Aloha, Brenda! Welcome to planDisney! I'm so happy that you've stopped by with your vacation planning question!
Wow! How exciting that in just a couple of months, you and your family will be arriving to
Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawai'i, inhaling that first amazing scent of the tropical breeze, hearing the waves lapping on the shore and taking that first sip of a mai tai. Ahhhhh, paradise! A stay at Aulani is at the top of my can't-wait-to-do list, and although I have yet to make this dream a reality, I have enlisted my pal, fellow planDisney panelist and Aulani expert, Kamini, to share her best transportation tips and tricks with you. She assured me that if you are not interested in renting a car, there are several options for you to explore the island on your magical, tropical and historical adventure.
Your first option for traveling from Aulani to Pearl Harbor is actually my personal favorite and is how I would love to explore the island - with a tour guide. You can book one of the two Pearl Harbor excursions online through Aulani -
Pearl Harbor Excursion from Ko Olina or
Pearl Harbor Remembered from Ko Olina. Both of these excursions include transportation to and from Pearl Harbor and require Advance Reservations. For more information on these excursions, you can call Holoholo Tours and Travel at (808) 674-6320 or once you've arrived, visit the Holoholo Tours and Travel desk in the lobby.
If the tours don't interest you and you'd rather a self-guided tour, there are
other transportation options for you to get around the island. There is a public bus system with extensive destinations, however the nearest bus stop is about one mile away from the Resort, takes some extra time to travel, and Kamini explained can sometimes be confusing for unfamiliar Guests to navigate. You can use a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft, as well as Charley's Taxi service to get to and from Pearl Harbor, and these do seem to be the simplest options for exploring on your own.
While enjoying your stay at Aulani, don't miss the oh-so-fun, interactive (and free!) scavenger hunt on the
Menehune Adventure Trail right at the Aulani Resort!
Brenda, I hope that this helps you plan your upcoming getaway, and I hope that you stop by any time with any vacation planning questions. I'm wishing an unforgettable Hawaiian adventure! Aloha!
I hope to see ya real soon!
Mandy