6 fun things to do by shuttle from Waikiki for your trip to Oahu without a car

ALOHA!

If you’re staying in Waikiki without a car, there’s still plenty you can do on Oahu!

One easy way to get around Oahu if you won’t be renting a car is by shuttle.

There are shuttles from Waikiki that go to many of the most popular attractions on the island.

It is possible to reach all of the places below by public transportation too. The bus is the most budget-friendly way to do classic Hawaii things around Oahu without a car. But the bus system can be slow and may require multiple transfers, depending on where you’re going.

Waikiki shuttles offer a convenient alternative!

 

How shuttle pick-ups work in Waikiki

The shuttles are typically small buses or vans, or even open air trolley-style. They provide you with transportation from Waikiki, and they aren’t fully guided tours.

You’ll get picked up at a Waikiki hotel, dropped off at your activity and have free time on your own, and then picked up again later to go back.

Tour companies have a pre-set list of pick-up locations at hotels around Waikiki, so you’ll likely be just a few minutes walk from one of them.

You might be asked to choose a pick-up location from a list during the booking process. Otherwise, you’ll receive the hotel pick-up options in your confirmation email after you book. You can go to a hotel to be picked up even if you’re not staying there, as you’ll just be standing outside the hotel.

 

Now here are the best places to take a shuttle to from Waikiki that give you time to explore on your own once you get there!

 

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There are partner websites included in this post.

 

 

OAHU DAY TRIPS > WAIKIKI | LUAU | BEST OAHU TOURS

 

 

Unless otherwise noted, the shuttle and transportation listed below is round trip. (Which is basically everything except the airport.)

I’ve also included the reviews of the company. Be sure to read those!

 

1. Pearl Harbor

• Book: Pearl Harbor shuttle
• Pearl Harbor on your own: Waikiki to Pearl Harbor bus

 

A shuttle to Pearl Harbor will give you time to do the free things to do at Pearl Harbor, which will give you important context for the happenings surrounding Pearl Harbor, including before, during, and after.

You’ll also have time to take the boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, which is the Pearl Harbor icon you see in pictures. If you are taking the shuttle, you’ll need to buy the USS Arizona Memorial tickets on your own the day before you go. You need to be quick about it. You’ll also pay for any other museums you want to see.

You can choose the shuttle timings to stay at Pearl Harbor for either 3 hours or 6 hours. With 3 hours, you can do the USS Arizona Memorial, the free mini-museums, and maybe have time to quickly do one of the paid museums. With 6 hours, you’ll have time to more slowly appreciate one or more of the paid Pearl Harbor museums. You can pay for these museums individually once you arrive.

The paid museums include the USS Missouri, the Pacific Aviation Museum, and the Bowfin submarine.

 

There are also Pearl Harbor tours. Many Pearl Harbor tours are basically a shuttle because they mostly just include round-trip transportation, although you usually won’t need to separately buy the USS Arizona tickets if you do book a tour. (Be sure to read the description and reviews to understand what you’re getting.)

There are also Pearl Harbor combo tours that give you extra time to go to both the USS Arizona memorial and the USS Missouri memorial.

The USS Missouri is significant in that it was the site of the formal surrender of Japan, which marked the official end of WWII.

 

👆 To get to Pearl Harbor on your own will take 1 or 2 bus rides from Waikiki. A Pearl Harbor shuttle is another option!

 

Also see: How to get USS Arizona Memorial tickets on your own and Free things to do at Pearl Harbor

 

 

2. Hanauma Bay

• Book: Hanauma Bay shuttle and rental package
  • Ticket not included. You will go early so you can get the limited walk-in tickets.
  • Read the reviews
• Book a guided tour: Transportation with guided Hanauma Bay snorkeling tour
  • Ticket is additional cost

 

A shuttle to Hanauma Bay will give you the round trip transportation, and it will get you to Hanauma Bay early enough to be able to buy the walk-in tickets. The price of the admission tickets is not included in the shuttle cost.

Hanauma Bay is the most popular snorkeling spot on Oahu, and it’s a highly sought out snorkeling destination. If you’re going on your own and/or don’t want to be there when it opens for the walk-in tickets, you need to be ready to buy Hanauma Bay tickets when they go on sale, which is just 2 days before.

