Getting around

[rg123]

We are staying 7 days post cruise in Waikiki and we’re thinking we could walk, bus or Uber to many places. Would we be able to get to places such as the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor by public transit? We’re doing a luau but will buy tickets with transportation included. 

We might want to rent a car for the last few days to sightsee further out and also use it to get to the airport. (Our flight isn’t until late so we would have a place for our luggage after hotel checkout, too). Car rental seems most reasonable if we pick up/return to the airport. Could we take a bus from Waikiki to the airport to pick up a car?

Thanks for any insight!

[princeton123211]

3 hours ago, rg123 said:

We are staying 7 days post cruise in Waikiki and we’re thinking we could walk, bus or Uber to many places. Would we be able to get to places such as the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor by public transit?

Waikiki is very easy to get around by any of those means. We typically just Uber around (its easy and you end up supporting a lot of US Service Members spouses who we've found make up a lot of their drivers. Busses will be slower but less expensive. Anything along the beach itself is walkable.

 

3 hours ago, rg123 said:

We might want to rent a car for the last few days to sightsee further out and also use it to get to the airport. (Our flight isn’t until late so we would have a place for our luggage after hotel checkout, too)

I would only do this for a day if you choose to-- parking in and around Waikiki is expensive and driving around there is frustrating with the heavy traffic. That being said, its highly worth it to head out and see other places on Oahu. We like driving up to the North Shore and then driving around the island back along the coast. 

 

3 hours ago, rg123 said:

Car rental seems most reasonable if we pick up/return to the airport. Could we take a bus from Waikiki to the airport to pick up a car?

It usually is but there are places in Waikiki you can rent a car as well-- we've used the Avis location at The Gallery shopping mall. I would just Uber to the airport to save time.

[CruiserBruce]

Agree getting around Waikiki is very easy without a car...in fact we have a total of 28 nights over 3 trips to Waikiki and we have NEVER rented a car on Oahu. We have been to Pearl Harbor twice (by TheBus), around the north side of the island, Turtle Bay, PCC etc (via the TheBus) and visited all the sites in the downtown area, either by walking, cab, trolley or TheBus. Very easy to get around with a little research.

 

Parking in Waikiki can be pretty expensive.

[rg123]

Thanks for your very informative responses!!

[Travelexpert35]

We’ve stayed in Waikiki many times and walk everywhere. The bus system is excellent if you want to travel around the island. Years ago we did rent a car for the day and travelled all around Oahu, stopping at different locations. It can be done in a day. Love the hustle & bustle of Waikiki.

[rg123]

Thank you. Very glad for all your advice. It sounds like it’s very doable without a car. I think we will rent one for a day at the end so we can go around the island as you’ve all suggested. And that way we can have our luggage with us when we check out in the morning and still tour around a little until we fly home at night. 

[KeepCalmBearOn]

There are all kinds of rental car agencies in Waikiki. Avis has locations in the Sheraton and International Market Place; Hertz has locations in the Hyatt Regency Waikiki and Imperial Waikiki. I'd do a day rental from them in the middle of the trip to drive to the North Shore and see the sights along the way, including PCC.

[Leela]

Not sure if this is still the case but the Polynesian Cultural Center used to do bus pickups in Waikiki with their own bus.

[rg123]

Thank you. I will check it out

[cruisepro19]

TheBus is great, not sure what the fares are anymore, but it is very tourist friendly.  We’ve also used the Waikiki Trolley a number of times (the routes and costs are posted on their website).  It is pretty easy to get to places like Hanauma Bay, Punchbowl Crater, Pearl Harbor, Waikiki Stadium (market), etc. Via TheBus.  We did something similar to what you were looking into, mid-trip we took TheBus to the airport to pick up a car rental and paid for parking for 3 nights at the hotel we were staying at.  We did this when we wanted to drive around the island and also wanted to go to the Dole Pineapple Plantation.  

[rg123]

Thanks for all your insight!!!