Honolulu Transport

Both public and private transport alike offer good options for getting around Honolulu. Buses, shuttles, trolleys, hire cars, taxis, limousines and bicycles are all viable options for city or island travel, and prices are quite reasonable. Most options are also available as a means of getting to and from the airport, the city and the beaches.

By bus

The cheapest way to get about Honolulu and the island is to make use of bus services, and bus number 8 is one of the best options, which runs between Waikiki and the Ala Moana Centre every 10 minutes. This bus service also runs to and from Honolulu International Airport every 30 minutes throughout the day, yet passengers are only allowed one bag each. Twenty-four hour shuttle buses also run to and from the airport including the public Airport Waikiki Express service, which also runs every 30 minutes and serves Honolulu’s main hotels.

By car

You won’t really need a car for getting about Honolulu, yet if you intend on seeing a bit more of Oahu, hiring a car is your best transport option. Three main highways serve most major points on the island: the east-west Highway 1, which runs past the airport and onto Diamond Head (east); Highway 2, serving the north of the island from the airport and Pearl Harbour; and Highway 3, linking Kaneohe Bay in the east of Oahu with Highway 1 and the airport. You can get to Waikiki and downtown Honolulu from the airport in about 15 minutes via Highway 1 and Kalakaua Avenue or via the Nimitz Highway (91).

Taxis

Taxi travel for getting about Honolulu is quick and easy, although it is the most expensive travel option for getting about the city. Cabs can be hailed on the street and acquired from most large hotels, which will usually incur an extra charge. From the airport, taxis pick up passengers from the baggage claim exits, with standard surcharges for airport pick ups, extra baggage and a per-mile rate to the city; prices are actually fairly reasonable.

Tourist services

The 34-seat, open-air motorised Waikiki Trolley loops around Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, and is a great option for anyone wanting to see the sights and get to the city’s main attractions with ease. Commentary is provided by the driver on the 40-minute loop of the city with stops at: Hilton Hawaiian Village, Iolani Palace, Wo Fat's in Chinatown, State Capitol, King Kamehameha's Statue, Mission House Museum, Aloha Tower, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hawaii Maritime Museum, Ward Centre, Fisherman's Wharf and Restaurant Row. The 2-hour narrated Ocean Coast Line (Blue Line) visits the Sea Life Park, Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach on the southeast of Oahu. Affordable one-day and four-day trolley passes are available.

From the airport

Getting from Honolulu International Airport to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki is made easy by the excellent public transport services, which include a municipal bus service and the Airport Waikiki Express shuttle service; the latter of which also runs to major hotels in the Waikiki area. Private shuttle services, hotel shuttles and taxis also provide access to the city, beaches and hotels, while the Nimitz Highway and Ala Moana Boulevard is the easiest route for drivers.