Driving in Hawaii: 10 Important Tips You Must Know

Wondering what the things you need to know about driving in Hawaii are? Find out in this post!

Trips to Hawaii are fantastic! You have beaches, incredible hikes, crazy waterfalls, and delicious food. As you plan your trip, you may wonder what driving in Hawaii is like. 

These tropical islands are laid back and chill, so you won’t have to contend with crazy city traffic like in other American vacation destinations such as Chicago or Los Angeles. 

However, driving in Hawaii has its challenges and differences. I’ve lived on the island of Maui for six years now and am happy to share all my tips and tricks. Check them out below!

Driving in Hawaii during your vacation

With tons of restaurants, beaches, amazing vistas, and fun hikes compacted into a small land area, each Hawaiian island is chock-full of adventures. 

You’ll need to hit the road occasionally to enjoy your time fully. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to rent a car—you could take a tour or use Uber or Lyft. 

👉 Do you need a car in Hawaii? 

As a general rule, you need a car in Hawaii. There are only a few exceptions. 

The first is if you plan to spend your entire vacation in your resort. If the rest are at the top of the list, you can get away with getting a ride-share or taxi to and from the airport. 

The second exception is if you’re staying in the Waikiki area on Oahu and (again) not planning on venturing to other parts of the island.

I’ve done this a few times, and there’s plenty to do within walking distance. Think shops, restaurants, the iconic Waikiki Beach, the Honolulu Zoo, and even the Aquarium! 

Oahu is the only island with a comprehensive bus system (known as The Bus) and even has a Waikiki Trolley that you can hop on and off of throughout the day. 

You’ll need a car to explore if you’re visiting Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island. 

👉 Is it easy to drive in Hawaii? 

Driving in Hawaii is pretty easy! The highways are two-lane roads with slower traffic limits, and the spirit of aloha is evident in how kind other drivers are on the roads.

Some aspects are a little challenging— the on-ramps for the highway are a bit too short, traffic is heavy, and you’re guaranteed to deal with road construction somewhere. 

On Maui, the Road to Hana is notorious for its driving conditions. This narrow, windy road has tons of one-lane bridges and blind turns. 

Driving the road is an experience—you can even purchase an “I Survived the Road to Hana” shirt for bragging rights! But I’ll tell you more about that later. 

👉 Can tourists drive in Hawaii?

Yes! If you come from the mainland United States, you only need a valid driver’s license.

If you’re visiting Hawaii from a different country, you’ll probably be able to use your foreign national driver’s license (alongside your valid passport). You might need an International Driver’s License, but most people won’t. 

Check out this website for more helpful information about international travel to Hawaii. 

Things to know before driving in Hawaii

There are a few things you should know before hitting the road. The most important thing is to practice the spirit of aloha when you drive! Show respect for other drivers and be courteous as you explore. 

1. Driving requirements in Hawaii

When prepping for your trip, ensure everything is in order before arriving. If you don’t, you might not be able to rent a car once you get there!

✔️ International ID (Passport) 

To rent a vehicle (and drive it), you’ll need your international ID, i.e., your passport, with you. This applies even if you’re Canadian!

The main reason is to show when you’ve entered the country, as there is a limit to how long you can drive on a foreign license. 

In most cases, it’s 3-6 months, so if you’re coming for a vacation, it won’t affect you.

 ✔️ Driver’s license/International driver’s license

Secondly, you’ll need your driver’s license or an International Driving Permit (IDP). 

If you’re planning on getting an IDP, you need to get that process done in your home country. 

Hawaii doesn’t require an IDP, but if you’re visiting more than one state at a time, you’ll need to double-check each state’s requirements separately, as they vary.

✔️ Insurance / rental documents

Even if your rental car company doesn’t require you to show proof of insurance, it’s always a good idea to ensure you’re covered. 

Car rental packages in the US don’t include auto insurance, so you must purchase that separately. 

You can buy it from the rental company, but going through a third-party company will be much cheaper. 

