Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [61]
Bicycle
It’s possible to cycle around O′ahu, but consider taking TheBus to get beyond Honolulu metro-area traffic. Most buses have bicycle racks, which can carry two bicycles at no extra charge. The state’s Department of Transportation (www.state.hi.us/dot/highways/bike/oahu) publishes a free Bike O′ahu map with recommended routes, including road-safety tips. You can pick up a printed copy at Honolulu’s Bike Shop (Map; 596-0588; 1149 S King St, Honolulu; 9am-7pm Mon-Fri, to 5pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun), which provides top-quality rentals and sales.
Bus
O′ahu’s extensive public bus system, TheBus (www.thebus.org), is easy to use. Routes link Honolulu with Waikiki, beach parks in Kailua, the surf scene on the North Shore and the snorkeling spot of Hanauma Bay, just to name a few. Most hiking trails and some of the island’s best viewpoints are beyond reach of TheBus, however.
The Ala Moana Center (Map) is Honolulu’s central transfer point. Each bus route can have a few different destinations, and buses generally keep the same number whether inbound or outbound. If you’re in doubt, ask the bus driver. They’re used to disoriented and jet-lagged visitors. All buses are wheelchair-accessible and have front-loading racks that can accommodate two bicycles at no extra charge (let the driver know first). Be prepared for frigid air-conditioning; a public bus in Honolulu is probably the coldest place on O′ahu, regardless of the season.
See above for useful routes covering the Honolulu metro area, including Waikiki.
FARES & PASSES
The one-way fare for all rides is $2 for adults, $1 for children aged six to 17 (children under six ride free). You can use either coins or $1 bills, but bus drivers don’t give change. One free transfer (with a two-hour time limit) per paid fare is available.
For short-term visitors, the O′ahu Discovery Passport ($20) is valid for unlimited rides over four consecutive days and can be purchased at any of Waikiki’s ubiquitous ABC Stores or at TheBus Pass Office (Map; 848-4444; 811 Middle St; 7:30am-4pm Mon-Fri). A monthly bus pass ($40), which is valid for unlimited rides during a calendar month (not just any 30-day period), can be purchased at TheBus Pass Office, 7-Eleven convenience stores and Foodland or Star supermarkets.
Seniors (65 years and older) and anyone with a physical disability can buy a $10 discount card at TheBus Pass Office, which entitles them to pay $1 per one-way fare or $5/30 for a pass valid for unlimited rides during one calendar month/year.
SCHEDULES & INFORMATION
Schedules vary depending on the route. Many routes operate from about 5am to 9pm daily, though some main routes, such as Waikiki, continue until around 11pm. Buses run reasonably close to scheduled times, although if you set your watch by TheBus, you’ll end up with Hawaii Time. Waiting for the bus that isn’t full, especially along Waikiki’s Kuhio Ave, can be frustrating.
TheBus has a great route information service (848-5555; 5:30am-10pm). As long as you know where you are and where you want to go, the staff will tell you which bus to catch and when the next one will arrive. This same service also has a TDD service for hearing-impaired travelers.
Routes and timetables are available on TheBus website or you can pick up free timetables for individual routes from public libraries, any satellite city hall (including at the Ala Moana Center) and at McDonald’s (Map; 2136 Kalakaua Ave) in Waikiki.
Car, Motorcycle & Moped
For general information about rental cars, including toll-free reservations numbers and websites for agencies, Click here.
Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, National and Hertz have rental cars available at Honolulu International Airport. Alamo and Thrifty have operations about a mile outside the airport, off Nimitz Hwy. All things being equal, try to rent from a company with its lot inside the airport – it’s more convenient, because on the way back to the airport, all highway signs lead to in-airport car returns. Driving around looking for a lot outside the