I am exploring going to Hawai'i in June 2025 for an event. The location of the event is in Honolulu near Pearl Harbor, so naturally I would probably prefer to be closer to that event location than to major resort areas like Waikiki. I may be able to extend my stay for a few days (thinking 3 full days) to explore Oahu a bit further. I do not have to stay the extension period near Pearl Harbor and can move to another area.

I have never been to Hawai'i before and am considering to also maybe visit Maui for a four or five nights after. I'd more than likely spending the Maui portion solo and interested in snorkeling, paddle boarding, and hiking - love waterfalls, and willing to do a combo on both or either island.

I've only just begun my research but does anyone have any suggestions on bases/regions for my additional time in Oahu and Maui? Not sure about transportation yet, but imagine car rental will be in the picture.

I am pretty budget conscious and cognizant that I may have to adjust those expectations just looking at prices thus far. So, if there are any areas that might be suitable as a base that is a bit off the beaten path and *possibly* cheaper, I am open to suggestions. I do not need to be where everyone else is!

On Oahu I would stay in Waikiki. It's not far from Pearl Harbor and has the most options for lodging (like 90% of what is on Oahu is in Waikiki). There really is no 'cheaper' or 'off the beaten path' that is practical for a newbie on Oahu.

I travel solo and have vacationed a half-dozen times in Waikiki. I choose budget hotels which for Hawaii means about $200/night by the time fees and taxes are added. Maui will be even more expensive. Plus you'll need a rental car. You don't necesarrily need a car on Oahu staying in Waikiki.

"I do not need to be where everyone else is!"

I understand this sentiment but it does not make sense for a first timer to Hawaii. I fear what you are picturing does not exist or at least is not practical. Also some rentals are not legal. There are many areas or neighborhoods of the various islands where visitors truly are not welcomed. It's better to stick to where other tourists and visitors are.

with aloha, suze

For car rentals in Hawaii, Costco will be your best option and in Maui, if you are a Costco member, there is a Costco close by to be able to fill up before you return your rental car.

Both times I was in Oahu and Maui, it was for a business convention that my husband attended and so I stayed at the HIiton Hawaiian Village which is a lovely property despite being a large hotel, beautiful stretch of private beach with great view of Diamond Head. Once you know your schedule of events, reserve your admission for Pearl Harbor. It is so worthwhile and so moving and you do need a fair amount of time there.

In Mau, we were at the Hyatt Regency, also a nice property and while on the coast, no real beach. This is close to Lahaina where the terrible fires happened last year.

ps - adding...
There are not very many hotel choices near Pearl Harbor or the HNL airport. And they are not the nicest places. If you do choose one of those, please read reviews carefully. Also know that it's only 10-12 miles between Pearl Harbor and Ala Moana/Waikiki area which opens up a crazy amount more of choices where to stay. If you want to give a nightly price range you are hoping for, I'm happy to suggest hotels I am familiar with.

https://www.paradisebayresort.com/
Is one place I thought of that is in a different part of the island and has reasonable room rates. You'd need a car and there's not a lot around. But if you are truly set on the 'off the beaten path' idea this might work? I've never been only seen it online.

Thank you Suze. I will look a bit further and appreciate your thoughts.

One thing that I have to be cognizant of for Honolulu is that the event (skating competition) would have me on a very, very tight schedule with early morning arrivals and such to the rink with my equipment (skates). I cannot be in traffic or waiting on an Uber driver, hence why I need to be closer to the ice rink for just THAT portion of the trip. I am fine changing locations when that is done if need be.

I will consider Waikiki for the remainder, though I have no interest in that area - just seems SO...crowded. I'd be spending all of my time AWAY from that, making it almost counterintuitive...Does the island only have hotels in one spot?

What I meant for off the beaten path is more of where to base myself so I can snorkel and possibly close enough to a trail head (for Maui, mainly). I do not like crowds. I know Honolulu is crowded. And can handle it...for a bit.

Maybe I need to look at a different second island? I've heard Kauai is much more quiet but outside my price range.

though I have no interest in that area - just seems SO...crowded. I'd be spending all of my time AWAY from that, making it almost counterintuitive...Does the island only have hotels in one spot?

How can you know you have no interest in a place you have never been before? It's only crowded if you go get into crowds. Where are you going to go that is all of your time AWAY from that? Do you have a guidebook? It sounds like you haven't really researched this trip much (said with kindness).

