A trip to Hawaii is a dream destination for couples and families from around the globe.  Whether it’s the white sand beaches, lush rainforest, or the jagged cliffs that draw people, one thing makes them hesitent to visit.  A trip to Hawaii is too expensive; at least, that is the common belief.  Sadly, many of the millions who dream of vacationing in Hawaii will never turn that fantasy into a reality.

I’m going to keep it simple in this post.  This is not going to be a “20 Ways to Save” list.  My advice here consist of a single tip that will allow you to travel Hawaii for as little as a few dollars a day.  Cheap enough that Joy and I were able to visit at a time when I was jobless.  The problem is, most people won’t even consider it.  People don’t like to compromise on their dreams.  They want things to be exactly as they have envisioned.  That’s fine as long as you don’t let stubborness prevent those dreams from ever having a chance to happen.  All too often, it does.  A dream slightly altered is always better than a dream never realized.

The single largest expense for most Hawaiian vacations is accomodations.  While Hawaii’s high hotel prices are often exaggerated, they certainly aren’t cheap.  At least one island offers the opportunity to eliminate hotel cost all together.  It is not well known but camping is an option for anyone visiting Kauai.  Campsites are located near (sometimes on!) all the popular beaches Kauai has to offer.  Few places offer a better climate for easy, comfortable camping than Hawaii.  With minimal, low-cost gear, one can spend their trip circling the island, camping all along the way.  With the information provided here, your trip to Hawaii can cost little more than a ticket for the flight that gets you there.

There are a few other things you need to know, but I’ve got you covered.  Most importantly, you’ll need to reserve your campsites for the duration of your trip.  This can be done in advance by mail or in person upon arrival.  As you can imagine, sites can fill up quickly so allowing time to mail in reservations is best.  However, if you don’t have time, permits are issued by the Department of Parks & Rec at the Moikeha Building (map).  Unfortunately, all the beach parks are not equally desirable.  Camping in the parks is free of charge for Kauai County residents and some places can attract a… rough crowd.  Park Rangers are frequently present and other than some noise, we didn’t have any issues with the semi-permanent campground residents.

I wouldn’t consider any of the places we stayed to be dangerous but we heard there are few “locals’ beaches” that are less welcoming for tourists. This wasn’t something we experienced firsthand as most people were very friendly. At one park we were even invited to a church barbeque on the beach!  In the North, I would recommend Anini Beach Park (our favorite on the island) and Haena Beach Park (great snorkeling off the beach.)  To the South, Salt Pond Beach Park is your best option.  If you wish to visit the Napali Coast, camping is also available there at Kokee State Park ($18 per campsite.)  Additionally, the Kalalau Trail is one of the most famous coastal hikes in the world.  Eleven miles in, there is camping available on a secluded beach ($20 per person.)

Look, I get it.  Your ideal Hawaii vacation involves bouncing around the island from one luxury resort to the next.  Honestly, mine does too.  However, the thing that really makes Hawaii so desirable is its natural beauty.  I have no regrets from our trip to the island.  Sure we might have settled by camping, but we still went and had an amazing adventure. At the end of the day, that’s more than many people can say.