Travel
Getting Around Hawaii: Cars, Transit, and Ferries
How to get around Hawaii: whether you need a rental car, the public transit options, traveling between islands, and practical driving tips.
On most Hawaiian islands, a rental car is the practical way to get around, because the best beaches, trails, and viewpoints are spread out and public transit is limited. The main exception is Waikiki on Oʻahu, where you can walk and use the bus. Decide based on your island and plans.
Do you need a car?
On Maui, Kauaʻi, and the Big Island, plan on a car. On Oʻahu, a car helps for the North Shore and windward coast, but a Waikiki-based trip can work without one. Book rentals early in peak season, when island supply is tight and prices rise.
Public transit
Oʻahu's TheBus is the most useful transit system in the state and reaches most of the island. Neighbor islands have limited bus service that covers some routes but rarely gets you to trailheads or remote beaches. Rideshare is available mainly in the busier areas.
Getting between islands
There are no bridges, and passenger ferries are limited (one connects Maui and Lānaʻi). To move between islands you fly, usually a short hop through Honolulu. Plan a night or two per island so travel days do not dominate, as covered in island hopping.
Driving tips
Drive relaxed and let locals pass, use pullouts on scenic roads like the Road to Hana, and never leave valuables in a parked car at trailheads or beaches. Fill your tank before long drives, since gas stations can be sparse. For ways to trim transport costs, see Hawaii on a budget.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a rental car in Hawaii?
Is there public transportation in Hawaii?
How do you travel between the Hawaiian islands?
We research each guide against primary sources: the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Mālama Hawaii, the National Park Service, the State of Hawaii and its Division of State Parks, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Census. For culture, language, and history we lean on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Bishop Museum, and the scholarship of Mary Kawena Pukui. We send readers to those sources rather than speaking over them. When rules, prices, or conditions change, we update the page.