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The Ultimate Visitor’s Guide to Finding Parking in Honolulu, HI

Honolulu is situated on Oahu’s southern shore, and as the capital of Hawaii, it serves as a gateway for accessing not only Oahu, but also the rest of this chain of islands in the Pacific. There are plenty of things to do in Hawaii, but there’s also a lot to do in Oahu itself. In fact, Honolulu is also known as one of the best digital detox destinations.

Renting a car in Honolulu is the best way to explore the city and the island at large, and you can pick up your car at the Honolulu airport.

Tips for Parking in Honolulu

Before we get into the details, keep these tips in mind for finding Honolulu parking:

  • Use mobile apps: The city of Honolulu recommends using apps like ParkSmarter to help you find and pay for parking.
  • EV charging: As an eco-friendly city, Honolulu has dozens of parking locations where EV charging is available.
  • Plan ahead: Reserve parking in advance if you can, especially if you’re heading to a busy area.

Armed with these and our other driving tips for Hawaii, you’re ready to rent a car in Oahu and hit the road.

Where Can I Find Parking Garages and Lots in Honolulu?

Cars parked in a covered parking garage.
Find your spot at one of Honolulu’s many convenient parking lots.

The city offers public and private options for parking in Honolulu, with many hotels offering paid parking even if you’re not staying there. Hotels, however, will usually be more expensive.

If you want to keep your car out of the Hawaiian sun, a garage will be your best bet, and they’re usually open 24 hours. Consider these convenient locations:

  • Waikiki Parking Garage: Right in the middle of the popular Waikiki neighborhood, offering access to the beach, nightlife, and plenty of shopping and dining venues. It typically has a daily rate of $40 or more, with an hourly rate of $6.
  • Marina Parking Garage: Located near Ala Moana Beach, this garage offers daily parking for around $30 per day.
  • AirGarage Public Parking: This parking garage has several locations, including one on Kapiolani Blvd and one on Curtis St. Rates vary by location, but you can reserve parking in advance. At Kapiolani Blvd, rates start at $3 per hour.

Public parking lots are also available. These may not offer as much shade, but they’ll usually be closer to the beach. Check out these options:

  • Honolulu Zoo Parking Lot: Convenient especially if you’re visiting the zoo, this parking lot is open daily from 10am until 3am. Rates start at $1.50 per hour.
  • Chinatown Municipal Parking: This public lot typically has lower rates than others, starting at around $1 per 30 minutes for the first 2 hours. After that, prices increase a bit, but are still better than most options in the area.
  • Lagoon Beach Parking Lot: Situated in Waikiki with easy access to the beach, parking starts at $1 per hour.

Where Can I Find Street Parking in Honolulu?

Cars parked on a sunny palm-lined street.
Street parking is widely available in Honolulu.

There’s a lot of street and residential parking in Honolulu, but it can fill up quickly. The city offers both free and metered street parking, but before you park on the street, carefully read the meters and signs. Honolulu is known for strict parking enforcement, and there are different zones and time limits.

Parking meters in Honolulu are enforced Monday through Saturday from 7am until 6pm, and they usually have one- or two-hour time limits. Rates vary based on location, but metered parking is always free on Sundays and state holidays.

Find metered street parking here:

  • Downtown: South King Street, Punchbowl Street, and other nearby roads offer metered street parking starting around $1.50 per hour.
  • Waikiki: Kalākaua Avenue, Royal Hawaiian Avenue, and Seaside Avenue (among others) offer metered street parking. In Waikiki, meters are usually enforced until around 10pm.

Where Can I Find Free Parking in Honolulu?

A row of cars parked in a parking lot.
Free parking in Honolulu is out there if you know where to look.

Often, free parking will be available in residential districts just a few blocks away from popular tourist areas, such as the strip in Waikiki. Ala Wai Blvd, for example, is a popular place for free street parking, but parking is restricted Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 11:30am for street sweeping.

Downtown, find free parking on certain sections of South King Street for up to 6 hours.

You can also find free parking near attractions. Ala Moana Regional Park has a large free public lot, but you must leave by 10pm. Diamond Head Lookout also offers a few free parking lots, and there’s free street parking on Diamond Head Road.

Where Can I Find Park & Ride Lots in Honolulu?

Aerial view of cars parked in a parking lot.
Skip the parking hassle and leave your car at a free Park & Ride lot to hop on Honolulu’s Skyline light rail.

Honolulu has a network of public transportation known as the Skyline light rail. If you don’t want to worry about where to park in Honolulu when driving from place to place, leave your car at one of the following Park & Ride lots and take the light rail:

  • Keone‘ae, University of Hawaii West O‘ahu Station
  • Honouliuli, Ho’opili Station
  • Halawa, Aloha Stadium Station
  • Kahauiki, Kalihi Transit Center Station

SIXT Pro Tip: All Park & Ride lots are free for users of public transport, but there is a time limit of 24 hours.