Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Hawaiian Tourists Renting U-Hauls Due to Car Rental Shortage

Hawaii’s U-Haul stores have seen an uptick in rentals for its smaller vehicles, including pickup trucks and cargo vans.

April 29, 2021
Hawaiian Tourists Renting U-Hauls Due to Car Rental Shortage

Unlike this 15-foot U-Haul moving truck, tourists to Hawaii are renting pickup trucks and cargo vans to get around.

Photo via Flickr/HireAHelper.

1 min to read


Because of a rental car shortage in Hawaii, tourists are starting to rent vehicles from U-Haul, according to a report by Fox Business.

U-Haul’s local marketing office, which oversees U-Haul transactions at more than 30 locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands, has seen a parallel between foreign addresses and driver’s licenses for tourists who are renting from U-Haul in higher numbers, according to the company.

Ad Loading...

“We have seen a considerable uptick in U-Haul rentals from customers who are visiting the islands now,” Kaleo Alau, president of U-Haul Company of Hawaii, told Fox Business.

Alau said that most of the rentals are for U-Haul’s smaller vehicles, including its pickup trucks and cargo vans. The reservations for these rentals are stretching from a few days to a week, according to the report.

Normally, U-Haul’s cargo vans and pickup trucks are used for “small jobs” and rented from one hour to 24-hour rental periods.

Currently, in-town U-Haul rentals start out with a flat rate of $19.95 plus a per-mile charge and a fee for accident protection.

Many of Hawaii’s U-Haul stores and dealers have been left “with less available equipment than usual,” said Alau. He advised local movers to call in advance to reserve U-Haul equipment, according to the report.

More Rental Operations

thumbnail what does it take to succeed in b2b rentals
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?

The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.

Read More →
Photo of Ana Laborde and world map
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 12, 2026

NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings

With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.

Read More →
Rental car agent shows woman her choice of rental car
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•October 7, 2026

Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study

While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
an exotic car wrapped in an insurance policy
Rental Operations•October 1, 2026

The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals

Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.

Read More →
globe of world and drivers license from UK
Rental Operations•September 28, 2026

The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?

For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.

Read More →
Scenes from Car Rental Shows past
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 23, 2026

ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers

The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 21, 2026

Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service

Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.

Read More →
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental Operations•September 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
Ad Loading...