Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 65

constantly expanding, the layout is quite simple and easy to grasp. You can walk
or take the Wiki-Wiki Bus, a free airport shuttle, from your arrival gate to the
main terminal and baggage claim, on the ground level. After collecting your
bags, unless you're getting on an interisland flight immediately, you'll exit to the
palm-lined street, where uniformed attendants can either flag down a taxi or
direct you to TheBus (for transportation information, see below). For Waikiki
shuttles and car rental vans, cross the street to the center island and wait at the
designated stop.
GETTING TO & FROM THE AIRPORT
BY CAR All major rental companies have cars available at the airport. (See
“By Car” under “Getting Around,” in chapter 2.) Rental-agency vans will pick
you up curbside at the center island outside baggage claim and take you to their
off-site lot.
BY TAXI Taxis are abundant at the airport; an attendant will be happy to flag
one down for you. Taxi fare is about $25 from Honolulu International to down-
town Honolulu, about $30 to $40 to Waikiki. If you need to call a taxi, see
“Getting Around,” later in this chapter, for a list of cab companies.
BY AIRPORT SHUTTLE Shuttle vans operate 24 hours a day every day of
the year between the airport and all 350 hotels and condos in Waikiki. The
cheapest shuttle service is The Shuttle ( & 866/900-5005 or 808/955-1156),
with 24-hour service in air-conditioned vans for just $6 from the airport to
Waikiki ($10 round-trip). You'll find the shuttle at street level outside baggage
claim. You can board with two pieces of luggage and a carry-on at no extra
charge. Backpacks are okay. Tips are welcome. For advance purchase of group or
family tickets, call the number above.
BY BUS TheBus nos. 19 and 20 ( WAIKIKI BEACH AND HOTELS ) run from the
airport to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. The first bus from Waikiki to the
airport leaves at 4:50am Monday through Friday and 5:25am Saturday and Sun-
day; the last bus departs the airport for Waikiki at 11:45pm Monday through
Friday, 11:25pm Saturday and Sunday. There are two bus stops on the main ter-
minal's upper level; a third is on the second level of the interisland terminal. We
don't recommend the bus for families because you are only allowed a carry-on
or small suitcase that must fit under the seat and doesn't disrupt other passen-
gers. The approximate travel time to Waikiki is an hour. The one-way fare is $2
for adults and $1 for students ages 6 to 19 (exact change only). For more infor-
mation on TheBus, see “Getting Around,” later in this chapter.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, 2270 Kalakaua Ave., 7th Floor,
Honolulu, HI 96815 ( & 800/GO-HAWAII or 808/923-1811; www.gohawaii.
com), supplies free brochures, maps, accommodations guides, and Islands of
Aloha, the official HVCB magazine. The Oahu Visitors Bureau, 735 Bishop
St., Suite 1872, Honolulu, HI 96813 ( & 877/525-OAHU or 808/524-0722;
www.visit-oahu.com), distributes a free travel planner and map.

OAHU IN BRIEF

Honolulu
Hawaii's largest city looks like any
other big metropolitan center with
tall buildings. But within Hon-

olulu's boundaries, you'll find rain-
forests, deep canyons, valleys,
waterfalls, a nearly mile-high
mountain range, coral reefs, and