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Do you Need a Car in Honolulu? Here Are Things To Do Without One

So, you want to visit Honolulu without driving? Well, this is definitely possible and we will show it! In the following article, we will go over several activities accessible without renting a vehicle, and which transport you may use to reach some of the destinations included there.

Updated: 5/31/2026

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Do you need a car to visit Oahu?

How to get around without car?

Getting From/To the Airport

Things to do without a car

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Do you need a car to visit Oahu?

The easy answer to that question is yes. But did not we said that we did not need a car? Here is the reality. Having a car will make your trip to Oahu much easier and better. Many of the great things in Hawaii are located on parts of the island that are not necessarily easily accessed without a car. Nonetheless, if you plan on staying only in the Honolulu area, you can definitely visit without a car. Honolulu has a pretty good transit system, and some areas like Waikiki are very walkable.

How to get around Honolulu without a car?

The island of Oahu has a fairly effective transit system currently expanding. It includes TheBus (yes the name of the bus system is “The bus”) and the Skyline, a rail system currently in expansion. TheBus covers most of the island while the Skyline currently goes from Kualakai at the west to Kahauiki to the east. Both transit systems can be paid using a HOLO card. The HOLO card allows travelers to add money and passes to pay for their ride. 

TheBus in Honolulu

Fares for TheBus/Skyline

  • HOLO Card Fee (added to fare) - $2

  • Single Ride (2.5H) - $3

  • 3-Day Pass - $20

  • 7-Day Pass - $35

HOLO cards are required for the Skyline, they can be found at Skyline stations.

In addition to these two transit methods, the Waikiki Trolley operates vehicles through Honolulu, especially around Waikiki. The Waikiki trolleys operates 5 different routes passing near major attractions and area of Honolulu. You can check our designated article for more information on Waikiki Trolleys.

How to go from the airport to the city?

If you’re not from Hawaii, your trip will certainly begin from the airport — unless you’re coming via the sea. A first and fair question is thus; how to get from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to Honolulu without a car? Well, there are several options. We will assume that you will be staying in the area of Waikiki.

Of course, you can either order an Uber or Taxi. But if you would like other options, know that the W line of TheBus goes from the airport to Waikiki in about 60min. This is usually the cheapest option with a single fare of $3.

Some private companies also offer services from Waikiki to Daniel K. Inouye Airport. But the most accessible option remains the bus.

1st Activity: Diamond Head Crater

The crater of Leahi (name of the volcano in Hawaiian) is a national monument and the top is one of the best views of Honolulu. The entry to the area is located within the crater, accessible via a tunnel. The trail to the top is then pretty easy to find. The trailhead to the top of Diamond Head can be challenging as it involves constant steep hills. Once at the top, visitors can enjoy the view and get inside a Fire Control Station built in 1911 before eventually getting back down the same way they came. A reservation is required for non-resident to enter.

Getting There:

If you take TheBus, you will need to exit at Diamond Head + Opp 18th Ave and then walk uphill until you reach the tunnel. Get through the tunnel and you will reach the entrance gate where you will be able to pay for your fare.

The green Waikiki Trolley line goes directly to the gate, avoiding the walk to the gate.

View from top of Diamond Head Crater

Overview

  • Admission - $5 for Non-residents

  • Reservation Required

  • Access via:

    • TheBus

    • Waikiki Trolley green line.

Waikiki by Micah McKerlish - Unsplash (340kb).jpg

Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki. Picture by Micah McKerlish | Unsplash

2. Waikiki

There are great chances that you will be staying in or around Waikiki during your trip. The vibrant neighborhood of Honolulu is the most touristic and there are a handful of great things to do there. Here are some of the things you might like:

The Royal Hawaiian Center

The Royal Hawaiian Center is one of Waikiki’s biggest shopping malls, featuring several luxury boutiques, a foodcourt and actvities.

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue

Duke Kahanamoku is a popular figure of Hawaiian history. Multiple Olympic medalist in swimming, he is mostly known for popularizing the sport of surfing around the world. The statue celebrates his legacy.

The Hilton Fireworks

The Hilton Hawaiian Village frequently holds fireworks that you can see from the nearby beaches, notably from Kahanamoku beach. The fireworks are every Friday at 7:45pm.

Getting There:

Both TheBus and Waikiki Trolley go around Waikiki. The four lines offered by the Waikiki Trolleys stop at different points across the neighborhood.

3. Iolani Palace

For quite some times, the islands of Hawaii were under the governance of a royal family. This part of Hawaiian history is very important on the island and reflected in the Iolani Palace. The Palace was the royal residence until the end of the monarchy, and today a museum centered around the royal family of Hawaii. You can visit the palace and book a tour, but we recommend taking a look at the requirements (clothing, etc…) before going there.

Iolani Palace (Wikimedia Commons).JPG

Overview

  • Admission - Varies

  • Access via:

    • TheBus W Line​

    • Waikiki Trolley Red Line

The W line of TheBus can get you from one of the stops in Waikiki to a stop close to Iolani palace. To that end, you will need to exit the bus at Nimitz Hwy + Bishop St. This route takes about 35min and involves no transfer. Other routes can also be taken, but they generally involve a transfer.

Getting There:

The Waikiki Trolley “Historic Honolulu Line” (red line), has a designated stop for the Iolani palace.