 

👆 To get to Hanauma Bay on your own will take 2 bus rides from Waikiki, plus a long walk. The Hanauma Bay shuttle is another option!

 

Also see: Need-to-know Hanauma Bay tips

 

 

3. Manoa Falls

• Book: Shuttle to Manoa Falls
• Manoa Falls on your own: Waikiki to Manoa Falls bus

 

A shuttle to Manoa Falls will get you round trip transportation, and you’ll be given time to hike to the waterfalls on your own.

The Manoa Falls Trail is the best way to do a rainforest/jungle hike without going too far from Waikiki!

 

👆 You can get to Manoa Falls within an hour by bus, and it does require a bus transfer. Or, the Diamond Head shuttle is another option!

 

 

4. Diamond Head

• Book: Shuttle to Diamond Head (ticket included)
• Book a tour: Circle island tour with Diamond Head hike and North Shore
• Diamond Head on your own: Waikiki to Diamond Head bus

 

A shuttle to Diamond Head will give you the round trip transportation, along with the entry tickets, so you won’t need to get them on your own.

Diamond Head is the most popular hike near Waikiki.

Diamond Head tickets go on sale 30 days in advance. If you wait until a day or 2 before you want to go, you might find that they are sold out. In that case, the shuttle can make for a good option so you can still go.

 

👆 To get to Diamond Head on your own is a short bus ride from Waikiki. Or, the Diamond Head shuttle is another option!

 

Also see:

• How to buy Diamond Head tickets on your own
• Best shoes for hiking Diamond Head
• How difficult is the Diamond Head hike

 

See more Oahu hikes without a car.

 

 

5. North Shore

• Book: Shuttle to Waimea Valley or Sunset Beach
  • Sunset Beach is free.
  • Waimea Valley ticket not included. You can buy it when you show up, or you can buy Waimea Valley in advance but I don’t think that’s necessary. See current fees.
  • You’ll choose your drop-off (Waimea Valley or Sunset Beach) when you book.
• Book a tour: Circle island tour with stop at Waimea Falls
• Book: Shuttle to Haleiwa
  • Read the reviews

 

A shuttle to the North Shore is an easy way to see one of Oahu’s most popular day trip without a car. There are shuttles to different spots along the North Shore, depending on your interests.

The shuttle to Waimea Valley will take you to one of the iconic spots on the North Shore. Waimea Valley is known for its waterfalls (Waimea Falls) that you can swim at, along with the botanical gardens that makes for a nice easy walk.

The shuttle to Sunset Beach will give you time at one of the most iconic beaches on the North Shore. In the winter it’s known for big waves.

The shuttle to Haleiwa will give you time to walk around the North Shore’s main town where you will have lots of Hawaii food options.

 

👆 To get to Haleiwa and the North Shore on your own will take 2 hours by bus from Waikiki. The Haleiwa shuttle is another option! Similary, to get to Waimea Falls on your own will take 2+ hours by bus from Waikiki, and there is a Waimea Valley shuttle.

 

 

6. Dole Plantation

• Book: Shuttle to Dole Plantation and Haleiwa
• Book a tour: Circle island tour with Dole Plantation

 

A shuttle to Dole Plantation will give you round trip transportation to Hawaii’s iconic pineapple spot! It is a combo shuttle that will also take you to Haleiwa so you can get some more very-Hawaii food.

 

👆 To get to Dole Plantation on your own will take almost 1.5 to 2 hours by bus from Waikiki. The Dole Plantation shuttle is another option!

 

Also see: How to get to Dole Plantation from Waikiki

 

 

Honolulu Airport shuttle

Finally, you can also book a shuttle for when you arrive at Honolulu Airport. You can book a simple one-way shared shuttle from airport to Waikiki or a private shuttle from the airport to Waikiki.

If you want to make your arrival to Hawaii extra special, you can also get a lei greeting at the airport!

 

To go in the other direction, you can also book a simple one-way shared shuttle from Waikiki to the airport or a one-way private shuttle from Waikiki to the airport.