Interisland Travel in Hawaii

The hardest thing for me to get used to as a newcomer to Hawaii is the relative inaccessibility of most parts of the state. I'm used to being able to drive wherever I want, and I wanted to go see the volcano, out on the Big Island. Hasn't happened yet. I can't get there.

I wasn't so stupid as to think that there would be bridges or something that simple between the Hawaiian islands - but I did assume there would be convenient interisland ferries or something.

Wrong!

The Hawaiian islands are connected by airlines and charter boats. If you're lucky enough to own your own seaworthy boat, you can make it between the islands with only a few hours of travel time. But in the winter, with the higher waves and rougher seas, even the boat traffic between the islands slows down. That makes for a very isolated feeling.

Flights Between Islands

Both small planes and larger passenger jets, both run primarily by local companies, fly from island to island. Recently, there's been a price war because of new entries into the local market, and it is possible, though not easy, to find flights for as little as $39 one-way to other islands (that's before taxes and fees, of course).

Don't look online for interisland flight deals; you won't find them there. Instead, use a Hawaiian travel agency to plan your trip, or call local airlines directly before your trip to find the ones with the best rates. You may also be able to find discounts and coupons running at various times at Hawaiian businesses, though most of them target locals instead of tourists.

Charter Boats

If you're traveling with a larger group, it might be more cost-effective to charter a boat. In Honolulu, there are rows and rows of piers with private boats that charter fishing trips, sightseeing excursions, or interisland travel.

You may be able to find a good deal off-island, but as with interisland flights, you're probably better off going down to the docks and haggling with boat owners yourself. In off-seasons when the demand is low, you may find some really good deals.

However, most charter boats prefer to work with groups of eight or more; if you're traveling with a smaller group or by yourself, you'll probably find the cost to be prohibitive.

The New Interisland Ferry System

After years of false starts and failures, a new interisland ferry system is opening up in September 2007 that can take you AND your car from island to island. All the major islands will be served, and a couple of the minor ones, too.

Don't think it'll be cheap. I was really excited when I found out about it, thinking that maybe we could go from here to the Big Island for a reasonable rate, maybe under a hundred dollars for the family. Try eighty, each, for a round trip, with an additional twenty tacked on if we want to use the couches and amenities in the lobby during the 4-hour trip. More, if we want to take the car.

!! That would get us all half to the mainland on a regular air flight!

So I've given up on inexpensive travel between islands. It would be nice to make it over to Maui for some of the festivals, but I'll just have to wait til I'm making more money, or win a contest.

And if you want to island-hop during your vacation - well, in general I recommend a good travel agent who's a Hawaii local. It's easier for someone who's actually here on the island to negotiate good deals, and those good deals do exist. Pre-paid, pre-planned transportation here in Hawaii is more than worth the cost.