Ooh… Nahim (the fellow who asked this question) is opening a can of worms with this one. “Breaking the bank” is of course, a very subjective term. The same goes for the word “worthwhile.” Truth be told, the phrase “you get what you pay for” definitely applies to this question, as there are so many things that Hawaii represents to a lot of people.

If you’re sold on the idea of going to Hawaii and experiencing its natural flora and fauna, then a shoestring budget (especially a planned one) can go a long way. Roundtrip flight specials always abound, and with the Internet making flight special searches easier, I’m sure you can find something to suit your budget and schedule.

Staying at a hostel and renting a bike (or even a moped/scooter) would be the most economical way of getting around aside from the bus. A scooter can easily take you around the island, and you can experience a lot more this way than getting on the bus.

And there are a lot of “hole-in-the-wall” type of eateries that can easily satisfy your appetite for as little as five bucks. The usual fast food chains such as MacDonald’s and Burger King are readily available, but I do encourage you to try local “plate lunches” consisting of steamed white rice, some sort of side consisting of beef, pork, chicken, fish or vegetable and the ever-popular macaroni salad. Being that Hawaii is very metropolitan, you can easily find some sort of ethnic food of your liking as well.

However, if you’re really going for the usual “tourist” activities, then you’ll need a little bit more cash. It pays to know what you want to do when you get here, and a lot of activities such as sightseeing tours, luaus, and shows offer some sort of discount if you purchase/reserve tickets via their respective websites. I would recommend researching on packaged deals on flight, room, and activities.

In earnest, whether you’re going for Hawaii’s scenery or the usual tourist activities, it really pays to plan what you want to do before you get here. I think if you plan your Hawaii vacation/trip well, then the experience will be worthwhile no matter how long you stay here.

And by the way, if you have a question or two while you’re planning, just ask us!