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Getting Around Oahu

There are many different ways to explore Oahu depending on what’s important to you. Flexibility and time allowances, budget, distance, choice of attractions and number in your group all play important factors in your decision. If you are a bit more time-sensitive in utilizing each minute to the fullest, you may enjoy exploring the island via organized tour or car rental. The car rental of course will give you the freedom to command your own itinerary and linger at places you find more interesting or fun. Advantages of an organized tour are you don’t have to worriy about how to get to where you are going and they often provide free hotel pick-up and drop-off. You will also have the benefit of the tour operator’s knowledge of the island and its history as they guide you from one place to another. Budget, freedom and time. Depending on which matters most, the options are open to you for the picking. You may also want to consider, trying all 3 choices at any given point during your stay.

Rent a car to explore the island fully and with complete freedom, travel with the locals on our award-winning city transit system that runs extensively around the island for an inexpensive island adventure, catch a taxi for a short drive from your Waikiki hotel to hip Honolulu’s dining and arts district or perhaps you may find an area that merits extensive exploration such as Honolulu’s historic district where amazing historical and cultural attractions are across the street from each other.

RENTING A CAR
To truly explore all that Oahu has to offer, there is no better way to travel than by car. Oahu has main highways and roads that run extensively through the island. Purchase a road map at your favorite bookstore or online merchant and chart your course to lush Windward Oahu and its famous white sandy beaches or make your way to the legendary North Shore, a rustic region known for its big waves and great eats. Oahu has the majority of all national car rental agency chains conveniently located at the Honolulu International Airport as well as additional locations in Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu.

MOPED & MOTORCYCLES
Born to be wild? Exploration on two wheels can be an open-air experience you’ll enjoy especially with the beautiful, balmy weather of Oahu. This a great option for short trip adventures where you want the wind in your hair for a change of pace.

TAXI & LIMOUSINES
Taxis and limousines are great for getting to relatively close destinations and you’ll be amazed how close many of the places on your itinerary are. Convenient and especially great when traveling in a group where the cost can be shared. You will find taxi stands at most major shopping centers, in the business district and at the airport.

Tip #1: Although hailing a taxi may work in New York and big cities, finding taxi stands at major shopping centers and places of business and calling for pick-ups via hotel concierge or phone is more the standard in Hawaii. As that is not a standard taxi practice, you may find trying to hail a taxi a lengthy process.

Tip #2: When in a large group, you may find limousines an actually more affordable option when the cost is split amongst the group. You can arrive in style without breaking the bank.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Depending on your flexibility with time, you may want to choose to travel Oahu via our city transit system, appropriately named The Bus. Fares are reasonable, routes extensive and there are special visitor passes for multiple day use. For more information on fares, bus routes to popular attractions and other useful information please visit their website, www.thebus.org.

Another affordable transportation option is the trolley. The routes and destinations are not as extensive as the city transit system but the trolley goes to most of the major tourist attractions and have tickets for unlimited rides over a certain number of days. For more information please visit their website, http://www.waikikitrolley.com/ or call 808-593-2822.