Shaving costs of summer travel to Hawaii

Avoid the holidays and you'll find deals to and in Hawai'i throughout fall, winter and spring. Summer? Not so much, as families with school-age children surge in, along with kidless travelers wooed by the isles' best beach-going weather. But thanks to the slow pace of economic recovery (some in the Aloha State might question even calling it a recovery), there are a few ways to save on this year's summer vacation.

Often daunting — especially since the costs can't be split across several people the way renting a condo or car can — airfares to Hawai'i from Northern California are showing a little more leeway in pricing this summer than last. That could be because two carriers are increasing service to fill some of the remaining gaps left by the Aloha Airlines shutdown in 2008. Some things to consider:

• In March, Alaska Airlines began flying nonstop from San Jose to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) and to Maui three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday). The airline, which also launched daily service to Maui from Sacramento last month, already offered nonstop flights to Kona and Maui from Oakland. At press time, the airline's best rate for the San Jose-Kona route June 16-23 was $570, a designated "hot deal" available only on Alaska's Web site.
• Hawaiian Airlines, meanwhile, will add its first nonstop service from the Bay Area other than to Honolulu — in this case, between Oakland and Maui — beginning June 4. The daily outbound flight will leave Oakland at 12:30 p.m., arriving in Kahului at 2:20 p.m., while the daily inbound flight departs Kahului at 9:35 p.m. and arrives in Oakland at 5:30 a.m. the next day. The seasonal service will run through Sept. 6.
• Hawaiian's lowest summer airfares must be booked by April 2 (sorry if you're reading this later), but keep in mind that — as with all airlines — the day of week, time of flight and choice of outbound airport will affect pricing regardless of when you book. Traveling on that nonstop Oakland-Maui route June 17 and returning June 24, also a Thursday, currently costs $506 including tax; avoiding the red-eye on the back by flying via Honolulu costs $100 more. Taking the nonstop flights on Saturdays boosts the price to $745.

• For Hawaiian flights, traveling from San Jose to anywhere in the islands is generally less expensive, with the highest rates from San Francisco. Flying to Maui June 17-24, for example, currently costs $752 from San Francisco and $652 from San Jose, both via Honolulu.
• United still has the most nonstop flights to Hawai'i from the Bay Area, including flights to Kaua'i as well as O'ahu, Maui and the Big Island. It's also often cheaper to fly United to Los Angeles first, then onto the Hawaiian island of your choice — there's even more competition in the Southern California market. While it has not yet advertised summer sales, United's best rates are usually found through travel packager Pleasant Hawaii; keep in mind you don't have to book a hotel or car for the entire length of your trip to get the often-substantial bundling discount.

Assuming you're not bundling your flight with your room, and you're not an avid backpacker, the best way to cut costs is to book a place with cooking facilities, to save on meals. Some suggestions: