Riding the Waikiki Trolley

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The Waikiki Trolley is inexpensive, convenient, and a great means of Oahu transportation to get around town and visit some Honolulu Attractions.  Their 4 trolleys traveling different routes, and stop at some of the following destinations including the Iolani Palace, Bishop Musuem, Halona Blowhole, Ala Moana Center, Punchbowl Crater, Diamond Head, Chinatown & Kaka'ako, and many more Honolulu Attractions.

Traveling around Waikiki and Honolulu on the Waikiki Trolley will make your trip much more convenient, affordable, and a time-saver. If you have limited time in Waikiki and renting a car just doesn't make sense or taking a Circle Island tour is not in the budget, allow this one of a kind hop-on-hop-off Oahu Trolley to shuttle you around the island and hit the must-see sights.

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Traveling Benefits of the Waikiki Trolley

Renting a car is much more expensive and requires you to navigate, park in safe areas, fill up the gas, and be mindful of the vehicle while using it. Driving a car around a city that you are unfamiliar with also means you will be spending more time looking at maps than admiring the streets and surrounding you'll be passing through.

And while taking the local Oahu bus is much cheaper, it has its own downside.  A primary concern is that the route travels far beyond Honolulu attractions you want to see, so it's not the most efficient way to get to your targeted itinerary.

The local residents rely on these local buses when getting to work and coming home. This means the buses are often full and prone to getting stuck in traffic during rush hours.

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4 Waikiki Trolley Lines

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There are 4 Waikiki Trolley lines - Blue Line, Red Line, Green Line, and Pink Line. The Blue Line and Green Line focus on the east side of Waikiki traveling up Kapahulu and past Diamond Head, while the Red Line heads north towards Chinatown and the Iolani Palace.

Note that all trolley lines pass through the central part of Waikiki. The Pink Line primary travels around Waikiki, with a stop at the Ala Moana Center.

Waikiki Trolley 

Tickets start around $31.50 for a Child 1-day All Lines pass and  $57.75 for an Adult 1-day All Lines pass. You can also purchase the multiple-day passes for not much more if you plan on exploring the island in this mode of transportation for more than one day!

Purchase your pass now

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Waikiki Trolley Blue Line - Coastal & Local Grinds

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The Blue Line covers about half of Waikiki but really focuses on the Diamond Head neighborhood including lookout areas and also passes by the start of the Diamond Head Hike.

This trolley also travels through the beautiful homes in the wealthy area of Kahala, and then out past Hanauma Bay, past local beaches including Sandy Beach and Makapuu, before turning around at Sea Life Park to travel back to Waikiki.

The Blue Line first trolley starts at 8:30 AM at Waikiki Shopping Plaza, and the last one leaves from there at 1:50 PM. The round trip will take around 2 hours if you want to be dropped off where you started. There are 11 stops total and the trolley arrives every 40 minutes.

Here are the Blue Line trolley stops starting in Waikiki:

1. 320 Royal Hawaiian Ave - across Waikiki Shopping Plaza
2. Duke Kahanamoku Statue
3. Honolulu Zoo
4. Waikiki Aquarium
5. Diamond Head Crater
6. Kahala Mall
7. Halona Blowhole and Halona Beach Cove
8. Sea Life Park
9. Koko Marina Center
10. Kapiolani Community College (KCC)
11. Waikiki Shopping Plaza

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Waikiki Trolley Red Line - Heroes & Legends

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The Red Line Trolley stops throughout Waikiki before traveling a few miles north to hip, local areas that are full of culture and history, including Honolulu Chinatown (known for its historical old building architecture, galleries, and lei shops), and Kakaako (known for upcoming restaurants, new luxury condominium projects, breweries, and shops in the SALT area).

Kakaako is also a neighborhood where you can gawk at impressive murals and street art painted by talented local artists on the sides of many industrial buildings, giving this neighborhood its special character.

The Red Line Trolley also cruises into downtown Honolulu where historical and cultural attractions can be found.  These include the Iolani Palace, Hawaii Museum of Art and the Bishop Museum.  The trolley then winds up from there to the Punch Bowl Memorial where you can enjoy panoramic views of Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu.

The Red Line trolley starts at Waikiki Shopping Plaza at 9:30 AM, and the last pick-up is at 2:30 PM. The roundtrip journey takes around 2 hours and it runs at intervals of 60 minutes.

Here's a list of 13 Red Line trolley stops starting in Waikiki:

1. 320 Royal Hawaiian Ave - across Waikiki Shopping Plaza
2. Duke Kahanamoku Statue
3. The Twin Fin
4. Honolulu Museum of Art
5. Hawaii State Capitol
6. Punchbowl Crater
7. Foster Botanical Garden
8. Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii
9. Chinatown
10. King Kamehameha Statue/Iolani Palace
11. Salt at Our Kaka'ako
12. Ward Center
13. Ala Moana Center

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Waikiki Trolley Green Line - Diamond Head Shuttle

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The Green Line Trolley takes you out of Waikiki up the Kapahulu corridor where there's a great lineup of restaurants, best shave ice, plate lunches, and Leonard’s Bakery, famous for their hot Portuguese malasada donuts.  This Waikiki Trolley then travels up the Diamond Head Crater to the Kahala Scenic Lookout.

