I just looked on Hawaiian Airlines site and it would cost $814 for my husband and I to take 3 flights: Honolulu to Lihue, Lihue to Honolulu to Maui, and Maui back to Honolulu.

Is there an easier and CHEAPER way to do this???

I just looked at Hawaiian and not knowing your dates and flexibility on time it was limited.
One question were you checking fares oneway?
I asked because it is easy to forget you wouldn't need r/t and the fares I got would total $475.

I have been checking Hawaiian Airlines flights recently and have found that doing three "one-way" flights is cheaper than using their multi-city option.

Just a tip, since I know when I first looked, my first guess was that multi-city would be cheapest.

This is what happens when you lose competition.

Your only other option is Superferry from Oahu to Maui, then Maui to Lihue, Lihue to Oahu.

You can take the Superferry from Oahu to Maui, but you have to will have to fly between Maui and Kauai, Kauai and Honolulu.

You used to be able to take the Superferry between Kauai and Oahu, but the protestors took care of that.

Interisland airfares have really been rising since the demise of Aloha Airlines.

Is Island Air affiliated with Hawaiian Air? We are holding one way tickets from Honolulu to Maui in August and they were about $100 each if I recall correctly.

I might be wrong, but Island Air was loosely associated in some ways with Aloha before it went under. It appears that now they may have a similar relationship with Hawaiian.

I use Amex points for island flights with Hawaiian Airlines--unless its changed, its 5000 points for 1 flight. Nice way to use up points and save some money--the flights were always easy to get, but it's good to book as soon as you know your schedule to get the best times. . .

"BACKSTROKE"?

Marginal & chepar are correct, the Superferry is not a bad option. One of my staffers just did this for a single day trip to Maui because he wanted to save money and he could afford the time. I think the trip is about 3 hours from Honolulu.

He said that the boarding (for walk-ons) is quick--they just ask that you are there 30 minutes before departure time, and even at that, they can leave early if everyone with a reservation is on board. The ride was smooth and relaxing, he could take a nap or walk around and buy food from the concessions. Overall, he felt that the 3 hour trip was not a big difference versus flying, because he'd have to show up at the airport much earlier anyway for both flights. He said he'd do it again, too.