Is There a Hop on Hop off Bus in Honolulu?
Yes, there is a hop on hop off bus in Honolulu. It is called the Waikiki Trolley, and it has been running open air sightseeing trolleys around Honolulu since 1986. You buy a day pass, climb aboard at any stop, ride the loop past the sights, and hop off wherever you want to explore. When you are done, you hop back on the next trolley and continue. It is the closest thing Honolulu has to the hop on hop off buses you see in big cities around the world.
This is the single complete guide to hop on hop off buses in Honolulu. It covers the Waikiki Trolley’s four routes, the Pink Line trolley to Ala Moana, tickets, schedules, where to board, what the trolley does not do, how it compares to TheBus, alternatives, common mistakes, accessibility, and FAQs.
Honolulu Hop on Hop off at a Glance
| Hop on | Know this |
|---|---|
| Waikiki Trolley: open-air trolleys and double-decker buses | Run by E Noa Corporation since 1986 |
| Four hop-on hop-off routes: Pink, Red, Blue, Green | Main hub: Waikiki Shopping Plaza, 2250 Kalakaua Ave |
| Pink Line runs Waikīkī to Ala Moana Center | About every 15 minutes |
| Single-line day passes and 1, 4, or 7-day all-line passes | Match the pass to your days, not your ambitions |
| No service to Pearl Harbor or the airport | Plan TheBus, rideshare, or a tour for those |
What the Waikiki Trolley Is
The Waikiki Trolley is Honolulu’s sightseeing hop on hop off service. The fleet mixes classic open air trolleys with open top double decker buses, and drivers give live narration as you ride. It is run by the E Noa Corporation and has been operating since 1986, making it the most established sightseeing transport in Honolulu. Unlike a city bus, the whole point of the trolley is sightseeing: the routes loop past attractions, you can ride all day on one ticket, and nobody expects you to stay in your seat for the whole loop.
The main hub and ticket booth sits in the Waikiki Shopping Plaza at 2250 Kalakaua Avenue, open daily 8 AM to 5 PM. You can buy tickets online in advance, at the booth, or directly from the drivers. With a ticket or e-ticket in hand, you can board or leave at any stop on the lines your pass covers. That hop on hop off freedom is what separates the trolley from every other way of getting around Honolulu.
The Four Trolley Lines
The Waikiki Trolley runs four distinct routes, each with its own color, theme, and schedule. Every line starts from the Waikiki area, so you can mix and match lines during the day if your pass covers more than one. Here is what each line does.
Pink Line: Waikiki to Ala Moana
The Pink Line is the shopper’s line and the most frequent of the four, running about every 15 minutes. It shuttles between Waikiki and the Ala Moana Center, the giant open air shopping mall just west of Waikiki. If your only question is how to get from Waikiki to Ala Moana without a car, the Pink Line is your answer. The full loop takes about an hour, and the line runs later into the evening than the others.
Red Line: Historic Honolulu
The Red Line is the history line. It loops through downtown Honolulu past ʻIolani Palace, the Hawaiʻi State Capitol, the King Kamehameha statue, Chinatown, the Hawaiʻi Theatre, and up to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater. It runs about every 60 minutes, and a full loop takes close to two hours. This is the line to take on your sightseeing day, especially if you want the narrated history of Honolulu without driving downtown yourself. Book ʻIolani Palace tours separately, and see things to know before going to ʻIolani Palace.
Blue Line: The Coastal Route
The Blue Line is the scenic coastal route. It travels along the shoreline east of Waikiki past Diamond Head, Kahala, the Hālona Blowhole, and all the way to Sea Life Park, with a full loop of about one hour and 50 minutes. Trolleys run about every 40 minutes, and this is the prettiest ride of the four.
Green Line: Diamond Head Shuttle
The Green Line is essentially the Diamond Head shuttle. It runs about every 60 minutes from Waikiki directly to Diamond Head Crater, which is the easiest car free way to reach the trailhead for the famous hike. Diamond Head State Monument requires advance reservations for hikers, so book your hike entry separately. The Green Line also stops at the KCC Farmers Market on Saturday mornings.
