Aloha! Can you vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii for $1000? Yes, you can, but you will probably need a friend who owns a timeshare or travel with someone who has an abundance of Hilton Honors points. In this post, I share how I vacationed in Honolulu without breaking the bank. Aloha!

Round-Trip Airfare to Honolulu, Hawaii ($433)

If you are not aware, flights to Hawaii have become affordable since Southwest started flying there. We started planning this trip in April and found flights under $500. My flight to Honolulu cost $240 with a stop in LAX. Of course, Southwest changed the flight to stop in OAK. If you have read a post or two, I do not like waiting at the gate, but OAK also has an airport lounge. The layover would give us enough time to grab a complimentary meal and something to drink. My flight to Chicago cost $257, and I kept checking the fares. I took advantage of a fare change and earned a $65 travel fund. As I said before, if you book with Southwest, check your flights weekly to see if your fare drops. Are you ready to vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii?

Airport Lounge: Oakland and Phoenix ($35)

I cannot say this enough. Check your credit card benefits. We had a layover in OAK going to Honolulu and spent an hour in the Escape Lounge. The food was delicious: omelet bites, French toast, oatmeal, and chorizo breakfast tacos. Of course, we had mimosas. We used our Amex Platinum card to enter and left a $15 tip. When you think about it, four people enjoyed breakfast for $15. On the way home, the layover was in PHX. The Centurion Lounge had a waitlist of 29 people. We went to the Escape Lounge. Again, four people enjoyed lunch/dinner for $20. The menu included: roast beef, Italian subs, egg salad, Cesar salad, macaroni and cheese, mushroom soup, and complimentary cocktails. We are allowed two guests per card.

Vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii Using Open Season and Club Points ($21)

I used my timeshare to book five nights in Lagoon Tower. However, I did not have enough Club Points to cover my stay. I paid the $59 reservation fee and booked three nights using Club Points. At first, I booked two nights using Hilton Honors points plus cash. When I checked Open Season, I discovered a room in the same tower. You can only book Open Season within 30 days of traveling. Although five nights were available, I would lose my Club Points if I canceled and rebooked the entire stay. How much would this cost? I booked a two-bedroom penthouse for two nights at $721. For some reason, there is always a weird tax associated with this property. The tax was $40 for the three-night stay. We only had to change rooms. So far, the total cost for my flight and share of the accommodations is $454.

Accommodations at The Lagoon Tower

We stayed in the penthouse in the Lagoon Tower for two nights. The two-story two-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse ocean view suite with a balcony features one bedroom with a king-size bed, bathroom with a standard shower/tub combination, and TOTO washlet. The second bedroom included two double beds and a bathroom with a shower/tub combination. We enjoyed a living room with a separate dining area, a TV with cable, a queen-size sleeper sofa, and a kitchen. When we moved from the penthouse, our new room also had two bedrooms and two bathrooms with an ocean and city view. I am not selling timeshares, but I enjoy sharing my timeshare with family and friends. If you could book either room on your own, it would cost more than $821 for five nights. I do not pay resort fees when I book Open Season or use Club Points.

What to do in Honolulu, Hawaii?

Now, travel rules are constantly evolving. For Hawaii, we had to upload our vaccination cards and complete a form to track our whereabouts. I pulled the resort calendar to look for free activities around the property like Aerobics, Lei Making, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Hula Lessons. In addition, I looked up access to the Super Pool, Tapa Pool, Spa and Fitness locations, Hookipa Lounge, and the Lagoon Waikiki Beach Activity Center. We attended the lei-making class and participated in a hula lesson. We also purchased Chief’s Luau tickets ($234) and enjoyed shopping at Ala Moana Shopping Center. So far, I have spent $688.

Where to Dine When you Vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii

We brought liquor and snacks with us. I will admit this was the first time I checked a bag in years. If you are looking for a good meal when you first arrive, try CJ’s New York Style Deli. I ordered the regular hamburger with fries, and I must say the burger was well-seasoned. We dined at the infamous Duke’s where celebrity sightings are the norm. The hostess told us the wait was 90 minutes, but it was only 45. Although we did not see any celebrities, the food was good. I ordered the ribs and chicken, and I did not save room for the Hula Pie. Try Goofy if you are looking for a local spot. I swear hens were laying eggs somewhere in the restaurant. My omelet was delicious. Our food was just like the sign said, “local and organic.” So far, my total is $1037.

Birthday Celebration

We spent the most money on the Chief’s Luau. The price included front row seats, three drink tickets, and transportation to the venue on a coach bus. The food was okay, but the entertainment was worth the cost of admission. You cannot leave Hawaii without trying a Blue Hawaii. The Tapa Bar at the Hilton Hawaiian Village makes two versions. I bought the first round. So where did we go for the official Birthday dinner? We dined at Rocky Teppanyaki. Even though Richard splashed sauce on my blouse, I enjoyed the New York steak with scallops. Lynn paid for my dinner.

Ala Moana Shopping Center and Waikiki Business Plaza

If you love to shop, you can easily spend days at the Ala Moana Shopping Center. We went to Nordstrom, Macy’s, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Zara, Off Saks, and Ross. If you are tired of spending your money at ABC, there is a version of CVS in the mall. I needed additional travel-size items. Believe it or not, you should check out the food court. I enjoyed freshly cooked pork chops and scallops with mixed veggies and mashed potatoes. The portions were huge. We even picked up chicken at Jollibee for later. Of course, we did not leave Honolulu without buying cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company. I love my sweets. We also shopped at Macy’s and H&M along the Waikiki Business Plaza.

The Budget

I was in Honolulu three years ago as part of my 16 days of vacation. Every morning I started my day with a walk around the property. On our last full day in Honolulu, I discovered Church on the Beach, and I enjoyed the service. I earned 40,000 Hilton Honors points for attending a presentation and 9,360 points for paying for the accommodations with my Hilton Amex. In addition, I collected Rapid Rewards points for the flight. The total spent for this trip was $1086. I know my vacation in Honolulu was more than $1000, but I was close. By the way, I spent $331 shopping. It was my birthday. Are you ready to vacation in Honolulu, Hawaii? Grab your luggage, sunglasses, and keys. If you are looking for more travel ideas, visit my website. Are you looking for swimsuits and cover-ups? Click on the Amazon link below.