Getting Around Oahu
Arriving in Oahu
Arriving at the airport, there are a few options to get to Waikiki. The most common being taxi service. Average cab fare to Waikiki is about $30 + tip. If you are worried about the cost, you can usually request a flat rate instead of the metered rate. The taxis line up right outside of baggage claim. If on a budget, you can try to find someone to split a cab with as well. With no traffic, this drive should take about 15-20 minutes.
Another option are the shuttles to Waikiki. The shuttles can be worthwhile while travelling alone, as the fee is usually about $12 per person, or $24 for two. If you have a party of 2 or more, I find a taxi to be more worthwhile for slightly more money. One thing to consider with the shuttles are that they usually take a little longer to get to your hotel. Not only do they literally drive slower, but depending on where your hotel is along their drop off schedule, you may spend an extra 30 or so minutes on the shuttle while they drop everyone else off.
The third option from the airport would be to rent a car directly from the airport. If renting a car, which can be very convenient, keep in mind that parking can prove to be expensive and inconvenient at your hotel and around Waikiki.
The final option is the good old bus. Here on Oahu, it's literally called, The Bus. The bus should run you only a few bucks and can take you straight in to Waikiki. The biggest down side with taking the bus is that is takes quite long to get to your destination. The last time I tried this, it took over an hour to get to the hotel in Waikiki
Getting Around if Staying in Waikiki
One of the great things about staying in Waikiki is it's convenient location. Waikiki is just over 1 mile long and about a quarter mile wide. If you don't mind walking, I would suggest walking around. Even a walk to the Ala Moana Shopping Center would not be too long, about 1.8 miles at Waikiki's furthest point.
Taxis are plentiful within Waikiki and the surrounding areas. A quick ride from one side of Waikiki to the other would cost roughly $5 + tip, which is cheaper than many other states I have lived in, including California's Bay Area. I personally choose to use Pony Taxi. They are a Korean owned taxi company, but most drivers speak decent to better English. I have always found them to be clean, trustworthy, and on time. I'd suggest saving their number on your phone so you could call them for a pickup, rather than always trying to flag down a taxi. Pony Taxi's phone number is 808-944-8282. (FYI, I do not get any compensation for this, I simply like their service which is why I suggest it).
The bus system in Honolulu, appropriately called The Bus, is quite good. They are cheap and easily available. That being said, I personally am not a fan of using The Bus. I find that as long as I've spent a considerable amount of money getting to Hawaii and time is limited, I prefer to not have to spend any extra time waiting for the bus and dealing with the slower travel times.
Car rentals are abundant at the airport and in Waikiki. I find Dollar, Thrifty, and Enterprise to be the best priced typically. It never hurts to ask for a discounted rate or free upgrade. Convertibles and Jeep Wranglers will usually have to be reserved in advance due to the high demand, but it does make for a great experience. Keep in mind if renting a car, most hotels have an extra charge ranging from $10-$30 a night for parking. There are often ads in the travel books for ridiculously cheap, independent car rentals, I usually consider these to be tourist traps. The final price will usually be higher than advertised and the car you get will often be a real "beater".
Even if you stay in Waikiki for your trip, I usually suggest renting a car for at least a day or two to be free to visit the many sites further away.
There are moped and motorcycle rentals available in Waikiki. Both can cost a bit more but are just so fun. To rent a motorcycle you MUST have a valid motorcycle license. They usually cost considerably more than $100 a day. Moped costs will typically be about $20 for a couple hours or about $45 for a full day. Keep in mind, you can get pretty far on a moped, but you can not go around the whole island (legally) and they are not freeway legal. The same rental spots often rent Lovebugs, little seated 3 wheelers with moped motors. These can be fun, but are really slow. Sometimes dangerously slow. If you can ride it, I'd definitely suggest the moped over the Lovebug.
There are many deals/attractions that are packaged with transportation. A few examples are Hanauma Bay Snorkeling, many of the Luau's, and Circle Island Tours. Even if you opt not to rent a car, you can still try to make arrangements to see some sights further away.
Lastly, there is the Waikiki Trolley. It can be fun, but won't be the most cost effective for all visitors. Here is their price list:
Uber / Lyft
Uber and Lyft are now in Oahu and are a great way to get around. That said, I believe the can not do pick ups at the airport. It is my understanding that at this time, the ride sharing companies are allowed to do drop offs to the airport or to do pickups outside the airport. That being said, I can only suggest them for drop offs to the airport.
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