Traveling to the Aloha State 2026:  What Golf Travelers Need to Know

From October 2021 through March 2025, the cost of traveling to Hawaii reached historic and often unconscionable levels. Hotel pricing — especially on the neighbor islands (Maui, Kauai & The Big Island) — led the surge, followed closely by increases in vacation rentals, vehicle rentals, food, dining, taxes, fees, and surcharges.

While neighbor island resort hotels remain extraordinarily expensive, there is some good news for travelers planning a Hawaii golf vacation in 2026 and/or 2027:

• ✅ Vacation rental pricing has softened since March 2025

• ✅ Vehicle rental rates are trending downward

• ✅ Airfare fluctuates, with legitimate deals from select mainland cities

• ⚠️ Dining costs & food remain very high, requiring strategy and planning

• ⛳ Golf rates have risen modestly, but Big Island golf still delivers exceptional value

Getting to Hawaii by Air (2026-27 Outlook)

There is only one practical way to reach Hawaii: by air.

Several factors continue to impact airlift to the islands:

• Airbus A321 recalls

• Boeing 737 MAX inspection issues

• Route reductions by Hawaiian, Alaska, and Southwest

• Post–West Maui fire capacity shifts

• Softening demand since March 2024

Best Cities for Hawaii Airfare Deals

Travelers departing from cities with nonstop service typically find the best fares:

• Los Angeles

• San Francisco

• Oakland

• Seattle

• Las Vegas

• Portland

• Salt Lake City

• Phoenix

• Sacramento

• San Jose

Fares from these markets can be very competitive at certain times, while connecting itineraries from other regions are often less attractive.

Resort Hotels on the Big Island, Maui & Kauai

Little has changed since late 2021 regarding neighbor island resort hotel pricing.

While entry-level room categories (e.g., garden view) have eased slightly from the extreme highs of December 2021–March 2024, average daily rates (ADR) remain intentionally inflated. We are not exaggerating when we say hotel room rates on neighbor islands start around $800 per-night for a parking lot view.

Why Are Hawaii Resort Hotels Still So Expensive?

Based on industry realities, two main factors are at play:

1. Labor shortages make high occupancy (80–100%) operationally unrealistic

2. Higher rates + fewer guests = higher margins with less staff

The result?

• Fewer visitors

• Reduced accessibility

• Travelers pushed toward alternative destinations

At $800+ per night (before taxes & fees), many long-time Hawaii visitors are being priced out — often permanently. And this may be happening intentionally.

The Best Lodging Alternative in Hawaii: Vacation Rentals

Vacation rentals are the smartest lodging choice for most Hawaii golf travelers.

Why Vacation Rentals Win

• Significantly more space

• Multiple bedrooms and bathrooms

• Full gourmet kitchens

• Washer/dryer

• Spacious lanais

• Generally, no resort fees

• No parking fees

• No gratuities

The savings compared to resort hotels are often dramatic — and the quality of life during your stay is substantially better.

While most condos and villas are not directly oceanfront, this rarely matters. If you’re golfing, exploring, or at the beach most days, paying 2–3× more for an ocean-view hotel room makes little sense — much like booking a balcony cabin when you’ll be outside the cabin all day.

“We Don’t Want to Cook on Vacation”

We hear this less often now — but it still comes up.

You don’t need to cook dinner every night to save money.

Using a kitchen for:

• Breakfast

• Lunch

• Snacks

• Beverages

• Takeout dinners

…can save hundreds (or thousands) over the course of a visit — especially with Hawaii’s current dining costs

Vehicle Rentals in Hawaii

Vehicle rental pricing has been declining steadily since April 2023.

When you book through:

• Big Island GolfHawaiiCard

• Insider Guides (Maui, Kauai, Oahu)

• HawaiiGolfDeals vacation packages

…you gain access to industry-leading Wheel Deals that are extremely difficult to duplicate independently.

Golf in Hawaii 2026

While some Hawaii golf courses have raised rates, Big Island golf remains the best value in the state — by a wide margin.

Why the Big Island Is the Golf Capital of Hawaii

• Outstanding and accessible courses

• Shorter drive times

• Better weather consistency

• More competitive green fees

• Greater availability

We offer:

• GolfHawaiiCard (Big Island only)

• Insider Guides (Maui, Kauai, Oahu)

If golf is a priority, The Big Island is the hands down winner. Other islands simply cannot compete in terms of quality, value, logistics, or weather.

Important Golf Timing Considerations

Hawaii golf courses typically aerate during:

• Late April – Mid May

• Late August – Mid September

Golf remains playable, and courses do not aerate simultaneously. During these periods:

• Rules allow pickup after two putts on sanded greens

• Air, lodging, and vehicle pricing is at its lowest

• Availability is excellent

For value-focused golfers, these windows are ideal.

The Hawaii Travel Downturn:  What It Means for Golfers

Since April 2024, Hawaii has experienced a visitor decline unlike anything seen in 40 years — a downturn we forecast in mid-2022 and will likely prevail for 3-5 years.

For golfers, this presents opportunity:

• Softer vacation rental pricing

• Improved vehicle availability

• Strong golf values — especially on the Big Island

Even luxury travelers appreciate value — and value is returning.

Putting It All Together: Planning Your Hawaii Golf Adventure

Best Times to Visit

• Avoid Dec. 15 – Mar. 15 if possible

• Better availability and pricing Mar. 15 – Dec. 15

• For 2026 and 2027, winter is more accessible than in prior years

How We Save You Money

• Access to wholesale hotel and rental inventory

• Ability to beat major booking platforms by going direct to source

• Best vehicle rental pricing in Hawaii

• Packages that are nearly impossible to replicate independently

If we must work outside wholesale channels, a service fee applies — and is always offset by what we save you.

How to Maximize Your Savings

• Be flexible with dates

• Use air miles where possible

• Fly Mon/Tue/Wed/Sat to Hawaii

• Fly home Tue/Wed/Thu/Sat

• Consider 7 nights instead of 5 (better value)

• Confirm vehicle insurance coverage before travel

• Choose The Big Island if golf matters

Final Notes

• Oahu inventory is primarily hotels (with limited Waikiki condos)

• Oahu hotels are more affordable, but resort & parking fees can be extreme

• The Big Island offers the best combination of golf, weather, rentals, and value

How Can We Get You a Great Deal?

Complete our Hawaii Golf Travel Application (5 minutes) and keep these items in mind:

• Preferred and flexible dates

• Category (Moderate/Deluxe/Premium/Luxury)

• Amount of golf you want to play

• Any special requests

The more we know, the more we can save you — and the better your trip will be.