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How to Get from Honolulu Airport to Downtown

Honolulu is rich in authentic Hawaiian tradition and home to a lot of different ethnicities. It is a modern tropical metropolis with a distinctive blend of cultures, mainly serving as a bridge to the Hawaiian Islands. Take a walk around the downtown area, dive into the waters of the famous Waikiki Beach, hike breathtaking cliffs and taste some of Honolulu’s five-star restaurants.

There are two ways to get from Honolulu Airport to Downtown. The quickest way is to get on a Honolulu taxi or private transfer and reach your destination in just 10 minutes. There is also another method of transportation from Honolulu airport to Honolulu, which includes a bus shuttle that lasts about half an hour. Granted, it is up to you how you choose to spend your time and budget for this transfer.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Honolulu at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Taxi €30 10min 24/7
Bus €6 30min 05:30–22:00

How to get from Honolulu Airport to Downtown by taxi

The fastest way to get from Honolulu Airport to Downtown is by taking an airport cab. The 10.6-kilometre shuttle from Honolulu airport to your destination in Downtown Honolulu will cost approximately $30 (€25). With a far shorter duration than the alternative option, the bus, not only will you save time for more important activities, but you’ll arrive at your destination with ease, comfort and style.

Taxi fare from Honolulu Airport to downtown

Taxi drivers calculate the final fee from Honolulu Airport to Downtown using a taximeter. Typically, they will charge you around $30 (€25) for a one-way trip. This price, of course, varies, depending on the taxi provider of your choice, the traffic conditions to your destination and the time of day. With a total distance of 10.6 kilometres, you can expect to arrive at your hotel or apartment in approximately 10 minutes.

If you are looking for a pre-set price you can rely on for your Honolulu airport-to-city
shuttle, along with the best English-speaking local drivers, you can also pre-book your cab with Welcome Pickups.

Cost

$30 (€25)

Trip Duration

30 minutes

*Rates may vary unless you book your taxi in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

Where do I get the taxi from?

Honolulu taxis are yellow and are parked outside the terminal at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Just pick the first available one and give them your destination in downtown Honolulu.

Convenience

Although hopping on a local taxi is one of the more expensive shuttle options from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to the city, it is still the quickest and most convenient one – especially if you are visiting Hawaii for the first time or if you are travelling with children or elders.

Editor’s Note

Booking your taxi in advance is a good idea to avoid long waiting times during rush hours.

Useful Tips

Tipping the driver for your ride is pretty standard practice in Hawaii. A driver usually expects a 10-20% tip.
Make sure your driver turns on the taximeter during your Honolulu airport-to-city shuttle.

How to get from Honolulu Airport to downtown by bus

There is a second option for your Honolulu airport to city shuttle, the bus. Travellers need to take Bus number 20 from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and stay on it for 13 stops until they reach the Waikiki Beach & Hotels station. The total duration of the transfer by bus is 30 minutes and the cost is $3 (€3) per traveller.

Bus fare from Honolulu Airport to downtown

The bus fare for your transportation from Honolulu airport to Honolulu is only $3 (€3), making it a very affordable option for travellers on a budget. The total duration of the transfer by bus is 30 minutes and you will arrive at your destination after 13 stops.

Cost

$3 (€3)

Trip Duration

30 minutes

Bus 20 arrives every 30 minutes and takes 30 minutes to reach the downtown area.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Bus 20 is available from Monday to Sunday from 05:30 to 22:00.

Where do I get the bus from?

The stop for Bus 20 is located at the Main Terminal Diamond Head, on the Upper Level. You can follow the signs or ask the airport personnel for directions.

Convenience

Bus 20 is a convenient choice as it takes you directly to the Honolulu downtown area for merely $3 (€3). However, it is not the quickest option as it takes 30 minutes to complete your transfer, excluding waiting times. Kindly note that if you miss the bus, you will need to wait at least half an hour for the next one, which can be very tiring after a long flight or after the manic hustle and bustle of the airport. Moreover, buses stop running after 10:00 pm so if you’re arriving at night, your only option for transportation from Honolulu airport to Honolulu is to use a taxi.

Timetables

Editor’s Note

Make sure you are at the stop at least 10 minutes before the estimated departure to avoid missing the bus.

Useful Tips

Your only alternative for your transportation from Honolulu airport to Honolulu after 10:00 pm is a local taxi.
Make sure you check the website frequently for potential bus itinerary changes.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

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Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Honolulu Airport to downtown?

There are two options for getting from Honolulu Airport to Downtown. The fastest way is to hop on a Honolulu taxi and get to your destination in just 10 minutes. There is also another shuttle choice from Honolulu airport to the city, which includes a bus, that lasts half an hour.

What's the cost of a taxi from Honolulu airport to downtown?

Usually, you will be charged about $30 (€25) for a one-way trip from Honolulu airport to downtown. Keep in mind though that, this is just an estimation, as the local taxi drivers calculate the final fare for your ride by turning on their taximeter, hence the price may vary depending on traffic conditions, the actual distance travelled and the taxi provider of your choice.

Alternatively, if you want a fixed price for your airport transfer from Honolulu Airport to downtown, you can book your taxi in advance with Welcome Pickups.

How far is HNL Airport from downtown Honolulu?

HNL airport is not that far from the downtown area. With a total distance of 10.6 kilometres, you can expect to arrive at your destination in approximately 45 minutes by car or taxi.

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