Visitors arriving in Hawaii by air are likely to be routed through Honolulu International Airport. As a gateway into the islands, Honolulu Airport is well-connected to neighbouring islands through a network of inter-island connections. In fact, tourists flying between islands may find that they must briefly layover in Honolulu (even if Oahu is out of the way) before continuing on to their destination.

Hawaiian Airlines and Go Airlines are the principal inter-island carriers, while United Airlines manages the bulk of the flights to the US mainland. Regular international flights are common to Japan, Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe.

Facilities at the airport are expansive, including boutiques, restaurants, bars and a food court. Transportation from the airport to Honolulu city centre and Waikiki Beach are handled by taxis and The Bus, Honolulu's public transportation flagship.

Norwegian Cruise Lines operates regular inter-island cruises that originate at Honolulu and visit neighbouring islands. Meanwhile, the Hawaii Superferry serves strictly as a means of transportation between Oahu and Maui, with plans to incorporate Kauai temporarily on hold.

Once situated on a particular island, public transportation venues can vary considerably. Oahu is serviced by The Bus, the routes and timetables of which are available online at www.thebus.org. Supermarkets and convenience stores sell monthly bus passes, while the four-day Discover Pass may be better suited for short-term visitors. On islands like Kauai and the Big Island, where public transportation is limited, a hire car is the only viable means of getting around the island.