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Hello fellow travel lovers!
If you’ve been dreaming about a tropical getaway to Hawaii but are scratching your head wondering how to score flight tickets that are both cheap and reasonable, then this article is just for you. Below is a complete breakdown of how to book flights to Hawaii in the simplest, most budget-friendly way possible even if it’s your very first time.
Why planning your flight to Hawaii carefully really matters?
Let’s be honest! Flights are usually the biggest chunk of your Hawaii travel budget, especially if you’re flying from Asia or Vietnam. But the good news is: if you time it right, use the right tools, and pocket a few simple tricks, you can save anywhere from a few million to tens of millions VND compared to standard prices.
Preparing well for your flights doesn’t just save your wallet, it also helps you optimize your time, plan better flight connections, and opens the door to more meaningful experiences on your dream trip.
Planning your trip helps you optimize costs as much as possible
Step 1: Choose the “golden time” to fly
One travel lesson you must memorize is this: when you fly determines about 70% of your flight cost to Hawaii. If you want to find cheap tickets, avoid peak tourist seasons.
In Hawaii, the low seasons when the weather is still perfect for travel usually fall within these time frames:
- From April to early June
- From September to mid-December
During these months, Hawaii is still stunning: blue skies, gentle sunshine, clear seas but far fewer tourists. And that’s exactly when flight tickets, hotels, and island tours are more affordable and easier to book.
On the flip side, steer clear of major holidays like:
- Thanksgiving (late November)
- Christmas & New Year
- Summer (July–August)
Because these are peak travel periods, prices for flights and services usually skyrocket.
Extra tip: Try flying mid-week especially Tuesday to Thursday. Fewer people book flights then, so prices are usually noticeably cheaper than on weekends!
Step 2: Use fare comparison tools
Comparing ticket prices across platforms is another great way to find cheap flights. But don’t waste time checking each airline manually, we live in a digital world where flight-hunting tools do the work for you. Just one click and you get a global price chart!
Here are your best buddies for the job:
- Skyscanner: Lets you compare fares by each day of the month. You can instantly see which dates are cheapest and which are pricey.
- Google Flights: Extremely visual interface, with flight calendars + price graphs, plus suggestions for nearby airports if you’re flexible.
- Kayak & Momondo: Both can filter out budget-friendly layover combos, great for those who don’t mind 1–2 stopovers to save a significant amount.
A tiny but crucial tip: When searching for tickets, turn on Incognito Mode in your browser. Some websites quietly track your search habits and might hike the price if they notice you checking the same route multiple times!
Step 3: Be flexible with departure and arrival points for better deals
You don’t have to fly straight to Honolulu! In reality, direct flights from Asia to Hawaii are often very expensive, especially during peak seasons. But if you’re willing to break your trip into segments, the cost can drop significantly.
Here’s how you can do it:
First, book a cheap flight to Tokyo, Seoul, or Los Angeles. These are major transit hubs with lots of airlines offering good deals.
Then, from one of those cities, book a domestic flight to Hawaii often 1.5x cheaper than flying straight from Asia.
Flights from USA to Hawaii
Main airports in Hawaii you should know:
- HNL – Honolulu (Oʻahu): The most popular, with the most flight options
- OGG – Maui: Ideal if you want relaxation and quiet vibes
- KOA – Big Island: Epic landscapes and volcanoes
- LIH – Kauai: Raw, peaceful, postcard-worthy scenery
Depending on which island you want to explore, choose the corresponding airport. And if you’ve got extra time, you can even fly between islands. It's cheap and super convenient!
Step 4: Timing your booking
The timing of your ticket purchase matters just as much as the timing of your flight.
If you’ve already planned your trip in advance (3–6 months out), book early. Hawaii flight prices tend to climb over time, especially near major holidays.
On the other hand, if you’re flexible with your schedule, you can wait for last-minute flash deals, a sneaky good way to grab amazing tickets.
Some airlines that often drop surprise sales:
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
- Zipair, AirAsia (if flying from Asia)
Pro tip: Sign up for promo emails from these airlines. One click and you’ll be among the first to know when a flash sale hits. Sometimes, within 24 hours, you could be flying to Hawaii for a price that sounds too good to be true!
Step 5: Consider flights with layovers
This is one of the most effective tips if you want to go to Hawaii without draining your budget.
The truth is: non-stop flights to Hawaii are almost always more expensive than ones with stopovers. So if you don’t mind a bit of transit, go for flights with 1 stop in places like:
- Tokyo
- Seoul
- Taipei
- Los Angeles
- Seattle
Just adding one connection can save you millions of VND compared to flying direct.
Bonus perk: If your layover is long (6–24 hours), you can even sneak in a mini adventure in your transit city. It’s like getting a free extra destination!
Bonus: Flying between Hawaiian islands – Easy, cheap, totally worth it
If you land in Honolulu (Oʻahu) but want to explore other islands like Maui, Big Island, or Kauai, here’s the good news: Flying between islands is super easy and super affordable!
Inter-island flights cost just $40–$80/way if you book early.
Airlines like Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest offer multiple daily flights, and each flight is just 30–45 minutes long.
Tip: Book your inter-island flights about 1–2 weeks in advance to get better time slots and avoid last-minute price spikes.
