Travel tips for Honolulu and Oahu
Everything you need to know before visiting Honolulu and the wider island — money, transport, taxes and when to go.
Planning essentials
Visas, budgets, packing, eSIMs and the cultural etiquette worth knowing before you land.
Getting around
HNL as the main gateway, and why a rental car covers the North Shore, the windward coast and the leeward coast best.
When to go
A hot, dry summer from June to September and a milder, wetter winter from December to February, when north shore surf swells and whales pass offshore. Month-by-month guides to what to expect.
Good to know about planning a trip to Honolulu
gov. 5% general excise tax on goods and activities, plus a hotel night carries an additional lodging tax that brings the total to around 18-19% once the state and county surtaxes are combined. Getting around is where the real planning sits: a rental car isn't needed for a Waikiki-only stay, since hotel parking runs 45-75 USD a night on top of the resort fee, but it suits trips to the North Shore, the windward coast or a full island loop; TheBus covers the whole island, including the North Shore, cheaply but slowly; and the Skyline rail line already reaches Pearl Harbor and the airport but doesn't yet run into town or Waikiki. The one realistic way in is Daniel K.
Inouye International Airport (HNL), about ten kilometres and twenty to thirty minutes from Waikiki by car, with the Skyline's Lelepaua station also serving the terminal. Weather shapes the trip less than in cooler destinations: the dry season runs May to October with 29-31°C days, the wetter season runs November to April with 26-27°C days, and the tropical cyclone season runs June through November, when the steady trade winds can drop and humidity can build. The emergency number is 911, and the legal drinking age is 21 with identification checked routinely. Tap water is safe and drinks perfectly well straight from the tap.
Driving is on the right, and distances on the ground are given here in kilometres with miles noted where they help behind the wheel. Tipping is expected in restaurants, typically 18-22%, plus a dollar or two per bag and two to five dollars per night for housekeeping. Bargaining isn't expected anywhere — prices in shops, restaurants and markets are fixed.
Frequently asked questions about planning a trip to Honolulu
Do I need a visa to visit Honolulu?
Most visitors from visa-waiver countries don't need a visa, but they do need an ESTA approved before departure, requested only at esta.cbp.dhs.gov and checked against passport validity for the whole trip. Requirements and exemptions can change, so confirm the current rule for your own passport well ahead of booking.
What currency should I bring, and do I need cash?
The US dollar is the only currency used, and prices are shown before tax, with sales tax and a tourist surtax added at the till. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but keeping a little cash on hand helps for tips, parking attendants and smaller roadside stalls.
How do I get around Honolulu without a rental car?
A rental car is the easiest option for reaching the North Shore, the windward coast or a full island loop, since public transit is slow to cover them. Around Waikiki and urban Honolulu, TheBus and the Biki bike-share cover shorter trips, and the Skyline handles part of the transfer from HNL.
When is hurricane season, and will it affect my trip?
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with the highest risk in September, and it can bring flight disruptions with only a day or two of warning. Outside that window, the dry season runs May to October with days around 29-31°C, while the wetter season from November to April brings cooler days around 26-27°C and more rain.
Is tap water safe to drink, and what plugs do I need?
Tap water across Honolulu and Oahu is safe to drink straight from the tap, including in hotel rooms, so bottled water isn't necessary. Outlets use standard US plugs, so visitors from outside North America will need an adapter, and often a voltage converter for larger appliances.
Tours for your first trip to Oahu on GetYourGuide
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