Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center Parking, Best Way to Get There

In my opinion, the best parking structure, location wise, in Waikiki, is at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. It is very close to the beautiful beach near the Royal Hawaiian/Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, and it is at the center of Kalakaua in terms of shops and activities. I park here when I go to Kiwami Ramen for a Ume-Shio Tsukemen. Afterwards, I always stop by the ABC Store in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and get $4 worth of stuff and get my parking validated. The amount that you have to spend may change in order to get parking validated, so just ask the ABC Store shop attendant, and they will gladly let you know. The reason why I do this is because if you don’t validate parking, they will charge you an arm and a leg.

Getting there can be a problem. Most people will take Kalakaua all the way down and then try to make a right into the parking structure entrance on Royal Hawaiian Ave, but this can be frustrating since there is always a line of cars stuck in the farthest right lane on Kalakaua. When it’s busy, at best, only 1 or 2 cars will be able to make a right in to Royal Hawaiian Ave from Kalakaua for every stop light cycle. This is because you need to wait for the pedestrians to cross the cross walk before you can make the turn.

The best way to get to the parking structure is actually from Kuhio Ave. Take Kuhio Ave towards Royal Hawaiian Ave. Turn at Royal Hawaiian Ave toward the shopping center. Stay in the right lane, and you should have a straight shot into the parking structure. See the map below:

This method has worked well for me time and again, so much so that if I need to get there and I’m already on Kalakaua, I will find a way to get on Kuhio and make the turn on to Royal Hawaiian Ave from there. Here’s a video that starts on Kuhio and Lewers:

In the video, I know it doesn’t look like it’s the best way to get in because of all of the tour buses, taxis, and trolleys, but I am telling you they are all there because they all know this is the quickest way to get through. Try it, and you won’t regret it if you’ve waited in line on Kalakaua and know how that feels. In any case, good luck!