Rental Cars in Hawaii

Author Message   rinaldo Senior Member Username: Rinaldo Post Number: 612 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 05:29 pm:    This should be in Ground Transportation Forum since it is about rental cars.   Philip D Watson Junior Member Username: Olesarge69 Post Number: 6 Registered: 04-2008 Posted on Thursday, October 30, 2008 - 05:25 pm:    I just this week found they have closed to Enterprise office in the Hickam Pax Terminal and all Hickam customers are serviced through the Pearl Harbor Office. The hours are 8-6. When I called PH office, I was assured if you call them when you arrive at Hickam, they will be there in 5 minutes and take you back to the PH office to do the paper work. I asked about after hours turn in for space-a travelers and was told we are to lock the keys in the car and leave it at the Hickam terminal AFTER we are sure we will be on the plane. They will pick it up the next morning. It will be interesting to see how this works.   David King New member Username: Campindave Post Number: 1 Registered: 07-2008 Posted on Friday, August 01, 2008 - 10:33 pm:    Tip #1 When you get to Hickam terminal, go out of the luggage claim room into the main terminal area, around the glass terminal frontage to the left, and down the hall on the left towards the mini-shoppette, there is a rental car place right there on the right-It's an enterprise rental- Cars cost easily less than $40 a day for the car AND you can keep your car right up until you definately get a return flight then drop box your keys right before boarding. I lived on oahu almost 9 years, and just took space-a flights back there from indiana in march of 2006 and again in march of 2008- don't worry about getting a rental car at hickam terminal-it is super duper easy. Tip #2 Using the bus is fine if you're not in a hurry, however I got jumped by 3 locals- for $19,000 worth of eye socket surgery just for getting off at the wrong bus stop at night- make sure you ask the driver what's safe AND TAKE HIS or HER ADVICE!!! Tip #3 Stay away from the Waianae "Why uh nye" side of island PERIOD- there's nothing but drugs & gangs-over there do your exploring near Honolulu and you'll have no problems, as it's tourist "super-friendly" besides the calmest beaches are in Waikiki anyway. Tip #4 Here's a SUPER TIP- even if you do not stay at the Hale Koa military hotel in Waikiki, as long as you have a military ID card, you are entitled to utilize all of it's facilities- jaccuzzi, heated outdoor olympic swimming pool, towels for the beach (the best part of waikiki beach is owned by hale koa, by the way). You can dine at Hale Koa, and even see a luau there, they have a very nice shopette, a health club on site with showers, etc. A bar on the beach at the pool with a live band, etc. etc. Tip #5 There are Wal-Marts on Oahu. I get my souvenir T-shirts there for about $3.95 each- versus $10-12 bucks out on the economy- tour the island, decide what you want for souvenirs, then go to Wal-Mart to get them- it's usually much cheaper than the PX! Tip #6 Everywhere you go ask for military discounts and/ or Kamaaina "ka ma eye nuh" or local military rates- you'll get them almost everywhere for example- entry into hanauma bay snorkeling is FREE for local military- just "forget" to mention the "local" part -hehe Tip #7 The Hale Koa reservation website always says the hotel is booked up- but march 2008 I put myself on the stand-by list, and I got a call the very next day that they had rooms available- so GET ON THE LIST and definately stay at Hale Koa if at all possible. Wee stayed at Pearl Harbor Inn in 2006,- it's way too far to just go out to the beach and then back to the room to shower- also you can't drink cause gotta drive back to pearl! If you need more info on going to oahu, email me at campindave@hotmail.com.   Brenda LaDell Advanced Member Username: Blladell Post Number: 28 Registered: 09-2007 Posted on Monday, April 14, 2008 - 11:30 pm:    does anyone have the contact number for the best company to rent a car from once you get to Hickam AFB?   Matthew Alan Knapp Senior Member Username: Matt_k Post Number: 274 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, December 21, 2006 - 01:43 am:    A point of contact that can help you, especially with your questions about the rental cars, is Travel Connections The one-stop service for all your travel needs. Navy Region Hawaii 915 North Road Bldg. 161 (its next to the Bloch Arena Gym at Naval Base Pearl Harbor) Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i 96860-4456 Pearl Harbor: (808) 422-0139 travelconnections@hawaii.rr.com I'm back in Hawai'i right now and will be for a few weeks, maybe. Also, I can send some more information about Hawai'i. I have a copy of the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) Freestyle Cruising Hawai'i 2007-2008. Although you didn't say on which ship you're sailing, the 10 day cruise (leaving Feb 10) or the 11 day cruise (leaving Feb 21) on the Norwegian Wind shows similar ports of call to what you have listed. These cruises have certainly caught my eye! http://www.ncl.com/nclweb/home.html I'm putting these cruises on my list of "to do" items in the near future.   