Honolulu, located on the island Oahu, is the State capital of Hawaii, USA. Though Honolulu might be part of the USA, it is more laid-back than any mainland capital. With its blend of sunny charm and legislative gravitas, the downtown area is surprisingly fascinating to explore - make the effort to drag yourself away from the Gidget-and-mai-tai scene of Waikiki.

Despite Honolulu's skyscrapers and traffic jams, it's one of the most laid-back urban centers in America. Add sandy beaches, waving palms and the balmy weather of Waikiki and you've got a great mix of sun-fun and culture, best enjoyed with a multiethnic plate lunch.

Honolulu's annual temperature graph resembles a ripple in a peaceful sea. Temperatures rarely fall beneath 19°C (67°F) and generally stay in the high 20s to high 30s °C (high 60s to high 80s °F) range - perfect sarong weather. Winters may be balmy, but they can get pretty wet.

Honolulu is a great place to visit any time of year. Although Hawaii's busiest tourist season is during winter (December to February), this has more to do with the weather elsewhere, since many visitors are snowbirds escaping cold winters back home. Average temperatures differ very little from winter to summer. June through October is the hottest period, while rainfall is heaviest between December and March - neither extreme is worth worrying over. Daily temperatures in Honolulu average a high of 84°F (29°C) and a low of 70°F (22°C). Hotel prices are lowest between April and mid-December.

If you're a surfer, you won't want to miss the Christmas-time action around O'ahu's North Shore, but if windsurfing or diving is more your thing, you'll find the waters at their calmest at the height of summer (July and August).

Overall, Hawaii is an accommodating destination for travellers with disabilities, and Waikiki in particular is considered one of the more accessible destinations in the USA. Many of the larger hotels throughout Hawaii have wheelchair-accessible rooms and as more of them renovate their facilities, accessibility improves.

General access is getting much better, too. The Waikiki Beach area, for instance, has been extensively renovated with curb cuts and lots of low-profile ramps throughout.

Honolulu's downtown is hostile to cars, friendly to pedestrians - so consider walking or riding the bus rather than driving your way around its attractions, which include the grandeur of Hawaii's royal past and a clutch of worthwhile museums.

Aloha Tower
Tel: (808) 054 537 9260 (info)
Built in 1926 at the edge of the downtown district, the 10-story Aloha Tower is a Honolulu landmark that for years was the city's tallest building. The Aloha Tower's top-floor observation deck offers a sweeping 360-degree view of Honolulu's large commercial harbor. Beneath the tower is the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Cruise ships still disembark at the terminal beneath the tower today.

Bishop Museum
Tel: (808) 847 3511 (info)
Considered the finest Polynesian cultural-and natural-history museum in the world, the Bishop Museum is Hawaii's version of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. The museum was originally founded in 1889 in honor of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, a descendant of the Kamehameha family, and originally housed only Hawaiian and royal artifacts.
Web: www.bishopmuseum.org

Central Waikiki Beach
Between the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Central Waikiki Beach is the area's busiest section of sand and surf is great for sunbathing, swimming and people watching. Most of the beach has a shallow bottom with a gradual slope. The only drawback for swimmers is the beach's popularity with swimmers, beginner surfers and the occasional catamaran, so be careful.

Contemporary Museum
Tel: (808) 526 1322 (info)
Occupying an estate with 3.5 acres of tropical and meditative gardens, the Contemporary Museum is an engaging modern-art museum, with views of Honolulu below. Admission is free every third Thursday of the month. The estate house was constructed in 1925 for Mrs. Charles Montague Cooke, whose other former home is the present site of the Honolulu Academy of Arts. A patron of the arts, she played a founding role in both museums.
Web:www.tcmhi.org

Fort DeRussy Beach
Connected by a footpath to Kahanamoku Beach, Fort DeRussy Beach is one of the least-crowded Waikiki beaches and borders 1800ft of the Fort DeRussy Military Reservation. The water is usually calm and good for swimming. There are two beach huts, open daily, which rent windsurfing equipment, boogie boards, kayaks and snorkel sets. In addition to lifeguards and showers, you'll find an inviting grassy lawn with palm trees offering some sparse shade, providing an alternative to frying on the sand.

