Top 5 Apps for Hawaii Travel in 2026

Best Apps for Hawaii Travel at a Glance

Planning your trip is easier with the best apps for Hawaii travel for maps, weather, activities, transport, and local information. These apps can help you organize your days and find useful services across the islands.

1. Shaka Guide

Shaka Guide plays stories and driving directions as you approach different stops along your route. This is especially useful on Hawaii's more remote roads, where cell service can be limited. Download your tour over hotel Wi-Fi before leaving, and make sure your phone has enough storage space.

• Automatic Offline Audio: Plays location-based stories automatically as you reach different spots after you download the tour.
• Turn-by-Turn Directions: Provides directions to scenic viewpoints, pullouts, and other stops along the tour route.
• Skip and Replay Controls: Let you skip a story or replay one you missed.
• Tour Options: Offers different tours for several Hawaiian islands, with routes and tour lengths varying by destination.

2. Lyft

Lyft can be useful for airport transfers and getting around populated areas, although driver availability varies by island and time of day. You may have a harder time finding a ride in remote areas away from the main highways. Lyft offers airport pickups at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and Kahului Airport (OGG), with passengers directed to approved pickup locations.

• Fare Estimate: Shows the estimated cost of your ride before you request it.
• Driver Tracking: Lets you see your driver's location as they travel to your pickup spot.
• Ride Scheduling: Lets you schedule a ride ahead of time, although availability can vary by area.
• Multiple Ride Options: Lets you choose from the ride types available in your area, including larger vehicles where offered.

3. Biki

Biki is a bike-share service serving Honolulu and Waikiki, with stations across several urban neighborhoods on Oahu. It does not operate on Hawaii's other islands, so it is mainly useful for getting around Honolulu. Pick up a bike from a Biki station, ride around the city or along the coast, and return it near your destination without worrying about gas or parking.

• Station Availability: Shows available bikes and open docks at Biki stations.
• Bike Unlock Code: Generates a temporary five-digit code in the app that you enter on the dock to unlock a bike.
• Ride Time Tracking: Shows how long you have been riding so you can keep track of your available ride time.
• Single Ride Purchases: Lets you purchase a One-Way pass at a Biki kiosk or through the Biki app, subject to current availability and pricing

4. Yelp

Yelp makes it easier to find local restaurants, plate lunches, poke spots, and casual food stands. Recent customer reviews can also give you a better idea of what to expect. Still, restaurant hours and payment options can change, especially at smaller food stands. Check recent reviews before visiting, and carry some cash as a backup when exploring less touristy areas.

• Community Photos: Shows customer photos of food, menus, and restaurant interiors.
• Business Updates: Lets users suggest changes to business information, such as opening hours or other listing details.
• Search Filters: Helps you narrow results by options such as price, outdoor seating, and dining style.
• Phone Calls: Lets you call a restaurant directly from its listing when a phone number is available.

5. FEMA App

Hawaii's weather can change quickly, with high surf, heavy rain, flash flooding, and tsunami threats sometimes affecting travel plans. The FEMA app provides weather and emergency alerts from official sources and lets you monitor up to five saved locations, including places such as Hilo and Kona. These updates can help you stay informed and respond to official safety instructions.

For Hawaii-specific alerts, consider signing up for local county notification systems as well. Depending on where you are staying, local services can provide updates about severe weather, flooding, road closures, and other emergencies in your area.

• Multi-Location Tracking: Lets you receive alerts for up to five saved locations at the same time.
• Emergency Shelter Information: Helps you find nearby emergency shelters and disaster recovery centers when available.
• Emergency Checklists: Provides practical steps for preparing for hazards such as floods, high winds, and other emergencies.
• Weather Alerts: Provides National Weather Service weather and emergency alerts for saved locations.

Travel Apps for Hawaii: Prepare for Offline Travel

Driving through Hawaii's mountain roads and areas with weak or no cell service is easier when you prepare your phone before setting out.

• Save Offline Maps: Download maps for each island you plan to visit over reliable hotel Wi-Fi before driving on roads such as the Pali Highway.
• Pack an External Power Bank: Long hours of navigation can drain your phone quickly, especially on remote roads. Keep a power bank with you so you can recharge when needed.
• Locate Fuel and Charging Stations First: Mark gas stations and public EV charging points along your route before heading into remote areas, where services can be limited.
• Save Transport Details: Save screenshots or offline copies of flight, ferry, boat, or other transport bookings before leaving an area with reliable internet access.
• Pre-Load Emergency Information: Save local emergency information and county alert contacts before driving through areas where mobile service may be limited.

Stay Connected on Your Hawaii Trip with SimCorner

A reliable mobile connection can help you use maps, check surf conditions, and stay updated while exploring Hawaii. International roaming may cost more or provide different speeds and coverage depending on your home carrier and plan. A travel SIM or eSIM can provide mobile data for maps, travel updates, and other online services during your trip to Hawaii.

• Flexible Prepaid Data Packages: Choose a data allowance that matches your trip length without worrying about unexpected charges.
• eSIM and Physical SIM Options: Choose an eSIM if your phone supports it or a physical SIM card when the selected plan and delivery destination are eligible.
• Access to U.S. Networks: SimCorner Hawaii eSIM plans use AT&T, while network availability can vary across other U.S. plans. Your phone needs to be unlocked to use a travel eSIM.
• Easy Plan Management: Manage your travel connectivity and top up eligible plans through the SimCorner app.

Purchase your plan and install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before departure so your mobile connectivity is ready when you arrive in Hawaii. After arriving in Hawaii, select the SimCorner profile as your cellular data line and enable data roaming for that line if your plan instructs you to do so. Check your connection before heading away from the airport or hotel.