ALOHA!
The Iolani Palace is the only royal palace located in the Untied States, and it’s located in downtown Honolulu.
So, is it possible to get to the Iolani Palace by bus from Waikiki?
Yes, it is!
When it comes to the Oahu bus system, Waikiki and Honolulu are the most frequently serviced areas.
This means that it’s generally pretty convenient to get from Waikiki to Honolulu.
How long does it take to get there by bus?
It depends on where in Waikiki you’re coming from, but the bus ride is 15-30 minutes.
It’s around 15 minutes if you’re coming from a western part of Waikiki near the Hilton Hawaiian Village, and closer to 30 minutes if you’re coming from the eastern part of Waikiki near the Duke Kahanamoku Statue and the Honolulu Zoo.
Downtown Honolulu is towards the west of Waikiki, so the further east you’re coming from, it’s the frequent stops the bus makes that tacks on a little bit of extra time.
There is a bus stop located about a block from the palace.
Waikiki Travel Guide:
- 2 mile walk on Waikiki Beach
- Best snorkeling spot in Waikiki
- Best hike near Waikiki
- Bike rental in Waikiki
- Free hula show in Waikiki
- Getting around by bus from Waikiki
Side note!
If you'll be snorkeling on your next vacation, consider wearing these types of UV swim shirts. Also 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 Oahu that will give you Hawaii vibes!
Bus directions to Iolani Palace
So, what’s the easiest way to figure out directions to Iolani Palace and downtown Honolulu?
Google Maps public transit directions!
Once you’ve got the basics of the Oahu bus system figured out, all you really need is Google Maps to plan your bus trips around Oahu!
So, for bus directions from Waikiki to Iolani Palace, have a look here.
If you know where you’re staying, plug that in as your starting point to get a better idea of how long it will take.
Also plug in a morning or afternoon time as your departure time if it doesn’t show up as such.
This will give you a more accurate idea of the bus timings on any particular day of the week.
For downtown Honolulu in particular, the day of the week will make a difference in the timings too, so change the day of the week to your expected day.
The specific day of Monday through Friday doesn’t matter as much as it does weekday vs Saturday vs Sunday.
Things to do near Iolani Palace
The most notable place to visit near the Iolani Palace is the Aliiolani Palace.
You may not recognize the name, but there’s a good chance you recognize the place!
And if you don’t recognize this, you need to start watching the Hawaii Five-0 TV show immediately in preparation for your trip to Hawaii. 😉
The King Kamehameha statue in front of the Aliiolani Palace is one of the iconic images from Hawaii Five-0.
It’s located right in front of the Iolani Palace.
More information on the Iolani Palace
To get the basics of the Iolani Palace, be sure to visit the official website!
Every Friday at noon, the Royal Hawaiian Band has a free Hawaiian music concert too.
See here for updated information and to check that the concert is still happening.
HAPPY IOLANI PALACE PLANNING!
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
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
- What to wear snorkeling
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