Foster Botanical Garden
Tel: (808) 522 7066 (info)
O'ahu's natural heritage is exotic and beautiful. Plants you've only ever read about can be spotted in all their lush greenery at the Foster Botanical Garden, O'ahu's main botanical garden. An impressive 14-acre collection of tropical flora, the garden is laid out according to plant groups: palms, plumeria and poisonous plants.

Hawai'i Heritage Center
Tel: (808) 521 2749 (info)
Local volunteers with family ties to the community run the friendly Hawai'i Heritage Center that covers changing exhibitions of O'ahu's Chinese and other ethnic communities. The center also hosts a historic walking tour of Chinatown.

Hawai'i Maritime Center
Tel: (808) 536 6373 (info)
Near the Aloha Tower, the Hawai'i Maritime Center is a great place to get a sense of Hawaii's history. The museum covers everything from the arrival of Captain Cook to modern-day windsurfing. The center is home to the 60ft Hokule'a, a double-hulled sailing canoe constructed to resemble boats used by Polynesians in their sea migrations.
Web: www.holoholo.org/maritime

Hawaii State Art Museum
Tel: (808) 586 0900 (info)
A long-overdue addition to Honolulu's museum scene, Hawai'i State Art Museum showcases the best of traditional and contemporary art from Hawaii's diverse ethnic artistic community. A variety of artistic styles are on display, from fine art and sculpture to contemporary photography and mixed-media. Revolving exhibits reveal how a blending of Western, Asian and traditional Pacific folk-art forms have shaped a unique island aesthetic.
Web: www.hawaii.gov/sfca

Honolulu Academy of Arts
Tel: (808) 532 8700 (info)
The Honolulu Academy of Arts covers the artistic traditions of almost every continent, with a leading role in the area of Pacific Rim art. The splendid Asian gallery is considered one of the finest Asian art collections in the USA, and it gives almost equal weight to both Japanese and Chinese works, ranging from scenes of Kyoto, painted by the renowned Japanese artist Kano Motohide, to the extensive Ming dynasty collection.
Web: www.honoluluacademy.org

Honolulu Zoo
Tel: (808) 971 7171 (info)
The reputable Honolulu Zoo, at the northern end of Kapi'olani Park, features some 300 species spread across 42 acres of tropical greenery. A highlight is the naturalized African Savanna section, which has lions, cheetahs, white rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos and monkeys. The zoo also has an interesting reptile section, a good selection of tropical birds (including native Hawaiian birds) and a small petting zoo for children.

Kahanamoku Beach
Fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Kahanamoku Beach is protected by a breakwater at one end and a pier at the other, with a coral reef running between the two. It's a calm swimming area with a gently sloping sandy bottom. It was named for Duke Kahanamoku, a surfer and swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal in the 100m freestyle in 1912, and went on to become a Hawaiian celebrity and legend.

Kaka'ako Waterfront Park
South of downtown Honolulu and just off Ala Moana Blvd at the end of Cooke St, little Kaka'ako Waterfront Park is protected from much of the city noise by a small grassy rise. Roller bladers cruise along the rock-fringed promenade, which offers clear views of Diamond Head, Waikiki and Honolulu Harbor. The 28-acre park attracts experienced surfers in the morning and picnickers in the afternoon.

Kawaiaha'o Church
Tel: (808) 522 1333 (info)
O'ahu's oldest church, Kawaiaha'o Churchwas built on the site where the first missionaries built a grass-thatch church shortly after their arrival in 1820. The original structure seated 300 people on lauhala mats, woven from hala (pandanus) leaves.

