Hawaii Staycation

I am sure that most people are not interested in all the daily struggles us residents have living in Hawaii.  One real question is what do you do when you want to take a short vacation?  Being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has its perks but one objection is the distance to other places on the planet.  It is very easy and somewhat reasonable to travel to the neighbor islands but that is really just traveling within the same space.  If you are local and have a  Hawaii driver’s licence or ID card many locations offer a discount.  This is commonly refereed to as Kama’aina.  This is the Hawaiian word for resident.  Rarely advertised by the businesses but it’s worth asking the question if they offer a Kama’aina discount.  This can apply to shops, restaurants and travel.

One place many might think this does not apply is local hotels.  That is actually wrong and the businesses that do offer the discount will gain local customers.  It is one thing to have an entire business based on tourists but it’s just smart to have a mix of local and travelers.  Obviously, there are tons of visitors to the island but what happens in the off season?  It is just smart  to have a local revenue stream coming in to supliment.  Many hotels from the very basic to the 5 star offer a great local rate if you ask.  Some properties offer an entire package with parking, melas and the discounted rate.  Not all main booking locations on the mainland will know what the word means or be able to look up the rate but at times it’s better to call the property directly and ask.  Most of the large chains will have no idea  when calling the 800 number but when you call the front desk directly they know.

These rates can also fluctuate like a regular retail room rate.  If the location is full or has limited space the rates typically rise.  On the flip side you might check the rate a few weeks out and get one price and then check again closer to the desired date and it might be lower.  This is a great way to take a break, relax and really feel like a tourist.  Do not forget the kids and the fun they will have enjoying some amazing properties around the islands.

One location that has an amazing package usually, is the newer Four Seasons at Ko Olina.  They openly welcome the local residents to enjoy the property.  They even go as far as offer a discount for the spa if you are so inclined.  The rate at times can be half of the rate being paid by travelers.  So for events such as the fourth of July this can be an amazing opportunity to chill out, relax and recharge.