Like I said above already, yes most of the hotels (90% is what I've read) are in Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. Pull up online the North Shore resort called Turtle Bay or the resorts at KoOlina. Those are the other two main areas and there is nothing "budget concious" about either.

Yes I think Kauai would make a better second island... or even do all of your trip there except for the couple days you need to be on Oahu for the competition??

Kauai overall is no more expensive than Maui. Just depends on where you stay and what you do. That's part of what I enjoy in Waikiki there are tons of free cool things to do walking distance from where I stay (dance performances, live music, farmers markets, etc.).

Overall I just think you don't really have accurate information, about prices or what each island is really like. Maui can be more "touristy" than Oahu... just depends.

aloha, suze

Oh and if/when you find a hotel(s) near where you want to be, feel free to run the specific name by others on the forum. There are some questionable places you could end up in that area.

If you aren't already on Trip Advisor, that is another online forum that has a lot of activity for the Hawaiian islands (much more than here on Fodor's).

Where exactly is the venue? The Pearl Harbor area is pretty large -- is the Ice Center close to the airport or the base, or Pearl City or Waipahu or other areas?

Assuming it's the Ice Palace since you say near Pearl Harbor. So the closest hotels would be at the airport, maybe the Best Western? Become a member to reduce the parking rate to $20/night.

The other hotels are going to involve more traffic but if it's really early maybe not so bad?

I agree with your assessment of Waikiki, and am not alone. Some people don't mind that density. Others don't find it relaxing or enjoyable. June when school vacation starts may be even worse. I usually try to go when it's slow and even then there is a lot of noise and the beaches and sidewalks are packed. I can't even think of anywhere that wasn't crowded to one degree or another.

I enjoyed a recent stay at the Queen Kapiolani in a corner room overlooking Kapiolani Park with a Diamond Head/ocean view (it was a Junior Suite so had a bit of a kitchen and was a nice size). That made it feel less crowded. That one does have a pool. There is also Park Shore next door but the rooms are even smaller than the Circle.

There are several other hotels that I like for a single and they don't have pools (which I prefer). One more in the center of things is the Aston Waikiki Circle. There are also a few hotels farther down from the Waikiki scrum, the Lotus or the Kaimana Beach, neither one has a pool. Travel time up to the Ice Palace from that end could be up to an hour, so I'd save those for your added days.

I think Kauai would be a better option for your second island. June is a prime month there on the north shore but the island isn't that large that you couldn't stay wherever you find lodging that fits your budget.

I don't find Costco to always have the best stand alone pricing on rental cars, but sometimes they offer good all in packages in Honolulu. I've been using Alamo Insider recently and they do have much better service than Budget/Thrifty.

There are few people on TripAdvisor who live in Honolulu or visit very frequently so can answer specific questions on how long to allow to get to the rink. My most recent visit was (only) this past May. I visited nearly yearly for about a decade, preferring Kauai, but also within the last two years a return to the Big Island. I will be in Honolulu for a few days next month on a layover (depends on if my friend can get me into Hale Koa, if not I'll probably be at the Circle again!)

As far as where to escape to if you have a car (which I recommend) on Oahu, the Windward Coast around Kailua etc is very nice although not undiscovered. There may be a few legal short term rentals in that area but many advertised on AirBnb or Vrbo could be illegal.

Go Hawaii has good information for a first time visitor.

I'm assuming you're talking about the Ice Palace, since you mentioned skating. It's in the old Stadium Mall which is near Pearl Harbor.

My main question is what days does your event span when you say you cannot be in traffic and you are on a very tight schedule with early morning arrivals. It makes a huge difference if you're talking about weekend vs weekday and which direction you're coming from because traffic on Oahu can be pretty bad.

If your event is on weekdays and you stay in Waikiki, you'll be driving west. The heaviest traffic will getting past the downtown area and everyone going to work. If you stay on the west side - Kapolei or Ko Olina, you'll be driving with everyone heading into town so that's not really advisable (depending on how early is early - e.g. arriving at 6:30am for traffic purposes here is not that early).

If your event is on the weekend you won't really have to worry about traffic early in the morning so much.

