Hawaii wants you to stop using U-Hauls as rental cars
As travel continues to come back, there's a rental car shortage in many popular destinations — including the state of Hawaii. According to the state's Tourism Authority, "Hawaii's rental car fleet decreased 40% during the pandemic." Now that more people are booking trips to the islands again, that's resulted in a shortage of cars and soaring prices.
Of course, that also means travelers have resorted to some ...unique... methods of getting around. Some travelers have rented U-Haul vans or trucks from home improvement stores like Home Depot as a stop-gap, but clearly, that's not an ideal solution.
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Now, the Hawaii Tourism Authority has added more resources to its website for those who need to arrange ground transportation. Travelers are urged to book rental cars as early as possible to increase the chances of having a car upon arrival and are given a warning that the "Hawai‘i Tourism Authority does not condone visitors renting moving trucks and vans for leisure purposes."
It's a fair request — moving trucks and vans are harder to drive, which can be dangerous on many of the winding, cliffside roads you have to take to get to some of Hawaii's most popular spots. Plus, Hawaii residents need to be able to use U-Hauls and other moving vehicles for their intended purposes.
Instead, the tourism authority has teamed up with the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Hawaii Department of Transportation, the governor's office, and local county governments to provide resources for alternate methods of transportation on each island. Additionally, travelers are reminded to check with their hotel or resort for shuttle and tour services when possible.
Recommended alternatives include public transportation, taxi services, shuttles, ride-share services and bicycle rentals.
The resources are helpful, and I honestly wish I would have had access to the lists of taxi and shuttle services while I was in Hawaii back in December. I was fortunate to have a rental car (this was before the shortage hit full force), but I might have opted for a tour service to check out certain areas of Maui. Plus, it should save anyone some time trying to research reputable businesses to use during a trip.
Related: Hawaii outlines full reopening plans, including dropping all travel and capacity restrictions
Another alternative listed across the islands is Holoholo, a locally-owned ride-share company. Did you know Hawaii had its own ride-share service? I didn't either. And with Uber prices soaring and Lyft availability sometimes spotty, it's a welcome third option for getting around when you don't have a rental car (or simply don't want to drive).
Holoholo partners with organizations in the communities it serves to promote programs to "help our keiki (children) and their ‘ohana' (families), adults getting through adverse environments, the 'kūpuna' (elderly), and the arts." And the company offers a Green service that matches riders with eco-friendly vehicles to reduce carbon emissions by at least 25%. Next time I'm in Hawaii, I will definitely be trying out Holoholo instead of going with Uber or Lyft.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is also supporting two development programs (one in Kauai and one in Maui) to add additional shuttle services that will give tourists even more options for getting around those islands. This won't necessarily help you on a trip booked for next month, but it is a move toward long-term transportation solutions on the islands.
Personal cars are typically the easiest way to get around, but with a rental car shortage and high prices, it may not always be an option. And while renting U-Hauls and other moving vehicles is an alternative that other travelers have found useful in the interim, it's understandable that destinations would want to avoid travelers using those types of rentals for leisure purposes — they are generally harder to drive, typically have higher emissions and are needed for local residents and business owners.
While we all wait for the rental car shortage to pass, the Hawaii Tourism Authority is hoping visitors to the Aloha State will choose one of the alternate modes of transportation listed on its website when rental cars are unavailable. Not only are they safer alternatives, but you can also support local Hawaii businesses (such as Holoholo) that provide a more eco-friendly service.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.