The Most Expensive Destinations in Hawaii

December 21, 2015

Hawaii reaches its visitor peak during the Christmas and New Year’s timeframe. In response to that demand, hotels raise their rates to record highs. The latest survey from CheapHotels.org has conducted a comparison of the cost of staying overnight in the most popular Hawaiian destinations this main holiday season.

In coming up with its rankings, the survey used the rate for the cheapest available double room as its basis for comparison. It then looked at 16 of the Aloha State’s most popular destinations, using the dates of December 23 through December 28 as its focus. The survey excluded hotels with less than a three-star rating and without a coveted location near the beach.

Wailea tops the rankings at an average overnight rate of $412. This Maui destination on the island’s south shore beat out the number two finisher, Princeville. An upscale community on Kauai’s north shore, Princeville’s hotel rates are averaging $378 per night during the prime holiday timeframe.

On the other end of the spectrum, Hilo comes in as the state’s least expensive destination. Staying at this Big Island locale will cost guests an average of $139 nightly for the most affordable double room. Joining Hilo in the affordability category is the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu. Just before, during and right after Christmas a room can easily be obtained there for significantly less than $200 per night.

Percentage-wise, the survey reveals that Hawaii hotel rates have increased by an average of 47% during the week of Christmas (December 23–27, 2015). Over the New Year’s Eve time period (December 30, 2015 to January 3, 2016), that figure soars to 84%. Both of these percentages are in comparison to the first two weeks of December.

The following table compares the lodging costs of 16 destinations in Hawaii. The rates indicated reflect the average rate for the cheapest available double room (minimum: 3-star hotel) at each locale for the time period spanning December 23 to December 27, 2015. Only such hotels located near the beach have been considered.