- Oahu is home to Hawaii's state's capital of Honolulu, making it easier to get to than other islands.
- An international airport, rental cars, rideshares, and public buses are all readily available.
- Visit Insider's hub for travel guides, tips, and recommendations.
Since Oahu is home to the state's capital of Honolulu, Hawaii's biggest city, getting here and traveling around is easier than on any of the other islands.
I grew up on Oahu, and in my traveling experience, flying to and from Oahu is not nearly as stressful as my time living in New York and flying in and out of John F. Kennedy International Airport.
While Hawaii may have unique restrictions like an agricultural inspection (more on that later), it's a simple drive to the airport, and I've never had to race to catch a flight because of crowds.
Getting to Oahu
Getting to Oahu is pretty straightforward: You have to take a plane. Since Honolulu is home to the state's major flight hub, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, there are usually a bunch of flight options to choose from.
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
This is the only airport on Oahu, and airlines such as Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, and more all service it with regular flights.
Since I like to support local businesses, I prefer to fly Hawaiian Airlines whenever I can. It has direct flights to and from San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Tokyo, Sydney, and other major cities. Hawaiian Airlines also frequently has sales on fares.
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is based on the edge of Honolulu proper, and it takes anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes, depending on traffic, to get to the airport from Waikiki via ride-share, rental car, or shuttle.
GO808Express is a locally owned and operated private airport-shuttle company that services the entire island and starts at $45 for a one-way trip. If you're traveling on a budget, the public bus has two routes you can take — route 20 and route 303 — to go to Pearl City, Kalihi-Palama, or Waikiki. A one-way bus fare for an adult costs $2.75.
Getting around Oahu
At some point on your trip, you're probably going to want to drive to other parts of the island and experience Oahu outside of the cities.
While Waikiki is walkable, Honolulu is not. You can take the bus to different parts of the island and have a good time, but it will take a while to get around.
Instead, I recommend renting a car for at least a day or two, so you can get to the North Shore or Kailua. You can try to travel entirely via rideshare, but the sand from the beach and mud from waterfall hikes might not do your rating any favors, and the costs will add up.
Here are what I consider to be the best options to explore Oahu.
Rental car
The best way to see Oahu is by rental car. This way, you have the freedom to drive from the North Shore to the windward side and everything in between. Plus, you'll be able to pull off at one of the many scenic look-out spots around Oahu, like on the Pali and Kalaniana'ole Highways.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and past travel restrictions limiting tourism, reserving a car anywhere in the state has become difficult and expensive. So while you can browse the major rental-car companies (that have pickup locations at the airport), you may want to consider renting from another person through Turo. Additionally, Lucky Owl Car Rentals is an affordable small business that rents out cars.
Remember, driving in Hawaii is not as aggressive as it is on the mainland, so don't speed, and be kind to other drivers. Throw a "shaka" wave if someone lets you into their lane to show appreciation and respect to the locals; kindness like this goes a long way here.
Car service
If you're planning to stay at your resort for most of your trip, another way to see the island is to use rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. While Oahu definitely has the most drivers, you'll likely still have to wait at least a little while for any ride.
That being said, there are still traditional taxi services, too, like TheCab, which provides rides 24/7 and can be booked ahead of time online.
Public buses
Oahu has one form of public transportation available: The Bus. It's slow but affordable and reliable, and also goes around most of the island. Go to its website to see real-time bus arrivals and transit directions to your destination.
View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting Oahu.