"Who would go to Hawaii in June?" a friend asked when I talked about a trip I took to Maui last year.

A travel writer on a budget, for one.

I, too, was skeptical about the timing, but the weather was a perfect 70-80 degrees, with low humidity and evenings cool enough to sleep without A/C.

By planning my trip in the first week in June -- after spring break and before school let out for the summer -- I found deals on airfare and hotels that weren't there for travel earlier or later.

Visiting Hawaii during the slower seasons -- early February and early March, late May, early June or fall -- is one strategy for making travel more affordable. But if that's not possible, don't give up. There are other ways to save:

Getting there: Airfares are higher this year, so flexibility will be key.

Travel midweek, if possible, and if you're still not having any luck, try moving your dates by a day or a week or two.

To find the least expensive travel dates, consult low-fare calendars on websites such as www.kayak.com. Use the price predictor at www.bing.com to gauge whether fares are likely to rise or fall in the coming weeks.

Getting around: Renting a car off-airport can save $100 or more on a week's rental. Example: Enterprise recently quoted $399, including taxes, as the weekly rate for a Chevy Aero picked up at the airport in Honolulu. The price fell to $240 for pickup at several other locations just a few miles away.

Agencies with off-airport locations can't pick you up at the airport. You'll need a cab for that. But most will take you back.

Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island have inexpensive public bus service. I rented a car in Maui, but used Maui Bus several times (www.co.maui.hi.us). At $1 per ride, I loved being able to jump off when I saw something interesting, without hassling with parking.

Fares are also $1 on the Big Island's Hele-On Bus system (www.heleonbus.org). Oahu's transit system (www.thebus.org) sells a four-day pass for $25 and single rides for $2.50. Kauai Bus (www.kauai.gov) provides service around the island for $2 per ride.