Oahu Commute Times To Military Bases

If you're going to PCS to Hawaii, you should know how far it is to your post from different parts of the island.  So here's a breakdown of the various areas to live in, and the commute times to and from the military posts on the island.

Below are morning commute times, from the communities to the bases, in minutes. Peak travel time 6:15 am to 7:45 am, Monday to Friday. Transit times are collected from Waze's historical traffic data.

Below are afternoon commutes, from the bases to the communities, in minutes. Peak travel time 2:45 pm to 7:15 pm, Monday to Friday. Transit times are collected from Waze's historical traffic data.

Mililani, Wahiawa, Waipio, Waikele — This area is Central Oahu. It's about 30 minutes to 40 minutes away from most points on the island, including beaches.

Wahiawa is outside of Schofield Barracks. You won't find high rise condos in the area, mostly single-family houses and townhomes. Keep in mind the townhomes may have neighbors above or below you. (There are some condos and residential buildings that top out at 9 floors in Wahiawa, however.)

Aiea, Pearl City — These communities are on the Southern coast of Central Oahu. There are no beaches in the area, but locals usually go to Ewa, Ala Moana Beach Park or Waikiki (see our guides for more information and suggestions). The towns stretch from the water to the mountains. There's a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and high-rise condos.

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Ft. Shafter, Camp Smith and Tripler Army Medical Center are nearby.

Ewa Beach and Kapolei — On the West of the island are the Ewa Plain and Kapolei. Kapolei was established as the "second city" to serve as a civic and business center on that side of Oahu and is one of the more affordable places to live (relatively speaking).

Housing is a mix of single-family homes, townhomes and low-rise condo communities. Beaches are easily accessible. But in terms of commutes, this may be one of the worst places to live because of how far it is from the bases.

Honolulu — This includes Downtown, Kakaako, the Ala Moana Corridor and Waikiki and its surrounding areas. The main attraction of living in Honolulu is being in the middle of the action.

However, if you've come to Hawaii with images of palm trees and relaxed living, remember that this is the urban core of Oahu and has all the problems that go along with big cities. That means a lack of parking, congestion on surface streets, lots of concrete and an extremely competitive housing market for smaller living spaces (compared to condos and homes outside the city). Single family homes, low-rise apartments and condo towers can be found in this area.

Kaneohe, Kailua — Located on "the other side" of the Ko'olau Mountain Range, Kaneohe, Kailua and the surrounding communities have a more neighbor island feel. Things are a little slower and rainier on the Windward Side and the locals there are adamant about keeping it that way.

Marine Corps Base Hawaii is in Kaneohe Bay and the area is a popular choice for Marines and Sailors assigned to the post. Housing is a mix of single-family homes, condos and townhomes. You'll be close to many beaches, including world-famous Lanikai Beach in Kailua.

From this side of the island, you can get on H3 and easily get down to Joint Base Hickam Pearl.