"It's absolutely insane. It's more than our Airbnb. Rather than renting a car, the group bought a used car off Facebook Marketplace for $800. We're just going to cruise in it all week. And then on Saturday when we're leaving, we're just going to give it away to a homeless person or something like that."
"Turo continues to grow and remains well supplied across all major islands in Hawaii, supported by a strong network of local hosts. Unlike traditional rental fleets with uniform pricing and limited choice, our car rental marketplace offers broader vehicle options and flexible price points, while putting money directly back into the local economy."
"In 2021, when tourists were facing high rental prices caused by limited inventory following the early pandemic, they turned to renting U-Haul pickups, box trucks and cargo vans, which offered lower prices starting at $19.95 a day plus mileage."
Hawaii experienced significant rental car shortages during Valentine's Day and Presidents Day weekends, with availability constraints and elevated prices prompting creative solutions from visitors. Peer-to-peer rental platform Turo saw listings exceed $2,200 for four-day rentals, leading some travelers to purchase used vehicles from Facebook Marketplace instead. One group bought an $800 car and donated it to a local resident upon departure. Turo has grown substantially in Hawaii since the COVID-19 pandemic, offering flexible pricing through private hosts. Similar shortages in 2021 prompted tourists to rent U-Haul trucks and cargo vans at significantly lower daily rates, demonstrating a pattern of unconventional transportation choices during peak seasons.
#hawaii-tourism #rental-car-shortage #alternative-transportation #peak-season-travel #peer-to-peer-rentals
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