You can reach the Hawaiian Islands either by cruise ship or by plane. There are seven airports on five islands. Some of them handle international flights, so you can directly land at your vacation destination. However, the smaller airports are only used for shorter flights and do not handle large aircraft — so there can be circumstances when, in order to get to a smaller airport, switching planes at an airport would be required.
After arriving at the airport, please ask for the designated area outside the baggage claim where the car rental agency shuttle buses pick up clients. Then take the bus for 2 minutes to get to the far side of the parking lot where the car agencies are located.
NKT Travel arranges rental cars from the following seven Hawaiian airports:
Near the airports you will find car rental stations where you pick up your car. In many cases, you follow these simple steps:
Make sure you have your confirmation number ready for when you reach the pick-up station. When you book at Car Rental Hawaii, the only time that your credit card is needed is when you actually arrive at the pick-up station.
If you already booked our insurance package deal, then everything is already arranged. If not, then you can book further insurance with the car rental agent. Check the car and the documents that the car rental agent hands to you. Ask appropriate questions to get the clarity that you need. Maybe you want to lengthen your stay, or shorten it? Maybe you need a child’s seat? Perhaps you need some advice for parking? Perhaps you need a map? Or maybe the agent has some recommendations for sightseeing?
Load your baggage into your car, seat the passengers and ensure they use the seat belt, start the engine and drive off to your vacation.
Of course, you don’t have to arrive by plane in order to get a car from a car rental station at the airport. In some cases it’s a good idea to come to the airport for renting a car even when you are a cruise ship passenger or simply staying in a hotel. The car rental prices are mostly lower at the airport — and the lots are bigger, which means you have more cars to choose from. And these stations have longer service hours, so you can spend more time exploring Hawaii instead of hastening to return your car in the afternoon.
When you return your car, you just drive it to the airport, unload your baggage and give the car back to the car rental agent. Check your billing. You should plan to return your car to the same station where you picked it up — otherwise a drop-off fee may be charged (in some cases the agent “forgets” it, but don’t rely on that).
For many travelers it's most convenient to pick up the car right after landing at the airport and, when leaving the island, to return it at the same spot. Otherwise you have to additionally organize how to get to the airport to pick up your car, or from the airport when dropping off your car. In these cases it’s a good idea to get a taxi — they are reasonably priced for such a route and are as fast and flexible as driving on your own.
If you return your car sooner, or later, than was agreed upon when booking the pick-up, then check that the fees are calculated correctly. If you are considering prolonging or shortening your rental period, then it’s best to ask the car rental agent at the time of pick-up about any related fees. Some agencies charge special fees in these cases.
If some damage happens to the car or you are involved in an accident, then you should call the agency immediately when it happens. For insurance reasons, and according to the rental terms, it is necessary to report such without delay, not only at the time of drop-off.
After you drop off your car, use the free shuttle to get to the airport. Or take a taxi to wherever you want or need to go next. Always be safe and plan some extra time for dropping off your car, not just five minutes — because sometimes you have to wait a bit. Don’t miss your flight, just because there were some cars waiting in line before you. If you booked our package deal, a full tank is included, and that means you pick up the car full and can return it empty. Without our package deal, if you do not return the car with a full tank of gas, then you will be charged premium prices for a full tank of gas.
Kahului Airport is located on the northern edge of the land bridge between Haleakala and the West Maui Mountain Range on the island of Maui. The airport occupies 1391 acres of land and is located just a couple of miles east of the town of Kahului.
Here, to get the free shuttle, go to the courtesy phone at the wall just inside the little house. Dial the 2-digit number and ask the agent to send a pick-up shuttle.
The Kapalua Airport is a commercial service airport that is served by commercial propeller air carriers and commuter/air taxi aircraft only. Access to this airport is provided from a two-lane road off of Honoapiilani Highway.
The rental company kiosks are located to the left just outside of the baggage claim area. The free shuttles to the car lots are located just behind the kiosks.
Lihue Airport occupies 943 acres about 1.5 miles east of Lihue, on the southeast coast of the island of Kauai.
The rental company kiosks are located adjacent to the baggage claim area. No need to stand in line there if you already have a reservation. The free shuttles to the car lots are located just outside of the main entrance.
Kona International Airport at Keahole occupies 3450 acres of land about seven miles northwest of Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaii.
Rental car pick-up for all companies is at the respective kiosk located just outside the main entrance of the terminal across the street.
Hilo International Airport occupies 1391 acres and is about two miles east of Hilo, on the eastern shore of the Island of Hawaii.
The car rental kiosks are located in the baggage claim area. No need to stand in line there if you already have a reservation. The free shuttle pick-up point to the different agencies is located along the median in front of the terminal.
Honolulu International Airport (Daniel K. Inouye International Airport) is the major aviation gateway for the State of Hawaii. It is the primary hub for domestic overseas and inter-Island flights and is currently one of three State airports accommodating international flights. The Airport occupies 4520 acres and is about three miles west of Honolulu, and about seven miles from Waikiki.
The rental company kiosk is located on the far side of the parking lot just outside the terminal. There is only one major rental agency on Molokai — and that is Alamo.
Molokai Airport occupies 288 acres on the central plateau of the island of Molokai. Vehicular access to these two areas is provided by separate access roadways, each connecting with the Keonelele Avenue.
At our site you find cars in all sizes and from all rental agencies all over Hawaii. So, you don’t have to bother about which agency to choose — you simply select your dates and the car of your choice. We show you the cars available and their prices. You select the option you like best.
When you book the car on our site, we will need your email address. The following happens in the background:
So, you have the broadest selection of cars, the greatest flexibility of times and pick-up locations and drop-off locations, and you profit from our good prices. And you pay only when you actually pick up the car. And if you have any questions, you can always contact us.
Through a high booking volume each year, we can negotiate great deals with the rental car companies and we can pass the discount on to our clients.
Absolutely not. Once you receive a personal confirmation number you will get the information from the rental agency directly as well. The agency cannot see how and where you placed the order. Think about a customer flying next to you in an airplane going from and to the same airports but they paid 40% more than you — you both get the same quality service from, and the same quality treatment on, that plane.