Buying prepaid SIM cards in Hawaii

[Francis005]

Hi,
I'm going to Hawaii from Sydney next week, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to have Internet access while I'm there. Easiest option would be to open an international package with my carrier, but it's obviously quite pricey, so I'm looking into the option of buying a prepaid SIM card when I'm there. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm mainly looking to found out how much they generally cost, and how easy it is to find them (Google searches showed me TCAWireless as the best place to buy prepaid simcards). Any advice on the matter would be really appreciated.PS I'm looking for 3-4 GB data package, preferably with calls.

 

[eric2011]

Hi,
I'm going to Hawaii from Sydney next week, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to have Internet access while I'm there. Easiest option would be to open an international package with my carrier, but it's obviously quite pricey, so I'm looking into the option of buying a prepaid SIM card when I'm there. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm mainly looking to found out how much they generally cost, and how easy it is to find them (Google searches showed me TCAWireless as the best place to buy prepaid simcards). Any advice on the matter would be really appreciated.PS I'm looking for 3-4 GB data package, preferably with calls.

How long are you there, what are your internal plans. Ive been to HNL many times and found no need to have my own Internet. Heaps of free internet available including nearly all accommodation places, bars, restaurants etc

 

[albyd]

If you're out of contract, nothing beats Vodafone red plans $5 a day for all the data inclusions you have in Australia - it's hard to beat. I do love in Sydney and don't often venture out into the sticks so while Vodafone may suit me - may not suit everyone. No longer have to drag my wife to buy a prepaid sim when we travel and all my messaging just works.
I think for a sim only US plan I think T-mobile might be your best bet.

 

[jastel]

My info is a couple of years old...

The 1,2,3 Stores (like 7/11) sell a local version called Red Rocket, I think...avoid...utter garbage.
Go to AT&T at Ala Moana or Kohala Shopping centre and buy a local prepaid...only downside was no store in Waikiki...this may have changed now.
Think I paid $50 for 30 days 3gb and $500 local calls...this meant ALL USA even the mainland...so at Airport on last day I called all my friends in USA until I ran out of credit.
I had service nearly everywhere there was a town, there are still parts where there is no service but.

If you are only there a week probably better to pay $5 a day roaming from here...if 10 days or more better to get local one.

 

[Denali]

Hubby uses the Vodafone $5 per day cap and gets good value out of it.

I usually take a spare phone and buy a sim when I get there so we get calls and use it as a hotspot. Just go to a telco nearby and ask about prepaid plans. Last year I picked up 5GB and calls for 30 days and it cost about $70.

Also, isnt there a sim kiosk at Sydney airport? You can ask there but last time I looked, I thought their prices where high.

 

[brebbles]

Go to AT&T at Ala Moana or Kohala Shopping centre and buy a local prepaid...only downside was no store in Waikiki...this may have changed now.
Think I paid $50 for 30 days 3gb and $500 local calls...this meant ALL USA even the mainland...so at Airport on last day I called all my friends in USA until I ran out of credit.

+1 for this - this is what we did a couple of years ago also at the Ala Moana store. Only concern was the internet speed on the phone was slow (I think the signal showed as "H" instead of 3G/4G) - best to get one of the staff members there to check your phone's internet settings if it appears slow when you first insert the sim card.

 

[AdMEL]

Go to AT&T at Ala Moana or Kohala Shopping centre and buy a local prepaid...only downside was no store in Waikiki...this may have changed now.

+2 for this. I went to Ala Moana AT&T about 15 mths ago ... About 30 min walk from where I was staying in Waikiki. Data SIM only for my iPad Air 2 - 2GB for USD 25 + tax, if I remember correctly. The SIM is valid for 12 months, so you can just top it up without going back to the shop (only realised this after I'd thrown it away thinking it was useless!).