Cheap Car Rentals at Honolulu Airport

Tips when renting a car at Honolulu-Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

• Note that prices rise during peak travel times, such as winter holiday season, spring break, summer vacation, and other school holidays. Book early!
• In Hawai‘i, you can drive with a valid driver’s license from your own country for up to one year. With that said, you may also want to obtain an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) to keep alongside your license. Even if you have your IDP on hand, you will also need to present your actual license when asked for a valid driver’s license.
• You will find many rental car offices at and around the airport, particularly at the Consolidated Rent-A-Car (CONRAC) facility near Terminal 2. CONRAC is within walking distance of Terminal 2, while shuttle vans are generally available from Terminals 1 and 3 to reach here. 
• While you can find many more rental car offices across the island of O’ahu, make sure you know where you’re going if you plan to pick up a rental car farther away from the airport. If in doubt, you can save yourself time and peace of mind by picking it up at HNL.
• Always ask your rental agency about potential surcharges and other special charges.
• Pick the right car for your journey. Smaller cars will be more efficient on Honolulu’s city streets, while SUVs or all-wheel-drive vehicles are more suitable for trips outside the city, especially if you’re planning road trips to the more rugged terrain of the North Shore.
• Inspect the car and take photos at pickup and drop-off.
• Just about nowhere on O’ahu gets any winter snow, but some areas (like the North Shore) tend to experience heavier rainfall, so plan accordingly. 

Why Rent a Car at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)

Once off the plane (and past U.S. Customs), visitors will find designated passenger pick-up areas outside Terminals 1 and 2 for taxi and Uber/Lyft cars, shuttle vans to the Rental Car Facility, and the on-site station for Skyline trains and TheBus buses.

Since the airport connects the H-1 freeway, you can store your luggage in the trunk and start driving wherever you want to go. It’s ideal for travellers with children, on a tight schedule, or planning to visit multiple destinations. While the Honolulu metro region is making progress in expanding mass transit access, you may have trouble travelling to other parts of O’ahu car-free. Having your own car lets you reach more places with ease.

Driving from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) – Getting Started

From CONRAC, you may want to catch Route 92 (via H-1 east) to reach Downtown Honolulu. Otherwise, you can take H-1 east to get to Waikīkī, or H-1 west to connect to H-2 north to go to the North Shore. Depending on traffic, you should be able to reach Downtown Honolulu in about 20-45 minutes, Waikīkī in about 30-70 minutes, Ko Olina in about 35-70 minutes, and 1-2 hours to the North Shore. 

Whichever route you take, budget yourself plenty of time to get there, as Honolulu metro area traffic can get heavy at times. 

Common routes include:

• Downtown Honolulu – About 20-45 minutes via H-1 east and Route 92 east
• Waikīkī/Ala Moana – About 30-70 minutes via H-1 east and city streets
• Kapolei/Ko Olina – About 35-70 minutes via H-1 west and Route 93 west
• Wahiawā/Dole Plantation – 35-60 minutes via H-1 west, H-2 north, and Route 99 (or Kamehameha Highway) north
• Haleʻiwa – 45-75 minutes via H-1 west, H-2 north, and Route 99 north
• Kawela Bay/Turtle Bay – 1-2 hours via H-1 west, H-2 north, and Route 99 north
• Kaneohe/Kualoa Ranch – 35-70 minutes via H-1 west, H-3 east, and Route 83 (Kahekili Highway) west

Inclement weather and heavy traffic can affect travel times, so use GPS or your favorite navigation app for real-time updates and road conditions. In addition, the Hawai‘i State Department of Transportation (HDOT) has its own GoAkamai app available for download onto Apple and Android devices. If you’re driving into rural areas, cell service can be limited, so save and download directions before you start driving. 

Connect to Honolulu and More of O’ahu from HNL

Most tourists may flock to Honolulu for the flashy hotels and resorts of Waikīkī, but there’s much more to this city beyond the major tourist corridor. Throughout the city, you can discover amazing multicultural neighbourhoods, rich indigenous history and culture, unique island cuisine, and ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. Once you venture beyond the city, there’s even more of O’ahu to experience, from the legendary surf break at Waimea Bay to the ethereal mountain and jungle scenery at Kualoa Ranch.

In and around Honolulu:

• Downtown & Chinatown – Honolulu’s historic core is chock full of incredible wonders, including the United States’ only official state residence of royalty at ʻIolani Palace, amazing art at the Honolulu Museum of Art and Capitol Modern, and phenomenal Asian-American restaurants in Chinatown
• Pearl Harbor – The site of the infamous 1941 attack that fully drew the U.S. into World War II, this is a must-see and do for history buffs 
• Waikīkī – East of Downtown is Honolulu’s largest collection of hotels and resorts, along with tourist-oriented stores and restaurants, but the beach remains a top draw, and Lē‘ahi (also known as Diamond Head) is a volcanic tuff cone that’s now one of the state’s most beloved parks

Recommended day trips and scenic routes:

• Kaneohe & Kualoa Ranch – This might seem like a sleepy suburb on the windward side of O’ahu, but it abounds in underrated beaches and parks, and it’s close to the spectacular Kualoa Ranch that’s a go-to for movie filming (including multiple Jurassic Park films)
• Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve – A short-ish drive east of Waikīkī leads to some phenomenally pristine and beautiful beaches, but make sure to secure a reservation in advance
• Kapolei & Ko Olina – On the leeward side of the island is this suburb that’s home to the Ko Olina planned community with multiple resorts, a golf course, and beautiful beaches
• Haleʻiwa & Waimea Bay – Haleʻiwa is the beating heart and soul of the North Shore, the nearby Waimea Bay is one of the state’s most famous surfing beaches, and Waimea Valley offers an incredible journey into Hawaiian history and nature
• Kawela Bay – At the northernmost tip of O’ahu, you will find exceptional beaches like Sunset Beach, Kawela Beach, and Turtle Beach, along with the Turtle Bay (now a Ritz-Carlton) resort