Flying to Oʻahu soon? Honolulu’s airport transit system has changed quite a bit since our trip. Skyline now serves HNL at Lelepaua Station, the W Line connects the airport with Downtown Honolulu, Ala Moana, and Waikīkī, and DaBus2 has been retired. This guide covers the current HOLO fares, airport connections, live bus tracking, and some of the trips you can make around Oʻahu without renting a car. Updated August 15, 2026.
Watch the full video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHnjWGbg54k
August 2026 update
Several details have changed since we recorded this video. We checked the current information from Honolulu’s Department of Transportation Services, TheBus, HOLO, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport before updating this guide.
- DaBus2 has been retired. Use TheBusHEA for official live bus locations and arrival estimates.
- The adult HOLO fare remains $3, but it is now called a 2-Hour Pass and includes 2 hours of unlimited transfers on TheBus and Skyline.
- The adult 7-Day Pass is now $45. The 3-Day Pass is $20, the 24-Hour Pass is $7.50, the day cap is $7.50, and the monthly cap is now $90.
- Cash fare on TheBus is now $3.25. Cash does not include transfers, and exact fare is required.
- The W Line continues to serve HNL and Waikīkī. After Skyline service ends at 10:30pm, Route 42 replaces the W Line for the remainder of the night.
- The airport bus stop is currently on the ground level across from the lei stands on Ala Onaona Street. Honolulu DTS says the permanent stop in front of Lelepaua Station is still under construction.
Transit fares, routes, and construction can change. Check the current Honolulu transit fares, TheBus, and Skyline airport information shortly before your trip.
Key takeaways
- Skyline serves the airport. Lelepaua Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Station connects HNL with the current Skyline system. TheBus connections use the same HOLO fare system. Honolulu DTS
- Route 20 was discontinued. The W Line now provides direct limited-stop service between the airport and Waikīkī through Downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana.
- The A Line and U Line connect Skyline with additional parts of Honolulu. The current network maps and station connections are available from Honolulu DTS.
- Current adult HOLO fares: $3 for a 2-Hour Pass, $7.50 for a 24-Hour Pass, $7.50 day cap, $20 for a 3-Day Pass, $45 for a 7-Day Pass, and a $90 monthly cap. Current transit fares
- Cash costs more and does not include transfers. The current adult cash fare on TheBus is $3.25 per boarding.
Why we made this guide
Our Oʻahu videos generated a lot of questions about getting around without a rental car. We used TheBus for an entire week on our trip, including some much longer rides outside Honolulu, so we wanted to put the information we learned in one place and keep the changing details updated.
TheBus can work very well for the right trip, but it changes how you plan your day. A ride that looks simple on a map can take considerably longer once you include walking, waiting, and transfers. For longer day trips, we would build the day around the transportation rather than treating the bus ride as an afterthought.
HOLO card: fares, caps, and where to get one
HOLO is the fare card used on both TheBus and Skyline. Tap your card when boarding TheBus. On Skyline, tap at the fare gate to enter and tap again when exiting the station.
- 2-Hour Pass: $3. This includes unlimited transfers between TheBus and Skyline for 2 hours from the initial paid tap.
- 24-Hour Pass: $7.50. It is valid for 24 hours from the first tap.
- Day cap: $7.50. When using HOLO stored value, fare capping prevents additional charges after you reach the daily maximum.
- 3-Day Pass: $20. It is valid for 72 hours from the first tap.
- 7-Day Pass: $45. It is valid for 168 hours from the first tap.
- Month cap: $90. The adult monthly pass is also $90.
- Cash fare: $3.25. Cash is accepted on TheBus, but there is no transfer period. Exact fare is required.
See the complete current fare table at Honolulu DTS.
Where to get a HOLO card: Adult cards are available at HOLO vending machines at Skyline stations and participating retailers around Oʻahu. ABC Stores sell HOLO cards with a preloaded Adult Day Pass, but ABC Stores do not reload HOLO cards. You can reload at Skyline vending machines, other participating retailers, or online.
Find current locations and retailer options here: HOLO card locations.
If you plan to use HOLO throughout your trip, you can also register the card online and set up autoload. Registration gives you additional account-management features and makes it easier to protect your balance if the card is lost. Manage a HOLO card
Skyline at the airport: Lelepaua Station
Lelepaua Daniel K. Inouye International Airport Station is on the mauka side of Terminal 2. Pedestrian walkways connect the station with the fourth floors of the Terminal 2 Parking Garage and International Parking Garage. You can also enter and exit at ground level from Ala Onaona and Ala ʻAuana Streets.
HOLO vending machines are available at the station, so you can buy or reload a card before riding Skyline or connecting to TheBus. Skyline trains also have dedicated luggage racks. Current airport and Skyline information
The current temporary TheBus stop is on the ground level across from the lei stands on Ala Onaona Street. Honolulu DTS says the permanent bus stop directly in front of Lelepaua Station is still under construction. The old city bus stops along the airport’s second-level roadway are no longer in use.
Airport to Waikīkī: your options now
W Line
For most visitors who simply want to get from HNL to Waikīkī on public transit, the W Line is the easiest option to understand. It runs from the airport through Downtown Honolulu, Kakaʻako, and Ala Moana before continuing into Waikīkī.
Current W Line schedules are available on TheBus routes and timetables page. Check the schedule for your actual arrival date rather than relying on an older screenshot or saved timetable.
Skyline plus TheBus
Skyline can make more sense if your destination or next connection is along the rail corridor. From Lelepaua, Skyline currently runs west toward East Kapolei and east as far as the Kalihi Transit Center area at Kahauiki Station, with bus connections continuing toward Downtown Honolulu, Ala Moana, Waikīkī, and other parts of the island.
