How to take the local Lanikai bus 671 from Kailua Beach

ALOHA!

Bus route #671 is the local bus that makes a loop around the Lanikai neighborhood. There are several bus stops throughout Lanikai, including near Lanikai Beach and the Lanikai pillbox trailhead. The bus can get you as close as 1-2 minutes of walking. You can get on the bus at Kailua Beach or in Kailua town. As a small neighborhood route, the bus doesn’t come around often.

If you’re doing a day trip to Lanikai from Waikiki, Kailua Beach makes for a good transit point.

If you’re on Oahu without a car, you can take the bus to Kailua Beach. If you’re renting a car, it’s also common to park at Kailua Beach to go to Lanikai if you’re driving. Lanikai Beach has no bathroom, so that’s another reason it can be a good idea to stop at Kailua Beach before you go!

From Kailua Beach, it is reasonable to walk to Lanikai Beach and to the Lanikai pillbox trailhead. Both are a 15 minute walk or so.

But in case you want to minimize your walking as much as possible, the local Lanikai bus is available.

More below on what you need to know about taking the bus to Lanikai!

 

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Lanikai bus route

Google maps, bus stops, bus schedule

 

The easiest way to figure out where the bus stops are located, as well as the bus schedule, is google maps! Use the public transportation option, and play around with it on your phone. It gives a bunch of details. You can zoom in to see where the little bus stop icons are located, and you can also see how often the bus comes by looking at the future timings.

The google maps app is really all you need to take the bus to Lanikai. But, you can also take a look at the bus 671 schedule on the City and County of Honolulu website.

For figuring out directions using the google maps app, you can use a Kailua Beach parking lot or the bus stop near it as the starting point. There are 2 parking lots.

The bus stop called Kawailoa Rd + Opp Kailua Beach Park is near the main lot called Kailua Beach parking on google maps.

The bus stop called Alala Rd + Opp Kawailoa Rd is near the smaller parking lot called Lanikai Beach or Kailua Beach Boat Ramp.

You’ll want to adjust the departure time to give you a better idea. (map + directions)

 

👆 Lanikai bus schedule: Bus #671 to Lanikai comes around every 45 minutes or so. On the google maps app, you can click on “also at” for the bus schedule of future timings.

 

👆 You can catch the bus to Lanikai around town in Kailua or at Kailua Beach.

 

 

Bus stop near Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach has several beach access paths, so the best bus stop for Lanikai Beach will depend on which one you want to go to. Generally speaking, the part of the beach further away from Kailua tends to be quieter.

There is a bus stop pretty much right at the Haokea Drive access, which is one of the beach paths that’s further away. The bus stop at this Lanikai Beach access is called Mokulua Dr + Opp Haokea Dr. Basically once you get off the bus, you can immediately start your walk to the beach, and you are there!

You can zoom in on google maps to look for the beach access and nearby bus stops.

 

👆 You can check google maps for the bus directions to Lanikai Beach. There is a bus stop right near the beach access.

 

👆 There are bus stops near Lanikai Beach. That’s a yellow bus stop sign in the Lanikai neighborhood.

 

👆 It’s just a 1-2 minute walk to Lanikai Beach from a bus stop!

 

 

Bus stop near Lanikai pillbox hike

The closest bus stop to the Lanikai pillbox hike is the bus stop called Aalapapa Dr + Kaelepulu Dr. Once you get off the bus, you are at the trailhead with a 3 minute walk. For bus directions, you can use that bus stop or Lanikai Pillbox Trail which indicates the start of the hike.

 

👆 You can check google maps for the bus directions to the Lanikai pillbox hike. There is a bus stop 3 minutes from the trailhead.

 

👆 There’s a bus stop near the Lanikai pillbox trailhead. From the bus stop, you’ll turn down the road to walk to the Lanikai pillbox trailhead. You’ll be there in less than 5 minutes!

 

👆 It’s just a few minutes walk to the Lanikai pillbox hike from a bus stop!

 

 

Paying the bus fare

HOLO card vs cash

 

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

If you’re taking the bus to Kailua from Waikiki, then the easiest and best way to pay for the bus is with a HOLO card. You can get this in Waikiki at any ABC Store.

With a HOLO card, you will never pay more than the cost of a day pass for taking the bus, which is $7.50.

Without a HOLO card, you will pay $3 in cash for every bus ride you take. (Exact change required.) So if you take 3 bus rides to get to Lanikai (the amount it takes to go from Waikiki), and 3 bus rides to get back, then that’s $18 for the bus if you’re paying in cash to get to and from Lanikai. See current bus fares.

If you’re driving to Kailua, and the bus to Lanikai is going to be the only time you’re taking the bus on Oahu, then you may find it more convenient to pay in cash. You will need to be ready to pay $3 in exact change both ways.

You can tap your HOLO card as soon as you get on the bus. To pay with cash, look for the spot to insert the money. 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, it will be just a few minutes until your bus stop!

Follow the bus route on your phone on google maps. This is how you can know if you’re getting close to your Lanikai bus stop. 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 your Lanikai bus stop.

 

👆 Inside the bus to Lanikai.

 

👆 When your bus stop is next, you will pull the cord to signal to the bus driver to stop at the next bus stop.

 

👆 You’ll get confirmation of your bus stop request!

 

 

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