Airfares have fallen below $300 for round-trip tickets to California but would-be travelers from the Islands are still hesitating.

"Even with the fuel prices going down, people are still holding on to their money because of the economy," said Justin Kahoaka, business development manager for Panda Travel. "They're still cautious. It's been pretty rough for everybody."

Rachel Shimamoto, manager of Hawai'i-based Travel Ways Inc., went through her computer this week looking up airfares to the West Coast and found prices as low as $268, excluding taxes and other fees.

"Continental, Alaska, Delta, Northwest ... all kinds of carriers," Shimamoto said. "You name it — everybody's offering it."

Leroy Laney, a Hawai'i Pacific University professor of economics and finance, called it "good news that prices are falling, there's no doubt about it."

Falling airfares — combined with discounted hotel rooms in Hawai'i — are critical to encouraging tourists to visit the Islands.

"Given the consumer mood these days, it may take a little more than that to get them on the plane to get them out here," Laney said.

It's that same shaky consumer confidence over job losses, wage cuts and the fallout from a stagnant, worldwide economy that has local people unsure about spending money even on discounted trips.

While airlines are cutting ticket prices during Hawai'i's off-peak "shoulder season" in between the holidays and summer, Laney would not be surprised to see prices drop even further.

Bill Shiroma, a local financial investment manager from Kalihi, just returned from a trip to Las Vegas that cost him $499 for airfare and four nights at the Main Street Station in downtown Vegas.

Shiroma could not resist a Las Vegas package that was about $300 cheaper than a few months ago.

Now he's thinking of taking advantage of a new Hawaiian Airlines flight to Las Vegas that costs $181 one way and arrives at 3:35 p.m. Vegas time instead of early morning or late at night.

But then Shiroma, 43, may be in better financial shape than most.

"I always save money to go on trips," he said. "I have the money stashed away, so I'm going to use that."

Nancy Lyttle had to book a flight so she can attend her father's 87th birthday party in St. Louis in May.

But with discounted airline seats, Lyttle is now able to fly to Portland first to meet up with her husband, Terry, a professor of cell and molecular biology at the University of Hawai'i medical school, who will be attending a meeting in Portland.

That'll also give the Lyttles a chance to spend time with their son and daughter-in-law in Portland.

"When your kids live on the Mainland, you'll do anything to get there," Nancy said.

But her only excuse for a quick, weekend trip to Kona earlier this month was airfares of $38 one way on Hawaiian Airlines.

"That's definitely why we went," she said.

While interisland rates were running as high as $200 for round-trip tickets a couple of years ago, $38 one-way fares "are cheaper than when we first got here 32 years ago," Lyttle said.

Travel agents such as Shimamoto say customers need to hunt around to get the best prices.

"Some fares are definitely low but they're hard to find. ... My advice: Shop around and book early," she said.