Oahu stands out amongst the Hawaiian islands in terms of transport options. It is, in fact, the only island in Hawaii where you do not necessarily need to hire a car. If you want to get around Honolulu or the famous beaches in particular, a car might even be a hindrance.

As for public transport, you’ll only be able to use buses here; there is no commuter rail service, although one line from the centre of Honolulu to the airport is currently under construction.

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Buses on Oahu

The island has an extensive bus network (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 towns and villages on Oahu, most of which also pass by beaches and other tourist attractions.

Fare prices and where to buy tickets?

The fare system is really very simple. The same fare applies to all services on the island, whether you’re travelling one stop in Honolulu or 50 km across the whole island.

• 3,25 usd A single-journeyticket costs [price] and can only be purchased from the driver in cash.

It’s much better value to buya HOLO card, which you can top up with any amount. You simply tap the card on the reader by the driver when you board; you don’t need to tap it again when you alight.

One journey is also deducted 3 usd, but unlike with a paper ticket, you can change buses as often as you like within a 2-hour period. You must always tap your card on the reader; provided you are within the 2-hour limit, no additional fare will be deducted.

The HOLO card has a ‘Daily cap’ feature, which effectively acts asan all-day ticket. In practice, this means that no more than 7,50 usd, no matter how often you travel or where you go.

The only drawback of the HOLO card is thatit cannot be purchased at the airport. For your first journey from the airport to the city centre, you’ll therefore need to buy a paper ticket from the driver and then purchase your HOLO card at one of the many outlets around the city.

• List of places where you can buy a HOLO Card (holocard.net)
• Up-to-date information on ticket prices (thebus.org)

Hail-and-ride stops and timetables

They haven’t gone to much trouble with signposting bus stops on Oahu. The vast majority are marked only by a small yellow sign with a bus icon; at busier stops, you’ll also find route numbers on the sign, but you’ll search in vain for timetables or route maps.

Outside Honolulu, stops are often marked simply by the word ‘BUS’ painted on the road, or not marked at all. 

All stops are request stops. If you want to get on, always wave to the driver. If you want to get off, pull the yellow cord running along the windows inside the bus.

• timetables and routes (thebus.org)
• Route map (thebus.org)

You can reach most places, even outside Honolulu, at least once or twice an hour. However, if you’re heading out of town, it’s always best to ask the driver for advice on exactly where to get off. There are no information boards or stop announcements on the buses.

Car hire companies on Oahu

If you want to explore Oahu’s less touristy spots, or simply don’t like using public transport and find it a hassle to rely on timetables, then hiring a car is the ideal choice. However, it’s important to bear in mind that Honolulu is a typical big city with heavy traffic and the associated problems (traffic jams, finding a parking space, etc.).

You can find detailed information on car hire prices, driving on Oahu, petrol prices and more in the article‘Car Hire on Oahu’.

Book a car at Honolulu Airport