Kuan Yin Temple
Tel: (808) 533 6361 (info)
Near the entrance of Foster Botanical Garden, the Kuan Yin Temple is a bright-red Buddhist temple with a green ceramic-tile roof. The ornate interior is richly carved and filled with the sweet, pervasive smell of burning incense. The temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, Goddess of Mercy, whose statue is the largest in the prayer hall.

Lyon Arboretum
Tel: (808) 988 0456 (info)
Nature trails wind through the highly regarded Lyon Arboretum founded in 1918 and managed by the University of Hawai'i. Dr Harold Lyon is credited with introducing 10,000 exotic trees and plants to Hawaii. Approximately half of these are represented in this 193-acre arboretum. This is not a landscaped tropical flower garden, but a mature and largely wooded arboretum where related species are clustered in a seminatural state.
Web: wwwdev.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum

Mission Houses Museum
Tel: (808) 531 0481 (info)
Containing three of the original buildings of the Sandwich Islands Mission headquarters, the Mission Houses Museum is authentically furnished with handmade quilts on the beds, settees in the parlor and iron cooking pots in the stone fireplaces. Erected in 1821, the Lyman Mission House is the oldest wooden structure in Hawaii.

O'ahu Market
The busy and colourful Chinatown district was settled around 1860 by Chinese immigrants who had worked off their sugarcane plantation contracts. Its bustling heart is the 1904 O'ahu Market, where you can get tattooed, consult with an herbalist, explore the temples and antique shops or eat at inexpensive restaurants. While Chinatown is a fun place to explore during the day, walking around at night is not recommended due to drug and gang activity.

Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park
For a marvelous panoramic view over Honolulu, visit Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park. The park entrance is 2.5 miles up Round Top Dr from Makiki St. It's half a mile in to the lookout; bear to the left when the road forks. The sweeping view extends from Kahala and Diamond Head on the far left, across Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, to the Wai'anae Range on the right. If you're taking photos, the best time is during the day; however, this is also a fine place to watch the evening settle over the city. Arrive half an hour before dusk to see the hills before they're in shadow.

Queen Emma Summer Palace
Tel: (808) 595 6291 (info)
Queen Emma was consort of Kamehameha IV and the Summer Palace is open to the public as a historic house museum. Forgotten after her death in 1885, the home was to be razed in 1915, because the estate was being turned into a public park. The Daughters of Hawaii, whose members are descendants of early missionaries, rescued it and now operate it as a museum.
Web: www.daughtersofhawaii.com

Royal Mausoleum
Tel: (808) 587 0300 (info)
Housing the remains of Kings Kamehameha II, III, IV and V, as well as King David Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani (Hawaii's last reigning monarchs), is the Royal Mausoleum. Conspicuously absent are the remains of Kamehameha the Great, the last king to be buried in secret in accordance with Hawaii's old religion. Built in 1864, the original mausoleum is now a chapel; the caskets are in nearby crypts. Other gravestones honor Kamehameha I's British confidant John Young and American Charles Reed Bishop, husband of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

St Andrew's Cathedral
Tel: (808) 524 2822 (info)
The French Gothic St Andrew's Cathedral was King Kamehameha IV's personal homage to the architecture and faith of the Church of England. The construction of stone and glass was shipped from England and the impressive window of hand-blown stained glass forms the western facade reaching from the floor to the eaves. In the right-hand section of the stained glass the Reverend Thomas Staley, the first bishop sent to Hawaii by Queen Victoria, stands with Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma. Historic tours are typically scheduled after the 10:00 service, but call ahead to confirm.

