Fifty to seventy minutes into central Honolulu for $3
TheBus Route 19 runs from HNL into downtown and Waikiki-area corridors for a flat $3 cash fare, running roughly 5am to midnight. Buses stop on the median between Terminals 1 and 2 at the upper (departures) level; follow signs for "Public Bus" once you exit baggage claim. Service comes about every 20–30 minutes, so you rarely wait long, but you trade speed for price compared with rideshares or shuttles.
Route 19 uses standard city buses with no luggage racks, the same type you see on other Honolulu routes like the 20 and 42. That means suitcases ride in the aisle or on your lap, and it can feel cramped during commute peaks around 7–9am and 3–6pm. If your bag is oversized, expect to stand and hold it rather than park it neatly anywhere.
The 19’s routing into town is slightly different from the 20/42, and that matters if your hotel sits on a specific stretch of Waikiki, like Kuhio Avenue or Ala Moana Boulevard. Regulars pull up Google Maps or TheBus app, plug in their hotel address, and check which line stops closest before committing. A local on r/Hawaii summed it up: Route 19 is "totally fine if you're staying near its alignment" but won’t drop you at every hotel front door.
Expect a 50–70 minute ride from HNL to the Waikiki area, depending on traffic on Nimitz Highway and through downtown. A rider on r/Honolulu called the 19 "slow but cheap" and said they simply take whichever of 19 or 20 arrives first at the airport stop. That’s the common move: use the app, grab the first inbound bus, then walk or transfer the last few blocks if needed.
Watch out for direction: Route 19 inbound to town and outbound to the airport can share the same general area at some stops, and visitors on r/Hawaii report ending up on long detours after boarding the wrong side. At HNL itself, bus stop signage for 19/20 is famously confusing when you’re jet-lagged and staring at the map. Before you tap your $3 fare, confirm the headsign says "Waikiki" or "Honolulu" and not "Airport" or "Hickam."
Step-by-step from Terminal 1/2 to TheBus Route 19
- 1. After baggage claim in Terminal 1, 2, or 3, follow signs for "Public Bus" toward the main roadway between Terminals 1 and 2.
- 2. Go up to the departures (upper) level using the nearest escalator or elevator; the bus stops are on the center median.
- 3. Look for the shelter signed for routes 19 and 20; check the bus headsign for "19" and "Waikiki" or "Honolulu" to confirm direction.
- 4. Have exactly $3 in cash ready; TheBus drivers do not give change and onboard card readers are for local passes, not contactless credit cards.
- 5. Board, pay at the farebox, move your luggage out of the doorway, and grab any open seat away from the front priority area if possible.
- 6. Track your stop in Google Maps or TheBus app, then exit near your hotel and walk or transfer as needed.
Practical tip: before you leave the terminal Wi‑Fi, download TheBus app and preload your hotel address so you’re not trying to figure out stops on mobile data mid-route.