Honolulu public transport: what Waikīkī visitors need to know

TheBus serves Waikīkī, and you can use the same fares on Skyline rail.

TheBus connects the area with destinations including Ala Moana Center, Honolulu’s civic buildings, Diamond Head Crater, Pearl Harbor memorials and the Honolulu Museum of Art. Skyline rail has stations from Kualakaʻi in East Kapolei to Kahauiki at Kalihi Transit Center, with several stations serving the airport and nearby Honolulu areas.

For the airport journey, TheBus W Line runs from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to Waikīkī. The airport stop is on the ground floor between the airport Skyline station and Terminal 1. For more on that journey, read how to get from the airport to Waikīkī.

TheBus has Waikīkī boarding points on Kuhio Avenue, Ala Moana Boulevard and near Kalākaua Avenue.

Routes 2, 8, 13, 42, E and W board on Kuhio Avenue, as does route 2L on weekdays. Routes 42, E and W also board on Ala Moana Boulevard. Near Kalākaua and Kapiʻolani Park, routes 14 and 200 serve the area; near the Kalākaua and McCully Bridge, routes 2, 8, 13 and 4 are available.

For Ala Moana Center, routes 42, E and W run from Waikīkī, while routes 8 and 13 serve the center from the Kapiʻolani and Keeaumoku area. Routes 2, 2L, 13, 42 and E serve Honolulu Hale, the Judiciary Building, the State Capitol and Washington Place.

Route 2 serves the Honolulu Museum of Art and Bishop Museum. For Diamond Head Crater, take routes 2, 2L or 200. Route 42 serves Pearl Harbor memorials. To reach Punchbowl and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, take route 13, 42 or E to Alapai, then transfer to route 123 at Alapai Transit Center.

If you are planning a beach stop, Ala Moana Beach Park is served by routes that also connect Waikīkī with Ala Moana Center.

Skyline rail can extend a Waikīkī trip when you connect to the W Line at Lelepaua or Āhua station.

The City of Honolulu describes the W Line as providing rapid service from Waikīkī to either Lelepaua, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, or Āhua, Lagoon Drive. From Āhua, transfer to the A Line for downtown; the City also describes connections from that station to Ala Moana via the A Line or W Line.

The airport-area and Honolulu stations include Makalapa at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Lelepaua at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Āhua at Lagoon Drive and Kahauiki at Kalihi Transit Center. The system’s stations extend from Kualakaʻi in East Kapolei to Kahauiki.

Station amenities include pedestrian access, HOLO kiosks or ticket vending machines, bicycle parking, TheBus connections and Handi-Van service. You can combine a rail trip with a bus connection, but check the route and transfer points for your destination before setting out.

TheBus and Skyline share fares, and you can pay with cash or use a HOLO card.

The cash fare is $3.25 per boarding. You need exact fare: operators do not carry change, and cash riders do not receive a transfer. A HOLO card has a $2.00 initial or replacement fee. The two-hour pass costs $3.00 and allows unlimited rides on TheBus and Skyline during the two hours after first use.

Other options include a $7.50 24-hour pass, valid for 24 hours from first tap, and a $7.50 day cap, after which no additional payments are charged for that day. A $20.00 three-day pass is valid for 72 hours from first use; a $45.00 seven-day pass is valid for 168 hours from first use.

The monthly cap and monthly pass each cost $90.00. The pass runs from the first day through the last day of the month. You can purchase or reload a HOLO card online or at a retail location, and you can also reload by phone.

To plan a route from Waikīkī, start by matching your destination to a bus route or a Skyline connection.

1. Choose your destination. Check which route serves it, such as route 2 for the Honolulu Museum of Art or routes 42, E and W for Ala Moana Center.
2. Find a Waikīkī boarding area. Kuhio Avenue, Ala Moana Boulevard and the Kalākaua Avenue area have different route groups, so confirm the stop for your chosen route.
3. Check whether rail helps. The W Line connects Waikīkī with Lelepaua airport station and Āhua station. At Āhua, you can transfer to the A Line for downtown.
4. Pick a payment method. Compare the single-boarding fare with the passes and caps if you expect to make multiple rides.

For a day that combines Waikīkī stops, a one-day route through Waikīkī can help you consider how public transport fits between destinations.

Before you go: Routes, fares and station details can change, so check the official site before you go. TheBus and the City of Honolulu provide route, fare and Skyline information.

Does Skyline rail serve Waikīkī directly?

The W Line connects Waikīkī with Lelepaua airport station or Āhua station. The route information does not describe a rail station within Waikīkī itself.

Can you use one fare system for TheBus and Skyline?

Yes. TheBus and Skyline use the same fares.

Can you pay cash on TheBus?

The cash fare is $3.25 per boarding, and you need exact fare. Cash riders do not receive a transfer.

Which bus route goes from the airport to Waikīkī?

TheBus W Line runs from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to Waikīkī. The airport stop is on the ground floor between the airport Skyline station and Terminal 1.