Information if you want to rent a car in Honolulu
| Honolulu city centre | ||
| Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL): 7 km from city centre | ||
Rent a car in Honolulu
Where to rent a car in Honolulu
Prepare yourself to see the real Hawaii; but we warn you, you may never leave.
Of course, your first thought of Hawaii inspires visions of grass skirts and colorful cocktails; and yes there is plenty of cocktails to be had but Honolulu is so much more.
Honolulu has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world; which would be reason enough to visit, however you will also find breathtaking architecture, great art museums and mouthwatering authentic Hawaiian dishes.
The island is wide and vast so a rental car is essential if you want to travel the island efficiently and really explore every edge, without been restricted by public transport schedules. You can find your rental car at Honolulu International Airport and in Waikiki. When your cheap flight to Honolulu lands: Advantage, Alamo, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz and National are all available at the airport from $35 per day.
Driving in Honolulu: what you need to know
Of course, we advise you not to drive during rush hour to save on time and stress that accompanies rush hour traffic: roughly between 7am – 9am and 3pm – 6pm weekdays are the busy periods.
Parking is pretty easy to find, downtown and Chinatown have on street parking, but don’t forget to carry plenty of quarters with you to feed the meter. It’s noticeably a lot harder to find free spaces during the week, the weekends are a lot easier.
Although most shopping centers provide free parking for customers, including the Ala Moana Centre.
Road trips from Honolulu: what to see and do
Ring around Oahu
If you’re looking for an old school road trip, then this route will be perfect for you. As with any road trip, it will be all about the journey rather than the destination. Travel clockwise around the northern, eastern and southern shores. Begin in Pearl Harbor and remember the attacks on December 7, 1941. En route also make time to stop off at Puu O Mahuka Heiau, a historical site that was once the place of human sacrifices.
Makapu’u
Start at Diamond Head State Monument and venture onto the 0.8 mile trail which climbs the ancient volcanic cone, and enjoy the stunning views of the windy summit. Or if water sports is more your thing, there’s plenty of adventure tours offered at the marina in Hawai’I Kai. Take advantage of the brilliant snorkeling beaches, with the calm shallow water and high fish population, and snorkel in Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.
Pali Highway
From Honolulu, the road follows up into the lush peaks of the Ko’olau Range and provides fantastic photo ops on the drive up. Make sure you drive passed Nu’uanu Pali State Wayside, stop off and have a stroll to viewpoint and take in the emerald valleys. If you fancy partaking in some kayaking and windsurfing, head to the laid-back beach town of Kailua and paddle to the deserted offshore islands.
