Many of my friends dream of taking their families to visit Hawaii, but think that they can't because of the cost of plane tickets and hotels. If you are careful, your Hawaii family vacation dream can be a reality. Begin by looking for affordable plane tickets. Plan on traveling during down times - late fall and late spring in Hawaii.  

Instead of booking a hotel, rent a condo or a home during the time that you are in Hawaii.  Condos cost almost the same as hotels (sometimes less!) and you have the advantage of having a kitchen, which means you can save serious money on food costs.  Once you are in Hawaii, there is no need to spend a lot of money.

The best part about Hawaii is that all of the best things are free.  It doesn't cost a penny to go to the beach. Hiking is free as is visiting many of the most beautiful spots on each of the islands.  Consider only paying to do one or two tourist activities that are family friendly - like a luau - while you are on the island.  Last, consider staying only on one island, traveling in between islands can quickly become expensive - it can also wear small children down in a hurry!

Set aside plenty of time to rest - your kids will need it after the long trip and the change in time zones.