Destinations
❮Main Menu
OAHU FAQ`S
Honolulu International Airport is Hawaii`s major airport, located just outside of downtown Honolulu, about 10 miles from Waikiki. If you have not booked a private transfer through us, there are numerous options for those traveling from the airport to their hotel including rental cars, buses, taxis, and trolleys.
What types of transportation can I find at the airport?SpeediShuttle is available at the airport which provides travelers with affordable on demand door to door service from the airport to your hotel. The shuttle runs daily and departs within 20 minutes of your check in with a shuttle attendant. Attendants are easily identified wearing red aloha prints throughout the baggage claim area and at each pickup zone to arrange transportation for you.
SpeediShuttle signs are located throughout the terminals and at each pickup zone. The pickup zones can be found at the ground level adjacent to the baggage claim area C (Interisland Terminal), on the curbside at the Overseas Terminal (between baggage claim D and E), outside baggage claim H in front of the Commuter Terminal on the curbside.
Prices vary depending on the number of passengers and your destination. Ex: To the Honolulu Harbor one way is about $15.50 and about $29.50 round trip per person. To the Kahala resorts about $19 one way and $36 round trip. To Turtle Bay Resorts it is about $167.35 one way and $318 roundtrip
The City and County of Honolulu provide island-wide bus transportation system that serves Honolulu airport. TheBus makes numerous stops throughout Honolulu and Waikiki. Buses arrive and depart from the airport approximately every 30 minutes and the bus stop is located on the second level roadway along the center median, signs are posted. Fares are around $2.50 per person for adults, $1.00 for senior citizens, children ages 6 - 17 cost around $1.25 and children up to 5 can ride on an adults lap for free.
There are a number of hotel shuttle buses that make pickups at the airport, be sure to check with your hotel or resort in advance to see if they operate a shuttle.
There are six different rental car companies available at the airport, the registration counters can be found in the baggage claim area and the rental car offices can be found on the ground level opposite baggage claim G. There are shuttles available in designated areas located along the center median outside the baggage claim area.
A company named AMPCO Express manages the open taxi system at the Honolulu International Airport; it was established so that taxi drivers from all companies are able to pick up passengers at the airport. Taxis can be found in the center median in front of the baggage claim area, look out for the yellow taxi signs and dispatchers in yellow shirts. Fares from the airport to Waikiki during non-peak hours are approximately $40 - $45 plus a baggage charge of $0.50 per bag. For more information call 808-861-8294. How do I get around the city using public transportation?
Public transportation in Oahu is made up by bus and trolley systems.The bus system in Oahu is called TheBus, it serves all major areas in the Oahu including two different lines that run to the airport. There are several bus transit centers where you can catch the bus and transfer between buses relatively easily. Service begins daily at 5 am and runs until midnight buses run every 15 minutes during the day and around every 30 minutes in the evening. The fares are reasonable costing around $2.50 for adults (including a limited time transfer which allows you to make two transfers with one ticket up to a certain time printed on top of your ticket) and about $1.25 for children ages 6-17. Visitors can also purchase a four-day unlimited pass called The Oahu Discovery Passport which costs around $30 and can be purchased at ABC grocery stores, 7-Eleven convenience stores and The BusPass office which is located at 811 Middle Street in Honolulu, call 1-808-848-555 or visit www.thebus.org for more information. The Waikiki Trolley system is a unique way of getting around Oahu; the trolleys are reminiscent of the cable cars in San Francisco and a great way to get a sense of the Hawaiian atmosphere. The trolleys travel to Oahu`s popular tourist attractions, the three routes are color coded and take you to shopping and sightseeing destinations. The Honolulu Sightseeing Line is green and offers stops at Diamond Head, Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, Kahala Mall, KCC Farmers Market (on Saturdays only). The Honolulu City Line is red and makes stops at historic destinations such as Iolani Palace, Aloha Tower, King Kamehameha Statue and Chinatown. The Ala Moana Shopping Shuttle line is pink and will take you to Duty-Free shops, Galleria Waikiki, Waikiki Beach walk and Ala Moana Center. Day passes cost approximately $25 for a one-day pass for all three routes with unlimited on and off boarding. Please call 1-808-593-2822 or visit www.waikikitrolley.com for more Information on tickets and timetables. Waving or hailing a taxi is Hawaii is frowned upon, so the easiest way to get a taxi is to call or have your hotel call and order a ride for you in advance. Oahu`s taxi companies offer 24-hour service covering most of the island. Taxi stands can be found at the major shopping centers in the central business district and rates run on meters. Taxi companies recommended by the Oahu Visitors Bureau include Charley`s Taxi and Tours 1-808-531-1333, Pacific Taxi Service 1-808-922-4545 and TheCab 1-808-922-4545 Uber is now available in Honolulu, just use your Smartphone to order a car and pay for it via the Uber app. Walking around Oahu is possible in the major urban areas such as Honolulu and Waikiki, where the streets are pedestrian friendly and the beautiful beaches are perfect for a stroll in the sand. You will find attractions in Honolulu and Waikiki such as restaurants, shops, tourist attractions and sightseeing and other areas that are great to explore on foot. If you are looking to explore the island and the outer areas you will need a car or some type of transportation to get you there as these areas are spread out. Riding a bike is a great way to explore Honolulu and Waikiki, you can get a broader view of the beach areas and the miles of scenic coastline that make up the island. Bike paths are plentiful and bike rentals are located all over the island is an excellent way to stop at the attractions in with the freedom to stop and check out things on your own time. There are bike rentals available in different