tmorr01 Posted November 29, 2022 #1 Share Posted November 29, 2022 We are on the Royal Princess for a January cruise to Hawai'i and it will overnight in Honolulu. I am considering renting a car for the day. Does anyone know how difficult it is to get around in the area? Is traffic OK or bad, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Rick&Jeannie Posted November 29, 2022 #2 Share Posted November 29, 2022 You *might* get better response in the Hawaii Port of Call section 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rideev Posted November 29, 2022 #3 Share Posted November 29, 2022 No problem driving around Honolulu. Traffic not too bad. Easy to get wherever you want. I would definately get over to Pearl Harbour and the Arizona memorial. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyskie Posted November 29, 2022 #4 Share Posted November 29, 2022 We rented a car for 2 days - circumnavigated the island - wonderful trip. Not difficult, traffic was the same as any big city at rush hour. We also rented in Maui and Kauai. You won't be disappointed. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cr8tiv1 Posted November 30, 2022 #5 Share Posted November 30, 2022 Driving on Oahu is simple, but bring along your patience. Renting a car from the airport will cost you an airport fee. Parking near the cruise ship is expensive. Watch out for one way streets. Try to drive opposite flow of traffic. It recently took me 90 minutes to go from Downtown to Pearl City (East to West/17 miles) at the peak of rush hour. Handicap placards will still cost you parking meter coins (10 minutes for a quarter or more Downtown). Factor in twice as long as miles during normal driving times (15 miles = 30-35 minutes). Still driving on Oahu is the best way to get around the island. NONE of the islands have a round that circles the island. Like any other state, there are some places that "only" the locals go. Order your online tickets for Pearl Harbor for $1. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arizona Wildcat Posted November 30, 2022 #6 Share Posted November 30, 2022 No problem. Just follow the rules. Downtown busy just like any city. Commuters AM and PM to the military bases and city center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dockman Posted November 30, 2022 #7 Share Posted November 30, 2022 and remember to stop at all ped crosswalks if there is a person ANYWHERE in the cross walk...big fines for violations as lot of people have been hit over the years...and no talking on hand held cell phones while engine is running. avoid H1 during commute hours as it can be pretty bad traffic..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elua Posted November 30, 2022 #8 Share Posted November 30, 2022 And do not…repeat DO NOT use your horn unless absolutely necessary. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steelers36 Posted November 30, 2022 #9 Share Posted November 30, 2022 5 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said: You *might* get better response in the Hawaii Port of Call section Agree. This post doesn't belong here. I do agree that driving on Oahu is no big deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cr8tiv1 Posted November 30, 2022 #10 Share Posted November 30, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, tmorr01 said: We are on the Royal Princess for a January cruise to Hawai'i and it will overnight in Honolulu. I am considering renting a car for the day. Does anyone know how difficult it is to get around in the area? Is traffic OK or bad, etc. Here's a plan. Rent your car for the first day. Do all you want and return the car late at night. No paying for overnight parking. You can enjoy your second day leisurely. Plan your day well so you are not doubling back and forth. No problem being on Princess Thread. You will get more responses here. And I beg to differ....I hate driving when I come home. Luckily, I know all the ins and outs and detours. Most drivers are overly polite. They will stop to let people in on the freeway or out of a driveway. Just be alert. Edited November 30, 2022 by cr8tiv1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted November 30, 2022 #11 Share Posted November 30, 2022 Main problem is picking up and dropping off the rental car. You may have to take a cab/Uber to the airport to pick up the car and the same to get back to the ship after returning it. When we went, there was only one rental car place anywhere near the cruise port and I have been told that location is no longer in business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouChamp Posted November 30, 2022 #12 Share Posted November 30, 2022 7 hours ago, Elua said: And do not…repeat DO NOT use your horn unless absolutely necessary. Aloha…I second that. Never use the horn! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepCalmBearOn Posted November 30, 2022 #13 Share Posted November 30, 2022 There is no need to go to the airport to get a car. Waikiki is three miles away and has all the major agencies (Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo, etc). Look at Costco Travel and Discount Hawaii Car Rental for the best rates. https://www.discounthawaiicarrental.com/en-us/ Honolulu has some of the worst commuter traffic in the U.S. so it is important to know and plan accordingly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepCalmBearOn Posted November 30, 2022 #14 Share Posted November 30, 2022 PS, pet peeves. The is no "u" in Pearl Harbor and it is the USS Arizona Memorial, not a memorial to Arizona. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaribbeanBound Posted December 9, 2022 #15 Share Posted December 9, 2022 cr8tiv1's advice is very good. Also agree with scottca075 Traffic is very heavy. Allow lots of extra time to get anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philob Posted December 11, 2022 #16 Share Posted December 11, 2022 (edited) On 11/30/2022 at 2:28 PM, scottca075 said: There is no need to go to the airport to get a car. Waikiki is three miles away and has all the major agencies (Hertz, Avis, National, Alamo, etc). Look at Costco Travel and Discount Hawaii Car Rental for the best rates. SWMBO's been researching this. Most of the Waikiki rental counters open late, 10am, and close early, like 3pm early. Don't know if you can drop off the car after 3, but I usually get someone from the agency to sign off that the car was returned undamaged. SWMBO's friend was there Thanksgiving week and some of the rental counters weren't open. They were walk ups and they went to a few before they found one open. Maybe it was a temporary thing, but best to call the agency directly to check. Edited December 11, 2022 by Philob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepCalmBearOn Posted December 11, 2022 #17 Share Posted December 11, 2022 4 hours ago, Philob said: SWMBO's been researching this. Most of the Waikiki rental counters open late, 10am, and close early, like 3pm early. I can't speak to "most of the Waikiki rental counters". I use Hertz or Avis for 90% of my rentals. The only times I've used the Hertz and Avis Waikiki rental counters has been when my car I picked up from them at the airport has had an issue. I was able to exchange at the Waikiki rental counter rather than go back out to the airport and in every case Hertz and Avis Waikiki rental counters opened at 8AM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveller20074 Posted December 13, 2022 #18 Share Posted December 13, 2022 (edited) On 11/29/2022 at 1:54 PM, tmorr01 said: We are on the Royal Princess for a January cruise to Hawai'i and it will overnight in Honolulu. I am considering renting a car for the day. Does anyone know how difficult it is to get around in the area? Is traffic OK or bad, etc. challenging. we wanted to get to Walmart really quick one night...there was a parade lol it's challenging and a GPS is necessary... one of the guides told us there is 1 million people along with the ones who live in the city. I believe it lol Edited December 13, 2022 by Traveller20074 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveller20074 Posted December 13, 2022 #19 Share Posted December 13, 2022 On 11/29/2022 at 2:23 PM, rideev said: No problem driving around Honolulu. Traffic not too bad. Easy to get wherever you want. I would definately get over to Pearl Harbour and the Arizona memorial. it wasn't easy 2 weeks ago....traffic is very heavy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveller20074 Posted December 13, 2022 #20 Share Posted December 13, 2022 (edited) On 11/29/2022 at 4:01 PM, cr8tiv1 said: o Edited December 13, 2022 by Traveller20074 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rideev Posted December 13, 2022 #21 Share Posted December 13, 2022 14 hours ago, Traveller20074 said: it wasn't easy 2 weeks ago....traffic is very heavy I guess it is all relative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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