US Army Museum of Hawai'i
Tel: (808) 955 9552 (info)
The US Army Museum of Hawai'i traces the military history of consolidation of power under King Kamehameha in the 1700s to the US army's ongoing role on the island. Located at Fort DeRussy Military Reservation, the museum occupies Battery Randolph, a reinforced concrete building erected in 1911 as a coastal artillery battery.
Web: www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org

USS Arizona Memorial
Tel: (808) 422 2771 (info)
One of the most significant WWII attractions in the USA, the USS Arizona Memorial presents the history of the Pearl Harbor attack and commemorates the fallen service members. Run by the National Park Service, the memorial comprises two sections: the mainland visitor center and offshore shrine.
Web: www.nps.gov/usar

USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
Tel: (808) 423 1341 (info)
Run by a private nonprofit organization, this park contains the moored WWII-era USS Bowfin submarine as well as the Pacific Submarine Museum. Launched in 1942, the Bowfin completed nine war patrols and sank 44 ships in the Pacific before the end of WWII.
Web: www.bowfin.org

USS Missouri
Tel: (808) 423 2263 (info)
The decommissioned battleship USS Missouri, nicknamed 'Mighty Mo,' provides a unique historical 'bookend' to the US campaign in the Pacific during WWII. If you're a history buff the USS Missouri is a worthwhile sight, but if your time or money is limited a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial will suffice. The 887ft-long USS Missouri launched near the end of WWII and served as a flagship during the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Web: www.ussmissouri.org

Honolulu boasts a range of markets, marketplaces and warehouses. Ranging from handsome to kitsch, they offer everything from tacky souvenirs to fine crafts - and of course there are also many places to eat and drink to your hearts' content.

Ala Moana Center
Tel: (808) 955 9517 (info)
Holy fashion, this attractive open-air shopping mall could compete on an international runway with some of Asia's most famous malls. And the shoppers are top-shelf fashionistas, stocking up on couture. The usual mall anchors are here (Sears and Macy's), as are the designer name brands (you name it) and the trendy teen brands (Abercrombie & Fitch).
Web: www.alamoanacenter.com

Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
Tel: (808) 486 6704 (info)
The Aloha Stadium, best known as the host to nationally televised football games and music concerts, transforms itself three days a week (Wed, Sat & Sun) into Hawaii's biggest and best swap meet. For local flavour, it's hard to beat, with some 1500 vendors selling an amazing variety of items, from beach gear and bananas to T-shirts and old Hawaii license plates.

Aloha Tower Marketplace
Tel: (808) 566 2337 (info)
This handsome harbourfront shopping centre is anchored by the 56m (184ft) Aloha Tower, built in 1926 to greet arriving cruise ships. Today the two-storey marketplace, with over 75 open-air shops and kiosks, is a theme mall with many Hawaiiana or only-in Hawaii shops. Some of Hawaii's best musicians perform at several of the waterfront restaurants and lounges.
Web: www.alohatower.com

Bailey's Antique & Aloha Shop
Tel: (808) 734 7628 (info)
Great shop for the eclectic collector, Bailey's covers the evolution of the aloha shirt from vintage 1920s when kimono silk was used to the 1970s polyester specials. Of the new generation of shirts, Bailey's only carries Hawaii-made labels, including Kona Bay and Pineapple Juice.

International Market Place
Tel: (808) 923 9871 (info)
For the ultimate in tourist trinket shopping, try this busy and rambling open air collection of clothing and jewellery stalls, palm trees and snack shops, all in the heart of Waikiki. You'll find everything from seashell necklaces and refrigerator magnets to T-shirts and Hawaiian music CDs.
Web: www.internationalmarketplacewaikiki.com

Lai Fong Department Store
Tel: (808) 781 8140 (info)
For antiques, junk and kitsch, a great place to browse is Lai Fong Department Store, which sells a variety of antiques and knick-knacks, including Chinese silk clothing, Oriental porcelain and old postcards of Hawaii dating back to the first half of the 20th century.

Shung Chong Yuein
Tel: (808) 531 1983 (info)
Shung Chong Yuein sells delicious moon cakes, almond cookies and other tasty pastries at bargain prices. This is also the place to buy dried and sugared foods - everything from candied ginger and pineapple to candied squash and lotus root. Come early before the counters are emptied by loyal customers.

