Getting around Oahu
Oahu stands out among the Hawaiian islands in transportation options. It is the only island in Hawaii where you don't necessarily need to rent a car. If you want to get around Honolulu or the famous beaches in particular, a car might even be a bad idea.
For public transport, only buses will do, and there is no passenger rail, although there is even one under construction from downtown Honolulu to the airport.
Buses on Oahu
There is an extensive network of bus services on the island (at least by American standards), with all routes operated by a single company , The Bus.
There are purely urban routes around Honolulu, as well as intercity services to all the towns and villages on Oahu, which also pass by beaches and other tourist attractions in most cases.
Ticket prices and where to buy them?
The fare system is really quite simple. The same price applies to all connections on the island, whether you're going one stop around Honolulu or 50 miles across the island.
- 3 usd The ticket costs for 1 trip without a transfer and can only be bought from the driver with cash
It is much more convenient to buy a HOLO card, which can be loaded with any amount. You always attach the card to the reader at the driver only when boarding, you don't load the card at the exit.
The fare for 1 ride is also charged 3 usd, but unlike a paper ticket, you can change buses at will for 2.5 hours. You always beep your card at the reader and if you are within the 2.5 hour limit, no extra amount is charged.
The HOLO card has a so-called "Daily cap" function, which effectively acts as a day ticket. In practice, it works so that no more than the HOLO card is ever debited in a calendar day. 7,50 usd, no matter how often or where you go.
The only downside to the HOLO card is the fact that it cannot be purchased at the airport. So for your first trip from the airport to downtown, you need to buy a paper ticket from the driver and buy the HOLO card at one of the many locations in the city.
Sign stops and timetables
They didn't go to much trouble to signpost the bus stops on Oahu. The vast majority of them are just marked with a small yellow sign with a pictogram of a bus, but at the busier stops you'll also find line numbers on it, but you'll look in vain for timetables or maps of the connections.
Outside of Honolulu, the bus stop is often marked with just a "BUS" sign on the road or nothing at all.
All stops are on a sign. If you want to get on, always wave at the driver. To get off, pull the yellow string strung along the windows inside the bus.
You can get to most places in and out of Honolulu at least 1-2 times per hour. However, if you're heading out of town, always ask the driver for advice on exactly where to get off. There are no information boards or bus stop announcements.
Car rentals on Oahu
If you want to explore Oahu in less touristy places or simply don't like using public transportation and don't mind relying on schedules, then renting a car is the ideal option. However, you need to remember that Honolulu is a classic big city with heavy traffic and the problems associated with it (traffic jams, finding a place to park, etc.).
For detailed information on car rental prices, traffic on Oahu, gas prices and more, read the article Car rental on Oahu.
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