john berg Senior Member Username: John_b Post Number: 86 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 08:51 pm:    All this talk about Hawaii and here I sit in NC freezing cold this AM.Sure would love to be in Hawaii right now. I love me some Hawaii but boy has it gotten commercialized. Its like being in downtown LA or NYC. Ok Ok I'll stop babbling and take this topic to the appropriate thread.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 2196 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, December 17, 2006 - 10:56 am:    John's point is well taken IF you have only one day for Oahu. But since I expect your cruise begins and ends there, you may have scheduled some extra days on either end (highly recommended--there is SO much to see and do on that island), in which case IMO TheBus is your best bet on at least some of them, rather than a rental car in which you have navigate your way (on roads many of which have difficult-to-read-at-a-glance names)--and then find somewhere to park when you do finally reach your destination. The Nuuanu Pali overlook is really about the only must-see site on the island not easily reached by bus (you can do that, too, but you have to walk a way--uphill--after getting off the bus).   john berg Senior Member Username: John_b Post Number: 85 Registered: 08-2005 Posted on Saturday, December 16, 2006 - 01:03 pm:    Here is my 2 cents.TheBus is a great idea if you are there for days. Since you are taking a cruise and are going to be crunched on time while visiting the islands, usually only 1 day per port. I would suggest a rental car for Oahu. I found very reasonable rates at Enterprise around $12 a day (weekend rate, Hickham AFB back in Nov 06'). I found that rate online. If you look at Enterprise.com and type in Honolulu there is one at the pier. Good luck   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 2187 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 11:21 pm:    Longtime readers of this board already know I am a big fan of TheBus on Oahu. It just so happens that from the Aloha Tower (where the cruise piers are) the bus can easily take you to Hilo Hattie's and then on to Pearl Harbor for the Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri, as well as the Aloha Stadium market that is kinda across the street from the entrance to the memorial visitor center if you want to wander among the schlock and get some GREAT buys on T-shirts, aloha shirts, kids' clothes, gold charms, small leather goods, and local souvenirs of all sorts. (Better values than the PX.) Then in the other direction the bus can swiftly take you to the famous Ala Moana Shopping Center(where you may not spend much on the main and upper levels where the rich Japanese tourists throng into Gucci, Tiffany and the like, but will LOVE the parking level food court with dozens of different ethnic and standard foods to sample) and then on to Waikiki for the Hale Koa, beach, and just general looking around. Using the bus on Oahu--especially to or in Waikiki--is MUCH better than driving because you don't have to worry about parking (or having things stolen out of the car as was being discussed on another thread). Besides you see a real cross-section of the local and tourist population. Everyone is very helpful; not only are the drivers ready to anwer your questions but all your fellow passengers will chip in with advice. If you are 65 or older and have a Medicare card, each ride is $1.00 (transfers, if needed, are free). Otherwise it's $2.00 per person. Exact change required.   Matthew Alan Knapp Senior Member Username: Matt_k Post Number: 226 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 05:03 pm:    While the ship is in port in Honolulu, Oahu, what are the activities that you have planned? For many activities on Oahu, the Bus (www.thebus.com) is convenient to use insted of renting a car. The Bus has several stops near Aloha Tower, which is where your cruise ship will be docked.   