Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [108]
Royal Hawaiian Center (922-2299; 2201 Kalakaua Ave; 10am-10pm) Waikiki’s biggest shopping center has mostly name-brand international chains, but also some Hawaii-born labels like Crazy Shirts and Honolua Surf Co. The Little Hawaiian Craft Shop displays cheap Hawaiiana trinkets next to high-quality koa bowls, Ni′ihau shell-lei necklaces and other pan-Polynesian artisan crafts.
Island Treasures Antiques (922-8223; 2nd fl, Waikiki Town Center, 2301 Kuhio Ave; 2-8pm Tue-Sat, to 6pm Sun) Ride the wave of Waikiki’s retro vibe at this mid-20th-century antiques mall, stocking everything from old Hawaii license plates to nostalgic memorabilia from vintage resort hotels and hip-shaking hula dolls.
Bob’s Ukulele (372-9623; Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, 2552 Kalakaua Ave; 9am-noon & 5-9pm) Avoid those cheap, flimsy imported ukuleles sold at so many Waikiki shopping malls. Instead let the knowledgeable staff here show you island-made ukes handcrafted from native woods, including by Kamaka Hawaii (Click here).
Return to beginning of chapter
GETTING THERE & AROUND
Taxis are available at larger resort hotels and shopping malls; otherwise, you’ll probably need to call for one (Click here).
To/From the Airport
Click here for transportation options and driving directions to/from Honolulu International Airport.
Bicycle
You can easily rent beach cruisers or commuter bikes from several places, costing around $20 per day, with discounts for multiday and weekly rentals. For top-quality rentals and sales of road and mountain bikes, head to Honolulu’s Bike Shop (Map; 596-0588; 1149 S King St, Honolulu; 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun).
Bus
O′ahu’s public bus system, TheBus, runs frequent routes through Waikiki, with the most bus stops along Kuhio Ave. Just outside Waikiki, the Ala Moana Center is O′ahu’s central bus terminal and transfer point to other lines across Honolulu and around the island. For general information about TheBus, including useful routes, schedules, fares and passes, Click here.
Car, Motorcycle & Moped
Most hotels charge $15 to $25 per night for valet or self-parking. At the east end of Waikiki, there’s a free parking lot along Monsarrat Ave beside Kapi‘olani Park with no time limit. Waikiki’s cheapest metered lot (25¢ per hour) is along Kapahulu Ave next to the zoo. More centrally located, the Waikiki Trade Center Parking Garage (2255 Kuhio Ave, enter off Seaside Ave) and next-door Waikiki Parking Garage (333 Seaside Ave) usually offer Waikiki’s cheapest flat-rate day, evening and overnight rates.
Several Waikiki-based car-rental offices are affiliated with international agencies, but lines tend to be long on weekends and rates are usually higher than at the airport (Click here). For general rental-car information and toll-free reservations numbers, Click here.
Mopeds may seem like a great way of getting around Waikiki, but they’re really best suited to those who already have experience riding in city traffic. Motorcycles rent for about $65 per four hours, and mopeds for $35 to $50 per day, the latter of which may be as much or more than a rental car.
Trolley
Trolley-style buses shuttle between Waikiki, Honolulu and outlying tourist sights, mostly running only during the daytime. These services don’t offer much in the way of value compared to TheBus, but they are tailored to tourists and thus may seem more convenient.
Waikiki Trolley (593-2822; www.waikikitrolley.com; adult/child 4-11/senior 1-day pass $27/13/20, 4-day pass $48/20/28) runs four color-coded lines that connect Waikiki with downtown Honolulu, the Ala Moana Center and O′ahu’s Southeast Coast. Single-ride tickets ($2) are available only on the Pink and Yellow Lines. Purchase passes online or at the DFS Galleria Waikiki (330 Royal Hawaiian Ave), Hilton Hawaiian Village or Ala Moana Center.
Red Line (Honolulu City