Trolley to Ala Moana: What to Know
The trolley to Ala Moana deserves its own section because it is one of the most searched Honolulu transport questions. Ala Moana Center sits about two miles west of central Waikiki, an easy trip that is surprisingly annoying without a car. The Pink Line solves it: board anywhere along its Waikiki stops, ride about 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic and stops, and get off right at the mall.
Ala Moana Center is the largest open air shopping center in Hawaiʻi and one of the biggest malls in the United States, with hundreds of stores, restaurants, and a huge food court. With trolleys about every 15 minutes, you never wait long for the ride back. If shopping is your main plan for the day, consider the Pink Line only day pass, which is the cheapest ticket the trolley sells.
Tickets and Prices
Waikiki Trolley sells two kinds of tickets. Single line day passes cover one route for the day, and the Pink Line only pass is the budget pick. All line passes cover every route and come in 1 day, 4 day, and 7 day versions, which makes sense if you want the Red Line history tour one day and the Blue Line coastal ride the next. Tickets are sold online, at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza booth, and from drivers.
Prices change over time, so check waikikitrolley.com for the current fares before you buy. As a rough sense of the scale, single line day passes cost on the order of twenty to thirty dollars for adults, with the Pink Line pass cheaper, and multi day all line passes cost more but drop the per day price. The ticket covers unlimited rides on your lines for the validity period, but not attraction admissions or food.
Schedules: When the Trolleys Run
Each line runs on its own interval, and the official schedule page has the exact first and last pickups. Conceptually: the Pink Line runs about every 15 minutes and into the evening, which makes it useful as real transportation. The Blue Line runs about every 40 minutes with the last pickup in the early afternoon. The Red and Green Lines run about every 60 minutes, also ending in the afternoon. The sightseeing lines are daytime operations, so plan your history tour or Diamond Head trip for the morning and save the evening for the Pink Line or dinner in Waikiki.
Always check the last pickup time before you hop off far from Waikiki: the classic mistake is exploring Sea Life Park and finding the last Blue Line trolley already gone. The schedule page on the official site lists first and last pickups for every line, and it is worth a two minute check the night before.
Where to Board and How Riding Works
Boarding is simple. Find a trolley stop for your line, show your ticket or e-ticket, and climb aboard. Stops are marked around Waikiki hotels, the Shopping Plaza hub, and each route’s attractions. The open air decks are the best seats: you get the breeze, the views, and the driver’s narration. Sit upstairs on the double deckers for the full experience.
There is no need to plan every hop in advance. The classic way to use the trolley is to ride a full loop first, note the stops you like, then ride again and hop off at the ones you picked. Drivers give live commentary with local stories, which is half the value. Bring sunscreen, water, and a hat: the open air that makes the ride wonderful also means full sun for an hour or more.
What the Trolley Does Not Do
Two important limits come straight from the trolley’s own FAQ. The Waikiki Trolley does not go to Pearl Harbor, and it does not go to the airport. If Pearl Harbor is on your list, the same company offers dedicated Pearl Harbor tours through E Noa Tours, which include transportation. Our guide to visiting Pearl Harbor on your own covers the DIY option too. For the airport, use a taxi, rideshare, airport shuttle, or TheBus. Do not plan a trolley day around either destination.
The trolley also stays in the Honolulu and east Oʻahu area. It does not go to the North Shore, Kailua, or the west side. For those, you need a rental car, a circle island tour, or TheBus. Start with what to do on Oʻahu’s North Shore when planning that side of the island.
Waikiki Trolley vs TheBus
Visitors often confuse the Waikiki Trolley with TheBus, Honolulu’s public bus system, but they are completely different. TheBus is regular public transit: closed air conditioned buses, city routes, and fares paid with the HOLO smart card or cash. It goes everywhere on Oʻahu, including Pearl Harbor, the airport, Ala Moana, and the North Shore, and it costs only a few dollars per ride with daily fare capping. What it does not give you is sightseeing: no open air deck, no narration, no hop on hop off loops past attractions, and much slower trips with many local stops.
