How to get to Pearl Harbor by bus from Waikiki

ALOHA!

You can totally go to Pearl Harbor without a car on your own, courtesy of the Honolulu bus.

Going from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor by bus means that you’re not going to get there as fast as if you were to drive straight there, but it is convenient enough! There is a bus stop right near the Pearl Harbor entrance. It will take around an hour to go by bus from Waikiki.

To take the direct bus to Pearl Harbor, you can take bus #42 that’s going to Ewa Beach and Arizona Memorial. The bus I was on dropped off in front of the entrance to Pearl Harbor, and then it was a short walk to the visitor center. There are other bus routes that can work out too.

It is a good idea to buy USS Arizona Memorial tickets before you go.

Below I will show you a bit of what it’s like to take the bus to Pearl Harbor, so you can decide if it’s something you want to do!

 

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Waikiki to Pearl Harbor bus route

Google maps, transfers, bus route, bus schedule

 

The best bus route for you will depend on where you’re starting from and your timing. The best way to figure this out is google maps! Use the public transportation option, and play around with it on your phone. It gives a bunch of details, including transfer details and future bus timings. The google maps app is really all you need to take the bus to Pearl Harbor.

There is a direct bus route that goes to Pearl Harbor from Waikiki, and there are also routes that include a transfer. Most of the bus stops in Waikiki are along Kuhio Ave. There’s also a bus stop for a bus that goes to Pearl Harbor across the road from the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Ala Moana Blvd.

For figuring out directions, you can make your destination “Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center” on google maps. Then, adjust the departure time to give a better idea. (map + directions)

 

👆 To get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor will take over an hour by bus. You have options with and without a transfer. Consult google maps to figure out the best bus routes to Pearl Harbor that you want to take! When you’re actually in Waikiki, you can use your current location for directions. Then, when you’re on the bus, you can follow along with GPS to know when your bus stop is coming up!

 

👆 There is a direct bus to Pearl Harbor that you can take from Waikiki. Bus #42 from Waikiki will take around 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Pearl Harbor.

 

👆 Bus #42 to Pearl Harbor comes around every 30 minutes or so. On google maps, you can click on “also at” for the bus schedule of future timings.

 

👆 You can take bus #42 to Pearl Harbor. The bus number is shown big on the front of the bus. In this case, you can also feel relief in knowing it’s the right bus because it even says Arizona Memorial!

 

👆 You can catch a bus that goes to Pearl Harbor near Hilton Hawaiian Village. That’s the Hilton Hawaiian Village across the street.

 

 

Paying the bus fare

HOLO card vs cash

 

As soon as you get on the bus, you will pay the bus fare.

If Pearl Harbor is the only place you’ll be taking the bus on Oahu, you may find it more convenient to simply pay in cash.

You need to pay $3 for every bus ride, and that includes even if you take a transfer. If you make sure you take a direct bus, then it will be cheaper to pay in cash compared to the HOLO card. Exact change is required. See current bus fares.

If you get a direct bus to and from Pearl Harbor, that will be $6 for the round trip transportation to Pearl Harbor.

You can also pay for the bus with a HOLO card. You can get this in Waikiki at any ABC Store, and it costs $2. With a HOLO card, you will start off paying for each bus ride individually, but you will never pay more than the cost of a day pass for taking the bus, which is $7.50. This can be convenient if you’ll be taking the bus on several different days, and/or if you’ll be going to Pearl Harbor in a way that requires a bus transfer.

To pay with cash, look for the spot to insert the money as soon as you get on the bus. To pay with a HOLO card, you’ll look for the spot to tap. With regards to payment, you don’t need to do anything as you are getting off the bus.

 

 

On the bus

Follow google maps, bus stops

 

Once you’re on the bus, sit back and relax!

Follow the bus route on your phone on google maps. This is how you can know if you’re getting close to Pearl Harbor. There will also be announcements and/or a digital sign that indicates the name of the next bus stop. You’ll know the name of your bus stop because it will tell you on google maps.

Once your bus stop is next, you will pull the cord along the side of the window. This indicates to the bus driver to stop at the next bus stop. Once the bus arrives at your bus stop, the doors may not open automatically. If they don’t, touch the door where it says TOUCH HERE when the green light lights up.

 

👆 You can tap “stops” on the google maps app to expand the details and see a list of bus stops before the Pearl Harbor bus stop.

 

 

Walking from the bus stop

Pearl Harbor bus stop

 

The bus gets pretty close to Pearl Harbor.

Once you get off at the Pearl Harbor bus stop, you will just walk right over to the entrance! Depending on the bus route, it will either be at the street entering Pearl Harbor, or just across the main road.

 

👆 One of the bus stops near Pearl Harbor. I was on a bus that dropped off at a bus stop just outside of the Pearl Harbor entrance along the side of the main road.

 

👆 I was on a bus route that required crossing the road to get to the Pearl Harbor entrance. There was a crosswalk, but still, take care!

 

👆 Once you arrive at the Pearl Harbor visitor center, it’s fairly straightforward where to go. Also be aware of the Pearl Harbor bag policy which is basically that no bags are allowed. There is bag storage at Pearl Harbor that you can use to store your bag, backpack, and even luggage.

 

👆 Taking the ferry to the USS Arizona Memorial is THE thing to do at Pearl Harbor. It’s best to get your USS Arizona Memorial tickets before you arrive.

 

👆 You will also want to walk around the free area of Pearl Harbor to learn more about the tragedy along the commemorative circle (above) and the mini-museums. Allow a minimum of 3 hours to do the ferry and free things. Allow lots more time if you want to go to the paid museums!

 

 

Pearl Harbor to Waikiki bus

For going back to Waikiki, the bus stop is on the same side as Pearl Harbor, so you won’t have to cross the main road.

 

👆 The bus directions I got on google maps back to Waikiki had me going to the bus stop along the main road.

 

👆 The King Kamehameha Statue, as seen from the bus. On the way back, I was on a bus that passed by the iconic Hawaii Five-0 landmark. This also means that as part of your Pearl Harbor day trip, it can be perfect to stop by downtown Honolulu for a little walk on your way back to Waikiki!

 

 

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