Getting around

The Big Island might be ‘BIG’ for Hawaiian standards but in absolute measure it is quite small. At the widest point, the island only measures 95 miles across! Regardless, it is still almost twice as big as all other Hawaiian Islands combined. If you want to be in control of your own transport there is only one viable option to navigate around the Big Island: renting a car.

If for whatever good reason this is not an option for you there are a few alternatives. Our guide to getting around the Big Island takes you through the following options:

Getting around the Big Island with a rental car

Renting a car is one of the best investments to make if you want to get the most out of your time on the Big Island. Public transport here (see below) is not as efficient as on Oʻahu, and some of the best Big Island attractions and activities are far away and difficult to get to without your own transport.

Getting a rental car is easy. There are rental car agencies close to the interisland flight terminals at both  Big Island airports (Kona and Hilo), as well as at both cruise ports.

The speed limits in Hawaiʻi are low compared to those on the mainland: 45/55 mph (pretty much everywhere). Take this into account when trying to get from one place to another, and enjoy the good views on the way.

Note that even with a rental car some places are difficult/impossible to reach. Most rental car agencies, for example, forbid you from taking their cars to some places such as the summit of MaunaKea (for stargazing) or to the Green Sand Beach.

How to get around the Big Island without renting a car

Renting a car is not the best choice for every visitor. If, for example, you don’t plan to travel around the island a lot, or if you are not used to driving on the right side of the road, you should consider other options to get out of the house/hotel.  These options are using public transport, using shared ride /taxi services, or taking guided tours.

Public Transport (the Hele-in bus)

The public (Hele-on) bus service is an alternative if you have plenty of time and want to avoid renting a car.

The cheapest way to get around the Big Island after walking yourself is the public bus (Hele-on-Bus). This bus will get you to most places on the island, but transit times are long and connections infrequent. The Hele-on bus is meant to accommodate workers on the Big Island to get to and from work and consequently most of the bus departure times are early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

More information and Hele-On bus schedules

Taxi, Uber, and Lyft on the Big Island:

The shared ride services Uber and  Lyft have been available on the Big Island since 2017. To use either of these services you need to install their respective apps on your smartphone.

Taxis on the Big Island are present (mostly in and around Kona) but not cheap so it’s worth exploring alternatives if you can.

Lyft on the Big Island (airport rides available)

Lyft is available throughout the island and services both international airports on the Big Island, with designated pick up locations at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO).

Read more information about Lyft on the Big Island on the Lyft website.

Uber on the Big Island (airport rides available)

The Uber ride sharing service is available throughout the island and services both international airports on the Big Island with  designated pick up locations at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO).

Read more about Uber on the Big Island on the  Uber website.

Taxis in Kona

There are some taxis in Kona (list on yelp). You should not count on flagging one down on the street when needing one, but plan ahead and make a taxi reservation to be picked up when you need to.

To get a feeling for the price of taxi services you can have a look at this list for a sample of fares from the Kona airport to ~20 locations all over the Big Island.

Taxis in Hilo

There are only a few taxis in Hilo (list on yelp). In the Hilo area it is possible to use a flexible shared ride taxi program for as little as $2 per ride.  Travel with the shared taxi ride program is restricted to within the Hilo urbanized areas and to 9 miles per ride which is quite restrictive. Although using this program is possible for tourists, it is far from practical for most visitors.

Taxi coupons have to be ordered ahead by mail in quantities of 5, 10 or 15 coupons, and a copy of your ID is required. See the shared taxi ride information page of Hawai’i county for more information.

Using guided tours to get around

Using guided tours to get to and from your activity is a good option if you plan to stay your whole vacation in one place and only would use your car to go sightseeing. What you lose in flexibility you gain in comfort, but make sure to know what the total costs will be. Especially for larger groups costs can grow quickly when going on many tours.

Guided tours come in many shapes, from bus tours and taxis to shuttle services and private limos. They are convenient because you don’t need to plan anything ahead of time and because food is often also provided.

Using these tours for sightseeing if you don’t have a car is easiest if you are staying in one of the larger hotels or resorts on the Kona coast. Before booking a tour make sure that you can be picked up at your hotel. If this isn’t possible, you should have a plan on how to get to the starting point of the tour before booking.

The downside of using tours for sightseeing without a rental car is a loss of flexibility. We highly recommend to book tours ahead of time, and if you cancel your tour last minute you might lose your deposit.

Traveling between the Hawaiian Islands

Many people choose to visit multiple Hawaiian islands during their visit. Popular Islands other than the Big Island are Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi. Planning the sequence in which you visit the islands smartly can often win you half a day in free time and also save some money. Read more in our guide to interisland flights.

The dos and don’ts of Island Hopping

Hawaiʻi’s archipelago presents the unique opportunity to visit several islands during your visit. With six major islands in the chain, there is much to explore, and believe it or not, each island offers a noticeably different experience from the next.

But, just because there are many islands to visit doesn’t mean you should. There are logistical and time restraints to island hopping, and some folks find it more enjoyable to stay put on one island.

In our definitive guide to island hopping in Hawaiʻi, we walk you through your options to help you decide what’s the best plan of action. We look at reasons for and against island hopping and offer some advice on the best way to plan your trip – including some money-saving tips!

Approximate flight times between Hawaiian islands.

Flying to Hawaii

The best tickets for your Hawaiian vacation often are found by picking the right time to visit and by finding the right (affordable) airfare. We have summarized our experience on these topics in our flying to Hawaii guide.