Waikīkī spans an area of 3mi (5km) by 1mi (1.5km) and has three major thoroughfares that run parallel from Waikīkī Beach to the Ala Wai Canal. They are Kalākaua Avenue, Kūhiō Avenue and Ala Wai Boulevard.
You don’t need a car if you’re staying in Waikīkī because everything is easily accessible on foot, by bicycle, bus, trolley, taxi or ride-share. However, renting a car can be a great way to explore the rest of the island.
The main airport on O‘ahu is Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, also called Honolulu Airport (HNL). It takes around 30-minutes to drive from Honolulu Airport to Waikīkī, depending on traffic.
Rental cars can be picked up at the Consolidated Rental-A-Car facility at Honolulu Airport, a short walk from Terminal 2. Brands include Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty.
Alternatively, hire a set of wheels from a depot in Waikīkī to take day trips around the island. Popular modes of transport include convertibles, Jeeps, Slingshots, Harley Davidsons, motorcycles, mopeds and scooters.
O‘ahu is 44mi (71km) long and 30mi (48km) wide and has three major highways (H1, H2, H3). It’s relatively simple to navigate, as long as you’re comfortable driving on the right-hand side of the road.
Our Apartment includes one free parking space for the duration of your stay. This is a huge bonus because parking is otherwise expensive in Waikīkī. Hotels and parking lots charge US$20-50 per vehicle per night.
Rideshare Services
Uber, Lyft and Holoholo are ride-share apps used throughout O‘ahu. There are three designated ride app pick-up locations at Honolulu Airport. They’re a convenient way to travel around Honolulu’s urban center.
Car-share options are also available in Honolulu. Turo is a peer-to-peer car-sharing program, like Airbnb but for cars. Hui is a round-trip, station-based car-sharing program for booking vehicles by the hour or day.
Honolulu Airport Shuttles
Shared and private airport transfers and shuttles can be pre-booked for transportation between Honolulu Airport and Waikīkī. For a special touch, add-on a fresh flower lei greeting to your arrival transfer.
Taxis/Cabs
Taxis are readily available at Honolulu Airport; look for the taxi dispatcher. Fares are metered, and a ride from Honolulu Airport to Waikīkī is around US$40. Taxis can be flagged down in Waikīkī or from the nearest hotel.
Charley’s Taxis are a network of professional taxi drivers. Call for a ride or book a taxi online or via the Charley’s Taxis app. They offer flat rates for travel to Waikīkī, Ko Olina, Turtle Bay, Kualoa Ranch and more.
TheBus
TheBus is O‘ahu’s public transport system. At US$2.75 for a one-way trip, this is a cheap way to get around. Pay exact cash on the bus (no change is given) or get a pre-paid HOLO Card at 200+ stores, including ABC Stores. TheBus does serve Honolulu Airport but has strict bag rules. No backpacks with metal frames are allowed, no bag may be larger than 22″ (55cm) x 14″ (35cm) x 9′” (22cm). Bags must be placed under the feet or on the lap.
Waikiki Trolley
The Waikīkī Trolley is a hop-on-hop-off bus and trolley system that shuttles passengers around Waikīkī, Downtown Honolulu and East O’ahu. Passes start at US$25, buy online or at the Waikīkī Shopping Plaza ticket office.
Waikele Outlets Shuttles
If you’re heading to Waikele Premium Outlets, there are several companies offering Waikele Outlets Shuttles that will transfer you from Waikiki direct to the outlets.
Waikīkī Bike Rentals
Biki is a bicycle-sharing network with 130+ stations in Honolulu. It’s great for short rides around Waikīkī and beyond. Ride one-way for US$4.50 or 24-hours for US$12. Download Biki app and buy passes at any Biki stop.
Hawaiian Style Rentals are another option for renting bicycles, e-bikes, mopeds and scooters.
Scoot Coupes
They’re also the exclusive provider of Scoot Coupes, two-person three-wheel mopeds. Find them in Waikīkī on Lemon Road and Uluniu Avenue. Go X Scooters offer 24-7 scooter rental service in Honolulu.
Go X Scooters
Go on a quick scooter ride or explore for a whole day. Download the Go X app, locate a scooter and rent as many scooters as you want with one phone.
