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Lodging — bargains
By Robert Bone
Special to The Advertiser
Unfortunately, it is simply not possible in the 21st century to come to Hawaii, set up a hammock on the beach, and survive on mountain apples, guavas, and coconuts. You’ll have to get a room.
Generally speaking, this may not turn out to be a simple bed-and-breakfast operation, either. Many B&Bs in Hawai'i tend to be upscale, sometimes costing as much as a hotel room in Waikiki.
Still, it may be worth checking out. Three statewide clearing stations for several B&Bs on more than one island are Affordable Paradise Bed & Breakfast, http://www.aicomm.com/hawaii, All Islands Bed & Breakfast, http://home.hawaii.rr.com/allislands, and Bed & Breakfast Hawaii, http://bandb-hawaii.com. You may find that some B&Bs are represented by more than one umbrella organization.
The cheapest digs in Hawai'i may be at the no-name hotel in Waipio Valley on the Big Island, 15 bucks a room, at last report, with no hot water and no electricity. Unfortunately, now that its original owner has died, it’s often closed. See the Big Island, below, for a somewhat better deal in the village of Holualoa.
Meanwhile, here’s an island-by-island wrap-up of hotels or condos where you may still get a good room for less than $100 a night -– pretty cheap nowadays, when hotel rooms sometimes run two or three times that figure. This is not a comprehensive list, and not all have been personally inspected. But most have web pages or at least email addresses, where you can get last-minute information without leaving your computer. For the few that don’t, we’ve included a phone number.
OAHU
Generally speaking, these Honolulu hotels will all be off Waikiki Beach, but usually still within easy walking distance to the sand.
Aloha Punawai, 305 Saratoga Road, http://www.alternative-hawaii.com/alohapunawai, Aloha Waikiki Vacation Condos, 431 Nahua St. http://www.waikiki-condos.com, Aston Coconut Plaza Hotel, 450 Lewers St., http://www.aston-hotels.com, the Breakers Hotel, 250 Beach Walk, http://www.breakers-hawaii.com, Ewa Hotel Waikiki, 2555 Cartwright Road, http://www.ethotel.com, Hale Koa Hotel (military ID required), 2055 Kalia Rd., http://www.halekoa.com, Ilikai Marina, 1777 Ala Moana Blvd., http://www.marinaapartments.com, Ilima Hotel, 445 Nohonani St., http://www.ilima.com, Royal Grove Hotel, 151 Uluniu Ave., http://www.royalgrovehotel.com, Waikiki Gateway, 2070 Kalakaua Ave., http://www.waikiki-gateway-hotel.com, Waikiki Hana, http://www.castle-group.com, and Waikiki Sand Villa Sand Villa, 2375 Ala Wai Blvd., http://www.waikiki-sandvillahotel.com.
Outside of Honolulu, you may want to check out the Backpackers Vacation Inn in Haleiwa, http://backpackers-hawaii.com. At last report, there were some rooms as low as around $50, and hostel beds running around $17 at this North Shore retreat.
KAUAI
In Lihue, the venerable Tip Top Motel, has no website, but email is tiptop@aloha.net. Other possibilities on nearby Kalapaki Bay include the Garden Island Inn, http://www.gardenislandinn.com, or the Banyan Harbor Resort, http://www.vacation-kauai.com, at Koloa, the Koloa Landing Cottages, http://planet-hawaii.com/koloa, or perhaps the Poipu Plantation, http://www.poipubeach.com.
At Kapaa, are two old-timers, the Hotel Coral Reef, http://www.hshawaii.com/kvp/coral, or the Kapaa Sands, http://www.kapaasands.com, and out at Princeville, the Paliuli Cottages http://www.oceanfrontrealty.com might be a possibility.
LANAI
While it’s not true that there are only luxury accommodations on Lanai, you still may have a problem getting a room for under $100. Best bet, though, is the venerable Hotel Lanai, http://www.onlanai.com.
There’s also a bed-and-breakfast, Hale O Lanai, http://www.hotspots.hawaii.com/beachrent12.html, which may have a room or two for around $95.
MOLOKAI
The traditional bargain over the decades is the Pau Hana Inn in Kaunakakai, Telephone (808)553-5342. No website, no email, no frills, and rooms starting at an unbelievable $20, at last report.
Not far away, the Hotel Molokai, http://www.hotelmolokai.com is not quite so unfancy, and a little more expensive. Two B&Bs may have a few rooms in the $80-$90 range. Try Ka Hale Mala, http://www.molokai-bnb.com, or Kamalo Plantation, http://www.molokai.com/kamalo.
MAUI
Hawaii’s most popular neighbor island, Maui has a few bargain accommodations in or around Lahaina on West Maui, or in the Maalaea to Kihei area on East Maui, mostly in condos. You’ll find them near, but not in, the main resort areas. For details, bring up their web sites and use email to get the latest information.
On West Maui, check out Hale Maui, http://www.maui.net/~halemaui, or Hale Ono, http://www.maui.net/~dwhipple/HaleOnoLoa.htm.
On East Maui, look into Shores of Maui, http://www.mauiweb.com/som, the Sunseeker Resort, http://www.maui.net/~sunseekr, Wailana Sands, email: palikai@maui.net, and Waiohuli Beach Hale, email: debeer@maui.net.
THE BIG ISLAND
You’ll find budget bargains both on the Kona Coast and on "Hilo Side," as well as a few up in cattle country near Waimea/Kamuela. Here’s a round-up of budget choices beginning at Kailua-Kona and running counter-clockwise around the island.
An old reliable in Kailua is the Kona Bay Hotel, http://www.unclebilly.com. Other include and the Kona White Sands, the Kona Islander Inn, and the Kona Billfisher, all listed at http://www.konahawaii.com. Another in the same neighborhood is Kalanikai, http://www.konarentals.com.
Further down the coast, at the village of Captain Cook you’ll find the venerable Manago, phone (808)323-3451. Then near Na’alehu is another old timer, the Shirakawa Hotel, email: shiraka@hialoha.net.
In the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the old Volcano House, phone (808)967-8429, still has a few rooms for under $100. You might find a good B&B deal in the same neighborhood at the Country Goose, http://www.hawaii-bnb.com/congses.html, or at My Island B&B Inn, http://www.stayhawaii.com/myisland/myisld.html.
In the county seat, the small city of Hilo, the best bargain for many years has been the Dolphin Bay Hotel, http://www.dolphinbayhilo.com. Closer to the center of things, try the Hilo Bay Hotel, http://www.unclebilly.com.
Up the Hamakua Coast, at Honokaa, near Waipio Valley, you’ll find Hotel Honokaa, phone (808) 775-0678. The Waipio Ridge Vacation Rental, http://www.wwte.com/waipio.htm overlooks the valley.
Then in cowboy country near the villages of Waimea and Kamuela, try the Kamuela Inn, http://www.hawaii-bnb.com/kamuela.html.
There are several beautiful hotels and condos, but no budget bargains we could find on the popular Kohala Coast.
But what about that bargain we mentioned in the village of Holualoa, up mauka of Kailua-Kona? That’s the Kona Hotel, phone (808)324-1155, which offers the same 11 frill-less rooms it has had since 1926. All bathrooms are down the hall. Rates were still $20 single, and $26-$30 double at last report. Sorry, there’s no email or web site, but Mrs. Inaba might let you try a bit of her mango chutney.
Travel writer Robert W. Bone is a journalist, editor and photographer. He is the author of "The Maverick Guide to Hawaii."
