Just got invited to stay with a friend who has a place in Poipu. We want to go mid to late July for a week. I just checked and the cheapest was Aloha direct to Lihue from Oakland for $545.00. My question is this: Are fares likely to go down further as my departure date gets nearer? Since we don't have to worry about a lodging reservation I could wait and try to get a last minute discount fare. Is that likely in the summer? Whadya think?

Iamq, I really don't think it's likely. I don't expect to see fares dip again until Fall.........

Jamq -

You can check the different airlines websites, have Fare Alerts from Travelocity, Expedia, Orbitz and other travel websites send to you via email. There's itasoftware.com, smarterliving.com and cheaptickets.com too where you can keep your eye out on fares.

But to be honest, I haven't seen summer airfare to Hawaii getting any cheaper and I'm a compulsive fare checker LOL. That doesn't mean it won't, just that I haven't seen it. What I "have" seen is my flight to Honolulu down to ONE seat available in coach as of today with NO price drop (but a price increase from when I purchased my tickets).

If I were you, I would chose a price I could live with and when it pops up - go with it! Mid-July is just around the corner. I should know, because that's when I'm leaving for Hawaii!

Good luck!

I doubt that you will see in the way of price drops, but yesterday Pleasant Hawaiian announced reductions in their flights from SFO to Honolulu, and I have friends and family who have found some excellent deals in Proceline in the last few days. I get the impression that there are plenty seats available for flights this summer. My mother found flights from Tampa to Maui on Priceline for a little over $400 for mid July.

I just did a quick check on SFO or Oakland to Lihue in mid-July and my bid of $300 came right up. Try bidding lower!

Check out Pleasant Holidays. I just got an email about their sale prices for July--I didn't really pay attention as I am not going until January. I don't think they fly out of Oakland, only SFO.

I just found ticket for my daughter from LAX to OGG, non-stop, for $225 RT on Priceline. I wish I had bid $200, because the $225 was accepted right away!