Free Parking for Waikiki Beach

The same information can be found at:
https://sites.google.com/site/shoheisoahutips/free-parking-for-waikiki-beach

I think we’ve all wondered at one point whether there is free parking in Waikiki.  The short answer is no.  Long answer is yes, but they are always full, or yes, but they are far from the center of activity.  Let me explain.

An example of the first long answer, yes there is free parking, but they are always full; I’m talking about the parking along the Ala Wai canal.  It’s there, and it’s free, but it’s always full.  Not useful information unless you are willing to go round and round in circles along Ala Wai for an hour trying to compete with a dozen other drivers who are looking for a spot, while simultaneously pissing off the locals who are only trying to get out of Waikiki while you block traffic trying to find an open spot.

An example of the second long answer, yes there is free parking, but they are far from the center of activity; I’m talking about the Ala Moana Beach Park parking, or Kapiolani Park parking.  So, my favorite place to park free when I want to visit Waikiki is Kapiolani Park.  It’s free, and there is always space available, and it’s the closest free parking to the center of Waikiki.  I’m writing about this information because it took me a while to recognize this, and they are deceptively mixed in with the paid parking there.

Map of free parking along Kalakaua:

First, in order to get there, you will most likely be taking Kalakaua Ave all the way down.  Please refer to my page on the best way to pass through Waikiki on Kalakaua Ave.  Once you get to the end, keep to the right and stay on Kalakaua.

The reason for this is you might get lucky and find free parking on the right hand side of Kalakaua.  Don’t be disappointed if you don’t find any.  See picture below:

If you cannot find parking on the right side, as in the picture above, take the first u-turn back.  After you make a u-turn, do not park on the slanted metered parking spaces because it’s not free parking.

Go to the end of the road which will make you take a right on to Monsarrat.  As soon as you get on Monsarrat, there is free parking on the left side of the street.  Don’t be disappointed if you don’t find any here either.  Be careful to read the parking signs because there is a sign that marks the beginning of legal parking spots, and another sign at the end of it.  Do not park outside these signs or you will get towed.  See picture below:

Finally, on Monsarrat, if you take your first right, you will be in the free parking lot with plenty of spaces for all.  See picture below:

On the weekends, occasionally, there are marked spaces for vendors for some festival at Kapiolani Park, so don’t park there or you will get towed.

Map of free parking area:

It's a bit of a walk to Queen's Beach, which is the nearest beach to the parking area.  It's also a bit of a walk to the Marriott area as well, but if you need to go to the Cookie Corner or take your tourist friends to Cheeseburger in Paradise (Kama'aina discount available) or something, it's a nice option to no not have to pay for parking.  Good luck!

Walmart Situation/Parking Tips

The same information can be found at:
https://sites.google.com/site/shoheisoahutips/walmart-situation-parking-tips

First off, let me clarify that by writing about this topic, I am in no way encouraging people to shop at WalMart.  I encourage people to shop at locally owned stores that sell locally produced goods to support the Hawaiian economy.

So, having said that, we've all been to the Honolulu WalMart on Keeaumoku at one time or another.  Getting to the store, and finding parking can be frustrating since the store attracts tourists and locals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  From what I've heard, this particular WalMart is one of the busiest WalMarts in the United States.  I don’t find that surprising because the parking is horrible, and there is always a crowd at the register.  The locals shop here for the low prices, but I used to avoid going to the store because the traffic into the store was bad, and the parking was really bad, and the couple bucks I saved was not worth the pain and suffering I had to endure.

I have found that trying to park on the first floor is a nightmare.  The second floor parking is much better and smoother all around.  The problem is most people don’t even know that there are in fact 4 levels of parking at the WalMart parking structure.

The entrance to the second and third level parking is on the Sheridan St side of WalMart.  All of the tourists go through the Keeaumoku side, so avoid that side of WalMart, and you should be fine.  WalMart occupies almost a whole city block, so if you are on Keeaumoku, turn on either Rycroft or Makaloa St towards WalMart.  Then, turn on to Sheridan towards WalMart.  When you get to the Sheridan side of WalMart, turn in to the entrance that is closer to Makaloa (south side.)

Here’s a video because a video is worth 10,000 words if not more.  It starts on Keeaumoku going south towards WalMart.  I make a right on Rycroft and a left on to Sheridan to get to the entrance:

As a side note, if you are on Makaloa, there is conveniently a ramp that nobody uses that takes you all the way up to the 3rd floor to Sam’s Club, so that is a nice option as well.

I really hope this helps because I wasted a lot of time in the first floor parking lot.  I hope that just knowing about this other entrance will help ease some of the pain for you. Thanks for reading!

Best Lane on Kalakaua Ave if You Want to Drive Through

The same information can be found at:
https://sites.google.com/site/shoheisoahutips/best-lane-on-kalakaua-ave-if-you-want-to-drive-through

Why did the local go through Kalakaua Ave?  To get to the other side of Waikiki of course.  One thing I found useful is knowing which lane to be in if you want to drive through Kalakaua Ave in Waikiki.  There are tons of pedestrians, trolleys, buses, delivery trucks, and taxis that are just waiting to block your car if you want to get to Kapiolani Park on the other side of Waikiki, where there is free parking, which I will discuss on another page.  In any case, you want to get to the other side.  Here's the best way on video, which starts from McCully turning left on to Kalakaua Ave.

At the start, you will want to stay in the 2nd lane from the right as you get on Kalakaua Ave.  This is because everyone is trying to make a right in to a street, hotel, or shopping area, and the farthest right lane usually gets backed up because cars are not able to make a right due to pedestrians crossing the street on the right side.  Cars can get locked forever on the right lane.  You will want to avoid the left most lane as well for the same reason.  Pedestrians make it really hard to turn either way off of Kalakaua Ave.

After you pass the Moana Surfrider, you will see a trolley stop.  After the trolley stop, your best lane is actually to stay on the farthest right lane because there are no more shopping areas, hotels, or streets on the right side anymore.  After passing the trolley stop, just move one lane over to the right, and it's smooth sailing to Kapiolani Park!  Good luck, and may the traffic Gods smile on you when you enter.