Shuttle from airport

[Zoomie96]

Greetings--new to this Disney board but not new to everything Disney. We are DVC members and have been to WDW many, many times. However, this will be our first trip to Aulani and was wondering if there are any suggestions/recommendations for a shuttle from the airport. We are renting a car mid-trip but was wondering if a shuttle would work best or if a taxi is just fine for the four of us. Thanks

 

[nkereina]

I can't speak to the shuttles because we had a rental car the whole time, but wanted to mention we found it extremely easy to pick up and drop off the rental car from the airport. If you are staying on DVC points, you will also have free parking which is huge. By having a rental car the whole trip, it gave us flexibility to come and go as we please and leave Ko Olina for meals. Ko Olina tends to be pricey with limited options.

 

[southerngirl528]

I can't speak to the shuttles because we had a rental car the whole time, but wanted to mention we found it extremely easy to pick up and drop off the rental car from the airport. If you are staying on DVC points, you will also have free parking which is huge. By having a rental car the whole trip, it gave us flexibility to come and go as we please and leave Ko Olina for meals. Ko Olina tends to be pricey with limited options.

Agree! DH and I have stayed at Aulani several times and always rent a car for the entire time. It just gives you a LOT more flexibility. Don't rent a huge car if you don't have to as the parking spaces tend to be SMALL in Hawaii. We usually do an Intermediate car and that is PLENTY big.

I virtually always get my best Hawaii rental car rates either through www.costcotravel.com or www.discounthawaiicarrental.com Both almost always offer a free 2nd driver as well as unlimited miles! Yay! Happy planning!

 

[Zoomie96]

Thanks guys for the replies--I was going to rent for the whole time, but decided I didn't need it since we plan on spending a fair amount of time on property. We are renting a Jeep for a few days in the middle to do some exploring so I was trying to get some ideas on shuttles. The Aulani website mentions Hele Hele Hele shuttle so I was trying to see if anyone had any first hand experience with them or anyone else.

 

[Sunclytie]

We used Hele Hele shuttle to get to and from HNL to Aulani. They were very good. They provided a car seat for our daughter and used a big, comfortable bus with plenty of room. I’d say the capacity was 20 people and it was 3/4 full.

 

[Zoomie96]

Thanks for the feedback--out of curiosity, how long did it take to get from HNL to Aulani?

 

[southerngirl528]

Thanks for the feedback--out of curiosity, how long did it take to get from HNL to Aulani?

Unless you are leaving Honolulu at rush hour (try not to do THAT!), it's about a 45 minute drive from HNL to Aulani in our experiences.

 

[Zoomie96]

Unless you are leaving Honolulu at rush hour (try not to do THAT!), it's about a 45 minute drive from HNL to Aulani in our experiences.

We arrive around 3 PM so hopefully we won't hit too much traffic

 

[southerngirl528]

We arrive around 3 PM so hopefully we won't hit too much traffic

Pray your flight is on time and that you can get your baggage pretty quickly to catch the shuttle and get out of Dodge! I think a lot of folks don't realize just HOW insanely busy Hawaii's traffic can be, especially Oahu since it's vastly more populous than neighbor islands. And the reason is that there are generally zero alternate routes as Hawaiian islands are very mountainous. So you'll be on H1 to H2 as I recall. I would truly try to get out of town as quickly as you can. Stop in Kapolei which is just 5 minutes back toward Honolulu from Aulani. Kapolei has a newer Costco, a BigTarget (not a Super Target), and all sorts of eateries and grocery stores. You'll get off the highway when you see the water park mauna (toward the mountains, which will be on your right as you head from HNL to Aulani).

Happy planning! Hawaii's awesome, even if ya gotta deal with some traffic! Just relax and enjoy!

 

[Drusilla99]

We generally use Kings Shuttle service when we are on the island. They sent a van for just our family of 4 the 1/2 dozen times we’ve used them, so we had plenty of room. The cost was less than $60 for the airport to Aulani. Have a great trip!

