Renting a Car in Hawaii

Hawaii has so many fabulous things to see and do that it would be a real shame for you to miss out. In order to maximize your time on each of the islands, you need to rent a car. The only island where you can go without a car is Oahu, but you'll be stuck in Waikiki and will be dependent on public transportation. All the big companies — Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty — rent cars on all the major Hawaiian Islands.

Unfortunately, traffic has become an increasing problem on all of the neighbor islands, especially in the prime resort areas. And be sure to book your rental cars well ahead. Rental cars are almost always at a premium on Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai and may be sold out on all the neighbor islands on holiday weekends.

Renting convertibles

Renting a convertible is a lot like booking an oceanview room. It's a great idea if you can afford it, but not worth it if it's going to put a strain on your budget. The cost of going topless can be double or more what you'd pay for a regular car. Expect to pay between $50 and $80 a day for a convertible, compared with $30 or $40 a day for a better equipped midsize car (with such extras as power windows and power locks that don't usually come with convertibles).

If you really want to rent a convertible for your island driving but you're worried about cost, consider renting a convertible for just part of your trip or just one island if you're going to be visiting two or three of them. Think about Maui, where cruising the road to Hana with the top down really is the ultimate Hawaii vacation dream. Going topless in Oahu is pretty great, too.

If you've rented a regular car, ask about an upgrade when you pick up your car. This may prove especially beneficial if you're visiting in the off season. Sometimes, if a rental-car branch has a few idle convertibles sitting around, you may be offered an on-the-spot upgrade for just $10 or $15 more a day.

Following the rules of the road

Know these driving rules and common practices before you get behind the wheel in Hawaii:

• Hawaii is a no-fault insurance state. If you drive without collision-damage insurance, you're required to pay for all damages before you leave the state, regardless of who is at fault. Your personal auto policy may provide rental-car coverage; read your policy or check with your insurer before you leave home, and be sure to bring your insurance ID card if you decline the rental-car company's optional insurance. Some credit-card companies also provide collision damage insurance; check with yours.

• Seatbelts are mandatory for everyone in the car, all the time. The law is strictly enforced, so be sure to buckle up. Hawaii's Child Passenger Restraint Law requires children under 4 years old to ride in a child safety seat.

• You can turn right on red unless a posted sign specifies otherwise. Make sure that you make a full stop first — no rolling.

• Pedestrians always have the right of way. This is true even if they're not on a crosswalk.

• Use your horn judiciously. Honking your horn to express your anger at another driver is considered the height of rudeness in Hawaii. Don't do it unless you're alerting someone to immediate danger. Horns are used to greet friends in Hawaii.

Do not use your rental car as a safe in which to store valuables. Don't leave anything that you don't want to lose in the car or trunk, not even for a short time. Be especially careful when you park at beaches, where thieves know that you're going to leave your car for a while (and you're likely to leave goodies in the glove compartment).

The islands are very easy to negotiate, and all the rental-car companies hand out very good map booklets on each island. If all you have is what National or Hertz gives you, you'll do just fine.