Fares and pass prices in this guide reflect rates as of July 2024. Verify current fares at thebus.org and honolulu.gov/dts/fares-adult before your visit.
Key Takeaways
- A HOLO Card works on TheBus and Skyline. You must have a HOLO Card to ride Skyline. Adult cards are sold at station vending machines and at select retailers.
- Fastest on arrival. Lelepaua Station at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport has HOLO ticket vending machines. In Waikiki, select ABC Stores sell preloaded cards. Most supermarkets and 7‑Eleven locations sell and reload.
- Best value for visitors. Pay as you go with fare capping. Adult daily cap is $7.50. The 3‑Day Pass ($20) and 7‑Day Pass ($35) make sense for heavier use.
- Three ways to reload. Online at holocard.net, at Skyline station vending machines, or at participating retailers. Phone reload is also available.
- Register your card to protect the balance, set Autoload, and view trip history.
Niko’s Note 🐾 Take a photo of the back of your card as soon as you buy it. You will need the serial number if you misplace it or want to register online.
What Is a HOLO Card
The HOLO Card is O’ahu’s contactless fare card for TheBus and Skyline, the island’s rail line. Tap the card on the bus validator or at the Skyline faregates to pay. No app, no phone required: the card handles everything. Learn more on the official site at holocard.net.
Where to Buy a HOLO Card
Fastest for arrivals. Buy an Adult HOLO Card at the ticket vending machines at Lelepaua Station, connected to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. This is the most direct option if you’re taking Skyline or TheBus from the airport. Details at airports.hawaii.gov/hnl/the-bus-and-skyline.
Retail options. The official Where to Get a Card page at holocard.net lists which stores sell cards and which can reload them. A few things worth knowing before you go: ABC Stores sell preloaded HOLO Cards only and cannot reload value onto an existing card. Foodland, Times, and most 7‑Eleven locations both sell and reload. Confirm the specific capabilities of the location nearest you on the official list before making the trip.
Transit Pass Office. Reduced fare, Youth, Senior, and Annual Pass services go through the Transit Pass Office and Satellite City Halls. See instructions and appointment options on the Where to Get a Card page.
Card fee. A new Adult HOLO Card typically costs $2. Confirm the payment method accepted before you arrive: some retail counters take cash only and do not accept cards.
How to Top Up or Add a Pass
1) Online. Create an account and add your card under Manage Card at holocard.net. From there you can add stored value, buy passes, and set up Autoload so your card reloads automatically when the balance drops below a threshold you choose.
2) Skyline station vending machines. Add value or buy passes at any Skyline station before you tap in. Station details at honolulutransit.org/about/stations.
3) Retail reload. Most 7‑Eleven, Foodland, and Times locations can load value and passes. ABC Stores cannot. Confirm capabilities at the official retailer list.
4) By phone. Call the HOLO Helpline at 808‑768‑4656 during posted hours. Hours are listed on the For Visitors page at holocard.net.
Physical Card Only vs. Registering Online: Which Fits Your Trip
You can use a HOLO Card without ever creating an online account. Buy it at the airport, reload at a vending machine or retailer, and you’re done. That works fine for short visits. Registering online takes about five minutes and adds a set of protections and tools that matter more the longer you’re on O’ahu. Here’s how the two approaches compare.
| Physical card, no account | Register online at holocard.net | |
| Setup time | None | About 5 minutes |
| Balance protected if lost | No | Yes: report lost, balance transfers |
| Autoload | Not available | Available |
| Trip history | Not available | Available under Manage Card |
| Add value online | Not available | Available, plus vending and retail |
| Best for | 1 to 3 day visits, simple use | 4+ day visits, peace of mind |
Note on online reload timing. Value added online may not appear immediately on your card. You may need to tap at a Skyline station vending machine to sync the balance before boarding. Check current reload activation details at holocard.net.
Fare Capping and Pass Options
Fare capping means you stop paying once you hit the daily or monthly cap. There is nothing to activate: it happens automatically when you use a registered or pay-as-you-go HOLO Card. Current adult fares for TheBus and Skyline:
- Single fare. $3, including 2.5 hours of transfers.
- Daily cap. $7.50. Once you hit this in a calendar day, rides are free for the rest of that day.
- 3‑Day Pass. $20. Valid for 72 hours from first tap.
- 7‑Day Pass. $35. Valid for 168 hours from first tap.
- Monthly cap. $80. Ride free for the rest of the calendar month once you hit this amount.
Which option fits your visit. If you’re taking two or more trips per day, the daily cap of $7.50 kicks in quickly: two single fares equals $6, a third puts you at $9 without capping. For a five-day visit with regular daily use, the 7‑Day Pass at $35 is likely the better value than paying toward the $7.50 daily cap each day (which would total $37.50 over five days at cap). For a light single-day visit with one or two rides, pay-as-you-go makes more sense.
Confirm current fares at the TheBus Fares page and the city’s DTS Fares page before your visit.
Good to know. You need a HOLO Card to ride Skyline. Cash is accepted on TheBus but does not include a transfer period. If you pay cash for a bus ride and then want to connect to another bus or Skyline, you will pay full fare again. See airport guidance at airports.hawaii.gov/hnl/the-bus-and-skyline.
Step by Step: Buy and Ride in 10 Minutes
- At the airport. Follow Skyline signs to Lelepaua Station. Use the vending machine to buy an Adult HOLO Card. Follow the prompts to add stored value or a pass before you leave the machine.
