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Can you drive from Honolulu to the Big Island?

Honolulu is the capital and major city of the State of Hawaii. It is on the Island of Oahu. The only way to get to the Big Island from Oahu is to fly.



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Unlike many people believe, you cannot drive between Hawaiian Islands. The ocean between the islands is too deep to build any bridges. Instead, you'll either need to take a plane or a ferry, depending on which island you're traveling to.

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However, driving in Hawaii does come with its own set of challenges that you should be prepared for, including poor road conditions. While the more populated islands like O'ahu or the Big Island have decent roads, the more rural isles like Kaua'i have roads that are often unpaved and difficult to drive on.

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Unless you want to just relax at your hotel, the answer is yes. Driving is the best way to get around and will provide you with the most flexibility. Hawaii Island is known as “The Big Island” for good reason — spanning 10,931 square miles, it has a lot of ground to cover.

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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.

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You won't find many ferries braving the choppy seas between the major islands in Hawaii, so flying is the best way to travel between Hawaiian islands. Only three airlines operate scheduled flights between them: Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Mokulele Airlines.

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The cheapest way to travel between Hawaiian islands is to fly. You can find inter-island flights for as little as $39 each way, depending on when you want to travel and how far in advance you book.

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Oahu is the only island with a comprehensive bus system, simply known as TheBusOpens external link to page that may not meet accessibility guidelines.

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If you do decide to rent a car, Shaka Guide's driving tours will make sure you don't miss any of the important attractions. Oahu is the easiest island to get around. There are several car rental companies at the Honolulu Airport if you'd like to drive the island.

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Usually when people do drive the island in one day, they focus on spending quality time on the far side, typically Akaka Falls, VNP, Punalu'u. The drive time best time is about 6 hours with an additional 1 hour for Puna (impractical), not counting any stops. BI is about half the size of New Jersey.

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Hawaii is a beautiful state with six main islands to explore. Each island has beautiful beaches and natural beauty, but if you're a first-time visitor, O?ahu is the best island to visit. The Hawaiian island that is home to the state capital (Honolulu) has something for everyone.

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Oahu is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, with a total cost of $3,015. A Ko Olina Resort lagoon on Oahu. Maui is the most expensive island to visit, coming in over $2,000 more expensive, with a total cost of $5,142. The Grand Wailea in Maui, a luxury resort.

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Molokai is known for its limited resorts and attractions, which adds to its charm as the least touristy island in Hawaii. Unlike other islands that are filled with high-rise hotels and commercialized attractions, Molokai offers a more rustic and untouched experience.

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The wettest months are from November to March, but winter rains do not generally disrupt vacation plans, since the weather is very localized. This means that if it is raining where you are, there is almost always a sunny spot to be found around the coast.

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The best way to experience Hawaii is to devote at least five days to each island. If you want to tack on a quick trip to another island in a short amount of time, Oahu is your best bet, as it's the main hub for the islands.

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O'ahu (easy to fly to and offers plenty of hotel and food options) What is this? Sometimes called 'The Gathering Place', O'ahu is one of the easiest islands to visit in Hawaii as it contains the majority of Hawaii's population and is where the state capital of Honolulu can be found.

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