See the current rail and bus connections here: Skyline bus connections.
Late-night arrivals
Skyline operates until 10:30pm. Honolulu DTS currently says Route 42 replaces the W Line after Skyline service ends at 10:30pm for the remainder of the night. Check the current timetable before depending on a late-night connection.
Current Skyline operating times: Skyline departure schedule
Rideshare
Public transit is not automatically the best choice for every arrival. If you have a lot of luggage, arrive late, are traveling with several people, or need to be somewhere at a specific time, compare the transit route with the current Uber or Lyft price before deciding. We sometimes found that paying more for a rideshare was worth the time it saved.
The transit tools we use
- TheBusHEA: The official live arrival system for TheBus. Search by stop or location and see current estimated arrivals. hea.thebus.org
- Transit: The official HOLO visitor information recommends the Transit app for planning trips across Oʻahu transit, including real-time data, schedules, and service changes. HOLO visitor information
- Google Maps: We also use transit directions in Google Maps as a quick way to compare walking, bus, and rail options.
- TheBus.org: Use the official site for route maps, timetables, rider alerts, and service changes. thebus.org
DaBus2 is no longer the tool to use. The city retired the DaBus apps in 2026, so older videos, articles, and screenshots that point you there are now out of date.
Plan around corridors, hubs, and return times
Oʻahu becomes much easier to understand when you stop thinking about every bus as a separate route. Think about the major corridors and transfer points first, then use a live planner for the final connection.
Ala Moana, Downtown Honolulu, Kalihi, and the Skyline stations can all function as useful transfer points depending on where you are going. For a long day trip, we would check the return trip before leaving Waikīkī. Knowing the final realistic route home matters more than finding the fastest outbound trip.
The current Skyline and TheBus network connections are available here: Honolulu DTS bus connections.
Day trips without a car
We used TheBus throughout our Oʻahu trip, and some destinations work surprisingly well without a rental car. The tradeoff is time. Long cross-island rides can consume a large part of the day, so start early and check the return schedule before committing.
- Kailua Beach: TheBus can get you to central Kailua with a transfer, followed by a walk to the beach. Recheck the route shortly before leaving because the best connection can change with the schedule.
- Mākaha: This is a much longer west-side trip. It can work if you start early and are comfortable spending a substantial amount of the day in transit. Give yourself plenty of margin for the return.
- North Shore: Haleʻiwa, Waimea Bay, and other North Shore stops can work as a long transit day. Build the plan around the return buses rather than only looking at how quickly you can get there in the morning.
For shorter trips from Waikīkī, TheBus can also be useful for places around Honolulu where parking would otherwise become part of the decision.
Etiquette and safety
Have your HOLO card ready before boarding, let passengers exit first, and move farther into the bus when space is available. We also prefer well-lit stops after dark and leave extra time for long connections.
Traffic and weather can affect different parts of Oʻahu very differently. Recheck your route before a long trip, especially if you are making several transfers or need to catch a specific return bus.
FAQ
Do TheBus and Skyline transfers count together?
Yes. With an adult HOLO card, the current $3 fare is a 2-Hour Pass that includes unlimited transfers between TheBus and Skyline for 2 hours. Current Honolulu transit fares
Did Route 20 really go away?
Yes. Oʻahu Transit Services discontinued Route 20 when the new airport service was introduced in October 2025. The W Line now connects HNL with Downtown Honolulu, Ala Moana, and Waikīkī. Check TheBus routes and timetables for the current W Line schedule.
What happened to DaBus2?
DaBus and DaBus2 were retired in 2026. Use TheBusHEA for official live bus arrival information.
Where is the airport bus stop now?
The current temporary stop is on the ground level across from the lei stands on Ala Onaona Street, directly across from Lelepaua Station. A permanent ground-level stop in front of the station is under construction. Current Skyline airport information
Can I take Skyline directly to Waikīkī?
No. Skyline serves HNL and continues along the rail corridor, but it does not currently extend to Waikīkī. For a direct public-transit trip between HNL and Waikīkī, check the W Line. You can also combine Skyline with TheBus depending on your destination.
Can I pay cash?
Yes, on TheBus. The current adult cash fare is $3.25 per boarding, exact fare is required, and cash does not include transfers. Skyline requires a HOLO card. Current fare information
Sources and official links
- HOLO: Card information, account management, and reloads. holocard.net
- HOLO visitor information: Visitor passes, where to buy a card, and trip-planning information. holocard.net/for-visitors/
- HOLO retail locations: Current card and reload locations. holocard.net/where-to-buy-a-card/
- TheBus: Current routes, timetables, alerts, and service information. thebus.org
- TheBusHEA: Official live TheBus arrival information. hea.thebus.org
- Honolulu DTS transit fares: Current fares for TheBus and Skyline. honolulu.gov/dts/skyline/transit-fares/
- Skyline and HNL: Lelepaua Station, W Line, airport bus stop, and current airport connections. honolulu.gov/dts/skyline/skyline-and-airport/
- Skyline bus connections: Current A Line, U Line, W Line, station connections, and network maps. honolulu.gov/dts/skyline/bus-connections/
- Skyline schedule: Current operating hours and train frequency. honolulu.gov/dts/skyline/departure-schedule/
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport: Current airport information for TheBus and Skyline. airports.hawaii.gov/hnl/the-bus-and-skyline/
- DaBus retirement: Honolulu DTS announcement on the retirement of DaBus and DaBus2. honolulu.gov
Have a route that worked particularly well for you on Oʻahu, or notice something here that has changed? Leave a comment on the video. Transit information changes, and useful firsthand updates help us keep this guide current.
