Transportation to Hilo Airport (Honolulu, Keaau: to rent, how much, house)

[GG in Paradise]

We need to make arrangements for transportation to the Hilo airport. We live near Keaau High School. There are many advertisements when I searched Google. Are there any recommendations which websites to get quotes from? I have a folding electric wheel chair that collapses to the size of a suitcase that my husband will take care of, so Uber, Lyft, or a taxi is feasible. Do any of you have an idea of what would be a reasonable price? Are people charged per person or by mileage? Would it be cheaper to rent a car for one day at the airport the day before we leave? Any advice will be appreciated.

Mahalo.

G.G.

[Arktikos]

It's been a few years, before Covid, since I've had to use a taxi for this route. Last I recall the price was almost $50 between the airport and Kurtistown.

Rent-a-car for a day: It would be close to comparable in cost I imagine. Depends upon how much demand there is on your desired day for cars. The rates can vary widely, from $40 to $140 or possibly more.

[GG in Paradise]

Originally Posted by Arktikos

It's been a few years, before Covid, since I've had to use a taxi for this route. Last I recall the price was almost $50 between the airport and Kurtistown.

Rent-a-car for a day: It would be close to comparable in cost I imagine. Depends upon how much demand there is on your desired day for cars. The rates can vary widely, from $40 to $140 or possibly more.

Thank you. That is very helpful.

[terracore]

If you have a car, you can schedule an oil change for your car at Kama'aina Motors and then take their free shuttle to the airport. They will keep it locked in their lot when you are gone. When you get back, call the shuttle and take it back to Kama'aina Motors, pay for your oil change, and drive home.

Don't forget to tip the courtesy shuttle driver.

The oil change will be over $80, so a taxi to/from your house might be cheaper, but you'll be getting an oil change out of it.

I've tried taking Uber / Lyft on the BI. No luck. Granted it was late at night, but they didn't have any drivers.

A taxi from Hilo to Orchidland (about 15 minutes past Keaau) cost me $55 plus tip, so I imagine a trip to Keaau would be closer to $40.

[GG in Paradise]

Originally Posted by terracore

If you have a car, you can schedule an oil change for your car at Kama'aina Motors and then take their free shuttle to the airport. They will keep it locked in their lot when you are gone. When you get back, call the shuttle and take it back to Kama'aina Motors, pay for your oil change, and drive home.

Don't forget to tip the courtesy shuttle driver.

The oil change will be over $80, so a taxi to/from your house might be cheaper, but you'll be getting an oil change out of it.

I've tried taking Uber / Lyft on the BI. No luck. Granted it was late at night, but they didn't have any drivers.

A taxi from Hilo to Orchidland (about 15 minutes past Keaau) cost me $55 plus tip, so I imagine a trip to Keaau would be closer to $40.

Thanks for the info.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by terracore

If you have a car, you can schedule an oil change for your car at Kama'aina Motors and then take their free shuttle to the airport. They will keep it locked in their lot when you are gone. When you get back, call the shuttle and take it back to Kama'aina Motors, pay for your oil change, and drive home.

Don't forget to tip the courtesy shuttle driver.

The oil change will be over $80..

That could be a great deal, especially for a trip of extended length. Any idea how long they would agree to hold your car?

Hilo airport used to allow one month parking for $90, same with Kona. Now it's either much more or they simply don't have a special rate.

[terracore]

Originally Posted by Arktikos

That could be a great deal, especially for a trip of extended length. Any idea how long they would agree to hold your car?

Hilo airport used to allow one month parking for $90, same with Kona. Now it's either much more or they simply don't have a special rate.

I actually asked the shuttle driver how long they would hold the car and he said he didn't know because nobody really keeps track of how long the cars are stored on the lot. It's not something they advertise, and I wouldn't personally try to push the envelope.

I don't think either airport has a special rate. The parking at the Hilo airport has got so bad in the last 2 years they've pushed out press releases saying there was no parking available on a couple of occasions. I recently parked at the Kona airport for 5 days and it was $75. The lot was full. I had to drive around for a half hour waiting for somebody to leave- Like trying to find a spot in a mall right before Christmas. This was the far lot, the one closer to the airport had a "lot full" sign, like it apparently always does now. Blame Southwest.... people can actually afford to fly interisland now.

I flew out awhile ago, and it was cheaper to get dropped off/picked up at ITO and fly to Honolulu to get a connecting flight than it was to park at KOA for a connecting flight. It just so happened on my last trip that the HNL connecting flight required a plane change in CA that didn't work for me, so I had to drive to KOA and back and pay to park my car there. Seems crazy that it's cheaper to fly to HNL than it is to park a car at KOA.