The Best Spots To Stay In Hawaii On A Budget, According To Trusted Booking Sites

The newest state in the country, Hawaii became part of the U.S. in August 1959 and is truly a paradise. It's a remote realm of swaying palms, sultry beaches, commanding volcanoes, and outsize topography. Paradise, however, doesn't come cheap, and Hawaii is one of the most expensive states in the country. From its location deep in the South Pacific, the islands are so far away from the continental United States that they are considered part of Polynesia. As such, Hawaii is heavily dependent on imports of food, gas, machinery, building materials, and more. High tourism numbers, and the growing trend of mainlanders retiring here, have also pushed up property and ancillary costs. 

The result is that Hawaii, a bucket-list destination for many travelers, is a place that can make a serious dent in your bank balance. But coming here doesn't have to cost a fortune, and a bed for a night at the main four tourist islands can be surprisingly affordable. For this story, we've excluded dorm rooms and concentrated on accommodations that have their own bed, in a private room that can be locked. The list of budget-friendly Hawaiian accommodations was compiled using online travel agents and booking sites, blogs, and reviews, ensuring a mix across the four main tourist isles of the Big Island, Kauai, Maui, and Oahu.

Located on Oahu's North Shore, this hostel is set in verdant surroundings and is a pleasing departure from the urban feel of Honolulu. The property sits close to Waimea Bay Beach Park, a popular, rewarding spot for surfing in the winter, as well as snorkeling and swimming in the summer. Accommodations at Backpackers Vacation Inn & Hostel come in a variety of configurations, from dorm rooms in the Main House, which sits a stone's throw from a marine sanctuary, to buildings with private bedrooms. The section called Plantation Village features cabins that date from the time when the land was part of a plantation, in the 1940s. 

The inn and hostel sit among lush, tropical landscaping, with bougainvillea, hibiscus, and vines everywhere, joined by plump papayas hanging from trees. The cabins come with a large deck, a kitchen, a living space, a bathroom, and several bedrooms (everyone has a lockable door) — each individual bedroom can be booked separately, and starts at $85 per night, with a 10% discount when booked for one week or more.

Travelers staying at this property in Honolulu might actually be able to hear the noises of animals residing at Honolulu Zoo — the wildlife facility is only a block away. The beach is also a short distance from Beach Waikiki Boutique Hostel, with the Waikiki Walkway, a stone pier that juts out into the Pacific, the nearest waterfront landmark. Private rooms start at $85 and feature red tiled floors, exposed brick walls, and a queen or bunk bed; bathrooms are shared at this price. 

For an ensuite bathroom, the room rate jumps to $120 per night for the Junior Suite. It's a fun spot to stay, with hammocks where visitors can unwind, and a rooftop with plenty of comfortable wicker seating, wooden decks, and loungers for catching some rays. For fans of pizza, the property puts on a free pizza night every week, making the property even more of a bargain for those on a budget.

For some iconic, rugged Hawaiian scenery, this Wai'anapanapa State Park on the eastern coast of Maui checks all the boxes. It sits just off the Road to Hana, a 50-mile stretch of tarmac that twists through hairpin turns, rumbles over scores of bridges, offers jaw-dropping vistas throughout, and one of the most famous drives in the United States, if not the world. The park distills some of the sights of that drive, with excellent hiking that brings adventurers to stone arches, groups of seabirds, an island temple, dense forests, kinetic blow holes, and striking rock formations offshore. There is even a black-sand beach where travelers can get right by the hypnotically blue water. 

While camping is a cheap way to stay in the park, the cabins are also very reasonably priced, costing $100 nightly (there is typically a two-night minimum). Their forest-green exteriors help them to merge with the landscape. They have almost everything that guests will need, from bunk beds to hot showers, and a kitchen with an electric stove and microwave, though towels and linens aren't provided.

