Timing

• Royalelephant.com, a travel site that offers a wealth of information on Hawaii, recommends that travelers make their flight reservations no later than 21 days before the trip. Plane tickets go up significantly after that. In some cases, you can save 50 to 60 percent off standard coach rates. For travelers who set their vacation dates well in advance, booking flights six months in advance can also yield good deals, as airline tickets become available 11 months in advance, according to hawaiitravelbureau.com. Also, royalelephant.com recommends asking your booking agent about red-eye flights (which leave late at night or early in the morning). You could save 25 percent by doing so.
  
  

The Seasons

• Hawaiitravelbureau.com recommends taking advantage of the seasonal changes in airfare rates. Flights to Hawaii are typically at their cheapest from January to May, and from September to early December. Royalelephant.com says the crowds at those times are typically down, specifically right after the Easter holiday. The weather isn't much different during the low season, though tourists in Hawaii from January to March should know the waves are higher and can cancel some offshore excursions.
  
  

When You Leave

• Hawaiitravelbureau.com recommends leaving for Hawaii on a weekday (Monday through Thursday). Doing so will bring in a lower fare.
  
  

Day of Purchase

• When you purchase your ticket can save you money, too. Peter Greenberg, who writes for petergreenbergworldwide.com, says Wednesday at 1 a.m. is the best time to buy any plane ticket. Greenberg says at that time airlines reload their computers with their latest low fares, and if the old rates aren't purchased within 24 hours they go away. Also, beatofhawaii.com reports that airlines announce their best Hawaii airfare deals two weeks before the end of a high season. These deals are for more distant locations. For those that live on the West Coast, beatofhawii.com recommends waiting until a week before the end of the a high season. Those fares are tailored for travelers from the West Coast.
  
  

Avoid

• Do not travel to Hawaii during major holidays, reports hawaiitravelbureau.com, unless you plan on spending a lot of money. The two weeks around Christmas are the busiest time of the season. And findcheapairfares.com, a travel blog, recommends staying away from the Hawaiian Islands the last week in April. That is Japan's Golden week. There are four national holidays in one week and the islands are packed with tourists.