Hawaii too expensive? That'll be the day.

By Richard P. Carpenter, Globe Staff, 12/08/02

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Ten years ago I said goodbye to my Buddy Holly autograph and hello to Hawaii.

That's right: I sold a program autographed by the legendary rocker at auction for $1,200. With the proceeds, I bought a five-night package to Hawaii for my son and me for $599 each, and I like to think Buddy would have approved. We stayed at a hotel not on but near Waikiki Beach. We swam, basked, snorkeled, toured, climbed Diamond Head, and tasted the local dishes (hold the poi, please), proving that you can have a grand time in the Aloha State for not much money.

But that was a decade ago. Nowadays a comparable package would cost more . . . $649, to be precise. That, at least, was a recently advertised price for a land-and-air package from Boston — a price that will undoubtedly crop up again. The point is that even if you stay a longer time and in a fancier hotel, a trip to this golden state doesn't have to be expensive. Here's more evidence:

If you're staying on Maui, Molokai, or Lanai, you can have a three-island vacation for the price of a couple of boat rides, and in winter and spring you may see whales during those rides. To or from Lahaina Harbor in Maui, the Expeditions Ferry makes five trips a day to Lanai; each one-way trip takes about an hour and costs $25 for adults. Expeditions also offers tours, car rentals, clay shootings, and golf packages. Call 877-464-6284. The Molokai Ferry, meanwhile, comes and goes once or twice daily, takes about 90 minutes each way and costs $40 one way. Tour packages are also offered. Call 800-275-6969.

And the three islands, all part of Maui County, are well worth visiting. Maui, the Valley Isle, looks different everywhere you go. Beyond its beaches, outdoor activities — biking, hiking, snorkeling, sailing, golfing, and horseback riding — abound, as do shopping and dining. Island explorations take in stunning scenery and cultural sites. Lanai, the Secluded Island, is 98 percent owned by Castle & Cooke, who have replaced the old pineapple industry with two five-star resorts. Golfing, trail riding, petrograph exploring, mountain biking, kayaking, and shopping in Lanai City are among the activities. Molokai, where the hula was born, is the unspoiled Hawaii of long ago. Whether you're basking on a beach, picknicking at a park, or watching island birds at Kahai'a Pond, this is a place where I've found it's very easy to feel at peace. The island is rich in history — it is where Father Damien cared for Hansen's Disease victims in the late 19th century — and, like the other isles, offers plenty of outdoor activities, dining, and shopping. For Maui: 800-525-MAUI or www.visitmaui.com; Lanai: 800-947-4774 or www.visitlanai.net; Molokai, 800-800-6367 or www.molokai-hawaii.com.

On Jan. 3, the Big Island, so nicknamed because it is Hawaii's largest, observes the 20th anniversary of the ongoing volcanic eruption of Kilauea, making it history's longest recorded eruption. More than 2.5 million visitors annually visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to witness that display and the wild landscape that surrounds it. And at $10 for seven days' admission, the park entrance fee is a big bargain. There is so much to explore that many visitors stay nearby. Among lodging places: Carlson's Volcano Cottages, starting at $105 a night, 800-845-LAVA or www.carsonscottage.com; Kilauea Lodge, $125-$175, 808-967-7366 or www.kilauealodge.com; My Island B & B, starting at $45 for singles and $60 for doubles or $130 for a guest house with a two-night minimum, 808-967-7216 or www.myislandinnhawaii.com; Volcano House, within the park grounds, starting at $85 for rooms and $40 for cabins, 808-967-7321 or www.volcanohouse.org; Volcano Places, starting at $95 for a variety of lodging, 877-967-7990 or www.volcanoplaces.com.

For information and daily updates about Kilauea, call the park at 808-985-6000 or visit http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/kilauea/update/main.html.

Ohana Hotels & Resorts, 16 moderately priced hotels on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island, has a promotion running through 2003 in which guests win instant prizes — ranging from beach balls to T-shirts to dinners — when checking in. There are also daily prizes such as catamaran rides to the visitor who finds a special doll in the room. And while that should entertain the youngsters, their parents may be more impressed with Simple Saver rates that start at $69 a night in Waikiki, $99 in Maui, and $119 on the Big Island. Those 50 or older may be impressed with Fifty Plus rates that cut 30 percent off published retail room rates. AARP members get an additional 5 percent discount.

Call 800-462-6262 or visit www.ohanahotels.com.

One of the more popular group tours is Perillo's 10-night Three Islander to Oahu, Kauai, and Maui, and another is the Two Islander to Oahu and Maui. Both include air fare, rooms in deluxe hotels, sightseeing, a daily full breakfast and dinner with wine, several cocktail parties, interisland flights, transfers, taxes, and tips. Beginning in January, the Three Islander starts at $2,969, and the two-islander at $2,399, per person double occupancy.

Call 800-431-1515, visit www.perillotours.com, or see a travel agent.

"Paint the Town"

"Paint the Town" is the catchy title of a New York City discount travel program that runs through March 31, offering savings at hotels, restaurants, Broadway and off-Broadway shows, retail stores, and museums.

As part of the citywide promotion, more than 75 hotels are offering deals. Choices include the Waldorf-Astoria, the new Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park, the Hilton Times Square, five W Hotels around the city, the Regency and the Essex House, and the Plaza. Participating restaurants include Tavern on the Green, Park Avalon, Blue Fin, Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, and the 21 Club.

Paint the Town travel packages include one-, two- or four-night lodging at a choice of three hotel levels ranging from "affordable" to "luxury." The packages also include a Broadway show, dinner at one of the city's great restaurants, a city tour, discounted parking, and many "do it yourself" discounts. Prices begin at $105 a person for one night. But you don't need to buy a package. The "do it yourself" program includes discounts at more than 350 locations throughout the city — two for one offers, Broadway tickets for less, etc. — but you must have an American Express card.

For a free copy of the Paint the Town guide, call 800-NYC-GUIDE or click on www.nycvisit.com. Information is also available at NYC & Company's two Official Visitor Information Centers: midtown at 810 Seventh Ave. and 53rd Street, and downtown at City Hall Park at the intersection of Park Row and Broadway.

Escalade package

The Escalade, marking a 400-year-old victory in which strong-willed residents repelled invaders by pouring hot soup on them, will be celebrated in Geneva Dec. 12-16 with a costumed parade and many other festivities. If you are visiting Switzerland that week, you might consider the Escalade package, beginning at about $52. The rates include a hotel room, breakfast, taxes, service, a two-hour guided tour of Geneva, and a booklet offering many discounts.

See a travel agent, e-mail reservation@geneva-tourism.ch, call 4122-909-70-20, or fax 4122-909-70-21.