After Kauai reopened, access and transportation became an issue. We’ve got some news to report.
35 thoughts on “New Kauai Transportation Options Launch | But Will It Help?”
Comments are closed.
After Kauai reopened, access and transportation became an issue. We’ve got some news to report.
Comments are closed.
Great news?? Used to park free now you’re telling me $35 obviously limited as to where you can go and how you use your time within a framework that has been commandeered rather than allowing you to experience it as you would like. By the way, no mention here of tunnels Beach??
I was just in Kauai a month ago. Parking is the same as ever at Tunnels – you pretty much have to get there by 8 am or be lucky that someone’s leaving. We gave up on going to Ke’e that we’ve done for years because you have to reserve a permit a month ahead that sells out in moments. I wish this shuttle had been available then. I totally understand that Kauai and many other places is totally trying to control overtourism, and I’m glad they’re figuring out ways like this new website that compromise between tourists, locals, and protecting the environment.
We just completed a week in Kauai. Fortunately, we booked a rental car 6 months prior so we didn’t have to deal with other options. We stayed in Kapaa and we have friends who overlapped our stay but they were in Princeville. They didn’t have a rental car so we picked them up for two days of sightseeing in our car. However, they had scheduled an airport pickup with a popular shuttle company, which unfortunately didn’t pick them up so they had to take a $90 taxi. (They got their money back for the pre-booked shuttle.) I don’t know what we would have done without a car rental and for our friends, we were their only source of transportation for their vacation (except extremely expensive taxies). The schedule for the hop-on-hop off is better than nothing but far from ideal and I don’t see it as a viable long-term solution as it operates now. The traffic around Kapaa in the afternoons is horrible; it takes a long time to get anywhere in Kauai and sights are far from each other. At this point in time, I would not recommend tourists come to Kauai without a rental car reservation unless they will be happy spending the majority of their time at their resort.
I am arriving Tuesday, September 7th and need a shuttle service to Kauai Beach Resort & Spa. In you valued opinion, who provides the best and most reliable service in Kauai?
Thank you BOH for all you information
Bill
Hi Bill.
We have no experience with the shuttles, so would not feel comfortable recommending one over another.
Aloha.
If you wish to use the Haena shuttle out of Hanalei and you are driving from the South shore, where would suggest leaving your car?
Thanks!
Hi Jim.
There is no shortage of free parking in Hanalei Town.
Aloha.
1. Encouraging visitors to rent mopeds and other similar modes of transportation is reckless.
2. Maybe if the county cracked down on so many people renting their beat up cars, the rental car situation would even out
3. Robert’s Tours, which is a way to get around the island can’t find people to work, so check back on my #2 for one reason why people don’t want to go back to work.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
Hi Joan.
Always good to hear from you. Thanks.
Aloha.
Mahalo for all of BOH constant updates and valuable information. In May of this year my husband and I spent nearly 3 weeks on the islands, Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai so I am aware of this year’s trials and tribulations. With that said our time on Kauai was wonderful because we had gotten our rental car long in advance. In considering your article about transportation I believe that the spotty of maybe you can get a taxi, Uber etc, is not ok. A possible solution might be a bus system for a minimal cost, definitely not $35 a day, to hop on and hop off. The bus needs to be available every 30 minutes. Make traveling easy. Hope this helps. Thanks for “listening “.
Hi Kathleen.
Thanks for your first-time comment. We appreciate the input.
Aloha.
Long time fan of the islands. Have been about 10 times. I have to say, while I can sympathize with the impact of the crush of post-restrictions surge & pent up Hawaii travel demand, the constant stories on BOH, the political posturing & the general distain for visitors I have seen in some of the Hawaii travel stories have me rethinking where we might go this winter. Hawaii was our top choice, but I am starting to think St. John or St. Croix might be more welcoming. I hope the reaction from locals & the overwhelming by visitors levels out soon. Everything is good with balance, the locals need to be careful that the Aloha spirit doesn’t get lost in the current anti-tourist narrative or the future of Hawaii tourism & the Hawaii economy could suffer from a perception that visitors are not welcome.
St. John’s and St. Croix are beautiful.. Just stay on the left side of the road!! Christiansted and the other towns on St. Croix are very nice to visit.
I totally agree. As visitors to the Island we have to be respectful and that needs to work both ways. I am waiting for a couple of years for all of this to level out and see what the sentiment is to visitors at that time before returning. For now I will do winter travel on the east coast of the mainland or US Virgin Islands. Love the Islands & love the people and the culture, just don’t want to be in an us versus them mindset. So many beautiful places to visit in this country with their own local traditions & cultures to enjoy. I will Immerse myself and enjoy the journey along the way. May God heal the islands and the struggles they now face.
Aloha. its Mounque again. I have a question on Vaccination and if someone had had covid and antibodies. How is Hawaii them. it is advised they do not get vaccinated. But can they enter Hawaii with proof of having had covid and antibodies? Do they still need vaccination or 3 day testing. I appreciate any info you can send.
Hi Mounque.
There is an exemption for those recovered within the past 90 days. Beyond that period, the only other options are testing or vaccination.
Aloha.
It sounds like a kindergarten class on the suggestions listed above.Too bad for the Condo owners and all the other business’ that we would “have” spent our money on, including Hawaiian Air and all the other “local” establisments, but will no longer as have no desire to spend our money because of your monarch Mayor and Governor. Be nice to see how the residents can survive without our hard earned money going elsewhere. Hope your taxes go through the roof, so the government can survive, without us,!
Boohoo Rich.
Condo owners don’t live in Hawai’i, they are probably from your state. And most people that live in Kauai don’t live on the backs of tourists dollars. We’re either retired or have jobs that are supported by local residents. Your money usually will go to Costco, your rental car company, and a vacation rental owned by mainlanders.
Use should look harder into how tourists dollars are really support your ideas of visiting here.
So stop telling the Hawaiian residents that if it wasn’t for us you could live where you were raised.
-please consider The Kauai Bus-it stops at the airport
Aloha and thanks for the update, this is exciting!
I admit to being confused about one thing concerning the Haena shuttle. Great that it stops (leaves) at Waipa, but given the road situation and backups getting in and out of Hanalei from the Princeville side, wouldn’t it make a bigger difference for traffic congestion, including for residents, if the shuttles still left from Princeville or some location that side of the roadwork and also stopped at Waipa each way?
That way visitors could leave rental cars at some designated park and ride location (or maybe get to it by bus) and could avoid both sitting in backups and making residents do the same (or at least decrease the load!) Not to mention all the pollution from idling cars, and less car congestion in Hanalei and beyond.
Anyway, just a thought for the idea hopper!
Hi Carolyn.
Thanks for your input on this and your many comments.
Aloha.
Thanks for that information! Any word on travel options on the big island, specifically to the airport?
Hi Aison.
We have not heard anything about any new Big Island options. There are multiple airport shuttles.
Aloha.