Honolulu is ten times more enjoyable by bicycle.

The Honolulu Century Ride (HCR) is just around the corner again this year! The 100 mile (160 km) course, filled with ups and downs, is an absolute thrill. But since you’re already in Honolulu, you’ll want to make the most of the city as well, right? That’s why I suggest exploring the city by bicycle. A light 10 km ride will help shake off the fatigue from the long flight, allow you to get used to riding on the right side of the road, and help you feel more confident heading into the HCR.

Even if you’re just visiting Hawaii for sightseeing, there’s more to the city than Waikiki and Ala Moana Center. By hopping on a bike, you can enjoy the real Honolulu. Share bikes, which are easy to rent, can be found all over the city.

As the Communications Director for Global Ride, I’ll be your guide for a laid-back city cycling trip through Honolulu.

But maybe you’re worried about venturing too far, or you’re not a fan of hills. In that case, I recommend heading to Downtown Honolulu!

The distance from Waikiki to downtown is about 10 km one way. Depending on the route, you can enjoy stunning beaches, visit the statue of King Kamehameha, try some local food, and check out trendy boutique shops—there’s plenty to enjoy! And it’s all possible because you’re exploring by bike.

It’s not widely known, but Honolulu actually has well-maintained bike paths, making it surprisingly easy to get around by bicycle.

There are roads marked with this symbol everywhere.

There are bike stands all around Honolulu where you can easily rent a share bike called biki, which you can pay for with a credit card. You can rent them for single rides, one-day use, or even three-day use. The instructions are also written in Japanese, making it very easy to rent one.

biki bike stands are located all over Honolulu.

Use this machine to complete the rental process.

Instructions are provided in Japanese as well.

This time, I was joined by Jeremy, a cyclist who knows Honolulu well. As a former surfer, he chose a scenic route along the beach. Our first destination was Magic Island, a beautiful park that has become a popular spot for wedding photos. After passing through there, I arrived at Ala Moana Beach Park. Unlike the bustling atmosphere of Waikiki, it has a relaxed and laid-back vibe.

The seaside road feels great with the breeze.

As you pedal along, enjoying the ocean view, you’ll soon find yourself in the Kaka’ako district. This area used to be filled with auto repair shops and warehouses, but thanks to redevelopment, it has transformed into a trendy neighborhood packed with stylish shops and gourmet spots.
Kaka’ako is also known for its wall art. Murals are painted all over the district, and while walking around to see them might leave you exhausted, it’s a breeze by bike. You can easily find your favorite piece of wall art and snap a selfie!

Wall art is everywhere in the city, and you can easily see a lot of it by bike.

FISH CAKE is a stylish select shop that used to be a fish cake factory.

The store is packed with stylish dishes, clothing, furniture, and more.

SALT, a complex in Kaka’ako, is also hugely popular with locals. It’s filled with fascinating shops, from restaurants and specialty Aloha shirt stores to a shop that only sells film cameras and vintage clothing stores. There’s plenty to explore!

PIONEER SALOON at SALT has staff who understand Japanese.

Today’s Special: Mahi Mahi ($17)
Sautéed tuna served with tartar sauce, furikake, and ponzu. It’s incredibly delicious!

Treehouse is a store that specializes in film cameras and also offers a wide selection of old lenses.

Treehouse’s original merchandise, including T-shirts, is also very stylish.

An open-air café on the second floor of SALT—it looks like a nice place to relax.

Free Parking Studio is a vintage clothing store with a great selection of T-shirts starting at $20.

A 10-minute ride from Kaka’ako brings you to downtown Honolulu. Since I was already there, I made a stop at the famous King Kamehameha statue and Iolani Palace. Cycling is just so convenient—if something looks interesting, you can easily make a quick detour. It really expands the area you can explore while sightseeing, something you just can’t do with a taxi.

The King Kamehameha statue is a must-visit photo spot.

There’s a café my friend runs—let’s check it out,” Jeremy said, and he took me to Down Town Coffee.

The owner, Fred Fukuda, is a third-generation Japanese-American. Fred speaks Japanese too, so it’s a great place even if you’re not confident in English.
When I complimented his cool T-shirt, he told me it featured Jake Shimabukuro, a ukulele player living in Honolulu. “His performances are truly amazing,” Fred said enthusiastically.

“His performances are truly amazing,” Fred said enthusiastically.

Curious, I checked out his music on Apple Music. Fred recommended Jake’s cover of the Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” His performance made me realize just how cool the ukulele can be. These unexpected encounters are part of what makes traveling so enjoyable.
Oh, and the coffee—Fred roasts his own beans, and the deep roast gives it a rich flavor and wonderful aroma. It’s absolutely delicious, and I highly recommend taking some home as a souvenir.

The owner, Fred Fukuda, has a great T-shirt featuring Jake Shimabukuro.

The coffee from DOWNTOWN COFFEE is exclusive to this shop. It’s a fantastic premium souvenir!

Downtown Honolulu still has many buildings that remind you of the city’s bustling past. Along Nuuanu Avenue, you’ll find a row of antique shops, boutique stores, and vintage clothing shops. Exploring these stores is an absolute delight.

Looking out at the ocean from Nuuanu Avenue in downtown.

TIN CAN MAILMAN offers old postcards, photos, and hula dolls from Hawaii. I bought a postcard from Waikiki from the 1930s.

A postcard of Waikiki Beach from the 1930s, framed and purchased for $30 on a whim. By the way, photography is not allowed inside the store.

The owner looked incredibly cool, and I was able to take a photo with him.

ROBETA OAKS offers original Aloha shirts and fragrances. I purchased some handmade soap from Hawaii.

I purchased the sea salt soap with a lotus scent ($20) and lavender soap ($10), both drawn in by their lovely fragrances.

Single Double is a vintage clothing store that I visited after receiving a strong recommendation from the staff at ROBETA OAKS.

Single Double also has great displays for its accessories.

There are still many more spots I want to introduce, but for now, let’s wrap it up here.

Cycling through a new city makes it feel much more accessible. Whether you’re visiting Hawaii for sightseeing or heading to Honolulu with your road bike for the HCR, I highly recommend enjoying a short trip to downtown.

Please make sure to prioritize safety.

This has been Kawase, the Communications Director of Global Ride. I’ll be uploading more articles about cycling in Honolulu soon!

Text & Photo＿Daisaku Kawase

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#05　Ride! Honolulu Century Ride !

Profile

Daisaku Kawase
He is a Free Producer, the Representative of Days Co., Ltd, Global Ride Communication Director.
Born in Aichi Prefecture. With 16 years of road cycling experience, he loves scenic rides. He squeezes in rides between work and travels all over Japan with his bike. His beloved bike is a Trek. After working as a producer on programs like “Ariyoshi no Okane Hakken Totsugeki! Kaneo-kun,” “Oyasumi Japan Nemuiine,” and “Asaichi” at NHK, he became independent in 2022. In addition to producing programs, he also handles project production for government and corporate clients.