While rates at The Iso change throughout the year, based largely on the season and governed by supply and demand, this waterfront property recently advertised rooms starting at $174. The pick of accommodations is close to the Pacific, though all lodging comes with a balcony or lanai. Inside, the hotel features bright, tropical upholstery, dressers that have an aged-wood effect, and sleek ceiling fans. This is a small property, with buildings that are only a few stories high, so they don't dominate the landscape, and amenities that include fine landscaping and a welcoming pool. 

Fans of seafood will find plenty of fresh catch on the menu at the Bull Shed, named for its location on a part of the coast where herders in the 1800s corralled cattle into cargo ships. The food also includes steaks, prime rib, and vegetarian options. 

A hop, skip, and a jump from the International Marketplace and a couple of blocks from the beach, Ohia Waikiki Studio Suites is another Honolulu property with a top-tier location that comes at an affordable price. Rooms here are apartment-style and can be less than $100 per night. Guests are welcomed by snack baskets filled with local goodies, which are replenished each day of the stay. Accommodations are bright, with sunny walls that reflect the weather, and pictures of cityscapes and landscapes of the Hawaiian islands. 

All lodging choices come with a balcony that looks over the skyline of Waikiki, and some feature a kitchen. Larger groups might consider the City View Deluxe category which comes with three beds, so six guests can stay together. Visitors opting for longer stays can avail themselves of the laundry in the building, while any guest will enjoy the property's pretty pool and loungers.

With its distinctive turquoise exterior, visitors will easily be able to spot the Pahoa Village Hostel, located in the heart of the town of Pahoa. The property promises reasonable prices to guests, with rooms costing less than $70 per night. There are three private rooms in total, though all share common bathrooms (of which there are two), a kitchen, and a lounge area. Even with such a reasonable price tag, rooms place a premium on comfort, with memory foam mattresses, soft cotton sheets, and black-out window shades as standard. 

Travelers have a sense of autonomy, as they're allowed to check in and check out themselves. The building was constructed in the 1920s for hospitality, with the lower floor serving as a restaurant and the lodging located above. Check out the art in the hotel, mostly created by the owner, while just beyond its doors, cafes and restaurants are a short walk away.

There is a feeling of old Hawaii at this property, which is a five-minute walk from Waikiki Beach. First opened in 1953, the building has pink exteriors and balconies that extend across its entire width. The rooms at the Royal Grove Waikiki have a largely white palette, making them bright, and start at $135 per night. They also come in a variety of configurations, from standard rooms to two-bedroom suites with complete kitchens. 

Accents add a little flair to them, such as sliding shoji screens to separate bedrooms and artwork that ranges from small framed pieces to larger, wall-filling images. The hotel welcomes pets, and for guests staying a week or longer, provides discounted rates. Travelers will no doubt want to spend time at the beach, but an onsite swimming pool lets them get wet without needing to hit the ocean.

This hotel in the center of Waikiki is only one block from one of Honolulu's most iconic statues — Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Made of bronze, the statue shows Duke with arms outstretched and a surfboard behind him. The statue is much more than a totem of welcome to the waters of Hawaii; its cultural significance is immense. Duke Kahanamoku was a Hawaiian legend in the water, winning Olympic gold medals for swimming, and he was a driving force for popularizing surfing around the globe. 

The Stay Hotel Waikiki features a clean, simple design, and tourists can snag a room for less than $100 per night. Entry-level rooms come with a queen bed or two twins, and higher-category digs feature a sofa bed and balconies. The decor in rooms is calming, with white linens, wooden floors, and tasteful artwork often depicting flowers. Guests can enjoy free coffee in the lobby, and belt out some tunes at the lobby karaoke bar in the evening.

For this story to have some practical utility, we sought properties on the four islands of Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island, and Maui. We used data from online travel agents and trusted booking sites like Expedia, Travelocity, and Booking.com, as well as incorporated info from the properties themselves. We also consulted blogs, reviews, and tourism board information to provide a list of spots to stay in Hawaii on a budget.