Car Rental at Honolulu Airport

Airport travel guide

The capital of Hawaii, Honolulu is a truly unique city – and not just because it is more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) from the American mainland. The access that the city provides to the scenic Oahu beaches is well known and celebrated, but Honolulu is also a great place to visit in its own right, with lots going on culturally and in terms of entertainment. These are four of the best places to visit in and around it:

• Beaches. The main reason why most people visit Hawaii is the beaches of the Southern Pacific, and if you're one of them, you’re not going to be disappointed. Located on the southwestern coast of Oahu, Honolulu provides access to plenty of stunning coastline. The Waikiki Beach, immediately to the south of the city, is the nearest and the most famous one, but other notable spots include Hanauma Bay (at the far south of the island, 20 minutes away), and Lanikai Beach (on the southeastern coast, and can be reached in 40 minutes).
• Honolulu Museum of Art. Honolulu is not just the home of surfing and beach leisure, it also boasts some impressive cultural institutions. A case in point is the city’s main art museum which celebrated its 100th birthday in 1922 and boasts masterpieces of Modigliani, Cezanne, de Chirico, Degas, and many other famous artists, not to mention a collection of Polynesian art. Visit the museum’s official website to learn more. 
• ʻIolani Palace. A curious case of architectural syncretism, this palace was built when Hawaii was still under the rule of the indigenous Kalākaua Dynasty, but was projected by American architects and borrows heavily from both local and Renaissance styles. The result is one of the most interesting buildings which remains a famous tourist attraction to this day.
• USS Arizona Memorial. Part of Western Honolulu is Pearl Harbor, the site of the most devastating attack on the United States in the Second World War. Named after a sunken battleship, the memorial, which can be accessed via a short ferry ride, honors the memory of the fallen. Visitors can also see the USS Bowfin, a WW2 submarine; other related attractions in the city include the Pacific Aviation Museum with its many fighter jets.

Top international routes

• Kahului
• Lihue
• Kailua-Kona
• Hilo
• Los Angeles
• Kaunakakai
• Lanai
• Seattle
• San Francisco
• Tokyo

Main airlines

Honolulu is the base of Hawaiian Airlines with Terminal 1 dedicated to the airline. United Airlines, Delta Airlines, American Airlines have flights to and from the airport to many large mainland cities, particularly on the West Coast. Finally, Alaska Airlines has flights to and from Anchorage and some West Coast cities.

Terminals

The airport has three terminals which are all connected by the Wiki Wiki Shuttle, a free shuttle bus. Terminal 1 and its 13 gates are dedicated to the flights of Hawaiian Airlines, both interisland and to the U.S mainland.

Terminal 2 is larger, with 29 gates spread across three concourses none of which are dedicated to a single airline. The flights of almost all other airlines depart from and arrive at Terminal 2.

Terminal 3 hosts the flights of Mokulele Airlines which operates flights the other Hawaiian Islands of Maui, Molokai, O’ahu, and Lanai.

Location

Honolulu International is located just north of the city of Honolulu on the island of O’ahu. It takes less than fifteen minutes to drive from the airport to Downtown Honolulu and 20 minutes to Waikiki. O’ahu itself is northwest of most of the other Hawaiian Islands and southeast of Kaui, the northernmost island of the group.

Most popular types of rental car

• Small cars - from $92 per day
• Medium cars - from $72 per day
• Large cars - from $73 per day
• Premium cars - from $109 per day
• SUVs - from $95 per day
• Convertibles - from $108 per day
• Vans - from $227 per day

Car rental desks

The largest rental companies have desks inside the airport. Hawaiian Van Rentals which provides service for Ace Rent A Car is located off airport and requires a shuttle to reach.

It should be noted that Europcar is served by Advantage’s rental desk. If you book a car with Europcar as the supplier, check in at the Advantage desk.

Services and facilities

Though the unimaginative pun for it may have long ago lost its humor, lei greeting is still a popular, culturally relevant tradition in Hawaii. Local makers have sold their handmade flower necklaces at the airport for decades. These are available both in florist shops and carts in both of the terminals. br>
The airport has plenty of shopping and dining establishments, though those transiting through Terminal 1 will notice less of a selection. When it comes to food and drink, typical fast food chains and some bars are available. Unfortunately, you are unlikely to find Hawaiian food at the airport.

Wifi is supposedly available throughout the terminals, though many travelers report that only works in some parts of Terminal 2.

The Airport has lounges in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. In addition to the Hawaiian Airlines lounge, Terminal 1 also has a private lounge called the Plumeria Lounge. In Terminal 2, four airline lounges and one private lounge can be found.

A few hotels are located very close to the airport. All of them offer free shuttles. Pacific Marina Inn, Airport Honolulu and Best Western Plaza Hotels are the nearest. If a member of the military, there is a Navy Gateway Inn and Suites not far from the airport.

If arriving from outside the U.S., money exchange is available. Though, as usual, it is best to withdraw cash from an ATM or exchange money elsewhere due to the poor rates offered in airports.

Nearest gas station

The most convenient gas station when returning to the airport is a Shell station that is located at 3269 Koapaka Street. It is just two blocks away from the rental drop off points. Be prepared to wait a little for a pump as others returning rental cars will also stop here.

If looking on Google Maps, you may spot a gas station off of Nimitz Road just north of the airport. This is actually a Navy Exchange station and is for members of the military only.