4. Aloha Tower Marketplace

The Aloha Tower Marketplace is an open air mall with shops, restaurants and historic landmarks. One of these landmarks is the Aloha tower. You can decide to go up the tower to enjoy the view from the observation deck.

Getting There:

The Aloha Tower Marketplace can be reached using the W line of the bus. You will need to exit the bus at Nimitz Hwy + Bishop St. The ride is about 25min long. The Waikiki Trolley Historic Honolulu Line (Red Line) goes directly there as well.

Aloha Tower (Wikimedia Commons).jpg

Overview

  • Admission - Free

  • Access via:

    • TheBus W Line​

    • Waikiki Trolley Red Line

Inside Ala Moana (Wikimedia0.JPG

5. Ala Moana Center

We have mentioned several shopping malls already, but Ala Moana is a little bit special. The Ala Moana Center is the largest open-air shopping mall in the world. It features a variety of stores and restaurants spread across the four levels of the building. If you are looking to fill at least one half of a day in Honolulu, it is the right destination.

Getting There:

Going to Ala Moana is pretty simple. You can hop on the W line of TheBus and exit at the stop with the mall’s name, or you can decide to take the Ala Moana Line (pink line) of the Waikiki Trolley. You may also walk Kalakaua Ave and join Kapiolani Blvd (or Ala Moana Blvd). That’s a fairly short walk from Waikiki. 

Overview

  • Admission - Free

  • Access via:

    • TheBus W Line​

    • Waikiki Trolley Pink Line

6. Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is probably one of the most well known sites in Hawaii. The harbor is known for the attacks it suffered in December 1941. Today, the base is still an active military base as well as a major tourist experience that features three museums in addition to the USS Arizona memorial.

Overview

  • Admission - Free (Arizona Memorial)

  • Access via:

    • TheBus line 49

    • E Noa Tours

Pearl Harbor Entry sign (277kb).jpg

Getting from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor is a little bit more tricky than the other destinations we have mentioned here. Waikiki Trolley does not offer a line to the harbor. For the TheBus, the easiest option is to board the bus 42 and exit at Arizona Memorial. This takes around 1H15min. Private companies like E Noa Tours also offer tours that include transportation to the site. 

Getting There:

7. Honolulu Zoo

Overview

  • Admission - Begins at $21 for adults.

  • Access via:

    • TheBus

    • Waikiki Trolley Green Line

Honolulu Zoo Entrance

Animal lovers, this one is for you. The Zoo of Honolulu is certainly not the biggest, but it is in no way a bad one. One of the big advantages of the following is its location. Located in Waikiki, visitors staying in the hotels Waikiki can easily walk to the zoo. The zoo of Honolulu is a great attraction for families

The zoo of Honolulu is probably one of the easiest destinations to access in this list. Located within Waikiki, you walk there, take TheBus or hop on the green line of the Waikiki Trolley.

Getting There:

Photo by Daniel Ramirez | Wikimedia Commons Attribution 2.0

8. Waikiki Aquarium

Well, I love fish, but I am not a big fan of diving. If you would also rather see our swimming friends through a glass, know that Honolulu features one aquarium, the Waikiki Aquarium. This small aquarium is a nice little visit for families. It is the second oldest operating aquarium in the United States.

The Waikiki Aquarium is located only 5 min away (on foot) from the Zoo. You may either take TheBus, or the green line of the Waikiki Trolley and exit at the designated stop (Waikiki Aquarium).

Getting There:

Green Sea Turtle pic (Wikimedia).jpg

Overview

  • Admission - $12

  • Access via:

    • TheBus

    • Waikiki Trolley Green Line

9. Honolulu Museum of Art

HoMA Entrance (Wikimedia).JPG

​The Honolulu Museum of Art features one of the largest collections of Asian and Pan-Pacific art in the world. If you love art or are simply curious to discover some of the cultures displayed in the museum, HoMA might be for you.

Overview

  • Admission - $25 for adults, FREE for children under 18.

  • Access via:​​

    • TheBus Line 2​

    • Waikiki Trolley Red Line

The bus number 2 of TheBus goes from Waikiki to the HoMA in about 20 minutes. The Historic Honolulu Line (Red Line) of the Waikiki Trolley has a stop right in front of the museum.

Getting There:

10. Ali'iolani Hale

If the Iolani Palace was the historic residence of Hawaii’s royalty, the Aliiolani Hale was the main government building. For several years (until 1893) the building was the seat of the government, but since the 20th century, it has mostly served as a judicial building for the state of Hawaii. The building can easily be seen from outside, the sculpture of Kamehameha the Great, founder of the Kingdom of Hawaii, is right in front of the building.

Getting There:

Ali'Iolani Picture by Edmund Garman (Wikimedia).jpg

Photo by Edmund Garman | Wikimedia Commons Attribution 2.0

The W line of TheBus can get you there in about 20min, you will need to exit at Nimitz Hwy + Bishop St and then walk about 5 more minutes. The Red Line of the Waikiki Trolley stops in the area as well.

Overview

  • Admission - Free. But it's a functioning courthouse, meaning you will have to get through security.

  • Access via:​​​

    • W Line of TheBus​

    • Waikiki Trolley Red Line

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