Getting around · Honolulu · United States
Getting around Honolulu
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, Public domain
Quick answer
Waikīkī is walkable, and TheBus covers Honolulu and most of Oʻahu, though journeys outside the city are slow. Biki bike-share and trolleys serve the central areas, and most visitors rent a car for a day or two to circle the island. Not for Honolulu and Waikīkī, where hotel parking is costly and TheBus covers the main sights.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- HNL
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
- Travel pass
- HOLO card
Ways to get around
Bus
TheBus runs frequent routes between Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Downtown, Pearl Harbor and Hanauma Bay, and slower routes around the island to the North Shore and Kailua.
Pay with a HOLO card, which caps your daily fares at the price of a day pass.
Walking
Waikīkī, Kapiʻolani Park and Ala Moana are linked by beachfront paths, and Diamond Head's trailhead is about 30–40 minutes' walk from the eastern end of Waikīkī.
Cycling
Biki bike-share has stations across Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Kakaʻako and Downtown, useful for short hops along the waterfront.
Car
A rental car is the easiest way to reach the North Shore, the windward beaches and viewpoints such as the Pali Lookout.
Rent for just the days you leave town; overnight parking in Waikīkī hotels is expensive.
Ride-hailing
Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely available in Honolulu and useful for the airport and evenings out.
Train
The Skyline elevated rail line serves the west side of Honolulu and is being extended towards downtown; it does not yet reach Waikīkī.
Tickets and passes
HOLO card
A reloadable fare card for TheBus and Skyline with daily and monthly fare caps, sold at convenience stores and online.
From the airport
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is about 15 km from Waikīkī. Taxis and ride-hailing take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic, and shared shuttles serve the hotels. TheBus runs to Waikīkī, but large suitcases are not allowed on board.
Do you need a car?
Not for Honolulu and Waikīkī, where hotel parking is costly and TheBus covers the main sights. Rent one for a day or two to visit the North Shore, Kailua, Lanikai and the east coast at your own pace.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| North Shore and Haleʻiwa | About 1 hour by car | Car, tour or TheBus |
| Kailua and Lanikai | About 30 minutes by car | Car or TheBus over the Pali Highway |
| Kualoa Ranch | About 45 minutes by car | Car |
| Polynesian Cultural Center | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car or tour |
| Maui | About 40 minutes by plane, plus driving | Inter-island flight from HNL to Kahului (OGG) |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Honolulu?
Not for Honolulu and Waikīkī, where hotel parking is costly and TheBus covers the main sights. Rent one for a day or two to visit the North Shore, Kailua, Lanikai and the east coast at your own pace.
+How do you get from the airport to Honolulu?
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is about 15 km from Waikīkī. Taxis and ride-hailing take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic, and shared shuttles serve the hotels. TheBus runs to Waikīkī, but large suitcases are not allowed on board.
+What is the best way to get around Honolulu?
Bus: TheBus runs frequent routes between Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Downtown, Pearl Harbor and Hanauma Bay, and slower routes around the island to the North Shore and Kailua.