Deciding to rent a car – or not – depends on what you plan to do and which islands you plan to visit in addition to Oʻahu.  Most car rental companies operate at the airports for convenient pick up and drop off.  The full range of vehicle options are available, and navigating island roads is easy with GPS and free maps provided by rental companies.

Hawaiian citizens ask that visitors help to preserve the harmonious way of life on the islands, and protect its fragile ecology.  Consider your need to hire a car for this trip in the Hawaiian spirit of kuleana (responsible travel), and Mālama Honua (taking care of the earth).  Some things to consider:

1. Honolulu and surrounding areas are heavily congested, particularly during rush hour (6-9am, 11.30am-1pm and 3-6 pm). The driving population has ballooned since the 1960s on not designed to cope with this volume of traffic.  In addition, many tourists drive slower while finding their way, viewing the environment, and are easily distracted.
2. Parking is limited and can be expensive. Research the options at your hotel and locations you plan to visit – find out the cost, restrictions, and whether advance reservations is needed.
3. On Oʻahu, restaurants, shops, beaches, activities, and key attractions like the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, Kapiolani Park, and US Army Museum, are within walking distance of our conference hotel in Waikiki. If you’re not planning to go further afield, you won’t need a car.
4. For sightseeing beyond Honolulu, a car lets you explore at your own pace. Oʻahu is a small island – without traffic, you can drive around it in two hours.  But attractions outside the city can be spread out.

Consider the driving alternatives to car hire, which include:

• Taking an organized tour.
• Hiring a taxi. They are abundant in Honolulu and Waikiki, but can become costly when driving outside the metro area. Agree your general itinerary and hourly or daily fee in advance.
• Hiring Uber or Lyft, or a Show-Around guide with their own car. Again, negotiate your general itinerary and hourly or full-day fee in advance.
• Chartering a private shuttle. Joining together with others who are staying longer can save everyone money.  For example, a group of 10 or more people will qualify for a Group Discount on the Go Oʻahu Card.

Hiring a car and driver can work our cheaper and more enjoyable than renting a car.  Everyone in the party can relax and enjoy the experience, and benefit from the driver’s local knowledge – often discovering hidden gems that may otherwise have been totally missed.

If you do self-drive, “drive with Aloha”:

1. Follow all road laws and safety advisories. Be aware that speed limits are generally lower than in the continental USA, and strictly enforced.
2. Slow down for pedestrians, even if you don’t see a visible crosswalk.
3. Try to learn the names of roads on your routes before your travel, so you can be confident asking for directions if needed.
4. Pull over to admire the view safely. Don’t become distracted on the road, or hold up other drivers by slowing down.
5. Don’t tailgate, or use your horn to indicate annoyance. This is considered extremely rude in Hawaii, where the horn is used only for emergent warning, or as a (happy honk) friendly greeting.
6. Do use your signal, and do wave a “thank you” when other drivers show you courtesy such as letting you merge into their lane.
7. Be aware that compass points aren’t commonly used for directions. Strongly connected to land and sea for centuries, you will hear locals say “mauka” (toward the mountains), “makai” (toward the ocean), “ewa” (west), “Diamond Head” (east), “windward” (direction the wind is blowing from), or “leeward” (direction the wind is blowing to). Hawaii’s dominant trade winds blow northeast to southwest. Windward describes the wetter north and east sides of the islands facing into the wind.  Leeward describes the sheltered, drier south and west sides.
8. Go slow on wet roads.  Rain and sea spray reduce visibility and create a slick road as water cools the asphalt and heat rises from its surface.  Driving slower reduces the risk that a car’s tires will lose their grip on the road surface, and skid on the film of water.  Going slow helps maintain your ability to steer, and brake safely when needed.