COLLOQUIUM - DEPT. OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

Transportation to UH Physics


Driving to UH

Driving to campus is fairly easy, parking is not.

If coming from the airport, take H-1 East until you reach the University Avenue offramp, about 8 miles from the airport. This will send you mauka (inland direction) on University Avenue. Turn right at the first intersection, after only about 100 meters on University Avenue, on to Dole Street. Take Dole Street kokohead (that is to say counterclockwise around the island, or approximately eastwards), to the third stoplight which is East-West road (which runs north-south of course).

Driving from Waikiki, head mauka until you get to Ala Wai Boulevard, bordering the waterway of the same name, and then turn left (ewa, or clockwise around the island, roughly west, and by the way your only choice). Take the first bridge, at McCully Street, travelling mauka until the first street on the other side, Kapiolani Boulevard. Turn right on Kapiolani, and proceed for about 1 km kokohead until you find University Avenue, whereupon you can turn left, heading mauka again (inland) towards the University, and passing under the freeway in about 2 km.

The Unpleasant Facts about Parking at UH

Parking is generally available early in the morning in the Visitor Lot diagonally across the street from Watanabe Hall, back of Kennedy Theater. Turn left on to Correa Road just after parking kiosk on East-West Road. The price is now (2012) an outrageous 16 dollars/day, and one needs small bills for the machine at each lot. However, the parking situation is generally difficult and getting worse. (Sound familiar?) The visitor lot is usually full by 8 AM during classes, and the parking structure off Dole Street is usually full by 9:30 AM. You may find parking driving along Dole Street as do many students, but you may have to walk one km or more. More details on UH visitor parking here.

Take the Bus

Since parking is difficult, we recommend that you travel to campus by bus. The number 13 bus will bring you from along Kuhio Ave. in Waikiki to the nearest stops to UH; either at Dole St. and East-West Rd., or at the corner of University Ave. and Dole St. Here is the number 13 bus schedule and route map. The number 6 bus will get you to and from between the University and Ala Moana shopping center (a major bus hub). The buses run every 15 minutes, and should take about 20 minutes. Here is the number 6 bus schedule and route map. BEWARE of taking the number 6 bus the wrong way from Ala Moana shopping center: it should say "Woodlawn", but ask the driver if it goes to the University to be sure. (The other direction will take you off somewhere in the wilds of Punchbowl.) Even more convenient is the "City Express A" bus which runs every 10-15 min and takes about 10 min between UH (Sinclair Circle, off University near the corner of Dole, close to Bachman Hall) and Ala Moana, and on to downtown (and vice versa). This articulated bus runs along Kapiolani and stops near Keeaumoku (about one block from Ala Moana). Here is the "City Express A" bus schedule and route map. The bus costs $2.50, exact change required (dollar bills or change but no pennies). Ask for a "transfer" stub when you get aboard. Longer term visitors may wish to get a $60/month bus pass.

By Taxi

By taxi, tell the driver to take you to the University of Hawaii via the East-West gate, to 2505 Correa Road. Watanabe Hall, the main physics building, is the second building on the left side of Correa Road (heading ewa, west), four stories tall and has a large green monolith out front (art?). Correa road goes west just past the guard gate on East-West Road. Taxi fare from the airport is about $40, and about $20 from Waikiki.

How about Walking or Bicycling?

Walking or bicycling to UH from Waikiki is not a bad option either. It is about 10 minutes by bicycle, and about 30-40 minutes by foot.  The best route to UH from Waikiki is up Kapahulu Street, particularly if one is staying towards the Diamond Head end of Waikiki.

Bicyclists beware, since Honolulu is not a very bicycle friendly town and automobile drivers are dangerous.  Riding on the sidewalk is safer, but not simple and not legal… we know of tickets being issued and even of bicycles being confiscated by over-enthusiastic enforcers of the law.

Pickup for Some Meetings

For some larger meetings we operate a shuttle service. Check meeting arrangements page.


last update: jgl 9/18