Honolulu has a lively entertainment scene. Most of the action occurs in downtown Honolulu, Waikiki, around the university and the Ala Moana Center. The gay scene revolves around Waikiki. There's also a symphony orchestra, opera company, ballet troupes and chamber orchestras.

Blaisdell Center
Tel: (808) 527 5400 (info)
The Center presents concerts, Broadway shows and family events, such as the Honolulu Symphony and the American Ballet Theatre, and occasional big-name rock musicians, such as Sting.
Web: www.blaisdellcenter.com

Brew Moon
Tel: (808) 593 0088 (info)
This high-energy place (1200 Ala Moana Blvd) might feel a little contrived in the midst of tidy Ward Center, but the homemade beers are a requisite pick for the microbrew crowd. The pub menu also gets a nod from the city's roaming stomachs. Watch for wallet-friendly happy hour specials. There's a second location in Waikiki: above the Local Motion shop (1958 Kalakaua Ave).

Duke's Canoe Club
Tel: (808) 922 2268 (info)
This beachside courtyard is Waikiki's most popular venue for contemporary Hawaiian music. There's entertainment featuring the biggest names - including Kapena and Henry Kapono. It's a great scene with lots of drunken souvenir photo-taking and vacationland camaraderie. The food ain't bad either.
Web: www.dukeswaikiki.com

Formaggio
Tel: (808) 739 7719 (info)
The neighborhood of Kaimuki leads Honolulu in early adaptation of international trends and this wine-and-cheese bar (2919 Kapi'olani Blvd) pairs a sip of Italian sophistication along with a tumbler of mellow Hawaii. With a soundtrack of smooth jazz, the local crowd savors conversation and spirits are not just a race to oblivion.

Hanks Cafe Honolulu
Tel: (808) 526 1410 (info)
You can't get more low-key than at this neighborhood bar on the edge of Chinatown. Owner Hank Taufaasau is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to the barfly business: the walls are decorated with Polynesian-themed art, live music rolls in nightly and regulars have made it home.

Hawaii Theatre
Tel: (808) 528 0506 (info)
In a beautifully restored historic building on the edge of Chinatown, this is a major venue for dance, music and theater. Performances range from top contemporary Hawaiian musicians, to modern dance and film festivals. It also hosts the Ka Himeni Ana competition in which famous Hawaii musicians play in the falsetto style.
Web: www.hawaiitheatre.com

Hideaway
Tel: (808) 682 2731 (info)
You don't really know a city until you've visited a few dive bars and The Hideaway is Honolulu's most beloved drinking hole. It is also oddly close to Waikiki but only shows up in a very few drunken vacation snapshots. The crowd is mainly a steady supply of regulars who feel at home with cheap beer and an eclectic jukebox.

House Without a Key
Tel: (808) 923 2311 (info)
From within the confines of the Halekulani Hotel, House Without a Key (2199 Kalia Rd) attracts a nostalgic crowd who gather at its open-air bar for sunset cocktails, Hawaiian music and hula dancing by two former Miss Hawaii winners.

Indigo
Tel: (808) 521 2900 (info)
This popular nouveau restaurant and its affiliated nightclub (1121 Nu'uanu Ave) put the 'life' back into Honolulu's nights. Divided into different theme lounges, Indigo mixes cocktails in the Opium Den & Champagne Bar and spins tunes in the Green Room. Jazz and live music are featured during the week, and electronica is slotted for the weekend.