The Green Line:  there are 12 stops, and the first bus leaves at Waikiki Shopping Plaza at 8 AM and the last one is at 2:00 PM. The waiting time for each bus is 90 minutes. The roundtrip route takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Here's a list of 13 stops for the Green Line Trolley starting from Waikiki:

1. 320 Royal Hawaiian Ave - across Waikiki Shopping Plaza
2. Duke Kahanamoku Statue
3. Honolulu Zoo/Waikiki Beach
4. Waikiki Aquarium/Kapiolani Park
5. Diamond Head Crater
6. Kahala Scenic Lookout
7. Kahala MKT by Foodland
8. Pipeline Bakery & Creamery
9. Kaimuki Superette
10. Leonard's Bakery
11. Da Ono Hawaiian Food
12. Rainbow Drive Inn
13. Waikiki Shopping Plaza

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Waikiki Trolley Pink Line - Ala Moana Shopping

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The Pink Trolley primarily runs throughout Waikiki and turns around near the Ala Moana Shopping Center and Ala Moana Beach across the street. This trolley gives you a great transportation to the Ala Moana Center with a few stops along the way..

The Pink Line has a different setup and runs throughout Waikiki during the day and into the night. The bus comes every 20 minutes and the roundtrip journey is 60 minutes.

The first bus leaves at 10 AM from Waikiki Shopping Plaza, and the last drop-off is at 8:20 PM.

Here's a list of 13 stops made starting from Waikiki on the Pink Trolley line:

1. Waikiki Shopping Plaza
2. Duke Kahanamoku Statue
3. Waikiki Twin Fin
4. Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel
5. Marukame Udon
6. Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach
7. Hotel La Croix
8. Hokulani Hotel
9. Aqua Palms Waikiki
10. Ala Moana Center
11. Ilikai Hotel
12. Hale Koa Hotel
13. Trump International Hotel Waikiki

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Waikiki Trolley Ticket Options & Costs

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Waikiki Trolley 

Tickets start around $31.50 for a Child 1-day All Lines pass and  $57.75 for an Adult 1-day All Lines pass. You can also purchase the multiple-day passes for not much more if you plan on exploring the island in this mode of transportation for more than one day!

Purchase your pass now

The price offers a great deal as well. Depending on how many days you plan to stay and the areas you want to see, you will find the right pass for you. 4 different passes accommodate different types of users.

1-DAY Pass for a specific route:  The 1-day pass entitles you to ride a specific route for the entire day.  The ticket costs $25 for 12 years old and up. Pay only $15 for 3-11 years old, and you can even pay an extra $5 if you want to do an "add-on" for the Pink Line.

1-DAY Pass for all Waikiki Trolley lines and routes:  Tickets are $55 for adults and $30 for children under 12, plus a free bonus day that must be used the next day. This is suitable for people visiting Waikiki for 2 days.

4-DAY Pass:  Now, if you plan to stay in Waikiki for 4 days or more, you can get an all-line pass for $65/adult and $40/child.

7-DAY Pass:  There's also a 7-day all-line pass for $75/adult and $50/child, valid for any 7 days within a10-day period. These multi-day passes don't have to be used on consecutive days. You can space it out depending on your itinerary.

Reserve your pass now and pay later. Check for availability, then choose the type of pass you want.

All tickets are for unlimited use within the valid date. Infant passengers (up to 2 years old) do not need tickets to ride the Waikiki Trolley. Before you buy your pass and decide which route you need, pin the essential spots on your digital map, you can then compare which trolley pass will be suitable for you.

When you buy the ticket, you can access all the information needed. Remember to download a copy of the trolley schedules, map, and the stops along the way. This will make accessing the information more manageable if you have poor cell reception at any point on your route.

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Riding the Waikiki Trolley is Convenient & Fun

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If you elect to use for Waikiki Trolley, you can relax and forget about all the drawbacks to renting a car or taking the local Oahu Bus.  The Waikiki Trolley service runs on shorter routes and stops in areas that focus on showing the visitors of Waikiki its highlight and fantastic spots.

The 4 trolley lines are easier to navigate and bypass traffic much easier due to their specific routes, stops, and timetables.

The drivers of the trolleys are not only there to navigate you around Waikiki, but they also offer helpful information and provide facts about the points of interest with delightful humor.  Apart from the transport service, you will get a knowledgeable local who will make your trip much more enjoyable.

When it's busy season, besides the driver, there might also be a specific tour guide to help and assist the riders.  Avoid time spent on checking maps, and simply sit back and relax, and enjoy the surrounding Honolulu attractions along the way.

Keep your camera handy for some great photo opps, while being chauffeured around.  If you get off the wrong stop, wait in the same spot and get on the next trolley without paying an extra fee.

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