Hawaii is a very popular holiday haunt, and with good reason. There are the picturesque beaches, sure – and amazing natural sights like the iconic Diamond Head. But there’s so much more to enjoy. Dabble in arts and culture, savour some scrumptious food or perhaps, say ‘mahalo’ to the bartender for mixing your mai tai.

But, you know what? A Hawaiian holiday doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. In fact, thanks to the power of Velocity Points, you could be stretching out in Business Class from Sydney to Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines. And from there, onwards to Maui in First Class – all for less than you’d pay in cash for an Economy fare.

Best of all though, when you use Velocity Points to holiday with Hawaiian Airlines, you only pay the genuine travel taxes. The pesky ‘carrier charges’ levied by some other airlines have no place here. At the end of the day, that’s more money left in your pocket to spend on cocktails, sightseeing, dinners and more. So what are you waiting for?

For our next Itineraries adventure, we’ve plotted the best way to enjoy Hawaii in style, without breaking the bank. We’ve done the research, we’ve done the bookings, and most importantly, we’ve done the travel. All to help you plan your own Hawaiian holiday.

Our itinerary can easily be replicated – and we’ve got all the links to help book your activities. We’ll even clue you in on how to book flights to Hawaii using Velocity Points, which don’t otherwise appear on the Velocity website. As I said, we’ve got your back – all you need to do is book and then get packing. Enjoy!

Our Hawaii budget – per person

• Velocity Points: 138,000
• Cash: $1,793 per person (flight taxes and accommodation per person twin share)

My itinerary focuses on spending Velocity Points, which are very easy to earn. But if your account could use a top-up, why not peruse our credit cards page?

Some cards deposit Velocity Points straight into your account each month. Others serve up points in a bank’s own loyalty program, from which you can convert them to Velocity. Keep your eyes peeled for generous sign-up bonuses too. By applying, being approved and meeting the minimum spend criteria, you could earn a nice bounty of points.

Now, back to this itinerary. I’ve priced flying from Sydney to Maui via Honolulu, in Hawaiian Airlines’ premium cabins. That’s Business Class from Australia and onwards in domestic ‘First Class’. It also covers a First Class flight back to Honolulu, and then Economy to Sydney.

Even though the last leg is Economy, it’s not a bad way to go. Honolulu-Sydney is a daytime flight, where you’d be awake and watching movies anyway. This keeps more points in your pocket, while still enjoying the comforts of Business Class on the overnight leg bound for Hawaii. You can doze in your flatbed, and land rested for your holiday to begin.

We’ve used Sydney as the launchpad here – and at the moment, it’s the only Australian city from which you can fly with Hawaiian Airlines. If you’re starting or finishing elsewhere in Australia, just add on a connecting flight. With Virgin Australia, this costs from 7,800 Velocity Points per person, one-way – such as from Melbourne or Brisbane to Sydney.

But again, flying out of Sydney, just under $1,800 in cash covers flight taxes and accommodation, per person. This assumes two people are sharing the same room. Keep some cash aside for ground transport, sightseeing, meals and drinks, and you’ll be ready to explore Hawaii, too.

Earning Velocity Points

With Velocity being Australia’s second largest frequent flyer program, it’s easy to earn Velocity Points – even on the ground. Credit card sign-up bonuses can be an efficient way to earn points quickly. For instance, the American Express Velocity Platinum Card earns points that go straight into your Velocity account. Other cards like the St.George Amplify Signature Visa, or the Amex Platinum Card and Explorer Card, earn rewards that can be converted into Velocity Points at a 2:1 rate.

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You can also convert KrisFlyer miles into Velocity Points at the rate of 1.55:1. Usually, KrisFlyer miles stretch the furthest when redeemed directly via KrisFlyer. But if you’re keen to book Hawaiian Airlines to Honolulu and beyond, converting to Velocity could be just the ticket.

Other popular ways to earn Velocity Points include via Flybuys. For instance, shopping at places like Coles, Liquorland, Officeworks, Bunnings and more can see you rewarded with Flybuys points. And of course, these can be converted into Velocity Points – at a 2:1 rate.

Read our full guide to earning Velocity Points in Australia →

Getting to Hawaii: Sydney to Maui (via Honolulu)

With Hawaiian Airlines being one of Velocity’s many airline partners, you can redeem Velocity Points to Honolulu and beyond. In fact, here’s a handy point hack to keep up your sleeve. Flying from Sydney to Maui via Honolulu costs the same number of points as Sydney-Honolulu alone.

Yes, you read that correctly. You can fly First Class from Honolulu onwards to Maui for no extra points when you’re already travelling from Sydney. You only pay the extra tax: and that’s a mere US$5.60. It’s an absolute steal.

So how do you book these trips using Velocity Points? Just give Velocity Frequent Flyer a call on 13 18 75. They’ll be able to help you find flights and available reward seats, as Hawaiian Airlines reward bookings don’t currently appear on the Velocity website.

But to save time, we highly recommend using ExpertFlyer to locate reward seats before you call. By searching for Hawaiian Airlines’ ‘First – Saver & Partner Awards’, you can confirm what’s available via Velocity.

Sometimes, availability can be tight. But at other times, you could bring the entire family in Business Class on points!

The screenshot above shows Sydney-Honolulu alone. But you can search for Sydney to Maui via Honolulu in much the same way. Without much effort at all, I’m able to find availability for two travellers flying together at the front on Velocity Points. So, let’s fly!