Kapahulu Kafe
Tel: (808) 732 7486 (info)
Why rot your guts with the fermented juices when you can chill-out with Hawaii's homegrown stimulant, kava? Between the University and Waikiki, this kava bar is a mellow introduction to the herbal drink, plus an arty venue for a weekly calendar of local acoustic acts.
Web: www.kapahulukafe.com

Kuhio Beach Torch Lighting & Hula Show
Tel: (808) 843 8002 (info)
Some of O'ahu's best hula troupes perform at the sacred hula mound near the Duke Kahanamoku Statue on the Waikiki strip. Other performances include traditional torch lighting and conch shell ceremony, and Hawaiian music. The shows are sponsored by the Mayor's Office of Culture & Arts (www.honolulu.gov/moca).

Lewers Lounge
Tel: (808) 923 2311 (info)
Waikiki as an aristocratic playground is still alive in this sophisticated lounge. Cocktails are made from scratch using fresh (not canned) juices, including tropical flavors like lychee and ginger. And the famed jazz bassist Bruce Hamada and his trio provide a smooth jazz serenade most nights.

Mai Tai Bar
Tel: (808) 947 2900 (info)
A happening bar in the middle of a shopping center? We don't make the trends, we just report them, and during Friday happy hours this suburban-style bar is packed with a see-and-flirt crowd. It has consistently won people's choice awards in various bar surveys, thanks to easy parking and access to retail therapy.
Web: www.maitaibar.com

Movie Museum
Tel: (808) 735 8771 (info)
This Kaimuki gem at 3566 Harding Ave is a fun place to watch classic oldies, such as Citizen Kane and Casablanca, in a theater with just 20 comfy chairs. Movies are shown Thursday to Monday evenings and weekend afternoons. Reservations are recommended.

Paradise Lounge
Tel: (808) 949 4321 (info)
On Friday or Saturday nights, head to 2005 Kalia Rd and catch Jerry Santos and Olomana, one of the classic Hawaiian groups performing today.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel Luau
Tel: (808) 931 8383 (info)
So you've got your heart set on a 'genuine' luau? Make it easy on yourself: expect touristy, stay close to home and pick the prettiest setting. Voilà, the Royal Hawaiian holds the only oceanfront luau in Waikiki amidst its elegant grounds. There are no long bus rides, the food is decent and the performances professional - and the price tag is no joke.

Side Street Inn
Tel: (808) 591 0253 (info)
High hopes might be dashed upon arrival at this back-alley bar and restaurant (1225 Hopaka St), but the industrial location is part of the charm. Basically a sports bar for a local crowd, Side Street has muscled its way on to night-hoppers agenda with its pan-fried pork chops, mellow atmosphere and late-night following.

Tiki's Grill & Bar
Tel: (808) 923 8454 (info)
At the top end of the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel, Tiki's Bar & Grill is a good place to enjoy a drink and pupu (snack), or catch live music in the afternoon and see out the day in style as the sun sets over nearby Waikiki Beach.
Web: www.tikisgrill.com

Honolulu's and Waikiki's beaches are good for swimming year round, though the surf can get rough from June to August. If crashing waves are what brought you here, the island boasts hundreds of surfing locales smack dab in Waikiki or along the famed North Shore. There are also plenty of spots for boogie boarding, bodysurfing, windsurfing, snorkelling and diving.

Cycling
The Hawaii Bicycling League (www.hbl.org) holds rides around O'ahu nearly every weekend, ranging from 16km (10mi) jaunts to 100km (60mi) treks. Rides are free and open to the public.

Golf
Honolulu has several 18-hole municipal golf courses. Green fees for 18 holes at any of these municipal golf courses start at around USD45.00 per person. Golf clubs and carts are available for an extra charge.

Hiking
Many first-time visitors to Honolulu are surprised by the city's boundaries; there don't seem to be any! But head inland, and within a few miles you are winding up the lush green valleys, accompanied by passing showers and rainbows. Excellent hiking trails cover the area.

Watersports
The two-mile stretch of white sand running from Hilton Hawaiian Village to Kapiolani Park is commonly called Waikiki Beach, although different sections have their own names and characteristics. Waikiki is good for swimming, boogie boarding, surfing, sailing and other beach activities most of the year, and there are lifeguards and showers interspersed along the beach. Between May and September, the summer swells make the water a little rough for swimming, but great for surfing. The best snorkelling is in the area toward Diamond Head at Sans Souci beach.

