Hey. I had a great experience doing "work trade" on Maui. I found it very fair and a great way to stay on the island longer and inexpensively. I would reccomend it to any traveler planning on staying on the island for a month or more. Maui like anywhere has its problems. But never in the 5 months that I was there did I feel unsafe, and I found hitchhiking a great way to get around the island and meet cool people. I definetly recommend MAUI! You will have an excellent time and meet great people.
Hostels in Hawaii 
Looking for the best hostels in Hawaii? You are in the right place!
On this page, we have listed every city in Hawaii with backpacker hostels and budget-friendly stays. Hostelz.com makes it easy to find your ideal Hawaii hostel by comparing prices across major booking platforms. Save money while backpacking Hawaii and sleep comfortably on a budget.
All Backpacker Hostels in Hawaii
We have got you covered with a complete list of every hostel in Hawaii, across 8 cities! Not all cities have hostels, but many offer alternative budget options like guesthouses and affordable hotels. Use our filters to quickly find cities with hostels or other budget accommodations to simplify your trip planning.
All Hawaii hostels on a map
Alright, you are more the visual type? Planning your trip with a map is always handy.
Therefore, this map shows you all cities with hostels in Hawaii. It will help you to plan your trip. Just zoom in the map and click your destination for more details. Just so you know: If we do not have a hostel in a city, it is likely that there is no hostel in that city.
All Top Hostels in Big Island
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
Kailua-Kona
Stay here and you’ll be just three miles south of Kailua-Kona village. This is a truly more
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$24.75
Kailua-Kona
Stay here if you want to be super close to Kealakekua Bay and pristine kayaking, diving & more
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$25.02
Kailua-Kona
This is strictly an 18+ hostel with a good mix of shared and female only dorms. Big lockers are more
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$30.37
Hilo
"…Access To Hostel: Upon your arrival please ring the doorbell and our reception staff will let you more
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$17.05All Top Hostels in Honolulu
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
Best rated hostel
Social backpackers that enjoy a friendly, laid-back atmosphere will love THE BEACH. Waikiki Beach more
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$25.92
"This is our newest property Honu Waikikii by ALOH the same brand that owns and operates The Beach more
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$20.25Cheapest hostel
Here is a wonderful family-run hostel in the central Waikiki neighbourhood. Rent a surfboard and more
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$20.59All Top Hostels in Maui
We help you pick your hostel like no one else. Check our detailed guides to:
Our handwritten guide on Backpacking Hawaii
Hawaii is a unique part of the United States of America. As the newest state, and the only state not located on the North American continent, Hawaii is a fusion of its current American nation and its own island culture.
Hawaii is a chain of islands with no connecting bridges, so you need to take a boat or plane to get from one to another. This is just one of the reasons that make Hawaii especially expensive. You can still save money by staying in hostels, which are available on several of the most popular islands. Also decide if you'd like to visit multiple islands, or thoroughly enjoy just one.
The Big Island, also known as the Island of Hawai'i, is home to many natural reserves. One of the most interesting is Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, where you can walk near active volcanoes. Hilo is a good city to find a hostel on this island, but hostels can also be found throughout the Big Island.
Maui is typically thought of as a honeymoon destination, but solo and group backpackers will enjoy many aspects of it as well. Here you can find Punaluu Beach, with a stunning shore made up of black sand. Nature enthusiasts should head to Haleakala National Park or West Maui. You can select from several hostels in the northwestern part of Maui.
Oahu is a diverse island. As the most densely populated island, you may recognize some of the names of prime hangout places, such as the North Shore. From here you can visit Pearl Harbor, a naval area with a floating memorial dedicated to the bombing during World War II. Hawaii's capital city is here in Honolulu, which is a good place to find hostels, although there are a few in other parts of the Oahu island.
Kauai is a smaller island, but still a well-loved destination. Hostels are more limited in Kauai, but look for a few near the eastern shore.
No matter where you decide to get a hostel in Hawaii, you must take advantage of the unique Hawaiian offerings. You can attend a luau, where you'll enjoy traditional cuisine such as pineapple, kalua pork, and poi. And of course, don't forget to "hang loose" by swimming, surfing, or sailing on the many beaches!
Handwritten by local expert for Hawaii hostels Jessica Lippe
Popular Areas for Traveling
Travel Tips for Hawaii - from the Community
Hey fam! Here are a few more tips from the community, from them to you, and you to them. This space is dedicated for travellers to share their best tips on backpacking Hawaii. Have a closer look - the Hostelz community share real hidden gems, insider knowledge and overall impressions of Hawaii. Everyone is welcome to add something useful, funny, unexpected and the "absolutely necessary to know before you go" - share, share and then share a little more!
FAQ on Hostels in Hawaii
There is a lot of travel planning to do. So let us help you once again by putting together the frequently asked questions:
Finding Hostels and Prices
What hostel booking sites are best to use?
There is several hostel booking sites, such as Hostelworld.com, Hostelsclub.com and Booking.com. While every platform has its pros and cons, there is a universal truth you as a traveler should be aware of: Not a single booking site can always offer the best prices.
This is where Hostelz.com comes in. You can compare all major booking portals with one click.
For you as a traveler, Hostelz.com is the best booking site to actually save money.
How much are hostels in Hawaii?
Prices always vary, depending on various factors. Weekends tend to be more expensive, same goes for special holidays. Please also take into account local vaction time.
You can search for exacty hostel prices in Hawaii here on Hostelz.com. Pick your destination and pick a date. The system will track down the prices to give an idea of what budget and prices you can expect.
When to book hostels?
If you want to stay at the best hostels, it is a good idea to have your hostel booked around 1 month before you travel. For the regular hostels, booking one week before should be okay. Yet again, this always depends.
We dedicated a full article to the topic of when to book hostels.
Safety and Packing
Are hostels in Hawaii safe?
Generally speaking, hostels are as safe as you make them. We highly recommend always to bring your own padlock, using the lockers and taking care of your belongings. Make sure you pick a safe hostel, offering lockers and a safe location. Please always pay attention to the reviews; they can give you a great insight on what to expect and safety tips.
What to pack when staying in hostels?
There is a few basics you should always pack when staying in hostels.
There is more actually. We wrote a complete guide with more details. Read our full hostel packing list.