Hawaii has the highest cost of living in the country, nine to ten million visitors a year, a large share of them from Japan, and some of the strictest short-term rental rules anywhere. Here are nine side hustles that pay in 2026.
1. Local Friend: show visitors the island beyond the resort, at your rate#
Most visitors see Waikiki, a luau and a resort pool. A Local Friend shows them the island the way a friend would, by the hour: plate lunch and poke where locals queue, the North Shore in winter, a hike sized for the visitor's fitness, the history beyond Pearl Harbor, and how to be a good guest in a place that lives with nine million visitors a year. You set your rate (commonly $30 to $60), Roavi lists you free and takes no commission. Hawaii has almost nobody listed. No licence is needed; commercial guiding in state and national parks needs permits, which a Local Friend does not do. How it works in the US.
2. Rideshare at the airports and Waikiki#
Daniel K. Inouye airport, Waikiki and the resorts; Kahului on Maui and Kona on the Big Island. After gas, $18 to $28 an hour.
3. Snorkel and boat crew#
Snorkel cruises, sunset sails, whale-watching from December to April, dive boats. $18 to $26 an hour plus tips, for people comfortable on the water.
4. Surf lessons#
Waikiki's gentle breaks are where much of the world learns to surf. Certified instructors with a lifeguard qualification earn $60 to $120 a lesson, more privately.
5. Beach photography#
Families, couples, proposals and elopements. $200 to $500 a session with a portfolio.
6. Japanese-language hosting and interpreting#
A large share of Honolulu's visitors come from Japan. Japanese speakers are hired by tour and hospitality companies and booked directly by visitors who want someone who speaks their language. $25 to $50 an hour. The Tokyo side of this.
7. Tutoring#
$30 to $60 an hour, in Honolulu's private-school market and online.
8. Pet sitting#
$35 to $70 a night; residents travelling to the mainland need sitters.
9. Event staffing#
Concerts, festivals, the Honolulu Marathon in December, University of Hawaii games. $18 to $25 an hour.
What most lists get wrong: co-hosting#
Honolulu requires a minimum stay of 90 days for rentals outside the resort zones and a small number of permitted properties, which takes most short-term co-hosting off the table on Oahu. The neighbor islands have their own rules, and Maui's are changing. Check the county rules for the exact property before agreeing to manage anything.
What makes Hawaii different#
The visitors and the cost of living. The rental rules. And the taxes: a graduated state income tax with high top rates, plus the general excise tax (GET) on gross business income, which most side hustles owe and which you register for separately. Set aside about 30 percent with federal and self-employment tax.
Live in Hawaii? Show visitors your island at your rate.
Become a Local FriendOn the mainland: California and Washington.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best side hustle in Hawaii?
The ones tied to the visitors, done respectfully: snorkel and boat crew, surf lessons, beach photography for families, couples and proposals, rideshare at the airports and Waikiki, and Local Friend, showing visitors the island beyond the resort at a rate you set. Japanese speakers have an edge: a large share of Honolulu's visitors come from Japan.Can I co-host Airbnbs in Honolulu?
Mostly not. Honolulu requires a minimum stay of 90 days for rentals outside the resort zones and the few permitted properties, which takes most short-term co-hosting off the table on Oahu. The neighbor islands have their own rules, and Maui's are changing. Check the county rules for the exact property first.How much can you make with a side hustle in Hawaii?
Typical 2026 ranges: rideshare $18 to $28 an hour after gas; snorkel and boat crew $18 to $26 plus tips; surf lessons $60 to $120 a lesson; beach photography $200 to $500 a session; Japanese interpreting and hosting $25 to $50; tutoring $30 to $60; pet sitting $35 to $70 a night; event staffing $18 to $25; Local Friend at the rate you set, commonly $30 to $60.How are side hustles taxed in Hawaii?
Hawaii has a graduated state income tax with high top rates, and a general excise tax (GET) on gross business income, including most side-hustle income, which you register for and file separately. Set aside about 30 percent with federal and self-employment tax, and register for the GET before you start.What is a Local Friend and how does it work in Hawaii?
Someone who lives on the island and shows visitors it by the hour: plate lunch and poke where locals queue, the North Shore in winter, a hike sized for the visitor's fitness, the history beyond Pearl Harbor, how to be a good guest in a place that lives with nine million visitors a year. You set your rate, Roavi lists you free and takes no commission. Hawaii has almost nobody listed. No licence is needed; commercial guiding in state and national parks needs permits, which a Local Friend does not do.