Honolulu has an incredible variety of restaurants that mirror the city's multiethnic composition. If you know where to look it can also be quite cheap. Get out of the tourist areas and join the locals.

With a plethora of lodging options, tourists can either scrimp at a basic backpackers' hostel or splurge at an oceanfront resort.

Honolulu is a major Pacific hub and an intermediate stop on many flights between the US mainland and Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Passengers on any of these routes are usually allowed to make a stopover in Honolulu, and because of Hawaii's central Pacific location, Honolulu can be included on most round-the-world and Circle Pacific tickets. There are frequent flights from Honolulu to the Neighbor Islands of Maui, Kaua'i, the Big Island, Moloka'i and Lanai.

There are several Hawaii-bound cruises that dock in Honoluu: the Royal Caribbean International operates Rhapsody of The Seas from Ensenada, Mexico, and Radiance of the Seas from Los Angeles, California; Norwegian Cruise Line operates Pride of America and Pride of Aloha, both inter-island cruises; and Cunard's Queen Elizabeth II, which sets sail from San Francisco, California.

Would-be smugglers should know that all luggage and carry-on bags leaving or entering Honolulu for the US mainland are checked by an agricultural inspector using an X-ray machine. You can take out pineapples and coconuts, but most other fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers are banned. Seeds, fruits and plants that have been certified and labelled for export aren't a problem. There are no departure taxes to pay when leaving Hawaii.

TheBus is Honolulu's public bus network. Its routes branch across the island, with each line's destination written above the bus' windshield. The Ala Moana Center is the central transfer point. O'ahu is not a big island, and few places are more than an hour's drive from Honolulu. If you plan on spending all your time in the resorts of Waikiki, forget about renting, but if you plan to get beyond the city limits, a car is the easiest way to do it. Taxis wait at most major downtown hotels and at the airport. Otherwise, you'll need to phone for a cab. Bikes are available for rent in Honolulu and Waikiki, and most bike shops provide maps, helmets and locks.

Bicycle
Thanks to the student population at University of Hawaii, Manoa, there are lot's of bike and moped riders. In order to bike around the entire island, you'll want some savvy touring skills as roads can be narrow and winding.

Bus
Overall, the buses are in excellent condition - clean and air-conditioned - though buses on popular routes tend to be packed and their pace is always dawdling. Setting your watch by this system gives you nothing but a good sense of Hawaiian time.

TheBus runs frequent routes in Waikiki. Most of the Waikiki bus stops are along Kuhio Ave. Bus Nos 8, 19, 20 and 58 run between Waikiki and la Moana Center. It's hardly worth checking timetables; one comes by every few minutes. If you're heading to the 'Iolani Palace area from Waikiki, the most frequent and convenient bus is No 2. To go directly to Aloha Tower Marketplace or the Hawaii Maritime Center from Waikiki, take bus No 19 or 20. To get to Chinatown by bus from Waikiki, you can take bus No 2 or 13 to N Hotel St in the centre of Chinatown, or bus No 19 or 20 to River St on the western edge of Chinatown.

Car
Parking cheaply in Waikiki can be a challenge. Many hotels charge a fistful for parking, but Waikiki Banyan at Kuhio St charges US$8.00 per day for in and out privileges. However, there is free parking on the outskirts of Waikiki, and parking lots at Ala Wai Yacht Harbor at the west end and, at the east end, along Montserrat Ave at Kapiolani Park.

Motorcycle
Urbanites will find mopeds a good way of getting around Waikiki.

Tram
The Waikiki Trolley is an expensive, tourist-laden open-air bus geared primarily for sightseeing shopaholics. The attraction-lined route between Waikiki's Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and downtown Honolulu is narrated.

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