Are you looking for a way to get around Waikiki without renting a car? Keep scrolling for my honest Waikiki Trolley review and whether or not it’s worth the cost.
This Waikiki Trolley review was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Do you want to know how to get around Waikiki without renting a car?
The Waikiki Trolley has several different lines that all leave from Waikiki and take you to different areas of Oahu.
In this post, I’ll detail what our experience was like and whether or not I think it’s a good way to get around Waikiki with kids.
You can read on below to find out more about my experience with using the trolley in Waikiki with kids. If you’re interested in finding out how much it costs, where you can catch it from, and what lines are available – keep reading!
Keep scrolling to find out more about getting around Waikiki with kids on the trolley!
Don’t have time to read a bunch of Hawaii blog posts and reviews? Here are some of our top picks for visiting Oahu.
Popular Oahu Tours/Activities
- Kualoa Ranch UTV Tour (this is a fun adventure with the prettiest views)
- Full Pearl Harbor Tour (this is the BEST way to do everything at Pearl Harbor)
- Hawaii Bucket List Tour (you get to pick where you stop on this custom Oahu Circle Island tour)
- Toa Luau (this is my all-time favorite Oahu luau)
- CLIMB Works Ziplining (this is the longest zipline on Oahu)
- Book a Photo Shoot (this is a Hawaii souvenir you’ll treasure forever)
Favorite Oahu Resorts/Hotels
- Hilton Hawaiian Village (this is our favorite Waikiki resort because of the amazing pool area and nearby restaurants)
- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa (this is a splurge that is totally worth it)
- Royal Hawaiian Hotel (this is a luxury resort in Waikiki that is pink and gorgeous)
Want to Rent a Car in Hawaii?
One of the best places to rent a car in Hawaii is Discount Hawaii Car Rental because they get the best rates from top national companies like Alamo, Dollar, Thrifty, Avis, Enterprise, Budget, and Payless.
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Oahu Itinerary complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Do You Need to Rent a Car in Waikiki?
One of the top questions I get from families staying in Waikiki is whether or not they will need a rental car. It really depends on what you’d like to do.
If you are planning on spending several days in the Waikiki area, you really don’t need a car. Parking in Waikiki is tricky (and expensive), and there are other ways to get around.
And if you are doing any big tours, attending a luau, or heading to the Polynesian Cultural Center, you can always use their transportation.
But, if you want to explore Oahu on your own, you can always rent a car for just a few days instead of your entire trip.
Hop on Hop Off Honolulu Tour Bus
This is the most famous Waikiki Hop on Hop Off Bus that has been around for years and years.
As of June 2023, the Waikiki Trolley is running four of its trolley lines. I’ll explain each of the lines and the Waikiki Trolley stops below.
Waikiki Trolley Pink Line
If you’re looking for an easy way to get around Waikiki and/or head to Ala Moana Center, you’ll definitely want to grab tickets for the Pink Trolley Line.
They are only $5, and it stops at several points along Waikiki, so you can take advantage of all the shops and restaurants (and give your feet a break)!
When we were there, it was a double-decker bus. We sat up top, and it had a sunshade for the roof, but everything else was open for fresh air.
If you plan on just riding it around Waikiki as a scenic tour, you’ll definitely want to sit up top. And it’s even better if you can sit in the front row because you’ll get an unobstructed view of Waikiki.
It’s definitely a great Waikiki shuttle option!
Waikiki Trolley Blue Line
The blue line was my favorite trolley ride! It takes you from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki to Halona Blow Hole, the coastline, and all the way to Sea Life Park.
Our trolley was completely open air and feeling the wind on a hot summer day was amazing. The views were epic!
Plus, there’s time to get off at Halona Blowhole to take photos and walk around before hopping back on.
And there’s enough time at Sea Life Park to get out and use the restroom if you aren’t planning on actually getting off to visit Sea Life Park.
This whole ride takes 120 minutes if you just stay on the whole time. This is a fun way to get to Sea Life Park, but it also makes a nice half-day excursion out of Waikiki. Read our guide to Sea Life Park HERE.
Waikiki Trolley Red Line
While we didn’t have a chance to ride the Waikiki Trolley Red Line, I do think it’s a great way to see some of the historic/cultural sites in Honolulu.
The red line starts off in Waikiki, where you can see the famous Duke Kahanamoku statue. Then you’ll head to Iolani Palace, which is the only royal palace in the United States. There’s a scenic drive through Punchbowl Crater and a stop in Honolulu’s Chinatown in Downtown Honolulu.
This is the best trolley pass to experience Hawaii’s cultural and historical past. The red line does make for a truly Hawaiian experience, that’s for sure!
You can also get off at Ala Moana Center to do some shopping or grab lunch/dinner.
