How to Take an Oahu Scenic Bus Ride

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Last Updated: November 7, 2024 Approved

If you don't have a car on Oahu, but wish to take a scenic ride around the island, there's a way. The downside to it, is that it takes a whole day and some cash.

Steps

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Start at Ala Moana Shopping Center. There's bus stops on both sides of the mall, facing the beach and facing Kapiolani Blvd. Find the bus section for "Leeward/Central".
Catch the "52: Wahiawa-Circle Isle". This bus will go from Ala Moana to the North Shore. Zipping through downtown, you'll be jumping on the H-1. Passing Pearl Harbor from afar, you'll soon be in Mililani. Between Mililani and Haleiwa, you can see fields of sugar cane. The bus will come to Turtle Bay Resort. This trip will take 2 1/2 hours, depending on H-1 traffic. You can get off anywhere along the way and pick up another bus as it comes along - there's one every 30 minutes on the No 52 and 55 route.^{[1]
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If you want to get off the bus and have a look around Haleiwa, get off at about the third announced stop after you turn off the highway to go through the township. It's a little spread out and the first part of the town you come to isn't the main part.
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If you stop off at Waimea Bay, have a look at the surf (recommended!) get off at the stop at the bottom of the hill as you enter the bay. Cross the road (carefully!) and walk back over the bridge and down into the beach park. From there you can walk along the beach towards the small township on the other side of the Bay. There's some steps up to the road and you can walk up the hill and into the township and catch the next bus from there.^{[2]
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This bus stop is where bus drivers turn the bus off and take a break. The break usually goes for 10 to 20 minutes, so stay around and don't wander off.
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Get on the same bus because the driver will change the bus route sign and destination. You will then be on the "55: Honolulu-Ala Moana". Don't worry, you're not going to backtrack back down, but now you're going to see the Windward's coastline. The bus will pass by Kahuku, Polynesian Culture Center (in Laie), and come into Kaneohe. On this route, you can see the famous Chinaman's Hat (Mokolii Island). There are several actual beaches and beach parks along the highway, but most of the places that the water meets with the land, are not "beaches" but more rocks and cliffs. This bus route is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.^{[3]
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Look out for Windward City Shopping Center in Kaneohe. Don't get off at Windward Mall which the bus will come to first. You'll be getting off in front of the Kaiser Koolau Clinic. Walk across the street and to the other side of the shopping center. There's a bus stop right outside of McDonalds. This bus stop will board you on the "56: Honolulu/Ala Moana". This bus runs about every 30 mins but slightly less frequently in the early afternoon. For route and timetable information check out: www.thebus.org.^{[4]
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Kailua is the most populated town on the South-East area. As you come in to Kailua you go down Oneawa St. Listen out for the "Kailua Road and Oneawa" intersection. You'll be getting off in front of Chevron gas station. This bus ride would be about 40 minutes.
Take the "57: Kailua-Sea Life Park". Be careful because other 57 buses stop here but only take one which says Kaikua-Sea Life Park. You'll be going through Enchanted Lakes and into Waimanalo. Waimanalo is the heaviest populated of Hawaiians and other Pacific ethnicities on the Windward side. Watch as you go around a cliff and end up at Sea Life Park - very dramatic scenery. Get off at this stop. This bus ride would be about 30 minutes. These buses run every 20 minutes.^{[5]
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Choose one of the following routes, depending on what you want to see in addition to where your final destination will be.
- "Route 23: Waikiki-Ala Moana": Route 23 starts from Sea Life Park and goes through the residential area of Hawaii Kai. It'll go through Kahala and Waikiki, and its final destination is Ala Moana Shopping Center.
- "Route 22: Waikiki": This bus goes from Sea Life Park and follows the ocean to Hanauma Bay. It then travels to Kahala and its final destination is Waikiki. In order to get back to Ala Moana, you'll need to jump on any bus that goes to the mall, including any airport buses.

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How would I take a bus ride if I am coming from the cruise ship port/landing?

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You can use public transportation or taxis to get to the bus tour from the cruise ship port.

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Tips

If everything goes to plan and you stay within the transfer paper times, this entire trip will cost about $6 per person ($8 if the transfer that you get at Ala Moana expires before you get to Kaneohe).

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If you're not worried about money or time, please do explore each section/town of where you're getting off at and/or transferring. Have some local food for lunch instead of choosing national known places.

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Each time you pay fare, please take/ask for a transfer so that you don't need to pay fare on the next bus. The transfer can only be used once and expires at the cut off time on the paper. The bus driver must rip it from 2 1/2 hours from the current time; some of them will give transfers that expire 3 to 4 hours.

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Warnings

Please do know that food and drinks are not allowed on TheBus. If you do have them, they need to be stored in a certain way. For example, coffee cups are allowed but fast food sodas need to be in a covered bag. Eating isn't tolerated on board, so just wait until you're off the bus.

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