The bus to Diamond Head, repriced

What changed on TheBus fares on July 1, 2026?

The adult cash fare rose from $3 to $3.25, monthly passes from $80 to $90, and the 7-day pass to $45. The HOLO 2-Hour Pass stayed at $3 and the daily cap at $7.50.

The city's fare page now lists a cash single ride on TheBus at $3.25, with no change given and no transfers. A HOLO tap buys a $3.00 2-Hour Pass: unlimited rides for two hours on TheBus and Skyline. The Department of Transportation Services announcement puts it plainly: "There are no changes to fares for single rides (now called a 2-hour pass) using a HOLO card on TheBus and Skyline."

The bigger moves hit residents. The Star-Advertiser lists the adult monthly pass at $90 (from $80) and the annual at $990 (from $880). Early coverage in January said HOLO rides would rise too; the final version kept them at $3, so a few older articles are wrong on that point.

Which bus goes to Diamond Head now?

Routes 2 and 2L from Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki to the stop on Diamond Head Road opposite 18th Avenue. Route 23 no longer runs through Waikiki.

A lot of guides, including some recent ones, still send you to route 23. That was true before 18 August 2024. In that service change the city cut route 23 back so it no longer runs between Ala Moana and Kahala Mall, discontinued routes 9 and 24, and moved the Waikiki to Kapiolani Community College to Kahala Mall service onto routes 2 and 2L.

Get off at Diamond Head Rd / Opp 18th Ave, one stop after the Kapiolani Community College stops (route 2 stop list). Route 2 runs every 11 to 14 minutes in the daytime and around the clock, so a 6 a.m. entry window is reachable. From the stop, walk up to the Kahala Tunnel and use its separated pedestrian lane into the crater; trail guides put the walk at 10 to 15 minutes. The tunnel is the only way in. There is no open entrance on the Kapahulu side.

How much does a DIY trip to Diamond Head cost by bus now?

$11 per adult with a HOLO card you already have, $13 if you buy the card, $11.50 in cash. The park entry is $5 of that.

The hike takes 1.5 to 2 hours by the state's estimate, and with the walk through the tunnel your return ride will almost always start more than two hours after the first tap. Count two fares. Then add the $5 non-resident entry, which you book yourself as an entry-only reservation on gostateparks.hawaii.gov. Children 3 and under enter free; everyone else pays $5, card only.

Cash riders need exact change. If you will ride more than twice that day, the HOLO cap stops charging at $7.50, which makes a beach afternoon after the hike free.

HOLO card or cash: which should a visitor use?

HOLO, if you will ride TheBus more than once or twice. Cash only makes sense for a single trip, and you lose the transfer.

The HOLO site's visitor page sends you to a HOLO vending machine at any Skyline station or an ABC Store in Waikiki, and lets you reload online or at other participating stores. The card costs $2 on the city's fare table. After that, each tap is $3 for two hours and the day never costs more than $7.50.

Cash is $3.25 per boarding and nothing more. One honest exception: if you only ride to Diamond Head and back, and never again, two cash fares ($6.50) beat a new card plus two taps ($8). Most visitors ride again, so the card wins by the second day.

Is a $35 to $40 shuttle with entry worth it over the bus?

If you could not get a state entry slot, yes. If you have one, the bus is the better deal and gives you all the time you want on the trail.

The gap is $24 per adult against Kaimana and $29 against the Go Tours shuttle. For that you get hotel or near-hotel pickup, a reservation you do not have to chase, and water on the Kaimana van. What you give up is time: Kaimana guests report about 1.5 hours to hike before the van leaves, and one guest found that tight. The Go Tours itinerary gives about two hours at the crater.

The bus has no clock. Walk-in visitors can stay until closing and leave when they like. Our full comparison of bus, rideshare and tours is in the tour or DIY guide. The short version: book the state slot first; if the morning you want is gone, the shuttle is the fallback, not the default.

The cheapest way in with the reservation handled: hotel pickup, park fees, water and a map, from $35.

★ 4.8 · 3 hours · from $35

Explore the Kaimana hike shuttle → Tour details

Frequently asked questions