Getting Around Hawaii

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Back to HawaiiGetting Around Hawaii

Interisland Flights

Since September 11, 2001, the major interisland carriers have cut way, way, way back on the number of interisland flights. The airlines warn you to show up at least 90 minutes before your flight, and believe me, with all the security inspections, you will need all 90 minutes to catch your flight.

In 2006, a new airline entered the Hawaiian market: go! (tel. 888/IFLYGO2; www.iflygo.com), owned by Mesa Air Group (which has more than 1,000 flights to 166 cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico). The new airline began service with 50-passenger Bombardier CRJ 200 jets with service from Honolulu to Maui, Kauai, and both Hilo and Kona on the Big Island. go! offers the cheapest interisland fares in Hawaii.

Aloha Airlines, formerly the largest provider of interisland flights, went out of business on March 31, 2008, and is no longer an option. Instead, look to Hawaiian Airlines (tel. 800/367-5320 or 808/835-3700; www.hawaiianair.com), Hawaii's first interisland airline, which has carried more than 100 million passengers to and around the state.

In 2007, visitors to Molokai and Lanai got not one, but two new commuter airlines, which began flying from Honolulu to Molokai and Lanai. go! started a new commuter service from Honolulu to Molokai and Lanai, under the name go!Express, on their new fleet of Cessna Grand Caravan 208B planes. Another commuter airline, Pacific Wings, started operating a discount airline, PW Express (tel. 888/866-5022 or 808/873-0877; www.flypwx.com), with daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and Molokai and Lanai, plus flights from Kahului, Maui, and Molokai.

Island Air (tel. 800/323-3345 or 808/484-2222) serves Hawaii's small interisland airports on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai. However, I have to tell you that I have not had stellar service from Island Air and recommend that you book on go!Express or PW Express if you are headed to Molokai or Lanai.

Overseas visitors can take advantage of the APEX (Advance Purchase Excursion) reductions offered by all major U.S. and European carriers. In addition, some large airlines offer transatlantic or transpacific passengers special discount tickets under the name Visit USA, which allows mostly one-way travel from one U.S. destination to another at very low prices. Unavailable in the U.S., these discount tickets must be purchased abroad in conjunction with your international fare. This system is the easiest, fastest, cheapest way to see the country.

A Cruise through the Islands

If you're looking for a taste of several islands in a single week, consider taking a cruise with Norwegian Cruise Line (tel. 800/327-7030; www.ncl.com), the only cruise line that operates year-round in the Hawaiian Islands.

Norwegian Cruise Line's 2,240-passenger ships Pride of Aloha and Pride of Hawaii have itineraries that circle the Hawaii islands, stopping on the Big Island, Maui, Kauai, and Oahu, and some that actually go to Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati before returning to Honolulu.

The disadvantage of a cruise is that you won't be able to see any of the islands in depth or at leisure; the advantage is that you can spend your days exploring the island where the ship is docked and your nights aboard ship sailing to the next port of call.

By Car

Hawaii has some of the lowest car-rental rates in the country. (An exception is the island of Lanai, where they're very expensive.) To rent a car in Hawaii, you must be at least 25 years of age and have a valid driver's license and credit card. Note: Foreign driver's licenses are usually recognized in the U.S., but you should get an international one if your home license is not in English.

At Honolulu International Airport and most neighbor-island airports, you'll find most major car-rental agencies, including Alamo (tel. 800/327-9633; www.goalamo.com), Avis (tel. 800/321-3712; www.avis.com), Budget (tel. 800/572-0700; www.budget.com), Dollar (tel. 800/800-4000; www.dollarcar.com), Enterprise (tel. 800/325-8007; www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel. 800/654-3011; www.hertz.com), National (tel. 800/227-7368; www.nationalcar.com), and Thrifty (tel. 800/367-2277; www.thrifty.com). It's almost always cheaper to rent a car at the airport than in Waikiki or through your hotel (unless there's one already included in your package deal).

Rental cars are usually at a premium on Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai, and may be sold out on the neighbor islands on holiday weekends, so be sure to book well ahead.

Insurance -- Hawaii is a no-fault state, which means that if you don't have collision-damage insurance, you are required to pay for all damages before you leave the state, whether or not the accident was your fault. Your personal car insurance may provide rental-car coverage; check before you leave home. Bring your insurance identification card if you decline the optional insurance, which usually costs from $12 to $20 a day. Obtain the name of your company's local claim representative before you go. Some credit card companies also provide collision-damage insurance for their customers; check with yours before you rent.

Driving Rules -- Hawaiian state law mandates that all car passengers must wear a seat belt and all infants must be strapped into car seats. You'll pay a $50 fine if you don't buckle up. Pedestrians always have the right of way, even if they're not in the crosswalk. You can turn right on red after a full and complete stop, unless otherwise posted.

Road Maps -- The best and most detailed maps for activities are published by Franko Maps (www.frankosmaps.com); they feature a host of island maps, plus a terrific "Hawaiian Reef Creatures Guide" for snorkelers curious about those fish they spot under water. Free road maps are published by This Week Magazine, a free visitor publication available on Oahu, the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. For even greater road map detail, check out Odyssey Publishing (tel. 888/729-1074; www.hawaiimapsource.com). They have very detailed maps of East and West Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai. Another source of good maps is the University of Hawaii Press maps, which include a detailed network of island roads, large-scale insets of towns, historical and contemporary points of interest, parks, beaches, and hiking trails. If you can't find them in a bookstore near you, contact University of Hawaii Press, 2840 Kolowalu St., Honolulu, HI 96822 (tel. 888/847-7737; www.uhpress.hawaii.edu). For topographic and other maps of the islands, go to the Hawaii Geographic Society, 49 S. Hotel St., Honolulu, or contact P.O. Box 1698, Honolulu, HI 96806 (tel. 800/538-3950 or 808/538-3952).

By Ferry

As we went to press, the Hawaii legislature approved the long-awaited Sperferry (www.hawaiisuperferry.com), scheduled to begin service between Honolulu and Kauai and Honolulu and Maui in summer 2007. If you buy tickets online at least 14 days in advance, fares are $44 off-peak (Tues-Thurs), $55 peak (Fri-Mon) one-way. The regular fare is $52 off-peak or $62 peak. Tickets for children (2-12) and seniors (62 and over) cost $41 off-peak, $51 peak. Tickets for infants under 2 cost $17.

Vehicles are charged separately, in addition to the passenger fares above. The fare for a car or SUV is $59 off-peak, $69 peak.

The 3-hour trip from Honolulu to Maui or Kauai will be offered once daily 6 days a week (no Sat service). The company hopes to add a second ferry in 2009 and a 4 1/2-hour service from Honolulu to the Big Island.