It’s worth doing some extra research before arrival! I’d check with your insurance company and credit card to see if they include rental car insurance. 

✔️ Warning triangles

If you’ve seen somewhere that you’re legally required to have warning triangles in your car to drive in Hawaii, you can disregard it.

Only commercial vehicles need warning triangles in Hawaii— I’ve never seen one used on the roads. (But I live in Maui, and I’m sure you see more of everything in Oahu.)

2. Speed Limits in Hawaii

While speed limits vary depending on where you’re driving, they’ll likely be lower overall than what you’re used to back home.

The speed limit in residential zones is 25 miles per hour, and the highways are typically between 45-60 mph. 

The speed limits match the slower pace of life in Hawaii, which is part of its charm. 

3. Turning and Parking

Great news! Unless a sign tells you not to, you can turn right on a red light. 

However, pay attention to signage— this isn’t allowed in downtown Honolulu or other areas.

Parking is another area where you should pay attention to the signs. You cannot park anywhere with a “No Parking” sign or anywhere that blocks a sidewalk or driveway. 

If the curb is painted a color, chances are you can’t park there or can only park for a short time. Not colored? You’re good to go!

If you’re parking on a hill, always use your parking brake and turn your wheels so you won’t go rolling into traffic if your brakes go out.

4. Right-hand drive

Like the rest of the USA, vehicles are usually left-hand driven. You might encounter a few imported cars with right-hand drive configurations (but probably not as a rental). 

The Hawaii driving side is the right hand of the road, so if you come from a country where driving is done on the left side, you’ll want to exercise extra caution. 

5. Driving with children in Hawaii

If you’re traveling the islands with your kids, you’ll need to know the following car seat requirements:

💡 Babies up to one year old and weighing up to 20 pounds need to be in a rear-facing car seat. 

💡 Kids between 2 and 4 need a five-point harness car seat.

💡 If kids are between 4 and 7, they need a car seat or a booster seat.

There are plenty of rental companies on the islands where you can rent car seats. Baby’s Away has locations in Maui, Oahu, and the Big Island. 

Of course, you can also bring your own! Most airlines will let you check it for no additional cost. 

6. Electric car charging in Hawaii

There are more and more accessible charging points for electric vehicles each year. In Honolulu alone, there are more than 70 free EV charging stations. 

Costs vary depending on the type of charger and time of day, but fast charging costs between $0.28 kWh and $0.66 kWh.

7. Traffic patterns are a disaster

Hawaii has a lot of horrible traffic, especially in urban areas and tourist hotspots. 

Five-way intersections, short on-ramps, and constant construction can make driving unpleasant.

I recommend avoiding rush hour as much as possible and remaining alert when on the roads. 

8. Bad weather

While you won’t have to worry about a snowstorm, rain can come suddenly, and flash floods are common. 

Take some deep breaths, and be patient— traffic slows down a lot when it rains. 

9. Lousy Roads

Most of the roads in Hawaii weren’t designed for the number of people who use them every year, so you’ll probably encounter a good number of potholes!

They’re also narrow and need to be better designed. But, well, you’re driving in paradise, so have grace for the other people on the road with you, and remember— you’re on island time!

10. General traffic rules

Hawaii has the same general traffic rules as the rest of the United States. Make sure you’re following these every time you’re on the road!

📌 Seatbelt Law

No matter what seat you’re in, you need to be wearing a seatbelt! If you’re driving the car and one of your passengers isn’t wearing a seatbelt, you could get a ticket.

It’s a good idea regardless, as seat belts have been known to drastically decrease an accident’s consequences. 

📌 Child Restraint Laws

If your kids (keiki) are between 2 and 4, they need to be in a car seat with a harness, and keiki between 4 and 10 need to be in a safety seat or booster seat.

📌 Motorized Scooters/Bikes Helmet Law

If you’re 18 or younger, you must wear a safety helmet when driving a moped or a bike. 

The helmet has to meet all the specifications and requirements of a bicycle helmet.