 

[SteveNZ]

We used Charley's Taxi to get from the airport to Aulani, we booked ahead and then called them once we had cleared customs and they picked us up right outside. For a family of 4 they sent a mini van, it cost $55 flat rate and was excellent service, very clean and comfortable vehicle, and courteous drivers. We used them several times on our trip. Would highly recommend. Website link.

 

[Zoomie96]

We generally use Kings Shuttle service when we are on the island.

We used Charley's Taxi to get from the airport to Aulani, we booked ahead and then called them once we had cleared customs and they picked us up right outside. For a family of 4 they sent a mini van, it cost $55 flat rate and was excellent service, very clean and comfortable vehicle, and courteous drivers. We used them several times on our trip. Would highly recommend

Thanks Drusilla99 and SteveNZ for the recommendations--we will check them out

 

[alohamom]

+1 for Charley's. Reputable company that has been in business in Hawaii a long time and are familiar with the run to Aulani.

Arriving at 3pm is going to put you right in the beginning of the traffic if it is a weekday.

Just be prepared for a longer than 45 minute drive and you will be fine.

 

[Zoomie96]

Just be prepared for a longer than 45 minute drive and you will be fine.

After a full day of travel from Ohio, I'm not too worried about a little extra time to get to the hotel--besides we'll be on vacation

 

[nkereina]

We arrive around 3 PM so hopefully we won't hit too much traffic

If its a weekday, this is actually prime traffic time, as mentioned. You'll be traveling away from the city along with everyone else that time of day. Generally speaking, we found heaviest volumes from 3-7pm and 6-10am. Traffic IS as bad as everyone says, which is another reason why we liked having our own car - flexibility to come and go at our own times, take longer/non-highway routes to avoid traffic, etc.

 

[alohamom]

After a full day of travel from Ohio, I'm not too worried about a little extra time to get to the hotel--besides we'll be on vacation

Oh I get that, I could have toothpicks holding my eyes open and I would still be ok with traffic and extra time.

However, one thing I have learned from many trips from Toronto to Hawaii over the years is to either pack some kind of snack/meal for latter half of the flight or to stop and grab something at the airport or just outside of the airport.

We are usually travelling 12+ hours to hawaii (unless we break it up with a stop somewhere) and with my kids I find they are better off once they have had something to eat if we are going to site in traffic for an hour and a half. It is bumper to bumper for most of that ride to Aulani in rushhour

 

[southerngirl528]

Oh I get that, I could have toothpicks holding my eyes open and I would still be ok with traffic and extra time.

However, one thing I have learned from many trips from Toronto to Hawaii over the years is to either pack some kind of snack/meal for latter half of the flight or to stop and grab something at the airport or just outside of the airport.

We are usually travelling 12+ hours to hawaii (unless we break it up with a stop somewhere) and with my kids I find they are better off once they have had something to eat if we are going to site in traffic for an hour and a half. It is bumper to bumper for most of that ride to Aulani in rushhour

Great advice! And I know this to be true from flying to Hawaii from the U.S. east coast (FL) every year. Rush hour traffic on Oahu is brutal, make no mistake. Like Alohamom says, just come prepared and with your great attitude you will have an AWESOME time!!! Happy planning!

 

[94bruin]

We used Charley's Taxi as well earlier this month. I think they have been the most pleasant taxi rides of my life!! Both drivers happened to be of South Korean descent. Such polite drivers!

 

[Zoomie96]

However, one thing I have learned from many trips from Toronto to Hawaii over the years is to either pack some kind of snack/meal for latter half of the flight or to stop and grab something at the airport or just outside of the airport

Thanks for the pro tip--we plan on bringing some snacks with us to be sure we keep hunger at bay, but may look to grab something in/around the airport depending on everyone's fatigue level

We used Charley's Taxi as well earlier this month. I think they have been the most pleasant taxi rides of my life!!

Sounds like Charley's Taxi may be the best bet--we'll give them a call

 

[happymommy]

If you are DVC members and not paying for parking, why not rent a car the whole time?