz
To build your trip estimate, we start by collecting the following key details through a quick quiz. These inputs allow us to tailor your cost projection based on your group size, trip length, travel style, and what you want to do in Hawaiʻi.
- Number of travelers
- Trip start date
- Number of nights per island (Big Island, Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi)
- Preferred accommodation style (hotel or vacation rental, and quality tier)
- Daily per-person budget for food, entertainment, and shopping
- Whether you’ll rent a car on each island
- Activities you’re interested in
These inputs allow us to generate an accurate, detailed budget tailored to your preferences and travel style.
How We Estimate Your Trip Costs
Once you complete the quiz, we generate a personalized estimate based on your inputs and the latest tourism data. Here’s how each part of your trip is calculated:
- Accommodation Costs: We use Average Daily Rates (ADR) from official sources, based on island, accommodation type (hotel or vacation rental), and travel month. For future trips, we extrapolate rates by analyzing historical month-specific ADR data and applying an average annual growth rate to project future values.
- Rental Car Costs: Estimates include the average daily rental cost for the island(s) you’re visiting, $100/week for fuel, and a $30/night parking fee if you’re staying in a hotel. We assume one rental car per 4 travelers.
- Daily Spending: Your stated food, entertainment, and shopping budgets are multiplied by the number of people and nights. We compare your projected spending to average visitor spending data for context. For future dates, we apply a linear extrapolation based on yearly spending trends to stay current with price inflation.
- Interisland Flights: We assume one interisland flight for each additional island you visit beyond your arrival island, plus one return flight to your point of origin.
- Group Size Adjustments:
- Hotels: One room for every 2 people. Costs scale with group size.
- Vacation Rentals (STVRs): Base rate includes 2 people. We add $25/night for each additional guest beyond that.
Your personalized estimate includes a cost breakdown by island and by category (e.g., lodging, food, activities), along with a comparison to average visitor spending so you can see where you’re saving—or splurging.
Calculation Details, Caveats & Data Sources
This section explains some of the assumptions and limitations behind our estimates, along with the data sources we rely on to keep your cost projection realistic and up to date.
Calculation Assumptions
Most cost categories are straightforward and calculated as:
Daily budget × number of nights × number of people
Other costs, such as accommodations and car rentals, are adjusted based on your group size and accommodation type. We also factor in interisland flight estimates when more than one island is selected.
Why We Ask for Nights (Not Days)
We assume each night you spend on an island reflects a full 24-hour period, roughly from noon on your arrival day to noon the next day. For example, 15 nights = 15 full days of activities and costs, even though the calendar span is 16 days. This more accurately reflects how long you’re actually spending (and spending money) on each island.
Limitations & Edge Cases
Accommodation Cost Variability
Our lodging data reflects average prices, which may not always represent local or regional variations:
- Some islands only report island-wide averages (e.g., Kauaʻi).
- Regions like Hilo (Big Island) may be underrepresented due to data availability.
- Upscale areas like the Kohala Coast may skew averages higher.
What’s Not Included
- Flights to and from Hawaiʻi
- Travel insurance or emergency medical coverage
- Premium upgrades, concierge services, or luxury add-ons
Data Sources
- Accommodation Costs: Transparent Intelligence, Inc. (STVR) and Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (ADR data)
- Visitor Spending Data: State of Hawaiʻi DBEDT (Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism)
- Additional Cost Estimates: Based on local averages for fuel, hotel parking, and interisland airfare from major carriers
What You Get From Your Personalized Hawaiʻi Trip Estimate
1. Island-by-Island Breakdown
Each island you plan to visit gets its own section, including:
- A trip summary with lodging type, duration, and group size
- Detailed cost breakdown by category (accommodation, car rental, food, etc.)
- A comparison between your spending and the average visitor’s
- Helpful travel tips tailored to that island
2. Tour Budget Check
We review whether your chosen tours fit your budget. You’ll see:
- Estimated prices for each selected activity
- Links to helpful guides for planning and booking
3. Money-Saving Suggestions
Your PDF includes suggestions for reducing your total trip cost, such as:
- Booking flights and lodging during low season
- Using vacation rentals for larger groups
- Choosing free or low-cost activities