January 29, 2018 pedalgoa

Can you take the bus from Waikiki to the Polynesian Cultural Center? :: Waikiki to Laie

So you’ve decided to make the trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center! Good choice! Here’s why. šŸ˜‰

Now onto that question.

Well, short answer: YES! You can take the bus from Waikiki to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

But the real question is… do you want to take the bus as your method of transportation to the Polynesian Cultural Center… šŸ˜‰

You have a few different options for getting to the Polynesian Cultural Center from Waikiki, and laid out here is information that will hopefully help you decide whether or not the public transportation bus is the way to go for you!

And so, what’s covered on this page!

On another page: Tips on taking the bus around Oahu

Where is the Polynesian Cultural Center located?

In order to figure out the best way to get to the Polynesian Cultural Center from Waikiki, it may be helpful to know where the cultural center is located!

And so…



Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!


MAP! Waikiki and Laie

Map with Waikiki and Polynesian Cultural Center

As you can see, Waikiki is basically on the one end of Oahu near Honolulu, and the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie is on the other end of the island. And while the distance of 35 miles between Waikiki and the Polynesian Cultural Center may be considered a relatively short distance where you live, it means time when you’re on Oahu! And that’s even more so by bus with the extra stops and slower driving.

While the bus can be a good way to get around Oahu, it’s not the most convenient way to get to the cultural center.

But if you’ve looked at the other options and recognize the extra time and inconvenience the bus requires, and you are still looking at it as a top option, then hereĀ are some more important things to consider about taking the bus from Waikiki to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Waikiki Travel Guide:

Just how much time will it take by bus from Waikiki?

Depending on where in Waikiki you’re staying, if you time it right, you can plan it so that a single bus will take you to Laie so you don’t have to take any bus transfers.

One way, from Waikiki to Laie, will take you about 2 hours by bus.

How to figure out bus directions from Waikiki to Polynesian Cultural Center

See this Google map here to plug in your Waikiki hotel or airbnb home location to know specifically what the bus route and bus transfer will look like. You can also plug in the time you’ll be leaving Waikiki to get a better idea.

Google Maps is a pretty reliable way to take the bus anywhere around Oahu. And in fact, the Honolulu government even suggests it! So if you’ll be taking the bus in Oahu, be sure you have the Google Maps app on your phone.

And back to your hotel. Have a look at airbnb for a cheaper alternative to Waikiki hotels! Here’s why.

And here’s a referral discount for your first airbnb booking.

Getting there from Waikiki

If you are staying near the Hilton Hawaiian Village on the west end of Waikiki, with a 10-15 minute walk, it’s possible to catch bus route 55 in the morning and stay on that bus until you reach your drop-off point at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

If you’re not near the Hawaiian Hilton Village, you’ll still want to catch bus 55, but you’ll likely want to catch another bus to get on the 55 bus route. Depending on where in Waikiki you are, if you don’t mind a 20-30 minute walk, you can walk to catch a bus on the 55 bus route. Either that, or you can catch a bus that will take you to a 55 bus stop. Since buses around Waikiki are pretty frequent, itĀ may not be that inconvenient or time-consuming compared to walking to do so.

Because the Polynesian Cultural Center opens at 12:00pm, you don’t have to wake upĀ at an unreasonable time in the morning to feel like you’re making the most of your time at the cultural center. That’s the good news!

For Oahu, 2 hours may feel like a lot of time in transit, but consider that in other parts in the U.S., it’s not unreasonable to drive 2 hours to reach a worthy destination, right? Justification for the 2 hour ride! šŸ˜‰

Getting back to Waikiki

Now for the bad news… the ride back. Again, it’s going to take 2 hours. And that’s just the bus ride. You’ll want to think about the wait time for the bus too.

You’ll also want to think about how late you’re going to be at the cultural center. And to think of all possibilities… you may also consider a situation where you miss the bus.

Generally speaking, once you get out of the vicinity of Waikiki, Honolulu, and Diamond Head, the most populated areas of Oahu, the bus doesn’t come so frequently. Again, generally speaking, the bus in other parts of the island will come by around once an hour. So if you miss the bus, you’ll need to wait for another hour.

You’ll also want to consider how late you’ll be riding the bus. Do you plan onĀ staying at the Polynesian Cultural Center for dinner and evening show?

If you’re not staying for dinner, you can leave the cultural center at a reasonable time to return back to Waikiki at a reasonable time. But if you are staying for dinner and the evening show, you may not get back to Waikiki until midnight if you’re going by bus.

The evening show, Ha: Breath of Life, starts around 7:30pm and the show ends just before 9:00pm.

Cost of the bus from Waikiki to Polynesian Cultural Center

So, it is possible to take the bus from Waikiki.

By the end of your second 2-hour bus ride, you may be thinking that you should have just gone for the easier option… but then you can remind yourself, it did only cost you $5 round trip. šŸ˜‰

Each bus ride is $2.50. If you’ll need a bus transfer, be sure to ask the driver of your first bus for a transfer ticket, and then you can use that for your second bus.

That said… for an extra $15, you can add on to your admission ticket a round-trip shuttle to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

So the question is… how much is that $15 worth to you? šŸ˜‰

Although, the shuttle to the Polynesian Cultural Center is only an option for you if you are staying for dinnerĀ and evening show. There is no early shuttle that will take you back to Waikiki.

HAPPY POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER PLANNING!

cost to go to hawaii | budget tips – things to do in oahu | mapĀ >> oahu by bus |Ā hawaiian cultureĀ – polynesian cultural centerĀ |Ā hikesĀ |Ā beachesĀ –Ā snorkelingĀ ||Ā what to pack for hawaiiĀ –Ā what to wear hikingĀ –Ā what to wear snorkelingĀ || cheaper places to stay || hawaiian gifts

 



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šŸ  Here are things you must consider packing!


I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.

Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.

There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.


see more:
- What to wear hiking
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