areas but keep in mind some of the destinations are miles away, so biking is a good option for going a short distance. Renting a car is something you should definitely consider while in Oahu, the airport and Honolulu have several rental car companies to choose from. Even if you only rent a car for a few days, map out and plan a few days of sightseeing to see the major attractions. If you want to explore the beautiful outlying areas of the island, a car is highly recommended. Areas are quite spread out with things located in each direction on the coastline. Driving on the island is relatively easy, just be aware of the normal traffic during rush hour which can be busiest between 7 am - 9 am and from 3 pm - 7 pm. Pay attention to the speed limits in Oahu as they tend to be lower than the standards in the US and are strictly enforced. Parking in downtown Honolulu is what you would expect in any major city, it can be busy with tourists and commuters and lots of traffic.You can find public parking garages but they can be expensive, be sure to bring lots of quarters for meters as they charge around $0.25 every10 minutes. There is a public parking garage located under the state capitol building and also one located at Iolani palace. Check with your hotel regarding parking they will be able to give advice on the best places to park while you are out exploring the island. Many of the state parks here do charge for parking but it is normally a small fee.The Honolulu Zoo parking lot entrance on Kapahulu Avenue has metered parking with a rate of around $1 an hour and the Waikiki shopping plaza has a flat rate of approximately $5 (cash only) offered on some evening and weekend hours. There are a few alternatives to paying for some of the expensive parking prices in Waikiki, free parking can be found along Ala Moana Park Drive, behind the Ilikai hotel and Duke Kahanamoku, Ala Wai Boulevard has free parking spaces across from the convention center available 24 hours a day, the Shell parking lot on Montserrat Avenue (located on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki near the Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Park) offers unlimited free parking, Waikiki Beach Embassy Suites in port cochere offers 3 hours of free parking between 10 am and 3 pm as long as you provide a receipt from one of the Waikiki beachwalk restaurants or shops, the Royal Hawaiian Center offers an hour of free parking with validation after the free hour charges are approximately $2 for 2 hours, a purchase is required for this free, reduced rate. Be sure to look for signs regarding overnight parking and time limits on when parking ends. A helpful site for checking parking availablity and pricing is www.bestparking.com/honolulu-parking. The weather is beautiful year round on Oahu, with average temperatures between 75 - 85 degrees and trade winds that keep things nice, cool and comfortable. Summer is between April and October when the daytime highs are around 85 degrees with sunshine for the entire day, this time can also be the dryer season. The winter months are from November to March with an average daily high of 78 degrees; this time of year is also considered the rainy season with a few gray days. The western side of the island referred to as the leeward side is generally drier and the eastern side or windward side tend to be wetter. Winter is surf season on the island where the surfers come from all over to catch the big waves on Oahu`s North Shore, major competitions are held in November and December months. Whale Watching season starts in December and ends sometime in May with the peak months being January through April. The Honolulu festival is normally held sometime in early March. A three-day event celebrating the relationship between Hawaii and the Pacific Rim. The Annual May Day concert is held at the Waikiki Shell an outdoor concert venue near Kapiolani Park. Some of the best shopping can be found in Oahu, a shopper’s paradise where you will find both indoor and outdoor settings for your shopping needs. A wide variety of shops specializing in authentic items and the beach areas. The high-end retailers and charming boutiques found along the main strip of Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues offer a variety of unique items to take home. The currency in Hawaii is the US dollar. US standards apply when tipping, restaurants 15 - 20%, bartenders $0.50 - $1 per drink, housekeeping $1 per bed, per night, luggage porters $1 per bag, room service 10 - 15% of the total bill, taxis are 15% of the fare. For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Hawaii by clicking Hawaii Oahu is a great destination to enjoy great food, a foodie haven! The island offers so many fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood based on its unique location and offers several different cuisines including Japanese food to Western fusions. Some local dishes include delicious Malasada a hot Portuguese doughnut, Loco Moco a hamburger steak with egg served over rice and covered in gravy, a plate lunch includes two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and meat including kalua pork, Korean barbecue and chicken katsu is a local staple or cool off with some shaved ice. Nightlife in Oahu starts when the spectacular sun melts into the Pacific Ocean, Honolulu and Waikiki are the places to be, energetic, active and full of variety every night of the week. There are plenty of restaurants, bars, lounges, clubs and even hotels that offer local food, tropical drinks including the Mai Tai, live music, and dancing! Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown offer great options for a fun night out with wine bars and jazz clubs to DJ`s spinning live music with happy hour specials. Waikiki has 24-hour restaurants and cafes for great late night snacks. Keep in mind certain areas are not safe after dark especially parts of downtown and Chinatown, Pearl City, Waianae, Nanakuli, and Kalihi. The official language in Maui is English and Hawaiian, the Hawaii pidgin language originates from Polynesian languages, part of the Austronesian language family which is widely dispersed throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Although Hawaiian is not commonly spoken it is good to know a few common phrases such as; Aloha - Hello and Goodbye, Mahalo - Thank you, Kokua - Help and Lua - Bathroom. The major hospital located in Oahu is the Queens Medical Center. Telephone 808-538-9011. To call for an ambulance, police or fire department call 911.