Hawaii Travel Guide

International Travel

Getting There By Air

Honolulu International Airport (HNL) on Oahu is Hawaii's major international airport for all foreign visitors. Cheap flights to Hawaii are available during the spring and autumn. Flights to Hawaii are served by a number of different airlines including Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines and Air Canada.

Departure Tax

None.

Main Airports

Honolulu International Airport (HNL) (www6.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/index.htm) is about 13km (8 miles) northwest of the city (14.5km/9 miles from Waikiki). To/from the airport: City bus services 19 and 20 run (journey time - 30 minutes), but luggage is not allowed on city buses. Various shuttles and coaches to Waikiki hotels meet all flight arrivals during the day (journey time - approximately 25 minutes). Taxis and limousines are also available (journey time - 20 minutes). Facilities: Business center and car hire.

Other international airports are: Hilo International Airport and Kona International Airport.

Domestic airports:
Hawaii: Upolu, Waimea-Kohala. Kauai: Lihue. Lanai: Lanai Airport. Maui: Hana, Kahului, Kapalua. Molokai: Kalaupapa and Molokai. Oahu: Dillingham Airfield, Kalaeloa.

Getting There By Water

Main ports:Hawaii: Hilo, Kawaihae. Kauai: Nawiliwili, Port Allen. Maui: Kahului. Molokai: Kaunakakai. Oahu: Honolulu, Kalaeloa Barber's Point, Kewalo Basin. Lanai: Kaumalapau.

Several cruise lines run to Hawaii. Ferries run between Maui, Lanai and Molokai.

Internal Travel

Getting Around By Air

Oahu is the gateway for flights to Hawaii’s neighboring islands including Lanai and Molokai.

Frequent inter-island services are offered by Hawaiian Airlines (www.hawaiianair.com), which also sells passes offering unlimited inter-island flying; coupon books for these are available from local travel agents. All-island passes are typically available in increments of five, seven, 10 and 14 days.

Getting Around By Water

There are daily ferry services from Lahaina Harbor in Maui to both Manele Bay in Lanai and Kaunakakai Harbor in Molokai.

Getting Around By Rail

The Hawaiian Railway Society (www.hawaiianrailway.com) on Oahu offers 90-minute journeys on a historical diesel-electric locomotive formerly used to haul sugar cane from Ewa Plantation Village to Ko'olina.

On Maui, the Lahaina-Kaanapali & Pacific Railroad (www.sugarcanetrain.com), also known as the Sugar Cane Train, offers daily 30-minute rides between Old Town Lahaina and Kaanapali Beach Resort.

Getting Around By Road

Traffic drives on the right.

Bus: Deluxe modern tour buses operate on all islands. TheBus, Honolulu's public transit, is an inexpensive way to tour the whole island of Oahu.

Taxi: Metered taxis are available throughout the main islands.

Car hire: Available through local and international agencies. Drivers must be over 21 years of age for car hire. Book car rental reservations in advance, particularly on the smaller islands. You can also rent a convertible jeep, an SUV, a motor scooter, and even a Harley Davidson motorcycle on some islands, like Big Island. Some attractions are accessible only by rough, off trail roads but check your car rental agreement to ensure you are entitled to drive in these areas.

Beware that congestion can be a problem in Oahu in rush hour.

Regulations: Right-hand turns are permitted in the right lane at a ‘stop' light unless otherwise indicated. Pedestrians are given the right of way most of the time.

Documentation: Foreign driving license required.

Getting Around Towns and Cities

Good local bus services are provided on Oahu by TheBus (tel: (808) 848 5555; www.thebus.org), which covers the entire island with over 60 routes. An exact flat-fare system operates and free transfers are available on request.

On other islands, taxis are available and car hire is possible. Limited public bus services operate on Kauai and Hawaii.