Oʻahu Mobility Needs

Jun 10

Written By Malia Boksanski and Abbey Seitz

Beyond Conventional Commuter Data

Executive Summary

The current, mainstream understanding of how people get around on Oʻahu is largely defined by commuter data. However, this data only captures a fraction of our island’s total mobility. This report analyzes the results of Hawaiʻi Appleseed’s 2025 Oʻahu Travel Survey, which we used to better understand how residents access school, grocery stores, medical appointments, and other destinations that do not fit into the standard 9-to-5 work day.

The survey findings reveal a significant mobility gap. While personal vehicles remain the primary mode to access essential and recreational destinations, many households lack access to safe and affordable alternatives. Alarmingly, the survey found that:

Half of all residents report that transportation costs negatively impact their ability to reach essential and recreational destinations.
Nearly 1 in 4 Oʻahu residents faced transportation issues so severe in the past month that they were unable to leave their homes.

This report urges decision makers, as well as municipal agencies responsible for the planning and design of Hawaiʻi roadways, to shift their focus away from vehicle-centered infrastructure and toward transportation that puts people first. More specifically, the report’s key recommendations include improving pedestrian infrastructure and safety, expanding affordable and reliable transit options, and expanding student transportation options.

TransportationTransportation CostsTransportation EquityTransportation InfrastructureTransportation SystemPublic TransportationPublic TransitFare-Free TransitMass TransitTransitTransit FareTransit SystemTransportation SectorMobilityMobility NeedsAccessible Pedestrian SignalsLeading Pedestrian IntervalsPedestrian Head StartPedestrian InfrastructurePedestrian SafetyPublic SafetyPublic HealthTrafficTraffic SafetyTraffic SignalsInfrastructureTransit-Oriented DevelopmentUrban PlanningHousingAffordable HousingHousing CostsCost of LivingStandard of LivingQuality of LifeWalkable CityOahuCity & County of HonoluluHonoluluCounty BudgetCounty GovernmentCounty PolicyState BudgetState GovernmentState PolicyHawaii State LegislatureKeiki Ride FreeKeikiKeiki HealthKupuna HealthFamily HealthCommunity HealthCommunity DesignCommunityCommunity InvestmentPublic CommonsSidewalksBus ServiceTheBusE-BikesBicyclingWalkingRidingRollingSystems ChangePeople First

Malia Boksanski and Abbey Seitz

Malia Boksanski is a transportation equity policy analyst with Hawaiʻi Appleseed

Abbey Seitz is Hawaiʻi Appleseed Director of Transportation Equity