Once you’ve landed on the islands, how do you get around? For the more adventurous or budget-conscious, the public bus is one option available on Oahu, Maui, The Big Island and Kauai. Of course, if you can swing it, renting a car is your most practical option. There are also group tours to transit you from point A to point B, a private trolley service and taxi service.
- The Bus
- Public bus system on Oahu
- Routes are extensive
- Reaches all major attractions
- http://thebus.org/default.asp
- Info: 808-848-5555, operating 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
- Adult fare: one-way is $2.50, includes one free transfer
- Children under 5 ride free
- Four-day pass is $25
- Four consecutive days of unlimited bus rides.
- Honored on all regular and commuter express services
- Sold at:
- ABC Stores in all Waikiki locations
- Ala Moana Center ABC Store
- 7-Eleven location at Ena Road (1901 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815)
- Atkinson (1695 Kapiolani Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814)
- TheBus Pass Office on Oahu (Kalihi Transit Center, Corner of Middle St. and Kamehameha Hwy, 611 Middle St., Honolulu, HI 96819 – 808-848-4444)
- Monthly pass is $60
- Sold at the TheBus Pass Office on Oahu (Kalihi Transit Center, Corner of Middle St. and Kamehameha Hwy, 611 Middle St., Honolulu, HI 96819 – 808-848-4444)
- Foodland stores on Oahu
- 7-Eleven stores
- Satellite City Hall
- UH Manoa – Campus Center
- Hawaii Pacific University Book Store
- Chit Chat Store on Bishop Square
- Times Supermarket
- Annual pass is $660
- Sold at TheBus Pass Office (Kalihi Transit Center, Corner of Middle St. and Kamehameha Hwy, 611 Middle St., Honolulu, HI 96819 – 808-848-4444)
- Group tours
- Roberts Hawaii
- One of the popular tour operators
- http://www.robertshawaii.com/
- Coach bus service
- Organized group tours
- Sightseeing excursions to popular destinations on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and The Big Island
- Operates an airport shuttle
- Waikiki Trolley
- Private trolley and bus system with three lines (red, green and pink lines)
- On Oahu
- http://www.waikikitrolley.com/
- Double-decker bus tours
- Scenic tours, historic tours, shopping tours and island tours
- Fun way to get around Oahu’s major sites
- Seven-day explorer pass: $55 adults and $19 for children ages 4-11
- Four-day pass: $49 adults and $17 for children ages 4-11
- One-day pass: $19 adults and $9 for children ages 4-11
- Other passes to different lines and locations available
- Can be bought in advance on its website
- Can buy on same day as travel from hotel’s concierge, ticket booth at DFS Galleria Waikiki and Royal Hawaiian Center
- The Kauai Bus
- http://www.kauai.gov/default.aspx?tabid=58
- Public bus system on Kauai
- 3220 Hoolako St., Lihue, Kauai 96766
- 808-246-8110
- $2 per trip
- $12 for seniors older than 60 years old
- $1 for youth 7-18 years old
- Children under 6 free
- Monthly pass is $25
- Maui public bus
- Public bus system on Maui
- 808-871-4838
- http://www.co.maui.hi.us/index.aspx?NID=605
- $2 per ride
- Unlimited daily pass is $4
- Monthly pass is $45
- Student pass is $30 with valid school ID
- Senior pass is $25 (55 years and above)
- Children under 2 ride free
- Hele-On Bus
- http://www.heleonbus.org/
- Main office is 1266 Kamehameha Ave., Suite A-2, Hilo, Hawaii
- 808-961-8744
- Public bus system on The Big Island
- $1 per ride
- Monthly pass is $30
- $7.50 for a sheet of 10 tickets
- Free for students through college
- Must show valid and current student ID
- Free for senior citizens 55 and older
- Must show valid ID (license, senior citizen ID card or other government-issued ID card)
- Free for disabled individuals
- Rent a car
- Most convenient option
- Hawaii is a car culture (stores and restaurants and sites will have parking lots)
- About $100 a day, depending on the type of car and discount
- Taxi
- Not plentiful in areas other than Waikiki, so you can’t just flag down a taxi from the street
- Operates like car service
- Usually call the taxi service, and they come pick you up
- The Cab
- Popular company
- 808-422-2222
- Serving Oahu
- First ⅛ mile or fraction is $3.10
- Each additional ⅛ mile or fraction thereof is 40 cents
- Each 45 seconds of waiting time or fraction thereof is 40 cents
- Charley’s Taxi
- Popular company
- 808-233-3333
- Serving Oahu
- Charley’s initial meter drop is $2.80.
- City & County maximum is $3.10
- 10% discount to seniors, military personnel and all emergency responders
- Roberts Hawaii
Ideally, visitors should rent a car for the most convenience. However, there are public bus services available on most islands. You can call a taxi service, take a group tour or take the Waikiki trolley. The options are numerous.