Matthew Alan Knapp Senior Member Username: Matt_k Post Number: 225 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 04:57 pm:    Comments: 3) Since your port of call in Maui is Lahaina, I wouldn't rent a car from the airport. I'd rent a car from a location in Lahaina or possibly Ka'anapali. Some of the rental car agencies in Lahaina are Hertz Rent A Car 31 Halawai Dr Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-7735 Hertz Rent A Car 200 Nohea Kai Dr Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-4571 Enterprise Rent a Car 2605 Kaanapali Pkwy Ste 3 Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-8804 Dollar 20 C Halawai Drive Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 667-2651 Alamo Rent A Car Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-7181 National Car Rental Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 667-9737 Aloha Toy Store 640 Front Street Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 891-0888 888-883-1212 Location is across from the Banyan Tree next to Burger King. http://www.alohatoystore.com/ Action Activities 640 Front St Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-9000 Island Riders Incorporated 126 Hinau St Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 661-9966 Location is across from the Pizza Hut http://www.islandriders.com/ http://www.islandriders.com/maui-exotic-car-rentals.html http://www.islandriders.com/location.html Wheels USA 741 Waine'e St. Lahaina, HI 96761 (808) 667-7751 Not much help for other than Lahaina, Maui, but these car rental companies should have local (Lahaina Town) drop off locations.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 2185 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Thursday, December 14, 2006 - 01:33 pm:    I see that your query has been "sitting here" with no responses, so here is at least a partial: We have rented cars now and then on all the islands and never specified smoking or non-smoking. I cannot recall ever being noticeably offended by any residual odors. The road to Hana has been hugely improved in fairly recent times. It's still narrow, but many of the potholes have been repaved. You can ask at the rental car agency but I think they will have no problem with your taking the car there. However, what they will NOT want you to do is continue around on the unpaved section that starts some ways past Hana to make a circle-island route. (There are similar no-no roads on some of the other islands, too, for anything less than 4WD vehicles.) Congestion around the ports should not be a big deal. The only place you will probably meet major traffic is in Honolulu and even there it does move. (I don't know what traffic is like in your part of Arizona, but in Hawaii except for rush hour on Oahu it is never anything like as bad as in most major U.S. cities. Besides, if you are crawling along that gives you more time to look at the roadside vegetation, people and businesses!) Have a great time on your cruise, but don't over-schedule yourselves (for example, going to Hana and back PLUS up Haleakala on Maui would be an awfully crowded day). Instead, why not concentrate on a few relaxing activities that will give you the flavor of each place, and plan to come back another time to see more of the others? Be sure to "eat local" on occasion when ashore: try Saimin ["sigh-MIN"], any kind of plate lunch [a meat dish of your choice such as teriyaki chicken, plus 2 scoops rice plus macaroni salad], loco moco [hamburger patty on rice, topped by gravy and a fried egg], Spam musubi [Spam slice on top of formed rice, wrapped in a belt of black seaweed], Kalua pig [steam-barbecued shreds of pork]--usually with cooked cabbage, etc., etc. Point and ask if you are wondering what things are, and/or ask locals either ashore or on board what THEY recommend. (P.S. It may just have been a typo in your message below, but in case not--The name of the major town on Maui is Lahaina ['Luh HIGH nuh'], not Lahania.)   D. HARTJE Intermediate Member Username: Oorch Post Number: 12 Registered: 06-2004 Posted on Tuesday, December 12, 2006 - 02:28 pm:    My wife and I are taking a Hawaiian Cruise in February 2007. Our ports of calls are as follows: Kona and Hilo on the “Big” Island, Lahania in Maui, Honolulu on Oahu, and Nawliwili in Kauai. We have reserved rental cars at each location. Although the rental company has said that they will pick us up at the cruise boat we have some concerns: 1) The amount of congestion around the cruise boat terminals (and on roads in Maui, for example) 2) Problems making contact with the rental car personnel when we are in port 3) Early drop off times, as in the case of Maui (car must be dropped off by 4:00 pm with the boat sailing at 11:00 pm). Is there alternative transportation from the airport back to the boat? 4) I have also heard that you must specify if you want a non-smoking rental car in Honolulu as most cars have been "smoked in" 5) And, some rental car agencies will not rent cars if you plan to use them “On the road to Hana” If anyone has had any experience or information on rental cars, in Hawaii, while in cruise boat ports I would appreciate any input…..