WAIKIKI BEACH, Hawaii -- Some of the best things in Hawaii are free. The beautiful sunset is the best show in town and it plays every night on Waikiki Beach.

But before you can relax and catch the Aloha Spirit, you've got to work it.

"You have to dig a little deeper to get the best deal," says Seattle Travel Broker Steve Danishek.

Want to save money? Be flexible. Danishek says the best thing you can do is avoid June, July and August. They're prime family vacation time.

Instead, go now. Hawaii secret number one: April and mid May are some of the slowest times on Oahu. Hotels told me Mother's Day is the slowest holiday of the year, so take advantage of that lull between spring break and summer.

Or wait until the summer crush passes:

"From mid-September to mid-December, dynamite time! This is where you're going to find your deals," insists Danishek. He says the recent loss of ATA and Aloha airlines means hotels are fighting for your business. So look for lodging incentives online - especially because the days of deep discount airfares are gone. That's what drove Aloha and ATA out of business.

"They're truly out of business they're not coming back," Danishek said.

The average roundtrip ticket this summer purchased way in advance? At least $550. So shop hard. If you wait, Danishek says those popular months of June, July and August could see fares beyond $1,000 a seat.

Hawaii secret number 2 can save you big: Danishek always tries to book flights two different ways before deciding.

When booking flights, always compare airfares per person and per group. Steve and I wanted to book a roundtrip ticket for a Seattle family of 4 to Waikiki. We checked buying one seat at time versus buying all four at once.

"For one person, the price is $410. Book for 4 people it's $457 each," says Danishek. Book all four at once - that's nearly $200 more. I call that a family penalty. See if you can save by booking one seat at a time.

Danishek says booking through a wholesaler often can save even more - but most wholesalers deal exclusively with travel agents. If you do book on your own, keep digging, don't take the first fare.

"For all three of us to come here, less than $1,300 for five nights," says Donna O'Campo. She and her husband and young son are cruising the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oahu readying to take a submarine tour to see tropical fish.

She told me for $1,300, she got airfare from California, lodging and some activities. How'd they get such a good price? Shopping online. And the biggie? Their hotel is across the street from the beach, not on the beach. The farther back you stay, the cheaper it is.

"The farther back you go, the price can go down $100 bucks a night," says Danishek.

Travelers can save on excursions too. First, never pay retail. There are coupons on almost every corner. Check the airport, the hotel front desk and tour guide stands. You'll find them.

Make sure you consider booking your excursion like your flight: Book activities during off times. The Atlantis Submarine Tour (www.atlantisadventrues.com) - which plummets 110 feet to the ocean floor is buy one get one free if you board early in the morning or late in the day. Book midday and it's full price.

Another good way to save money is to package more than one excursion. When you bundle them, you can do them for a lot less. It's buying in bulk!

Bundle your excursions is Hawaiian Secret number 3. The hotel concierge, countless tour guides, or your travel agent can help you package your activities and save money.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village (www.hiltonfamilyhawaii.com) is one of the hot spots on Waikiki Beach. And it's where hotel guests will learn to surf for free.

The Hilton like most hotels offer a calendar of free activities all month.

"You can get a surf lesson from some of the most famous surf instructors in the world," says the Hilton's Ron Martin, who runs the hotel's guest activities.

And remember, every beach in Hawaii is public. Just because a hotel has staked out beachfront property doesn't mean you can't set up shop there too.

"Some of the greatest snorkeling is right offshore; we have giant sea turtles," says Martin.

The Hilton is a city unto itself, offering 90 shops and even its own Post Office. Hawaiian Secret number 4: Even if you don't stay at an oceanfront hotel, you can play here.

Every Friday night, the Hilton puts on an elaborate show with lots of Aloha spirit. Crowds pack poolside and overflow onto the beach every Friday at 8 o'clock. It's the quintessential Hawaiian experience and it's all free. Oh and did I mention the show ends with fireworks? Just a few ways to help you get the most bang for your buck.