Getting Around Honolulu - THE BUS

Metropolitan Honolulu is basically a one freeway, rail-free town in a maze of streets flanked by the Koolau mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Not difficult to describe, but getting around Oahu in a rented car can be difficult if not frustrating. Local drivers are a bit harried, but for the most part, polite, however, the roadways are narrow, and to those not adept at the Hawaiian, language will find that every street name looks just like the next. Not only can getting around be frustrating, but hotels typically charge 7 to $10 per day for guest parking. A much better solution than renting a car is to take advantage of the city's public transit system. Oahu Transit Services or "TheBUS" has been organized with the needs of residents and particularly the visitor in mind making it easy and stress-free to get to and from the Waikiki area to all popular points on the island. The all air-conditioned fleet is easy to find and use. It offers the visitor a taste of what it's like to live on Oahu. The vehicles are also ADA compliant and outfitted to announce stops for the visually impaired and kneeling buses for those who need assistance on and off the vehicles. For those visiting Oahu will find that the #8 "Waikiki Beach and Hotels" line is the main artery to and from the Waikiki area. This line shuttles between Waikiki and the Ala Moana Shopping Center every seven to ten minutes. Once at Ala Moana Shopping Center, one can obtain a free transfer to continue to other parts the island. One of the more popular bus trips is a ride into Manoa Valley and a hike to Manoa Valley Falls. From Waikiki anywhere along Kuhio Avenue, from Kuhio Avenue, board the #8 Ala Moana Center bound bus to Kona and Keeaumoku streets. Once there transfer to the #5 Manoa Valley and ride to the terminus at Kumuone Street and Manoa Road. Walk up Manoa Road and begin the trail just after passing the Lyon Arboretum. Travel time to the trail head is approximately 45 minutes and allow 2 hours for the round-trip hike to the falls. Another popular activity is to take the "Circle Island" ride. This ride takes approximately four and a half hours, and a little longer with a stop for lunch. it's a ride through downtown Honolulu and continues up through central Oahu, along the North Shore, down the windward coast and back into Honolulu once again. To begin, board the #8 Ala Moana Center bound bus anywhere along Kuhio Avenue. Transfer at the Center to either the #52 Wahiawa-Circle Island. The #52 Wahiawa-Circle Island bus will travel past Pearl Harbor, Pearl City, Wahiawa, Haleiwa, Waimea, Pupukea, and Sunset Beach before taking a brief rest at the Turtle Bay Hilton. This bus will then continue toward Kahuku, Laie, Hauula, Kahana Bay, Kualoa Park, Kahaluu, Kaneohe and through the Pali tunnels back to the Ala Moana Center where you can easily transfer to the #8 to return to Waikiki and Kuhio Avenue. The Circle Island lines run approximately once every 30 minutes.

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