Fran C.
Yelp
Ever since Dollar Rental Car shut down last year (Oct. 2018), I was kinda worried about my next visit to Lanai for work.
I was wondering how I was gonna get around Lanai, especially if there were no longer any rental car businesses. Would I have to walk? Maybe catch a Taxi? Or perhaps there is someone who drives Uber, or Lyft?
Well not to worry gang, "Lanai Car Rental" has opened up shop as the remote island is in dire need of a rental car business.
How did I find Lanai Car Rental?
Purely by luck my friends.........I had to go back to Lanai for work yesterday, and upon planning my trip (from Monday), I decided to "Google" transportation services on Lanai.
Of course while searching, the name brand rental companies did not show up on my search, but upon searching further, I came across some info. about Napa Auto Parts, & a Convenience store. Yeah it's not related to anything about Rental Cars, but I figured if I called & talked to a local from Lanai, maybe they could give a Bruddah some insight on what to do for transportation on Lanai.
Sure enough, my persistence paid off as I called and spoke to a lady at the convenience store, and she gave me a phone number for Lanai Car Rental. Whoo Hoo!
Of course I call late in the afternoon (on Monday), and nobody picks up the phone, so I leave a message on their answering machine.
The next day (Tuesday morning) I call the rental car company again, and this time a lady picks up.
Upon talking to the lady, I set up my car rental for Wednesday. She takes down my basic information, & payment information, and I was set to get my rental car.
A few great things I liked about Lanai Car Rental -
1. The lady that helped me was friendly on the phone, and setting up the car rental appointment was easy.
2. It appears they don't have a lot of cars (looked like they had no more than 10 to 15 cars?), but the cars were like brand new. I ended up getting a brand new electric car called the - Chevrolet Bolt, which only had 6000 miles on it.
3. The prices were pretty reasonable, as I paid only $78.12 (with tax) for the use of the rental car for the day.
A few things I didn't care for (about the rental car process) -
1. There is no free shuttle pickup (to get you to/from) the Lanai Airport. The Lanai Car Rental agency is like a good 5 to 6 miles away, so you will have to pay for a taxi to get a ride to the rental car agency. (see my review about Rabaca's Limousine Service).
2. The car return process could have been better.
When I took out the rental car, I told the lady working at Lanai Car Rental agency that I was gonna return my rental car at 3:00 PM (as I had to catch my flight home at 4:30 PM).
When I came back at 3:00 PM, the rental car place was closed! YIKES! (Please Note: The business hours listed was 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM everyday).
I knocked on the door & nobody was there. Then I call the Lanai Car Rental number, and nobody picks up. So frustrating!
I had no way of properly returning my rental car keys (as I didn't want to incur any additional charges). This place didn't even have a car key drop box.
After my taxi shuttle arrived to take me back to the airport, the taxi driver even tried to help me find away to return my car rental keys.
Shortly after, a worker who does car detailing was nice enough to grab my rental car keys, and he told me that he would return the keys to the ladies at the Lanai Car Rental agency. Phew!
Of course when I get to the airport, and was trying to check in at the gate through the TSA line, I get frantic calls, & emails from the lady that worked at the Lanai Car Rental agency (about the car keys, go figure). Of course I called her back & gave her all the info. about where the car keys were.
I know this rental car business is fairly new, and I suspect they are still trying to work out a few kinks.
Hopefully they will at least add a car key drop box to alleviate any car return issues should they decide to step out for a little while.