Day trip to Honolulu from Maui - Rental Car or Not?

This October my wife and me are spending a week in Maui and we are planning a day trip to Honolulu to visit Pearl Harbor and Waikiki. I am trying to decide if we should rent a car, the lowest price I%26#39;ve been able to find for a economy single day rental is about $50 with taxes from Dollar Rent-A-Car. I hear that the bus service is pretty good in Honolulu and wonder if it would be better off using bus and/or cab to get around for the day. We plan to visit Pearl Harbor first and then go to Waikiki (probably the International Market Place) and then back to the airport. I wonder if making 3 cab trips Airport-Pearl, Pearl-Waikiki, Waikiki-Airport would be cheaper than car rental and parking costs, or possibly using the bus, or some combination or the two. We were able to get an Hawaiian Air flight for $58 each round trip and will be arriving at the Honolulu airport at about 9:15am with our flight back to Maui leaving at 6:40pm. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Day trip to Honolulu from Maui - Rental Car or Not?

No, get the car. If you have only one day on Oahu, time is way too short to wait around and take the slow bus. And two or three cab trips would cost more than the car rental.

Day trip to Honolulu from Maui - Rental Car or Not?

99% of the time I would say to rent a car because it gives you options to stop other places.

But, if your only interest on Oahu is Pearl Harbor and Waikiki you may be better off taking the bus.

I only say that because:

1. There are direct routes (no transfer needed) on all three legs that you described. These routes have frequent bus service.

2. Total cost for buses for two is $12 instead of $50 for car or cabs.

3. No parking worries or expenses in Waikiki.

4. Considering the time to check a car out %26amp; back in, I don%26#39;t know that you would save that much time getting a car.

Airport to Arizona Memorial Bus #20 (make sure you get the one toward Pearlridge). 10 minute bus ride

Arizona Memorial to Waikiki # 20 or #42 1 hour 15 minute bus ride

Waikiki to Airport # 19 or #20 1 hour 10 minute bus ride (probably a little longer as this will be evening rush hour)

As you can see, you are spending more than 2 1/2 half hours on the bus (not counting waiting time).

Time spent at Pearl Harbor will be 2 1/2 - 3 hours.

Arrive at airport about 1 1/2 hours before your return flight.

This will only give you 2 hours or so in Waikiki.

If you rent a car, you%26#39;ll probably gain about 1 additional hour.

This link has the bus # you will need.

http://www.thebus.org/pop/airport.asp

The bus does not allow luggage. Carry-ons OK. See regulations here:

http://www.thebus.org/CS/RulesReg.asp

An alternative would be to substitute downtown area instead of Waikiki. That would give you more time.

Chinatown is nice to stroll. Aloha Tower Marketplace is nice.

You could also take the first two legs by bus an opt for a cab from Waikiki. About $28 for a cab.