I really know nothing about any of the airport hotels but if you are able to find a decent one just for the event and if being close to the rink is the main criteria, I would consider it, especially if they have a decent parking rate. Some of the parking rates at the Waikiki hotels are crazy.

The airport is about 10 minutes from the Ice Palace and you'd be driving against the main traffic going to town on weekday mornings. However, around the airport there's nothing much going on. In Waikiki you could walk out of your hotel to grab something to eat, stroll around, etc.

If you choose an airport hotel and only stay for the event (then move on to Kauai or Maui for the rest of your trip, skip exploring on Oahu) you can easily get by without a rental car on Oahu.

I strongly disagree that the OP will not need a rental car to get from the airport to the Ice Palace. They said they did not want to rely on Uber, and the public Bus is inefficient and unreliable for that particular trip. If you want confirmation, go over to TripAdvisor where there are others who are more familiar with Honolulu traffic and commuting issues.

For getting out of Waikiki I recommend a car for a few days to explore and do some hiking and snorkeling (in June you should snorkel up at the north shore). For the most part Oahu is the least expensive island.

Fortunately car rentals prices have moderated.

I am saying if she decides NOT to stay on Oahu for the rest of the trip. Just fly in to HNL. She said she didn't want to rely on transportation when Waikiki was mentioned (which is 30+ minutes away) so wise. If she stays near the venue different story. I think having a rental car in an urban environment you are not familiar with has more potential problems and delays then simply using a taxi. Fly in, get an airport hotel, let the front desk know you need help with a taxi, go early. After event return to airport and fly to either Maui or Kauai and have your vacation portion on one of those islands instead of Oahu (where much of what interests others is not of interest to you). Maybe an airport hotel has an airport shuttle for that first leg?

sincerely, suze

We don't know your home city... but If you could fly home from the second island would smooth things out even further. Into HNL for the event, stay the few days you need to participate there. Go to the airport and fly to Kauai (or Maui) rent a car there. And fly home from the airport on that island (or transit directly if you have to come back thru HNL).

Your trip is along way out, and too early to start booking. However if using their SFO hub, keep track of the United flight attendants strike, as well as the strike actions against some of the major Waikiki hotel chains.

Not the Airport Best Western, LOL

Just depends your priorities. "budget conscious" would be staying on Oahu in Waikiki for 1-week after the event and not renting a car. But your wish to have a more peaceful setting means for sure a car rental and likely moving on to either Kauai or Maui or at least a different part of Oahu. aloha, suze

Travel_Nerd, what is your hotel budget? After over 20 years of not visiting Hawaii even though it's a fairly close flight away, I've been to Oahu several times over the past two years for family reasons. (I've also been to other islands including Kauai and the Big Island, but awhile ago.)

These days in Honolulu we like to stay at Kaimana Beach Hotel. I am a runner, so I like a location from which I can easily take a beautiful run and/or walk. Lots of really excellent restaurants a bit away though--mostly Chinatown though there are some good places in Kaimuki and of course I can in no way can keep up on the food scene there. Although we do tend to rent a car...

Yes, a lot of regular visitors to Oahu prefer to rent cars. It's not just about getting from an airport hotel to the Ice Palace, also about time savings, flexibility, avoiding crowded buses and waits for transfers. Also as Leely2 mentioned, handy for sightseeing and going out to eat at some more local places (assuming that the OP does not want to spend all of their time between hotel and rink). There are places to stay in Oahu where parking is less expensive. Often discounts given on parking if booked direct or with a package, and sometimes even free parking. You will find more opinions over on TripAdvisor although be warned that there are also certain very insistent voices there, too. Good idea to compare round trip taxi or Uber costs to what a car rental would be. (You can also try a test booking to see how available an Uber would be when you need it.) I question how available taxis will be if they would rather do airport pickups which earn them about 3x more.

If you know how to use Google Maps or Waze, it isn't especially difficult to drive on Oahu.The road infrastructure and signage is good. As a matter of fact, many of the Transportation Engineers who I know in Los Angeles are from Hawaii.

It was often just as easy in traffic to follow the car ahead, with confirmation from Google Maps that a turn was upcoming. It isn't like you are going to get lost, either.

The Ice Palace is only 3 miles from HNL airport. That's why I think if they want to be on Oahu only for the event, get an airport hotel, attend said event, then move on to Kauai or Maui, a car would not be necessary or helpful.