📌 Bicycle Helmet Law

If you’re under 16 and riding a bicycle, you must wear a helmet. 

No matter your age, I recommend wearing a helmet on the roads. Many drivers aren’t used to bikers and aren’t very careful. Helmets can significantly reduce the risk of a significant brain injury, which makes it worth the extra hassle. 

📌 No mobile electronic devices while driving

In Hawaii, using a handheld cell phone while driving is illegal. You can use a hands-free device for calls, but otherwise, you can’t use your cell phone. 

Renting a car in Hawaii

With so many natural attractions, beaches, and hikes, any island in Hawaii will keep you busy. 

As you consider what kind of trip you want, you’ll need to decide if renting a car in Hawaii is worth it. Unfortunately, you can’t drive to Hawaii so if you want a vehicle, you will need to rent a car. 

Is renting a car in Hawaii worth it?

I recommend renting a car for your Hawaii trip! 

Each island has gorgeous coastal roads and amazing scenery. There’s also so much to see and do that you don’t want to miss out on.

Unfortunately, public transportation is not very good, and relying on ride-shares gets expensive quickly. Renting your own car allows you to explore at your own pace. You can rent a car for your entire trip or just for a few days.

Of course, if you want to hang out at your resort or spend most of your time in Waikiki, you won’t need a rental car. 

How much does it cost to rent a car in Hawaii?

The average cost to rent a car in Hawaii is $157 per day, but you can rent a “cruiser” (or a better car) for much less.

The most popular rental car type is an SUV. 

Jeeps are also popular rental cars, but you probably won’t need a four-wheel drive vehicle for your time on the islands. 

I’d recommend not renting a Jeep on the island of Oahu. Since most Jeeps are rentals, you’re more likely to experience a break-in if you rent a Jeep than a different, more nondescript vehicle. 

I haven’t heard of that same issue on the other islands!

The best areas for a road trip in Hawaii

Okay, so you know the rules of the road and have a rental car. Where should you go on your Hawaii driving adventure?

👍 Hana Highway

Located on the island of Maui, Hana Highway is a windy road that runs along the backside of Haleakala through rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and sea cliffs. 

There are so many wonderful places to stop and visit. Cool hikes, beautiful beaches, and more are all along the road, making for a super fun adventure. 

👍 Honoapiilani Highway

Honoapliilani Highway is another major roadway on the island of Maui. It runs along the west coast and offers stunning coastal views. On a clear day, you can even see Lanai and Molokai. 

While it’s less popular than the Road to Hana, it’s well worth driving along and seeing the gorgeous views. 

👍 Honolulu to the Windward Side

Driving from Honolulu to the Windward side is a really popular route. 

You’ll see views of the Ko’olau Mountain Ranges, dramatic cliffs, the blue Pacific Ocean, and the charming town of Kailua. 

There are also plenty of fun activities to do along the way, including hiking, kayaking, and snorkeling. 

👍 Big Island

The Big Island offers a unique experience— there are diverse landscapes with volcanic deserts and lush rainforests. 

The biggest of all the Hawaiian Islands are two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. 

This makes driving around unique, as you’ll see volcanic craters, lava fields, lush rainforests, and dramatic coastlines. If you’re hoping for a road trip around Hawaii, the Big Island is the one for you!

👍 Kauai

The Garden Isle has incredible, lush landscapes and dramatic canyon views. Kauai’s main highway is the Kaumualii Highway, which runs west from Lihue to Waimea. 

The Waimea Canyon Drive shows panoramic views of the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” It’s truly stunning! I fell in love with Kauai when I spent a short weekend there, and I can’t wait to go back and explore more.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Final thoughts: Driving in Hawaii 

Driving in Hawaii is easy overall, and the slower speed limits, aloha spirit, and beautiful vistas make it enjoyable. 

While you can still have a lovely time in Hawaii without driving yourself around, I highly recommend getting a car for a richer experience. 

You can check out the peaks of Haleakala or Mauna Loa, hike the Lanikai Pillbox hike, and explore at your own pace.