- Register your card. On your phone, go to Manage Card at holocard.net. Enter the serial number from the back of the card. This protects your balance and lets you set Autoload.
- Turn on Autoload. Set a reload amount and a trigger balance so the card never runs out when you need it.
- Tap to ride. Tap in at the Skyline faregates or on the validator when boarding TheBus. A green light confirms the tap. No need to tap out on TheBus.
- Transfers. With HOLO, you have 2.5 hours of transfers from the first tap. No paper slip needed. Tap the same card on the next bus or at the next gate.
📸 Screenshots to add: Vending machine purchase screen. Manage Card registration page. Autoload settings screen. Validator tap confirmation.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Buying at ABC Stores and expecting to reload there. ABC Stores sell preloaded cards only. Once the value runs out, you reload elsewhere: a Skyline vending machine, a 7‑Eleven, Foodland, or online.
- Tapping twice at the Skyline gate in quick succession. Tap once, walk through, and only tap again at the start of a new trip. Double-tapping in the same gate session can cause a fare error.
- Paying cash for the first ride and expecting a free transfer to Skyline. Cash fares on TheBus do not include transfers. If your route involves a bus-to-rail connection, use HOLO from the first tap.
- Skipping registration on a long visit. An unregistered card with two weeks of balance on it has no protection if lost. The five minutes to register are worth it as soon as you buy.
- Adding value online and heading straight to a bus stop. Online reloads may require a tap at a Skyline station vending machine to activate before they show on your card. Add value with enough lead time, or use a vending machine or retailer for same-session reloads.
Troubleshooting
- Card says blocked. Add value online or at a vending machine, then tap again. If it stays blocked, call 808‑768‑4656 or visit a Skyline station machine. See holocard.net/help.
- Wrong fare charged. Check your trip history under Manage Card. If you’ve hit the daily cap, additional taps that day should register as free. If the charge looks incorrect, call the helpline with your trip details.
- Lost card. If the card is registered, report it lost through your account and the balance transfers to a replacement card. If unregistered, the balance cannot be recovered. See full terms at holocard.net/terms-and-conditions.
- Vending machine out of service. Lelepaua Station at the airport has multiple machines. If one is down, try another machine in the station before looking for an alternative. Retail options near Waikiki are listed on the official retailer page.
FAQ
Do I need a HOLO Card to ride TheBus?
No. Cash is accepted on TheBus. Cash riders do not receive a transfer period, so each boarding requires a separate fare. HOLO includes 2.5 hours of transfers from the first tap.
Do I need a HOLO Card to ride Skyline?
Yes. Skyline requires a HOLO Card to pass through the faregates. There is no cash option on Skyline.
Which pass makes the most sense for a week-long visit?
The 7‑Day Pass at $35 covers 168 hours from the first tap and makes sense for anyone taking transit daily. At the $7.50 daily cap, seven days of regular use would cost $52.50. The pass saves about $17.50 if you’re riding every day. For lighter use, pay-as-you-go with fare capping may cost less overall. The right choice depends on how many days you’re actually using transit.
Can I share one HOLO Card with my travel group?
No. Each rider needs their own card. You can manage multiple cards under a single holocard.net account, which makes it easier to top up for everyone in one place.
Where can I buy a card late at night?
Skyline station vending machines operate during service hours. Lelepaua Station at HNL is the most reliable option on arrival. Retail store hours vary by location. Confirm hours before making a trip.
What if the ABC Store is the only option near me?
Buy a preloaded card there and use up the included value. When you need to reload, use a Skyline station vending machine or a 7‑Eleven or grocery store location that offers reload. ABC Stores do not reload HOLO.
Does the HOLO Card work on the Waikiki Trolley or resort shuttles?
No. The Waikiki Trolley is a private service and does not use the HOLO system. Resort shuttles and private transfers operate separately. HOLO is valid only on TheBus and Skyline.
Can I use my HOLO Card on other Hawaiian islands?
No. HOLO is an O’ahu-only system. Maui, Hawai’i Island, and Kaua’i each have their own separate transit systems with different fare structures.
Can I get a refund on unused balance when I leave?
Refund policies for prepaid transit cards are typically limited. Check current terms at holocard.net/terms-and-conditions before your trip if you’re concerned about leftover balance. Autoload set to a low increment can help avoid overloading the card before departure.
How long does an online reload take to appear on my card?
Online reloads may not appear instantly. You may need to tap at a Skyline station vending machine to activate the added value before it is available for boarding. Check current processing details at holocard.net. For time-sensitive reloads, use a vending machine or retailer instead.
Keep Planning
- Pillar: O’ahu by Bus 2025 Guide
- Airport transfer options: Honolulu Airport to Waikiki… Bus vs Rideshare
- What locals wish visitors knew: Tourist Pitfalls on TheBus
Sources
- Where to Get a Card and Reload. Official page with store capabilities and ABC Stores note. holocard.net/where-to-buy-a-card
- For Visitors. Getting started, helpline hours, pass details. holocard.net/for-visitors
- How to Ride Skyline. Vending kiosks at stations. honolulu.gov/dts/skyline/how-to-skyline
- Airport rail and bus info. HNL station details and transfer rules. airports.hawaii.gov/hnl/the-bus-and-skyline
- Current fares and caps. TheBus fares including 3‑Day and 7‑Day Passes. thebus.org/Fare/TheBusFares20240701.asp and the city’s DTS fares page: honolulu.gov/dts/fares-adult