If you want to see the historic landmarks and learn about Hawaii’s rich cultural past, this is the trolley pass for you!
Waikiki Trolley Green Line
The green line trolley is the one that takes you to see Diamond Head. This trolley pass is a great opportunity to see the sites along the way to the Diamond Head hike. Then, you can enjoy a nice hike up the mountain.
This is the best Diamond Head shuttle! There are fewer convenient stops on the green line than on the red line or blue line, which is nice.
Here are a few stops from the green line where it will pick you up before heading to Diamond Head Crater:
- Hale Koa Hotel
- Trump International Hotel
- Waikiki Shopping Plaza
- Duke Kahanamoku Statue
- Honolulu Zoo
On Saturdays, if you go on the green line pass, you will also have the opportunity to head to the KCC Farmer’s Market!
Our Waikiki Trolley Review
I want to first put out a disclaimer that we rode the Waikiki Trolley 2 weeks after it started operating again after an 18-month hiatus. So, I think there were a few kinks to work out, and they ran a limited schedule.
I didn’t realize how limited the schedule was, and we arrived at the ticketing desk 10 minutes after the Blue Line left. And it was going to be about 3 hours before the next one. Total planning fail on my part for not checking the schedule first.
However, they were so sweet and offered us complimentary tickets on the Pink Line, so my son and I could still have a mini-adventure while we waited.
What’s great about these Waikiki tours is that they are hop on, hop off. So, you don’t have to get off at stops you’re not interested in. That’s what makes it better than other Honolulu city tours.
So you can easily go on these for just the sights if you want or do a Waikiki Trolley hop for just a stop or two along the way.
Pink Line Review
We had a total blast on the Pink Line, and it’s one of the easiest ways of getting around Waikiki, especially with kids. Next time we stay in Waikiki, we’ll definitely get tickets for the whole family as an easy way to get around town without dealing with parking.
We didn’t get off at any stops because we just wanted a scenic view. The pink line is definitely perfect for heading to the popular shopping mall, either Ala Moana shopping of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza.
I would highly recommend this for people visiting Oahu for the first time because it’s a great way to get a layout of Waikiki and familiarize yourself. Plus, it’s much faster than walking around town.
If you want to do some of Hawaii’s iconic shopping during your Hawaiian vacation, choose the pink line.
Blue Line Review
I think this is the ultimate trolley ride to get people out of Waikiki. It goes up the coast a bit for gorgeous ocean views. You’ll even be able to get off at Halona Blowhole to take photos.
We paired it with a few hours at Sea Life Park, and it was the ultimate adventure. My 4yo was so tired that he ended up sleeping on my lap for the ride back to Waikiki. It was definitely more fun than driving!
Book a Family Photo Shoot
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How do you get Waikiki Trolley tickets?
You can either order tickets online or stop by the Waikiki Trolley Ticket Booth at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza.
You have a variety of options to enjoy the Waikiki Trolley hop-on hop-off experience.
You can purchase each individual line pass or get multiple trolley lines. You can choose from a one-day pass, a four-day pass, or seven days with multiple line passes!
Depending on how many days you plan to stay in Waikiki, the open-air trolleys passes are definitely worth it!
Waikiki Trolley FAQs
Waikiki is a section of Honolulu which is the capital city on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
The Waikiki Trolley Pink Line is your best bet for a shuttle to Ala Moana Center. It stops at several hotels in Waikiki and drops you at Ala Moana Center. Plus, this Ala Moana trolley is only $5, so it’s a pretty good deal.
The Waikiki Trolley Purple Line used to go to Pearl Harbor, and it was a great option. As of June 2023, the Waikiki Trolley is still just offering its Pink, Red, Green, and Blue lines. But there are many easy ways to get from Waikiki to Pearl Harbor.
Since all of the Waikiki Trolley lines stop in Waikiki, it’s a great opportunity to explore! Check out some of the many boutiques, food trucks, restaurants, and entertainment options in Waikiki. I’ve got a full list of things to do in Waikiki, Hawaii, HERE. And be sure to spend some time relaxing at Hawaii’s most famous beach: Waikiki Beach!
No, each line pass costs a certain fee or you can get the all-line pass to experience everything around the area with all four lines available with this trolley pass.
So, is the Waikiki Trolley Worth it for Families?
Absolutely. If you want to get around Waikiki without worrying about car seats or taking the bus, the Waikiki Trolley is an awesome option.
There’s a bit of narration, so you know what you’re passing, but it’s not constant talking (which usually annoys me).
Kids will love being able to see out of the windows really easily and being able to hop on and hop off at different stops on this Oahu trolley.
My 4yo loved it so much that he wanted to get back on it at the Halona Blowhole stop just to soak in a few more minutes of being on a trolley!