Pedicab takes visitors on an intimate tour

Kirk Hendricks, owner of Honolulu Pedicab, describes himself as a "rolling concierge."

"What sets touring by pedicab apart from other forms of transportation is the personal touch," he said. "The leisurely speed enables me to chat with my passengers throughout their ride. I recommend clubs and restaurants in Honolulu and suggest fun activities and events. I share my insights and knowledge about the city’s history, culture and landmarks."

Hendricks moved to Oahu from San Diego in 2006 to accept a paralegal position and to be closer to his family (his sister, a niece and a nephew live on Oahu).

"In San Diego, pedicabs are popular in the downtown, waterfront and Gaslamp districts where there’s a lot of tourist traffic," Hendricks said. "When I first came to Honolulu, I immediately noticed there were no pedicabs, which I thought was odd since tourism plays such an important role in the economy here."

Hendricks discovered that in the 1970s and 1980s, Waikiki had as many as 100 pedicab operators, but the Honolulu City Council banned them in 1989 from Kalakaua Avenue, Kuhio Avenue, Ala Wai Boulevard and Kalia Road over complaints that they were obstructing traffic, promoting drug dealing and charging exorbitant prices.

"By restricting access to the main streets in Waikiki, that ordinance essentially put pedicabs out of business,” Hendricks said. “Over the years, there has been the misconception that pedicabs are banned outright on Oahu. That’s not the case; they’re just not allowed in Waikiki. I live close to downtown Honolulu and Chinatown, and I love the scene there. I thought that would be the perfect place for a pedicab business.”

He quit his paralegal job, bought a pedicab, applied for a permit and launched Honolulu Pedicab in January. It is currently the state’s only licensed pedicab operator.

Hendricks’ passion for cycling began during his stint in the Marine Corps in the mid-1990s. Surrounding Camp Pendleton are the excellent mountain biking trails of Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano and Laguna Niguel in California.

"Those steep, winding trails on rough terrain prepared me for the rigors of Honolulu Pedicab," Hendricks said. "Although I work in areas of Honolulu that are relatively flat, it does require stamina to operate a pedicab for a six- to eight-hour shift."

His pedicab can carry up to 600 pounds — more than adequate for two adults. He pedals about 10 to 15 miles during a typical shift, but if there’s a special event such as a concert at Kakaako Waterfront Park or a block party in Chinatown, he might chalk up between 20 and 25 miles.

"I always joke with my passengers that I should be paying them, since I’m getting such a great workout on my job," Hendricks said.

Honolulu Pedicab offers two one-hour tours daily, by reservation. After departing from Aloha Tower Marketplace, the Chinatown and Historic Honolulu Tour cruises past Iolani Palace, Kawaiaha‘o Church, the state Capitol, Aliiolani Hale, Mission Houses Museum, Hawaii State Art Museum, Chinatown and Hawaii Theatre.

"I’ve taken many visitors on this tour who have vacationed in Hawaii multiple times," Hendricks said. "It gives me a great deal of satisfaction when they tell me they had never seen such places before taking my tour. This is especially true of cruise ship passengers. Oftentimes, right after they get off the ship, a tour bus whisks them to the other side of the island. Consequently, they miss out on some of the best attractions Honolulu has to offer, which are just a few blocks from where their ship is docked."

The Honolulu’s Scenic Waterfront Tour heads from Magic Island to Ala Moana Beach Park, Kakaako Waterfront Park and Kewalo Small Boat Harbor. "We take our time, allowing plenty of stops for picture taking. We begin and end the tour at one of my favorite spots on Magic Island — looking across the water past Ala Wai Harbor to Waikiki and Diamond Head."

Four nightsa week, Hendricks also offers taxi service until the wee hours, transporting passengers between Aloha Tower Marketplace and Chinatown (the typical fare is only around $5).

"My bread and butter is Chinatown’s late-night bar, restaurant and club scene," Hendricks said. "When people are at a club, sometimes they want to take a break from the crowds and loud music. They might jump in my pedicab for 10 minutes or so to enjoy Chinatown’s vibrant nighttime atmosphere. In this case the average fare might be $5 to $7 — the price of one cocktail."

Hendricks says pedicabs are fun, efficient, economical and eco-friendly. "We go slowly enough for people to really take in the sights, sounds and smells around them," he said. "It’s definitely a more powerful sensory experience because they’re not enclosed in a car or bus."

Hendricks sees the potential for growth, and has bought a second pedicab, which will be on the road soon. Over the next few years, he would like five to seven pedicabs operating under the Honolulu Pedicab banner.

"It’d be great to work with people who are as passionate about the cycling, sustainability and social aspects of a pedicab business as I am," he said. "At first it was a challenge, but after doing it for almost a year now, I’m in pretty good shape. I may not be Lance Armstrong yet, but I’m getting there!"

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Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based freelance writer whose travel features for the Sta-Advertiser have won several Society of American Travel Writers awards.