The Hawaiian archipelago travels by car (essential rental outside Waikiki Oahu) and inter-island flights.
Main airports: Honolulu HNL (Oahu, largest, transpacific flights), Kahului OGG (Maui), Kona KOA (Big Island west), Hilo ITO (Big Island east, smaller), Lihue LIH (Kauai). Inter-island flights mainly by Hawaiian Airlines (40 daily inter-island flights), Southwest Airlines (present since 2019, competitive prices), Mokulele (small companies). Duration: 40 min Oahu-Maui, 50 min Oahu-Big Island, 30 min Oahu-Kauai. Return fares $80-200 by lead time. Book on hawaiianairlines.com or southwest.com.
Car rental: essential except if staying only in Waikiki. Hertz, Sixt, Enterprise, Alamo, Budget, Avis at all airports. $60-100/day compact, $80-130 SUV. For Big Island and Road to Hana Maui, SUV recommended (narrow roads, elevation, changing conditions). For Mauna Kea, 4x4 mandatory (2WD vehicles banned beyond 2,800 m visitor centre, or guided excursion $200-280). French licence valid 3 months, credit card for deposit ($300-500).
Inter-island distances: road-impossible because separated by ocean — only flight. Intra-island distances: Oahu: Honolulu-Pearl Harbor 30 min, Honolulu-North Shore 1h-1h30 by H-1 traffic (main highway, often congested rush hours), full Oahu loop 5-6h drive. Maui: Kahului-Lahaina 45 min, Kahului-Hana via Road to Hana 3h (but 10-12h with all stops), Kahului-Haleakala summit 1h30. Big Island: Kona-Hilo via north 2h45, via south 3h, Kona-Volcanoes National Park 2h30. Kauai: full loop 4-5h, but Na Pali Coast not accessible by road.
Public transport very limited outside Oahu. TheBus (Oahu, most developed, $3 ride, lines to Waikiki, downtown, Pearl Harbor, airport, North Shore). Maui, Big Island, Kauai: very limited bus services, essential car. Trolley Waikiki (Honolulu, tourist lines $2-5). Uber/Lyft available in Honolulu ($15-25 typical ride), more limited on other islands (Maui Kahului-Lahaina $30-50).
Helicopters and excursions: Kauai Na Pali Coast (Jack Harter, Blue Hawaiian, $350-450/person 1h), Maui West Maui Mountains + Molokai ($250-400), Big Island Volcanoes ($350-500 if ongoing eruption). Na Pali Coast catamarans $130-200 half day, Molokini Maui $100-150 half day. Boat diving $130-200/2-dive outing with equipment.
Transit airports from Europe: Paris CDG → Los Angeles LAX (Air France, Delta, American direct 11h30) then LAX → Honolulu (Hawaiian, Delta, United, American 5h30) = total 18-22h with stopover, €900-1,800 return. Via San Francisco SFO (direct Air France 11h45 + 5h30) = equivalent. Via Tokyo (JAL, ANA — possible if Japan + Hawaii combo trip). No direct Europe-Hawaii flight.
Read also
- Honolulu — Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head: Hawaii's capital and the urban beach option.
- United States — Complete country-continent guide: ESTA, currency, regions.
- California — Combinable from Los Angeles or San Francisco — 5h30 domestic flight to Honolulu.
- Florida — The more accessible US beach alternative: Miami, Orlando, Keys.