Use the trolley when you want a fun sightseeing day with narration and easy hopping. Use TheBus when you want cheap point to point transport and do not mind a slower ride. Many visitors use both on the same trip: trolley for the Red Line history day, TheBus for the cheap ride to Pearl Harbor. For current TheBus fares and routes, check thebus.org, the official site of Honolulu’s public transit.
Alternatives to the Trolley
If the trolley does not fit your plans, Honolulu has other options. TheBus covers the whole island cheaply, as described above. Honolulu’s new Skyline rail line connects the west side toward the airport area and downtown. Taxis and rideshares fill the gaps for late nights and places the trolley does not reach. And for the classic Oʻahu highlights beyond Honolulu, dedicated tours cover Pearl Harbor, the North Shore, and circle island routes with hotel pickup. Our island adventure guide to what not to miss on Oʻahu helps you prioritize.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake is assuming the trolley goes to Pearl Harbor or the airport. It does neither, so do not build those plans around it. The second is ignoring the last pickup times on the Blue, Red, and Green Lines, which all end in the afternoon. The third is buying a single line pass and then wishing you had the all line pass, or the reverse: paying for all lines when you only wanted the Pink Line to Ala Moana. Match the pass to your actual plan. Finally, do not skip the sunscreen. An hour on an open air deck in Hawaiʻi sun burns fast.
Accessibility
The classic open air trolleys have steps up to the seating deck, which can be difficult for travelers with mobility issues or heavy strollers. The double decker buses used on some lines are easier at the lower level. If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair or has limited mobility, contact the Waikiki Trolley in advance to discuss which lines and vehicles will work for you. TheBus, as public transit, has wheelchair lifts on every bus and may be the more accessible option for some trips.
Staying Safe
The trolley itself is very safe: professional drivers, low speeds, and well traveled routes. Your safety job is sun and belongings. Wear sunscreen and a hat, drink water, and keep your bag on your lap rather than the empty seat beside you when you hop off at busy stops. At night in Waikiki, stick to well lit streets as you would in any tourist district.
Video: Riding the Waikiki Trolley
See the open air trolleys in action and what the hop on hop off loops look like from the top deck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a hop on hop off bus in Honolulu?
Yes. The Waikiki Trolley is Honolulu’s hop on hop off sightseeing bus service, with four routes covering Waikiki, Ala Moana, historic downtown Honolulu, the coast to Sea Life Park, and Diamond Head. Buy a day pass and hop on and off at any stop.
Is there a trolley from Waikiki to Ala Moana?
Yes, the Waikiki Trolley Pink Line runs between Waikiki and Ala Moana Center about every 15 minutes. It is the most frequent line and the cheapest day pass, built for shoppers going to the mall.
How much does the Waikiki Trolley cost?
The trolley sells single line day passes and 1, 4, and 7 day all line passes, with the Pink Line pass the cheapest. Prices change, so check waikikitrolley.com for current fares. Expect single line day passes on the order of twenty to thirty dollars for adults.
Does the Waikiki Trolley go to Pearl Harbor?
No. The Waikiki Trolley does not serve Pearl Harbor. The same company, E Noa Tours, offers dedicated Pearl Harbor tours with transportation. TheBus public transit also reaches Pearl Harbor cheaply.
Does the hop on hop off bus go to the airport?
No. The Waikiki Trolley does not serve Honolulu’s airport. Use a taxi, rideshare, shared shuttle, or TheBus for airport transfers.
Can you use the Waikiki Trolley without a tour?
Yes, that is the whole idea. It is not a guided tour you must stay on. Your pass lets you hop on and off freely at any stop, so you build your own day from the four routes.
Is the Waikiki Trolley better than TheBus?
For sightseeing, yes: open air decks, narration, and loops past attractions. For cheap transport across the island, TheBus wins. Most visitors get the most from using both.
So yes, Honolulu has a hop on hop off bus, and it is one of the easiest ways to see the city without renting a car. Pick the line that matches your day, check the last pickup times, buy the right pass, and let the open air trolley do the driving while you do the looking.
