Honolulu bus passes are sold as HOLO Cards at Skyline station machines, Waikīkī ABC Stores, online, by phone, and HOLO retailers.
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A bus pass in Honolulu now means a HOLO Card, the reloadable fare card used on TheBus and Skyline. For most visitors, the easiest same-day purchase is an Adult HOLO Card with a pass from a HOLO vending machine at any Skyline station or from an ABC Store in Waikīkī.
The choice depends on what kind of rider you are. A visitor near Waikīkī can buy a preloaded day pass at ABC Stores, a rider near rail can use a Skyline station vending machine, and anyone staying longer can load stored value, a 3-day pass, a 7-day pass, or a month pass through HOLO channels.
Buying A Bus Pass In Honolulu: Where Each Option Fits
Honolulu transit passes are loaded onto a HOLO Card rather than sold as loose paper passes. The same card works for TheBus and Skyline, so one card can cover bus rides, rail rides, and transfers.
Adult HOLO Cards cost $2 for a new or replacement card before any fare value is added. Riders age 6 and older need their own card if they want HOLO fare capping; one card cannot pay for multiple riders in the same group.
Cash still works on TheBus for a single ride, but cash is weaker for most travelers because it does not include transfers and it does not work as a Skyline fare card. A HOLO Card is the cleaner choice if you will ride more than once, transfer between lines, or use rail from the airport area.
Where Should Visitors Buy A HOLO Card First?
Visitors should usually start with either a Skyline station vending machine or an ABC Store in Waikīkī. Those two options are built for travelers who need a card the same day, without visiting a transit office.
Skyline vending machines are useful if you are arriving near a rail station, connecting from the airport area, or planning to ride both rail and bus. Waikīkī ABC Stores are useful if you are already in the hotel zone and want an Adult HOLO Card with a preloaded day pass.
ABC Stores have one limit that matters: they sell HOLO Cards with a preloaded Adult Day Pass, but they do not reload existing HOLO Cards. After that pass runs out, reload the card online, at a vending machine, by phone, at the Transit Pass Office, or at a participating retailer that handles reloads.
Where To Buy Or Load A Honolulu Bus Pass
Honolulu has several official ways to buy or reload a HOLO Card, and the right one depends on whether you need an adult card, a visitor day pass, a reduced-fare card, or a longer pass. The official HOLO card location page lists retail options and pass-loading rules by store type.
| Place To Buy Or Load | What It Handles | Use It When |
|---|---|---|
| HOLO vending machines at Skyline stations | Adult card purchase and card loading | You are near rail, the airport rail connection, Pearl Harbor, or West Oʻahu. |
| ABC Stores in Waikīkī | Adult HOLO Card with preloaded Adult Day Pass | You are staying in Waikīkī and want the fastest visitor option. |
| 7-Eleven locations in the HOLO retail network | Participating retail reloads and selected pass loading | You need a neighborhood reload stop away from a station. |
| Foodland Supermarket locations | Participating retail reloads and selected pass loading | You want to add fare value while shopping for groceries. |
| TIMES Supermarket locations | Participating retail reloads and selected pass loading | You are outside Waikīkī and need a supermarket-based reload option. |
| Transit Pass Office on Middle Street | Adult, annual, and reduced-fare card support | You need Senior, Youth, Disability, Medicare, annual-pass, or account help. |
| Satellite City Halls | Senior and Youth cards, with exceptions by location | You qualify for a reduced-fare card and can bring valid ID. |
| HOLOcard.net or 808-768-HOLO | Online or phone loading, account tools, and mailed card orders | You can wait for mail delivery or already have a card to reload. |
How Much Does A Honolulu Bus Pass Cost?
Adult HOLO fares changed on July 1, 2026, so older fare lists can be wrong. The current adult 2-hour HOLO fare is $3.00, while a cash ride on TheBus is $3.25 and does not include transfers.
HOLO passes are time-based for short-term visitors. A 24-Hour Pass runs for 24 hours from the first tap, a 3-Day Pass runs for 72 hours, and a 7-Day Pass runs for 168 hours.
| Adult Fare Or Pass | Current Price | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| New HOLO Card | $2.00 | Card fee before adding stored value or a pass. |
| 2-Hour Pass | $3.00 | Unlimited TheBus and Skyline rides for two hours. |
| 24-Hour Pass | $7.50 | Unlimited rides for 24 hours from first tap. |
| Day Cap | $7.50 | After paying this much in a day, more rides that day are not charged. |
| 3-Day Pass | $20.00 | Valid for 72 hours from first tap. |
| 7-Day Pass | $45.00 | Valid for 168 hours from first tap. |
| Month Cap Or Month Pass | $90.00 | Caps adult HOLO charges for the month, or covers a calendar-month pass. |
| Annual Pass | $990.00 | For frequent riders; sold through HOLO, the Transit Pass Office, or phone support. |
Visitor math: two adult HOLO rides cost $6.00, while three rides in one day hit the $7.50 day cap. A 24-Hour Pass is usually cleaner than guessing if you will ride three or more times.
What To Bring Before You Buy
Adult visitors usually need only a payment method and the amount they want to load. Reduced-fare riders need proof, and those rules are stricter because the card gives discounted fares.
- Bring a valid ID for Senior, Youth, Medicare, or Disability HOLO Card requests.
- Bring any required medical or eligibility form for a Disability HOLO Card.
- Use a separate HOLO Card for each rider age 6 and older.
- Save the card number and security code from the back of the card if you plan to register it online.
- Use exact cash only if paying a single cash fare on TheBus; bus operators do not give change.
Online card orders can be mailed, but delivery can take up to 10 business days and HOLO does not mail cards to international or hotel addresses. That makes in-person purchase better for most tourists already on Oʻahu.
Where To Stay If You Plan To Use TheBus Often
Honolulu visitors who plan to ride TheBus often should stay near frequent routes, not deep inside a car-dependent area. Waikīkī, Ala Moana, Downtown Honolulu, and areas near Skyline connections make transit days easier.
If you want to compare hotel locations against bus corridors and beach access, use the Honolulu map before choosing a room:
Buy The Right Pass For Your Trip
Honolulu bus-pass buying is easiest when you match the purchase place to your first ride. Visitors in Waikīkī should use ABC Stores for a preloaded Adult Day Pass, rail riders should use Skyline vending machines, and longer-stay riders should load value or passes through HOLO retailers, HOLOcard.net, phone support, or the Transit Pass Office.
- One ride only: Pay cash on TheBus if you will not transfer and will not ride Skyline.
- Two-hour transit window: Use a HOLO Card and the $3.00 2-Hour Pass for bus and rail transfers.
- One full sightseeing day: Use a 24-Hour Pass or let the $7.50 day cap handle it.
- Three days: Load the $20.00 3-Day Pass if you will ride regularly.
- One week: Load the $45.00 7-Day Pass if TheBus will be your main way around Oʻahu.
- One month or longer: Use the $90.00 month cap, month pass, or an annual pass if your riding volume supports it.
The simplest answer: buy a HOLO Card before your first serious transit day, tap every time you board TheBus or enter Skyline, and let the card handle the pass rules for you.
References & Sources
- HOLO Card.“Where to Buy a Card.”Lists official HOLO Card purchase and loading locations, including Skyline station vending machines, participating retailers, and reduced-fare card locations.