HONOLULU (KHON2) — If you’re visiting Hawaiʻi for the first time or coming back for another vacation, you might wonder if you need to rent a car.
Most of the islands in Hawaiʻi have car rentals available at the airport. So, if you decide to rent a car, it’s usually pretty easy to do. But the question is “do you need a car?” That answer is not really.
Oʻahu is the most popular island for visitors. Many people stay in Waikīkī, where hotels often offer shuttle rides to and from the airport.
Waikīkī is a great place to stay because it has lots of restaurants, shops, beaches and fun activities all within walking distance. If you’re staying in Waikīkī the whole time, you probably won’t need a car.
But if you want to see more of Oahu, like the North Shore or go to a luau in Ko’Olina, renting a car might be a good idea or you can utilize Oahu’s extensive public transportation options. There is The Bus and the Skyline.
The Bus travels all over the island and gives you the authentic experience you’re craving. There’s also the availability of Zipcars. If you are a member where you live, then you can easily utilize those vehicles while visiting.
Here are four quick tips for driving in Hawaiʻi:
- Always follow traffic laws. Remember that you may on vacation, but this is a city where people live and work.
- Don’t honk your horn unless it’s an emergency. People in Hawaii think it’s rude.
- Drive with “aloha,” which means be kind and patient.
- Always throw a shaka when another driver shows you aloha on the roads.
If you don’t rent a car on Oahu, you can also get around by using the Waikīkī Trolley.
The trolley is a fun and easy way to see places like the Bishop Museum, Ala Moana Center, Diamond Head and more. You can hop on and off at different stops throughout the day.
You can click here for more information on the trolley. You can click here for information on The Bus and here for Skyline. You can click here for information on Zipcars.
You can click here for more information on public transportation on Hawaiʻi Island. You can click here for Maui’s public transport system and here for Kauaʻi’s public transportation system.
This makes it easy to explore without needing to drive!