How we earn Money

1. Display Advertising

-Graphic and Video ads

You’ll notice display ads sprinkled throughout our site. These ads help cover essentials like web hosting, design, and the time we put into creating fresh content. We do our best to ensure they aren’t overly intrusive, and rest assured—they don’t affect the objectivity of our reviews or tips. They simply help us keep HawaiiGuide.com free for everyone.

2. Affiliate Links

-At No Extra Cost to You

You’ll find that some of the links on our site are affiliate links. When you click these and make a purchase, we earn a small commission—without any additional cost to you. This arrangement lets us keep sharing in-depth tips and guides free of charge, while still giving you full control over your choices.

3. Paid Sponsorships

-Exclusively with Brands we Trust

Occasionally, we team up with brands or sponsors whose values align with ours. Before we agree to a partnership, we put each sponsor through a thorough vetting process, asking: ‘Does this genuinely help our readers have a better trip?’ If the answer is yes, we may feature them in our content and receive compensation. Rest assured, we’ll always be honest with our opinions, sponsorship or not.

4. Selling Our Own Materials

-Visitor Guides and Maps

We pour our hearts into creating custom maps, itineraries, and in-depth visitor guides. These resources offer specialized insights we’ve gathered over years of exploring the Islands. When you purchase one of our guides, you not only gain a reliable planning tool, but you also help fund further research and updates—so we can keep giving you the most current, detailed info possible.

5. Tips & Donations

-Supported by our digital Ohana of readers

Over the years, many of you have asked for ways to show appreciation for our free content. We’re incredibly grateful to readers who choose to support us through donations or tips. For a minimum contribution of $5, you’ll enjoy an ad-free experience on our site, plus a few extra perks we’ve lined up as a thank-you. Your generosity helps us spend more time scouting new local gems, updating our guides, and sharing every detail we can to make your trip unforgettable.

By donating to our small business, you will help us to continue publishing new Hawaii media and content on this website. We are a for-profit entity, and it is important to note that any and all donations are not tax deductible. By tipping or donating any amount, you accept and acknowledge these terms.

Click here for more details about making a tip or donation. Mahalo for your continued support!

Our Promise to Remain Pono

In Hawaiian culture, the idea of being pono means doing what’s right, fair, and true. We take this seriously. We promise that any income we earn will never overshadow our commitment to honesty. Our opinions remain our own. If something doesn’t live up to our standards, we’ll tell you—regardless of who’s paying.

We’re Here for You, Not the Other Way Around

This website began as a passion project in 2002, fueled by curiosity and a desire to help fellow travelers. We’ve grown since then, but we haven’t lost sight of why we started. By being transparent about how we make money, we hope to show you that our integrity isn’t for sale. We’re here to help you discover the real Hawaii, so you can have the kind of authentic experience that stays with you long after you’ve left the Islands.

Mahalo for your support,

John & Tori Derrick