Honolulu - Transport

TheBus (tel: (808) 848 5555; website: www.thebus.org), Oahu's excellent mass transit system services the entire island via more than 65 routes. Routes 19 and 20 run between Honolulu International Airport and Waikiki. Buses depart regularly.

Schedules for other routes differ; call for specifics and to find out which ones pass major attractions such as Hanauma Bay, Sea Life Park, Polynesian Cultural Center and the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. There is reduced service on weekends and holidays. Fares are free for children under the age of six, and a Visitor Pass provides unlimited use for four consecutive days.

The open-air Waikiki Trolley (tel: (808) 593 2822; website: www.waikikitrolley.com) operates four lines around Oahu, including stops at major attractions such as Bishop Museum, Chinatown, Iolani Palace, Hanauma Bay, Sea Life Park and Ala Moana Center. Trolleys run from 0830 to 2130. Fares include unlimited boarding and reboarding on all lines. Ask about the pass good for four consecutive days.

Taxis provide transportation to and from almost any area of Oahu. They operate on a meter and aside from Ala Moana Center, the airport and Waikiki hotels where they are readily available, they are best arranged by calling the dispatch line. Charley's Taxi & Tours (tel: (808) 531 1333; website: www.charleystaxi.com) and TheCAB (tel: (808) 422 2222; website: www.thecabhawaii.com) are two of the largest taxi companies on Oahu.

Avis (tel: (808) 834 5536; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (808) 836 1700; website: www.budget.com), Dollar (tel: (808) 944 1544; website: www.dollar.com), Enterprise (tel: (808) 836 2213; website: www.enterprise.com), Hertz (tel: (808) 831 3500; website: www.hertz.com) and National (tel: (808) 834 6350; website: www.nationalcar.com) run shuttles between the airport and their lots.

Check beforehand to see if an international driving licence is required. Some companies allow non-US residents to hire a car by presenting their regular driver's licence and a passport.

Two bike hire companies in Waikiki are Big Kahuna Motorcycle Tours & Rentals (tel: (808) 924 2736; website: www.bigkahunarentals.com) and Coconut Cruisers (tel: (808) 392 1174; website: www.coconutcruisers.com).