Girl-Solo Semi-Broke Hawaiβi Diary
βοΈποΈOne-month US hop finished with 9 days in the islands β wallet thin, heart full, SPF 50 forever. βοΈ Landing from Sydney Jetstar 9 hrs no meal β $2 water bottles, $8 noodles β $200 AUD ticket = accept the pain, bring snacks. Immigration shock: didnβt print return ticket or hotel β 20-min side room interview + on-the-spot Wi-Fi booking = almost sent back π± Tip: have PDF of flight out + first night hotel ready! π¨ Hotel β Hostel Gradient 1οΈβ£ Royal Hawaiian (Pink Palace) π Safety-first splurge β pink faΓ§ade = landmark, beach at doorstep, Waikiki core. Room 1950s bones, view 2023 heart-eyes β budget OK = worth it for solo peace. 2οΈβ£ Hilton Hawaiian Village π’ Mega-resort maze, noisy pools, sand like coarse pepper β skip if you want quiet. 3οΈβ£ Honu Waikiki by Alon (dorm) πββοΈ 6-bed female, ensuite, no AC, 10 min walk to sand β staff carry luggage = angel. Night = lights off 22:00 β jet-lag cure, earplugs = best friend. 4οΈβ£ Waikiki Beachside Hostel π 6-bed female, AC = sleep-like-baby, 3 min to ocean β free beach chair + umbrella + snorkel set = backpacker gold. Both hostels = $40-50/night, free gear = zero excuse not to swim. π΄ Food = Zero Everything ate = happy dance β island magic or hunger? Poke Bowl β Foodland deli $12 spicy ahi + avocado β breakfast of champions. Marukame Udon β $7 curry udon + tempura β line moves, soul warms. Island Vintage β $9 acai bowl + mac-nut honey β IG obligatory. Musubi Cafe IYASUME β $3 spam-musubi Γ 3 β midnight fridge raid. La Mer (splurge) β $80 three-course lunch β view > food, but who cares. Shave Ice β Waiola $4 lychee + condensed milk β brain-freeze = happiness. Solo-girl hack: grocery store dinner = $8 poke + $2 sparkling β beach picnic = free ocean view. π No-Car Move TheBus day-pass $7 β buy at ABC, Google Maps offline = stop names often wrong = count stops out loud. Micro-scooter rental $15/2 hrs β waikiki strip cruise, zero parking stress. Pink Line Trolley $25 day β air-con + headphone guide = lazy loop when legs die. π Safety Feel Waikiki = lit till 02:00, crowds everywhere = never alone. Hostel curfew 22:00 = quiet street after, earplugs = silence. Night beach = stick to lit strip, no solo 03:00 ocean dips β common sense > fear. π° 9-Day Spend (solo) Flight SYD-HNL $200 (pre-bought) Accommodation mix $420 (2 hotels + 6 hostel nights) Food & fun $280 (70 % grocery, 1 splurge lunch) Transport + misc $90 (bus + scooter + magnets) β $990 total β Β₯7k = semi-broke success β π One-Line Takeaway βHawaiβi on a shoestring still tastes like pineapple, smells like plumeria, and feels like the universe hugged you β just pack earplugs, print your return ticket, and let the island adopt you.β πΊπ€πΌ #US #Hawaii #Honolulu